One Piece: I am the Empress, and the more sycophants I have, the stronger I become.

Ah Long's fawning smile froze completely.

He stared intently at Nami behind the Empress, especially at the heavy-looking metal box in her arms.

A chilling suspicion began to surface in his mind.

"M-Empress-sama..."

Ah Long's voice was dry, with a hint of barely perceptible panic, "Who is this...?"

Hancock finally looked at him properly.

"Ah Long, I have come here today on her behalf," she said, turning slightly to gesture to Nami behind her.

"We demand an explanation from you and from your so-called 'paradise'."

"Explain?"

Ah Long's heart tightened, but he forced a smile.

"Your Majesty, is there some misunderstanding? Nami is my draftsman, and between us..."

"Eight years ago, you invaded Cocoyasi Village, killed their guardian Bellemere, and used the lives of the entire village as leverage to force Nami, who was only ten years old at the time, to draw a sea chart for you, and made a false promise that you would let the village go if you raised 100 million Berries."

Hancock's voice wasn't loud, but every word was sharp and clear, reaching the ears of everyone present.

The cruel truth that Ah Long had carefully concealed was laid bare.

Nami's body trembled slightly, and she bit her lip tightly.

She tried hard not to let the tears fall, but the deep-seated hatred shot out from her eyes as if it were a tangible thing.

Ah Long's face instantly turned extremely ugly. He hadn't expected the Empress to know so much!

He tried to defend himself.

"Your Majesty! This is only her side of the story! We fish-men..."

"Shut up."

Hancock interrupted him calmly, and the invisible pressure made Aaron swallow back his words, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Hancock's gaze swept over Arlong, then over the uneasy fish-man officers behind him.

His tone softened slightly, but carried an even more undeniable air of authority:

"I know that your merfolk race once benefited from Fisher Tiger. For the sake of the late Tiger, I will not kill you today."

Upon hearing this, Ah Long and the fishmen behind him instinctively breathed a sigh of relief, as if they had just escaped death.

Hachiko looked at Hancock with even more gratitude.

However, Hancock's next words made their hearts leap into their throats again:

"But," her voice suddenly turned cold.

"You may be spared the death penalty, but you cannot escape punishment. The pain and oppression you have inflicted on Nami and the villagers of Cocoyasi Village must be paid for."

She pointed to the metal box in Nami's arms.

"Nami has gathered the 100 million Berries you requested. Now, I'm giving you two choices."

"First, accept this money, immediately terminate the 'agreement' with Nami, release all the villagers of Cocoyasi Village, and take your men and get out of the East Blue. Never set foot here again, and never harass Nami or her village in any way."

Ah Long's expression shifted between light and dark.

Why should he give up the territory he's built up over the years and Nami, his cash cow?

How could he accept this!

"Second," a dangerous glint flashed in Hancock's beautiful eyes.

"You can refuse. In that case, I will personally raze your 'paradise' to the ground. As for your lives... that will depend on your luck. Remember, I'm sparing your lives out of gratitude to Tiger, but if you seek your own death, I won't hesitate to send you on your way."

A powerful hint of Conqueror's Haki was subtly revealed as she spoke.

A tangible pressure weighed on Ah Long and the others, making it difficult for them to breathe, as if they would be crushed at any moment!

Ah Long was drenched in cold sweat, his teeth grinding together.

He had no doubt that the Empress had the ability and determination to do everything she said!

Faced with such an absolute disparity in strength, his so-called "overlord of the East China Sea" is simply a joke.

He glanced at the Empress's icy gaze, then at the menacing Nine Serpent Warriors behind her.

Finally, his gaze fell on Nami's face, filled with hatred and determination, and on the chest of treasure that was enough to buy his "promise".

Weighing the pros and cons, humiliation and fear intertwined.

Ultimately, the fear of death overwhelmed everything.

He lowered his head with difficulty, almost squeezing out the words through clenched teeth.

"...I...I choose the first option."

He took the metal box that Nami practically hurled at him, feeling an unprecedented sense of humiliation.

Everything he had built up over the years collapsed completely because of a girl he had never taken seriously and this suddenly appearing empress!

"Remember your choice."

Hancock said coldly.

"If you dare to go back on your word, or seek revenge in the future... I guarantee you will regret ever being born."

After saying that, she stopped looking at the ashen-faced Arlong and the others, and turned to Nami and said softly.

This rare gentleness startled Nami slightly: "Let's go, little thief, I'll take you home."

Looking at Arlong's humiliated yet powerless expression, and at this paradise that had imprisoned her youth and dreams for eight years, Nami felt as if the huge stone that had been weighing on her heart for many years had been lifted in an instant.

She took a deep breath, nodded vigorously, and tears finally streamed down her face—tears of relief and hope.

[Ding! Target Nami has developed extreme gratitude and deep dependence on the host for upholding justice and resolving her long-held wish, increasing her infatuation level by 30! Current infatuation level: 55/100 (Intermediate simp)! (Excellent potential continues to be unlocked!)]

[Ding! Target A Long has developed 'fear-induced submission' due to the host's absolute force suppression, infatuation value +5, current: 13/100.]

Hancock was satisfied with the pure energy provided by Nami.

The return on this investment far exceeded expectations.

Under the complex gazes of Arlong and the others, the Empress, accompanied by Nami, boarded the Kuja pirate ship with the same elegance and composure as when she arrived.

The sea breeze blew, and the Empress's white dress fluttered in the wind.

And the sky over Cocoa West Village will soon clear up and the sun will shine through.