One Piece: Conquering Wanokuni at Start

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After Doflamingo departed from General Catle, Hancock, who had remained quiet and unobtrusive during the meeting, finally drew close to Alex.

Her purpose for coming from Amazon Lily was clear—she longed to be near him.

Now approaching 16 years of age, Hancock was being carefully groomed by the emperor of Amazon Lily, Gloriosa, to ascend as the island's future ruler. Combined with the education she was receiving in Wanokuni under Alex's guidance, whispers of her becoming the next Amazon Lily Empress were already circulating.

Under Gloriosa's tutelage and the influence of Wanokuni's disciplined training, Hancock had grown increasingly aware of her own beauty and talent. This awareness had only served to amplify her haughty personality.

Even before officially claiming the title of Empress, she had begun carrying herself with the imperious demeanor of royalty, her chin held high as if looking down upon the world in disdain—a trait born of her unparalleled beauty and growing arrogance.

Her prideful nature was celebrated among the women of Amazon Lily, who viewed her arrogance as an expression of her elegance and strength.

Indeed, Hancock was no ordinary warrior. In just four years, she had risen to the pinnacle of power among the Kuja, standing as the strongest fighter on the island. Even without the powers of the Love-Love Fruit, her mastery of Conqueror's Haki made her comparable in strength to the version of herself that had once ascended to the Shichibukai in another timeline.

However, she had not yet claimed the title of Empress for two reasons: first, she was not yet of age to assume the role, and second, her strength, while extraordinary, had not yet reached the level of absolute supremacy required to crush all competition.

The Amazon Lily of today, as part of Wanokuni's borders, was far stronger than it had been in the past. The Kuja warriors had undergone rigorous militarized training, with high-level Armament Haki techniques at the forefront of their combat development. Their strength now far exceeded what it had been during their isolation in the Calm Belt.

Even Alex had noted that several Kuja warriors were now on par with seasoned samurai.

"Alex-sama~"

Hancock's voice was soft and melodic as she leaned closer to him, her slender, pale finger tracing slow, teasing circles on his arm.

"That monkey-like man and his pitiful crew… Is it truly necessary for you to favor someone like him?"

In private, Hancock's coquettish nature fully emerged. She displayed a mixture of playful jealousy and a need for reassurance, her tone laced with both charm and complaint.

To Hancock, no other man could compare to Alex. Doflamingo—whom she referred to as "that monkey"—was no exception. In her eyes, he was nothing more than a lowly creature, unworthy of her attention.

Normally, she would have ignored such matters altogether, leaving Alex's dealings unquestioned. But this time, she had noticed Baby-5, and her interest had been piqued.

Hancock's ambitions had shifted. Her primary goal was no longer to simply become the Empress of Amazon Lily—it was to stand as Alex's equal, his wife, and partner in power.

The advanced knowledge she had gained in Wanokuni, combined with the example set by geishas and maids within Alex's castle, had opened her eyes to the intricate dynamics of status and influence. She now understood far more than she had in her original path.

Her greatest rival, however, remained the ever-present Yamato.

Among the women in Alex's life, Hancock had mentally ranked her competition. Maria, destined to become the head geisha; Toki, who had authority over the region; and Robin, whose intellect demanded respect, were all acknowledged with a mix of grudging acceptance and veiled contempt.

Others, like Perona, whom Hancock dismissed as brash and unrefined, didn't register as true threats.

Still, it was the unknown figures—those who hadn't yet shown their full cards—that worried her most. Women like Gion, whose brief appearance had left a strong impression, and Baby-5, who had yet to even enter the scene, drew Hancock's attention and wariness.

Alex, fully aware of Hancock's thoughts, responded with calm assurance.

"Don't underestimate Doflamingo," he said, his tone even. "His ambitions are convoluted, and his strength isn't enough to place him at the top, but that's precisely why he's effective in certain roles. His ability to operate in the shadows and manage complex power structures is valuable."

Alex's gaze grew contemplative as he considered Doflamingo's potential.

"The man you just saw is still only the so-called 'North Blue King,' but in time, he'll become a notorious dark intermediary. He'll learn to navigate both the underworld and the legitimate world."

Alex's insight into the future carried an air of certainty, as though he were watching a game already set into motion.

"As for Baby-5, of course, she could never hold a place in my heart like you do," Alex said smoothly, offering words Hancock wanted to hear.

Naturally, if he had left out the "we," Hancock would have been even happier.

"However, her Arms-Arms Fruit, when properly developed, has the potential to become an extraordinary ability. You must know that our scientific institutions are led by the most authoritative weapon experts," Alex added, his tone shifting to a pragmatic one.

This wasn't mere flattery—it was an idea he had genuinely considered.

The Arms-Arms Fruit allowed the user to transform their entire body into any weapon they desired. Its upper limit was staggeringly high, contingent on the user's ability to develop and refine their powers. With a foundation of advanced knowledge and disciplined training, it could theoretically produce weapons far beyond the current era's capabilities.

In addition to its combat potential, this fruit could aid Wanokuni's scientists in researching cutting-edge weaponry, refining theories, and advancing the nation's military strength.

Alex couldn't help but compare Baby-5's lackluster development under Doflamingo's leadership in the original timeline. Despite its enormous potential, her fruit's capabilities had been left at the level of an ordinary New World pirate.

The reasons were obvious: lack of attention, insufficient resources, and neglect in nurturing her talents.

But under Alex's guidance, these limitations wouldn't exist.

Additionally, if Baby-5 could overcome her distorted mindset of being unable to refuse anyone's requests, she could be cultivated into the perfect combination of maid and assassin—a flawless asset to his growing empire.

"So that's how it is~"

Hancock leaned closer to Alex, her expression both content and intoxicated by his presence. She relished every second of their time alone, her obsessive adoration evident in every movement.

As her perfect, blossoming figure pressed closer against him, Alex couldn't help but notice how much she had matured in every sense of the word.

"I… understand," Hancock said softly, her voice laced with sweetness and pride.

Her happiness seemed to soar at Alex's small gestures of affection, and the explanation about Baby-5's potential eased her wariness toward the younger woman.

For now, Hancock allowed herself to relax, content to bask in Alex's attention.

The quiet atmosphere was punctuated only by the occasional subtle vibrato in Hancock's voice. Alex enjoyed the serenity, his eyes drifting over her delicate, enchanting features.

Even as she expressed her devotion, Alex kept his responses restrained. He didn't wish to spoil her mind further—for now, he would savor this proud flower as it grew, waiting until it reached its most gorgeous and mature bloom before indulging completely.

The mention of the Arms-Arms Fruit, however, turned Alex's thoughts to another topic: the potential of Hancock's own fruit.

Even without relying on her Devil Fruit, Hancock was already a formidable force. With her mastery of high-level Armament Haki, strong physical combat abilities, and relentless determination, she was poised to stand among the top fighters of the sea.

Like Yamato, Hancock's trajectory suggested a natural progression toward unmatched power. But with the right fruit, her combat methods and potential strength could reach even greater heights.

Beyond her Haki and her exceptional kicking techniques, Hancock possessed a unique and undeniable weapon—her beauty, which could enchant even the strongest of men.

In the original timeline, this talent was perfectly matched with the Love-Love Fruit, enabling her to weaponize her allure. Yet Alex couldn't help but consider alternative options. There were other fruits that could complement her beauty and unlock even more devastating chain reactions.

However, before taking that path, Alex would need to secure the Munch-Munch Fruit or, better yet, the Dark-Dark Fruit. With either in hand, the possibilities for Hancock's future would be limitless.