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

After Robin's initial acceptance, Kuja's journey continued.

She devoted most of her energy to training in domineering abilities, especially Observation Haki.

Day after day of arduous training, coupled with the pure energy provided by the ever-growing number of "sycophants" under his command, the quantitative change finally led to a qualitative change.

During a deep meditation, she felt her senses break free from some invisible constraint and expand instantly.

Everything around me became clearer, not just the breath and sounds, but even the most subtle changes in the airflow.

The most subtle emotional fluctuations deep within someone else's heart, even... fragments of images that might appear in the next second or two.

They all began to appear subtly within her "heart's web"!

[Ding! Congratulations, host! Your Observation Haki has broken through its bottleneck and advanced to the intermediate level! Your perception range and accuracy have been greatly improved, and you have gained the preliminary ability to foresee (brief fragments) of the future!]

Hancock opened her beautiful eyes, and a glint seemed to flash in them.

Intermediate Observation Haki!

This means she will have greater initiative in battle, and will be more adept at both avoiding risks and seizing opportunities.

Her steadily improving capabilities have given her even more confidence in her future plans.

The ship sailed along the planned route toward the sky island.

However, when they arrived in the waters near Gaya Island and tried to find a way to reach the sky island, they encountered trouble.

Whether it's the so-called "sky-piercing current" or other rumored paths.

It seems that they are all affected by some unseen force or require a specific opportunity, and cannot be reached at any time.

Hancock stood at the bow of the ship, her powerful intermediate-level Observation Haki spreading out.

I don't know if it's just my imagination.

She could vaguely sense the existence of that strange land above the clouds, as well as an arrogant and powerful aura of lightning.

"Enel..."

She whispered the name of the ruler of the island of gods.

A "false god" who dominates a corner of the world by relying on the Logia-type Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

Going up there might be a way, but it would inevitably lead to a conflict with Enel.

Unable to guarantee an instant victory, he became entangled with a Logia-type Devil Fruit user who could transform into an element in the opponent's home turf.

It's not a wise move, especially since it could expose some of your cards.

"Enough. A 'god' who's narrow-minded and doesn't understand the world isn't worth my trouble."

Hancock quickly lost interest.

While the golden land on the sky island is certainly tempting, it offers limited help to her current strength enhancement and "sycophant" plan.

She gave the order decisively.

"Turn around and head to Mogu Town."

Moko Town, a lawless area located on one side of Jaya Island, is home to many dreamers and outlaws, and is one of the places where Blackbeard might appear according to Ace's intelligence.

When Kuja's magnificent and powerful pirate ship slowly sailed into the chaotic harbor of Mogu Town, it instantly attracted everyone's attention.

When Hancock, accompanied by Aria and Robin, set foot on this land, the entire port seemed to be silenced.

Her unparalleled beauty, noble and aloof temperament, and the invisible aura of power and allure emanating from her instantly conquered this lawless land.

Pirate, thug, gambler, bartender...

Regardless of gender, everyone's gaze became infatuated and dazed, oblivious to the wine glasses falling from their hands or weapons slipping from their grasp.

They seemed to see a goddess descending to earth, and no thought of blasphemy or rebellion arose in their hearts, only endless worship and longing.

[Ding! The Charm passive effect is significant; a large number of people within the Magic Valley Town area have become deeply infatuated, meeting the inclusion criteria! Gained a large amount of beginner-level simp energy!]

The energy is mixed, but the total amount is considerable.

Hancock was already used to all of this. Like a queen surveying her territory, she calmly swept her gaze over the masses who were caught up in their obsession.

At that moment, a discordant voice rang out.

"Hey! Where did this pretty girl come from? Do you even know whose territory this is?"

A man with short blond hair, an arrogant look in his eyes, and a boxing champion's belt around his neck stood in front of them with a group of his men. It was "Hyena" Bellamy.

He seemed less affected, but the amazement and greed in his eyes were more obvious.

Hancock didn't even look at him directly, but simply gestured to Arya.

Arya stepped forward, activated her Entangling Fruit ability, and the invisible force instantly bound Bellamy's most vocal henchmen into dumplings and threw them aside.

Bellamy's expression changed; he realized he had bitten off more than he could chew.

But relying on his Spring-Spring Fruit powers and a fierce determination, he roared, "Spring Sniper!"

His legs transformed into springs, compressing violently and bursting forth with incredible speed, his fist slamming straight into Hancock's face!

However, to Hancock, who had already advanced to intermediate Observation Haki, his movements were full of flaws and his trajectory was clearly visible.

She didn't even use her domineering aura; she simply raised her hand casually.

With delicate fingers, she pinned Bellamy's powerful fist with precision, as if plucking a flower.

"What?!"

Bellamy felt as if his fist had struck the hardest sea stone, unable to penetrate an inch, the powerful impact effortlessly neutralized by his opponent.

He tried to pull his fist back, but found that the other person's fingers were like iron clamps, not moving an inch!

Hancock looked at his horrified expression, a playful smile appearing on her beautiful face.

Instead of immediately defeating him, she began to use her unparalleled charm, like a cat playing with a mouse.

Her eyes became dreamy and deep, as if containing an endless starry sky, and her voice carried a strange magic that penetrated directly into Bellamy's heart.

"With such meager abilities, you dare to be so presumptuous before me? Your strength is like an unpolished rock, and your ambition is like the croaking of a frog at the bottom of a well... pitiful, and pathetic."

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word carried a powerful impact, which, combined with her unparalleled beauty and charisma, continuously assaulted and dismantled Bellamy's defenses.

Bellamy initially tried to struggle and was angry, but gradually...

His gaze shifted from fierce to confused, and then from confused to... infatuated.

He looked at the woman before him, who was like a goddess, feeling her absolute power and her eyes that seemed to see through all his secrets.

A complex mix of fear, adoration, inferiority, and intense possessiveness grew wildly in his heart like weeds.

He felt like an insignificant speck of dust in front of the other person.

[Ding! Due to the overwhelming power and mental charm of the host, the target Bellamy's psychological defenses have collapsed, resulting in a twisted worship and infatuation. The infatuation value continues to increase... +5... +15... +20! Current infatuation value: 50 (Intermediate simp)!]

Hancock felt Bellamy's gaze, which had become both intense and submissive, and knew that the time was almost right.

She released her grip as if discarding a piece of trash.

Bellamy staggered backward, panting heavily. His previous arrogance was gone, replaced by fanaticism and humility. He knelt on one knee, his voice trembling.

"Your Majesty... Empress! I was blind! Please forgive me!"

Hancock glanced at him indifferently, as if he had only accomplished a trivial task.

She casually asked, "What's your relationship with Doflamingo?"

Bellamy trembled, lowered his head, and answered respectfully.

"Reporting back to Her Majesty the Empress... I was once her master."

His tone was complex, but more than that, it conveyed a sense of awe for the new "ruler" before him.

"Former master?"

Hancock smiled knowingly. "Looks like you're in luck, you've run into me."

She didn't say anything more and turned to leave.

Bellamy remained kneeling, his heart filled with boundless awe and fascination for the Empress, and... a strange sense of relief at having escaped the shadows of the past.

Hancock made a brief stop in Mogul Town to test the effect of her charm on a large crowd.

He casually "gave pointers" to a mid-level sycophant with decent potential, which pleased him greatly.

She didn't get any definite news about Blackbeard, but that was to be expected.

"Let's go, it's time to go back."

She boarded the cruise ship and ordered it to return to Kucha.

The storm of the new world awaits her arrival.