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

In the following days, Amazon Lily seemed to enter a rare period of peace.

The outside world is in turmoil, the dust has settled in Alabasta, and the rise of the Straw Hat Pirates are all temporarily irrelevant to this matriarchal society hidden deep in the Calm Belt.

Hancock enjoys the dual privileges of being both a king and a powerful ruler.

During the day, she would frantically hone her skills in the training grounds deep within the palace, built from hard sea stone and special wood.

She was like an insatiable sponge, frantically absorbing strength.

In her spare time, she would also take time to guide Robin and Arya.

With Robin, she focused on guiding her in Armament Haki.

"Willpower is strength, Robin. The suffering you've endured, the darkness you've witnessed, are the whetstones of your will. Gather them, cover your flowers, and they will no longer be fragile vines, but iron thorns that pierce through everything!"

With Hancock's guidance and her own tireless efforts, the faint black light on Robin's arm finally stabilized.

Although it is still a long way from covering the whole body, it has already taken a solid step.

During breaks from their cultivation, the two would also discuss those ancient texts.

Robin's eyes sparkled with a thirst for knowledge, and her dependence on and identification with Hancock grew stronger every day.

For Aria, Hancock places more emphasis on the combination of Observation Haki and Devil Fruit abilities.

"The essence of Entanglement is control and restraint, Arya. Use your Observation Haki to 'hear' the sound of the wind, 'see' the flow of energy, and predict your opponent's movements. Only then can your Entanglement be as close as a shadow, leaving no place for them to escape."

Arya was already quite talented, and under Hancock's careful guidance...

Her Observation Haki range has nearly doubled, and her use of Entangling Fruit has become more sophisticated and cunning, even to the point where she can bind multiple targets simultaneously.

As night falls, it's time for Hancock to completely relax and enjoy herself.

The magnificent bath was filled with rare flower petals, and steaming hot air rose from it.

She leaned lazily against the pool, letting several carefully selected, beautiful maids massage and groom her with their soft hands, and serving her chilled fruits and fine wine.

As fingertips glide across smooth, creamy skin, one feels the power flowing through the body, and authority held freely in the palm of one's hand.

"Um…"

She would occasionally let out a satisfied sigh, her beautiful, slightly narrowed eyes shimmering with intoxicating light.

A fleeting, romantic thought inevitably arose in my mind.

Being king... is indeed wonderful. The feeling of having everything one desires is enough to make anyone succumb.

Unfortunately... her gaze swept over the beautiful maids who were serving her diligently, and that little bit of regret resurfaced in her heart.

Ultimately, they are all women, which lacks... true fun.

Of course, she did not let her guard down.

While enjoying herself, she was also fulfilling her promise to Shiki the Golden Lion.

They used Kuja's resources and intelligence network to search for possible ways to treat his old head injury.

She summoned Grandma New and the country's oldest and most knowledgeable doctor.

"The ship's rudder on Shiki's head is not an ordinary injury; it is closely intertwined with the nerves in his brain, and forcibly removing it could be life-threatening."

The old doctor stroked his beard, his brow furrowed.

"Legend has it that the mermaid tribe's secret medicine, Deep Sea Healing, may have the effect of softening foreign objects and repairing nerves; there is also a ghost mushroom that grows deep in the Devil's Triangle, which is said to be able to stabilize the mind and relieve severe pain... But these are just legends, and it is difficult to tell whether they are true or false, and obtaining them is even more difficult than climbing to the sky."

Grandma New also provided a clue: "Shaki might know something about the black market, or some unknown ancient medical techniques. But to cure it completely... is difficult."

Hancock silently noted down this information without immediately informing Shiki.

She had her own plans in mind.

Treating him is essential.

A legendary fighter in better condition is crucial to the future of Kuja.

But... her gaze became deep and calm.

We must not allow him to regain his full strength, at least not until her combat power reaches the Emperor level.

At his peak, Shiki was a monster who could rival Roger and Whitebeard!

He awakened the Float Fruit, commanded countless fleets, and possessed unfathomable domineering cultivation.

If he were to truly return to that state, given his unruly and ambitious nature, would he be willing to submit to others and become a "first mate" in name only?

At that point, it might not be cooperation anymore, but rather inviting a wolf into the house and turning the tables!

We must find the right balance...

Hancock tapped her fingertips lightly on the edge of the bathtub.

I want him to see hope, feel the benefits, and rely on my resources, but without truly freeing him from my control. Ideally…

There is a way to alleviate his pain, stabilize his condition, and even slightly improve his strength, but that crucial 'rudder' must be left behind!

Let it be the sword of Damocles hanging over his head, so that he always remembers who his healer and...collaborator is.

This is a dangerous game of balancing.

We must utilize the power and experience of the Golden Lion, while ensuring that he cannot escape our control.

"Arya".

"Hancock called out."

"Yes, Lady Snake Princess."

"Give First Lieutenant Shiki a vague message about the Deep Sea Healer and the Ghost Mushroom, saying that we are trying our best to find them, but it is extremely difficult and will take time. The key point is... to emphasize the difficulty."

Hancock instructed that she should first draw a picture of a pie that was visible but hard to eat, to whet his appetite.

"Yes."

"In addition, have Hawkins keep a close eye on the latest developments in medical technology by world governments, especially in the areas of nerve repair and brain surgery."

She suspected that the world government might have more advanced technology, but that would be like asking a tiger for its skin, and required careful consideration.

After finishing these tasks, Hancock closed her eyes again, enjoying the maid's service and clearing her mind.