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

Ace devoured the steak in front of him in a whirlwind, but the strange feeling from earlier still lingered in his mind.

He swallowed the last big mouthful of meat, patted his stomach contentedly, and then seemed to suddenly remember something.

She looked up at Hancock, who was standing not far from the restaurant entrance, her eyes clear yet filled with a straightforward inquiry.

"Hello, Your Majesty the Empress."

He wiped his mouth and asked directly.

"You...did you have some kind of intention towards me just now? I had that strange feeling."

Upon hearing this, Hancock's beautiful face twitched almost imperceptibly at the corner of her mouth.

intention?

My intention is to make you obediently become my high-quality lapdog, providing me with pure energy and future potential as a henchman!

Can you just say that directly?

Obviously not.

Her mind raced, but her face remained impassive, maintaining the arrogance and composure of a Shichibukai.

Her red lips parted slightly, and she concocted an excuse that sounded plausible:

"Intentions? Hmph, I'm just a little curious about the captain under the command of the legendary 'world's strongest man,' Whitebeard."

She slightly raised her chin, her gaze falling on Ace with a scrutinizing air.

"I want to personally assess whether you, known as 'Fire Fist,' truly deserve the weight of that title. How about it? Dare to spar with me?"

This reason is perfect.

It is common for strong individuals to test each other's strength and demonstrate their power on the high seas.

This would both explain her slightly out-of-place behavior and allow her to have further contact with Ace in a logical way.

Sure enough, Ace's eyes lit up instantly when he heard that!

He is by nature a passionate and straightforward person, and has always been interested in battles and clashes between strong individuals.

The slight unpleasantness from just now was immediately forgotten.

"So you wanted to have a friendly spar! You should have said so earlier!"

Ace grinned, revealing two rows of neat teeth; his smile was sunny and confident.

"Of course the Whitebeard Pirates are strong! Our old man is the strongest! And I, Fire Fist Ace, am no pushover either, hahaha."

He had barely finished speaking when he seemed to realize that praising only himself wasn't enough.

They quickly added, their tone carrying a touch of江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) and mutual flattery.

"However, Your Majesty, you are quite strong too! The title of Shichibukai is well-deserved! If you wish to spar, I am of course happy to oblige!"

[Ding! Target Portgas D. Ace, upon receiving the host's invitation to spar, has developed a sense of excitement and identification, increasing his favorability towards the host! Infatuation +3! Current Infatuation: 7/100 (Beginner Simp)!]

Seeing the infatuation level rise again, Hancock nodded to herself.

Indeed, for this type of battle maniac, a direct challenge is more effective than a roundabout charm.

Despite his excitement, Ace didn't forget the important matter at hand.

He scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.

"However... I have some urgent business to attend to right now, tracking down a traitor, and time might be a bit tight..."

"It's alright."

Hancock interrupted him; she didn't really intend to fight to the death.

"It's just a friendly spar, nothing more. It won't take up too much of your time."

She didn't want Ace to chase Blackbeard while injured or exhausted because of a sparring match.

If it affects the subsequent plot, her losses could be significant.

"Enough is enough? No problem!"

Ace readily agreed, as he wasn't exactly a fan of life-or-death struggles.

"Where should we fight then? It seems a bit cramped here."

Hancock's gaze swept across the restaurant.

"There is an abandoned reef area on the east side of the port. It is spacious and undisturbed."

"Okay! Right there!"

Ace was full of energy, feeling refreshed after his meal and ready to stretch his muscles.

The look in his eyes when he looked at Hancock had lost some of the initial pure amazement, and instead showed more respect for an equal and a fighting spirit eager to try his hand at the battle.

Hancock looked at Ace's eager and innocent expression and thought to herself.

What a simple-minded guy. But that's probably for the best.

The two walked one after the other towards the rocky area on the east side of the port.

A contest between a Shichibukai and the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Captain, ostensibly a "sparring match," is about to unfold, but is actually a battle to gain favor with the other party.

Hancock already had a plan in mind for the upcoming battle.

Perhaps, in the "sparring" sessions, a "different side" that differs from the rumors is occasionally revealed.

Would that be more effective in moving this Fire Fist kid than mere charm?