Chapter 3 Stories
"Snake Princess, what's your take on that man?" With Leo gone, Gloriosa entered from outside the door and inquired.
"Where did 'Your Majesty' go?" The empress used her hand to cover her face, leaned backward, and spoke with icy coldness.
"Enough of this formality," Gloriosa's golden serpent staff struck the ground, making a resounding noise. "That lad has already left, and there's no one else in this palace. Do we need to be so formal between us?"
The empress lowered her hand. Tears had gathered in her eyes at some point, and she struggled to prevent them from streaming down her face.
"Dare to disrespect me, and I'll throw you out!" She couldn't even maintain the formalities of addressing herself as "Your Majesty." Instead, she sounded like a protective cat hissing at threats.
"That's enough!" Gloriosa, who knew the three sisters better than anyone as the one who brought them back to Amazon Lily, wouldn't tolerate her weakness. All three sisters were merely pitiable girls who had escaped from the Celestial Dragons. They needed to project a strong, tough exterior to survive in this cruel world, which was why they wore such a facade. Otherwise, they wouldn't stand a chance.
Now, someone had touched her soft spot, and it was only natural for her to surrender.
"Summon Sandersonia and Marigold. We have important matters to discuss," Gloriosa decided. The empress was incapable of acting right now. She was no longer the calm and proud figure she usually was. Instead, she had lost her composure, and Gloriosa feared this condition might persist for some time.
"Also, what is that young man doing now?" Groliosa, the former Amazon Lily Empress and an experienced individual, had indeed sent someone to take Leo away, preventing him from witnessing the empress's current condition. Consequently, she had smoothly escorted the empress with her, all while he was being discreetly monitored with reports going directly to Groliosa.
Though Groliosa kept her distance from the crowd, her age and former status as the Amazon Lily Queen meant that many in the village followed her lead.
Soon, someone approached and reported, "It appears that fellow is giving a speech."
"What?" Gloriosa was shrewd enough to know that the lad, with his persuasive skills, could easily manipulate people, whether Celestial Dragons or the empress herself. The girls on Amazon Lily had been so well-protected that they hadn't even seen ordinary men before. This lad, with his eloquence, could easily captivate their hearts and minds, posing a threat to the entire island.
"Not good..." She hesitated for a moment but didn't leave directly. The current empress couldn't do without people around her. If she were to have any impulsive ideas and lead the Kuja Pirates to set sail with him, the entire Amazon Lily would likely be affected.
No matter how much the Amazon female warriors were encouraged, they couldn't allow the empress to take action easily.
In the entire Island, the Empress was the true core.
However, Groliosa had never imagined that some people's power of persuasion was even stronger than she had anticipated...
…
"Precious, she probably just let us out. Can I explore freely?" After exiting the empress's palace Leo immediately dropped his facade and began chatting with the round-faced Amazon warrior.
"Well..." She hesitated choosing not to leave immediately. She wasn't a fool. The fact that the lad had entered the empress's palace without turning to stone or being fed to Kubarla meant he had earned some of the empress's trust.
However, Amazon Lily was a secluded nation, isolated from the world outside. They kept their people in ignorance of the outside world, ensuring they lived in peace and happiness. Only the warriors who accompanied the queen on her voyages saw the world beyond. They understood the vastness of the world and were potential recruits for Leo's ideas and loyalty to the empress.
He had long moved past the dualistic mindset: "If you don't join me, you're my enemy." Instead, he recognized that people's thoughts were diverse in this era. He believed that finding an individual untainted by selfish desires and willing to join his cause was nearly impossible.
Even he had countless doubts and personal ambitions, let alone the pirates who were primarily driven by their own desires, lacking the benefit of revolutionary ideals.
She hesitated for a moment before asking, "Why do you know Empress so well? We've never seen you here before."
Leo instantly understood. He had overstepped his bounds.
There was no way he could conceal his modern arrogance in this world. This world operated on a different set of rules. They valued secrecy above all else, even if it meant eliminating those who knew too much. Leo had accidentally violated that principle.
Nevertheless, he failed to realize that some people were even more persuasive than he imagined.
…
After all, Granny probably just let us out. Can I take a look around?" As soon as he left the empress's chambers, Leo immediately revealed his true self and struck up a conversation with the round-faced Amazon warrior.
"Well, um..." She hesitated before responding. She wasn't foolish; the fact that this man had entered the empress's chambers without turning into stone and hadn't been fed to Bacura was evidence enough that he had gained some level of trust from the empress. Therefore, his request might be challenging to fulfill.
However, the Amazon Lily Kingdom was a closed and secluded nation. They didn't allow regular people to know about the outside world, preferring to let their people live in peace within the country. Only the warriors who sailed with the queen could see the world beyond. They were the ones who truly understood the vastness of the world, and they were the group Leo could potentially win over. Accepting his ideas and remaining loyal to the empress were not necessarily contradictory.
Leo had long moved past a black-and-white way of thinking: "If you don't join me, you're my enemy; accepting my ideas but not joining me makes you a traitor; joining me but still having feelings for the empress makes you a traitor," and so on.
People weren't inherently good or bad; their thoughts and ideas were diverse. With his keen understanding of human nature, he naturally comprehended that in this era and world, finding a purely virtuous warrior was simply impossible. Even he had countless doubts and personal desires in his heart, not to mention the other pirates who hadn't received any education and were driven solely by their own desires.
She hesitated for a moment but ultimately agreed to Leo's proposal. The two of them strolled leisurely on the paths of Amazon Lily, not in a hurry. Leo observed the island while engaging in casual conversation with her. "Hello, I'm Leo. What's your name?"
"I'm Ran, a combatant of the Kuja Pirates. You..." She hesitated for a moment and then asked, "Why do you know the empress, sir? We've never seen you here before."
Leo understood her thoughts. Aside from the captain and the vice-captain, a ship typically had a navigator, a doctor, a helmsman, a cook, and other roles. Of course, the most important was the combat force. In smaller pirate crews, most members were combatants. In larger ones, like the Whitebeard Pirates, there were distinctions between combat teams, such as the first team and the second team.
The Kuja Pirates operated as a pirate crew with a national structure, and each warrior was a carefully selected elite. Therefore, the combatants of the Nine Snakes Pirates were likely skilled in Haki, either Armament or Observation.
"I can't talk about that, I'm sorry. But may I ask, where is the Amazon Lily Kingdom located in the Calm Belt? Which sea is at the end of the Grand Line, in the directions of east, south, west, or north?" He was genuinely curious about this, but he forgot that it wasn't the era when the Marines had unrestricted access to the Calm Belt. The location of Amazon Lily in the Calm Belt was a highly classified secret.
Ran's expression changed, and she closed her mouth, refusing to speak further.
Seeing her reaction, Leo felt a bit frustrated. It seemed he had spoken too carelessly. It was a common trait among people from his era, and their arrogance was often hard to conceal. A modern person's nonchalant attitude was even more of a taboo for people from other worlds. He carried countless secrets of the One Piece world, so naturally, he looked down on the secrets of others.
However, no matter how much he might look down on it, this was the foundation of someone else's livelihood and life. It was a secret that had to be kept at all costs. That's why Luffy's arrival on Amazon Lily had caused such a sensation. After all, this was the first step in discovering the island, and it was a secret that absolutely had to be protected!
…
"Since I've already put my foot in my mouth, I won't say much more," he thought. He relaxed and followed behind Ran, strolling around Amazon Lily.
Amazon Lily wasn't small, especially the city area and the outskirts, which had enough space to accommodate the ordinary Amazon female warriors.
The entire Island was filled with capable individuals, and these ordinary people, from a young age, honed their Haki, making them highly competitive and unmatched compared to the Four Blues beyond the Grand Line. Not to mention, Amazon Lily, nestled within the Calm Belt, had no external threats. Even in the highly competitive South Blue, few pirates dared to mess with them.
He observed the Amazon warriors engaging in duels, their fists landing with precision and blood spilling. He also saw the content and hardworking lives of ordinary civilians, including craftsmen, blacksmiths, carpenters, farmers, and martial artists.
It seemed that this place had all the characteristics of a nation, except for the fact that everyone here was female.
He suffered from inhumane levels of attention while walking around. Many Amazon female warriors dropped what they were doing and gathered to observe him. This conveyed two messages: firstly, many of these female warriors had never seen an ordinary adult male due to their isolation, and secondly, it appeared that there were no men on this island.
So, how did these Amazon warriors reproduce? Did the nation arrange spouses for them and then confiscate male children?
Unlike Luffy, who was down-to-earth and didn't have an official guide, Leo had Ran, a combatant of the Kuja Pirates, by his side. Ran held a relatively high position within the crew and was considered one of the officers. With her presence, Leo could avoid a lot of trouble.
The Amazon warriors could watch from a distance but dared not approach him. His treatment was vastly different from Luffy's.
Leo was a bit troubled. Officers like Ran, who were well-versed in the world, might not necessarily agree with his ideology. They had seen their fair share of storms, bloodshed, pirates, philosophers, and Marines. They wouldn't just let him go because he said something convincing, and his smooth talk might not necessarily sway them.
On the other hand, these naive newcomers seemed more susceptible to his "persuasion."
However, being cut off from these newcomers by Ran, he had no way to engage with them and delve deeper into the grassroots. So, he kept an eye on them, waiting for an opportunity.
"I'm a bit hungry. Is there anything to eat in your country?" Leo asked.
"I don't eat much. Let's find a place to eat something casually," he preemptively defused any tension, and Ran led him into a roadside eatery.
Suddenly, a crowd of Amazon women followed them inside, observing him like they were watching a spectacle. Ran didn't stop them. As long as the empress didn't intervene, she treated them as if they didn't exist.
With Ran by his side, he probably wouldn't face any extreme reactions from them.
"Hey, this male is quite handsome," a saying went, "one man is worth five hundred ducks." In this room, there were probably more than fifty thousand ducks. Even though he was powerless, he could clearly hear the women gossiping softly.
However, he didn't engage in loud conversations with them, as his earlier slip of the tongue might have left a bad impression on Ran. He wanted to avoid any potential overreactions, especially not getting hit by Haki-infused fists.
The landlady quickly brought a plate of something that resembled cream puffs but had a crispy outer layer and a tender, golden interior. It looked incredibly appetizing.
Taking the opportunity when the landlady, named Lian, was scrutinizing Leo from top to bottom, as if she were examining a rare beast, he smiled politely and said, "I got stranded from the Grand Line and ended up here. Thanks to you all for saving me."
"This man seems quite polite."
"Yes, and he's rather handsome."
"It seems like he might not be very strong."
"Well, we don't need him to fight. Just have him stay home and take care of the kids."
"I've got my eye on him! Don't compete with me!"
The women's hushed whispers grew louder as Lian struck up a conversation with him, and the commotion almost seemed to be closing in from all directions.
Leo paid no mind to it. Such commotions were almost commonplace during slave revolts among the Celestial Dragons, and it was child's play compared to the oppression they faced. He continued to eat the cheese, which was indeed delicious, even if a bit dry. He didn't mind drinking from the bottle that Lian had taken a sip from. The drink was somewhat sweet, akin to rum and had a high alcohol content, at least above thirty degrees. Nevertheless, he could handle it.
"Little brother, if you've come from the Grand Line, you must have experienced many adventures. Why don't you share some of your stories with everyone?" Lian kept an eye on him while he ate and drank, and she signaled to her assistant. The assistant understood immediately. Having such a rare man dining in their establishment alone would be profitable enough.
The assistant swiftly rushed out to spread the news, and Leo's eyes lit up.
This was like a gift from heaven!
He noticed that Ran's eyes had also brightened. Apparently, the Kuja Pirates, despite being a pirate crew that looted through their territory, didn't have much knowledge about the Grand Line. She was also curious to hear stories from the Grand Line.
What a coincidence.
Clearing his throat, Leo began, "Well, in that case, let me share a true story from the Grand Line that I've experienced..."
…
When the Empress and Goloriosa arrived at the tavern, it was already bustling with activity. Over a hundred Amazonian women were inside, listening to stories. Outside, Amazonian warriors impatiently waited in line, eager to get inside.
The tavern's staff members stood at the entrance, collecting fees one by one. However, since the place was already overcrowded, some people couldn't be bothered to pay and simply leaned in from the second floor to listen.
As the Empress and Goloriosa entered, everyone made way for them, allowing the Empress and her two sisters to enter the tavern.
The atmosphere inside the tavern was lively, with nearly everyone holding a bottle of alcohol. It was clear that the tavern owner was going to make a substantial profit today.
The landlady, Lian, sat in the VIP area and didn't leave. Instead, she held a bottle of alcohol in her hand and rested her chin on her arm, casting admiring glances at the man who sat in the middle of the room. Her eyes were filled with adoration.
Although this man was sitting right in the center, under the watchful eyes of countless Amazonian warriors, he showed no signs of stage fright. He spoke confidently, "The enslaved princess was originally from a country that had a kind-hearted monarchy. They didn't exploit their subjects to amass celestial gold and become a member of the World Government. Due to their lack of celestial gold and World Government affiliation, their country had been struggling, and the Marines didn't protect nations that didn't pay celestial gold."
"So, under the constant harassment of pirates, this princess was eventually captured and sold to a Celestial Dragon."
"As I mentioned earlier, this Celestial Dragon, after being betrayed by his slave wife, became extremely ruthless. He no longer trusted slaves but had certain desires. He would take a virgin slave every day and then kill her the next morning."
"This princess, however, didn't want to die like this. So, she proposed to the Celestial Dragon, 'How about I tell you a story from my homeland before we share a bed again?' The already irritated and brutal Celestial Dragon agreed. Thus, the princess slowly began to narrate stories from her homeland..."
"The title of the first story he told was 'The Fisherman and the Fishman.'"
Yes, he was telling the tales of One Thousand and One Nights. Although these stories were over a thousand years old, they contained profound wisdom and criticism of ignorant rulers and the dark realities of society, no less than modern classics. After stripping away the layers of religious influences, which often contained mundane praises of gods, Leo presented the stories in a concise and compelling manner, filled with various explosive elements, thanks to his localized delivery.
There were a thousand Hamlets within a thousand people, and in Leo's rendition of the stories, every Amazonian warrior in the audience saw a different perspective. For example, the Empress saw the enslaved princess and her role as a slave, while Sandersonia and Marigold saw their own tragic experiences. Others were carried away by the resonance of the female characters. It was well-known that women had a particular resonance with such themes.
Because of this, when Leo shared the story, all the women in the room empathized deeply. They genuinely put themselves in the shoes of the enslaved princess while listening. When Leo paused after telling the first story, everyone disappointedly let out a collective sigh, creating a sudden uproar that startled them all.
"Why did you stop? Keep going," Empress Hancock stood in the center of everyone's attention. She stood with her hands on her hips, looking like the focal point of the room, with her fiery red dress showing off large sections of her fair skin. Many Amazonian women had starry-eyed expressions and exclaimed, "Empress!"
Hancock remained composed and unaffected, solely focused on Leo. She asked, "Why did you stop?"
"The title of this story is 'One Thousand and One Nights,' and this is just the beginning. When the young girl continued to tell stories, every morning, she would stop at the most exciting part. That's why the Celestial Dragon neither touched her nor killed her. Instead, he allowed her to prepare for the next day with these tales."
"She ultimately gained the chance and time to survive by telling these One Thousand and One Nights. I can't share all these stories in one go. Since I'll be staying on Amazon Lily for some time, I thought it would be fun to leave you in suspense and find some enjoyment in it," he said with a wise smile, exuding a sense of modern self-assuredness.
"Ah, are you planning to stay?" the Empress asked in surprise, covering her mouth.
"You haven't agreed to do this with me yet..." Leo's heart skipped a beat when he saw the happy blush on the empress's face, feeling as if he had overlooked something.
Goloriosa stood behind the Empress, smiling as she observed him. She was starting to believe that this guy wasn't really an enemy spy trying to infiltrate Amazon Lily. A spy with so many flaws probably wouldn't last long.
"In that case, you can stay here," the Empress replied with a sudden surge of intelligence, offering him a warm smile.
The nearby Amazonian warriors were instantly enchanted by her smile, collectively exclaiming, "Empress!"
Both Leo and the Empress paid no attention to them. Leo sighed and lightly tapped his head, realizing that he had made a "common-sense" mistake again by thinking too pragmatically. In reality, this was an agricultural society, and most people, once won over, would wholeheartedly believe in you. Many times, the transition between villains and heroes in One Piece was triggered by a single action that touched their hearts.
Leo had brought his modern mindset into this world, viewing the Empress's decision too rationally and calmly, creating a humorous situation.
Clearly, his departure at sea was going to be postponed, but that was okay.
After mentally reviewing his situation, he smiled and said, "My body hasn't fully recovered yet, so I'll rest in the Amazon Lily for a while."
…
Because his body wasn't fully recovered, when Leo woke up the next day, the sun was already high in the sky. However, as he lay on the soft bed, he couldn't help but chuckle when he recalled the events of yesterday.
Indeed, some things couldn't be approached with a modern mindset. Leo realized that he had a fundamental difference in thinking compared to the people of the One Piece world.
Nevertheless, he was relieved that he had seen a spark of interest in the Empress. In fact, if it weren't for him cleverly mentioning the "One Thousand and One Nights," she might have already left with him yesterday.
Leo was actually quite eager. Considering the timing, it was possible that Enel, on Skypiea, had not yet consumed the Goro Goro no Mi. If Leo could manage to eat the Goro Goro no Mi before Enel, it would secure his safety even if he couldn't engage in combat.
However, having spent a decade among the Celestial Dragons, Leo had learned that once a decision was made, it was best not to resist too much. He needed to learn to enjoy the moment.
In reality, he was enjoying it.
Yesterday, after repeating his story and arguments to Empress Hancock, Sandersonia, and Marigold, both girls had accepted him. The suffering among the slaves was something they could all empathize with, especially the Gorugon sisters, who had experienced it firsthand during their time among the Celestial Dragons.
Empress Hancock didn't let Leo stay outside her private chambers. She understood that if he were left alone, powerless, outside, he might face unwanted attention or advances from the curious or daring Amazon warriors.
Staying in her private chambers allowed Leo to maintain some semblance of control over his circumstances.
However, from today onwards, he would become busy. Even though he was supposed to be resting on Amazon Lily, he wanted to witness firsthand the Empress's induction into the Seven Warlords of the Sea. As for who would dare to come to Amazon Lily, that was even more intriguing. Only high-ranking and formidable Marine officers would attempt such a feat.
Perhaps it would be Admiral Aokiji, Admiral Kizaru, or Admiral Akainu, or maybe even the older generation, like Sengoku or Vice-Admiral Garp. Alternatively, it could be the younger generation of Marine Vice-Admirals.
All of this was something to look forward to.
The arrival of the Marines and the rewards for the Seven Warlords would not necessarily foster any gratitude towards the Navy from Empress Hancock. In fact, with Leo's analysis, the Seven Warlords had essentially become a delaying tactic. The Navy used them to buy time until the new generation of Marines became powerful enough.
Now, let's take a look at who the Seven Warlords really were.
Crocodile, who dominated the first half of the Grand Line, almost all of the pirates who crossed paths with him ended up as food for his crocodile. The first filter had been set.
Moria, who ruled the middle section of the Grand Line, kept increasing his forces by eliminating pirates. The second filter was thus inevitable.
The third filter was Jinbei, the "Sea Knight under the seabed of the Sabaody Archipelago. He commanded the powerful Sun Pirates, and anyone who dared to harm the mermaids was ruthlessly wiped out.
The fourth filter was Kuma, a Revolutionary who possessed tremendous power. He acted as a deterrent to anyone foolish enough to challenge the Seven Warlords directly.
Then there was Doflamingo, a man who possessed knowledge of the "National Treasure of Mariejois," as well as the resources of the underworld, with his Donquixote Pirates at his disposal. Doflamingo was a cunning and formidable adversary, and even with the protagonist's halo, facing him resulted in many wounded for the Straw Hat Pirates.
Leo couldn't help but think that the Navy had developed a strategy that forced any pirate crew to think twice before confronting a Warlord, effectively creating a barrier that hindered pirates from entering the New World.
As for the only pirate crew capable of entering and leaving the Calm Belt, Leo was confident that they posed a significant threat to Impel Down. That's why it was only a matter of time before the Kuja Pirates were absorbed into the ranks of the Seven Warlords.
As for Hawk-Eye and Kuma, they belong to the category of individuals with both immense strength and ambiguous alignment. To prevent them from causing significant damage and harm to the Marines, recruiting them was a logical step.
With this, the basic roster of the Seven Warlords was established.
Leo, speaking with wisdom that seemed to foresee the future, explained the situation comprehensively. However, from another perspective, not everyone could understand the Navy's strategic arrangements.
Leo's eloquent explanation made everything about the Navy's strategy clear and refreshing, which pleased Boa Hancock greatly.
The Amazon Lily Kingdom was currently lacking such strategists. Although Gloriosa had some wisdom, given her age, which had already passed eighty and was approaching ninety, how long could she continue to provide ideas for the Amazon Lily?
Once she passed away, Empress Hancock might become uncontrollable.
Although her behavior was already somewhat unpredictable now, Leo felt that she seemed to have some restraints in place.
"So, before the Marines arrive, let's examine my body. It might seem audacious, but it appears there might be some issues with my health," Leo said candidly.
He wasn't afraid to make requests, as the information he had provided earlier was more than enough to cover any costs.
The doctor of Amazon Lily was a middle-aged woman named Belladonna. Although she still had some charm, her lips were too thick, and her figure couldn't compare to others. So, despite wearing more revealing attire than the others, she couldn't pique Leo's interest.
In fact, it was this same doctor, Belladonna, who had treated him while he was unconscious.
She had thoroughly examined him before.
Of course, this was a different Leo than the one who had been treated previously. He had become someone Hancock valued. After Belladonna carefully examined him from head to toe, She reported to her, meeting the Empress's slightly worried gaze.
"Lord Leo is merely a bit weak, even weaker than the average Amazon warrior. As for other issues, I haven't detected any."
"Is that so?" Leo furrowed his brow, stroking his smooth chin as he subconsciously searched for his beard, only to find his skin was bare.
"Perhaps, once I'm in better health, I can try to harness Haki?" he mumbled to himself but looked towards Empress Hancock.
Evidently, they were the experts in Haki.
However, Leo's comment had caused the Empress's face to grow increasingly red, indicating that she couldn't offer any training goals for him.
With a deep sigh of frustration, he turned to look at Gloriosa, the cunning fox he wasn't particularly keen on dealing with.
But for now, it seemed she was the only one who could assist him.
(Chapter End)