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Of course, Hina also knew about the 'Demon Slayer' manga. At this moment, hearing Ikki mention that she should awaken the Demon Slayer Mark first and then enter the hot spring to recuperate, Hina immediately understood that Ikki's so-called plan to quickly awaken the Innate Demon Slayer Mark was the same plan that Gion had experienced before.
"Tsk, you are really taking advantage of me," Hina muttered, slapping her forehead but not saying much more.
However, Tashigi's face turned red instantly. After Gion's explanation, both of them knew they might need to spend a long time in a hot spring with Ikki.
Ikki smiled and said nothing. At this moment, his attention was focused on the two items he'd received from the system after Tashigi and Hina received their partner seals: the 'Iron-Cutting Realm Swordsman Hina Challenge Permission' and the 'Mountain-Cutting Realm Swordsman Tashigi Challenge Permission.'
'The system is really thoughtful,' he thought. 'This way, even if I use these two items, Tashigi and Hina will just think I extracted their future selves. System, you know they're just temporary partners, so you gave me such rewards, right?'
Naturally, the system didn't respond to Ikki's musings.
"Ikki, can you also engrave one of your partner seals for me?" Hancock's sweet voice suddenly reached his ears.
After she spoke, Hina, Tashigi, and the Marines immediately frowned and looked over, then turned their gazes to Ikki. He didn't need to guess what their expressions meant.
As Marines, they obviously didn't want Ikki to carve the so-called seal for Hancock.
"Well... we are destined to meet," Ikki said. "Since Miss Hancock is willing to be my friend, I naturally agree."
He nodded slightly, and with Hancock's shy expression, engraved his partner seal on her wrist.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for gaining a new partner, Boa Hancock.]
[It is detected that Boa Hancock is the 10th partner invited by the Host.]
[Special milestone reward: Boa Hancock's exclusive item 'Mountain-Cutting Realm Swordsman Yoriichi Tsugikuni Challenge Permission.']
[Special reward: 3 lottery draw opportunities for the Host.]
[This reward is unique, and rewards will no longer be issued based on the number of partners the Host gains.]
[Please Host continue to train your partners. When a certain number of partners increase in strength, the system will issue relevant rewards.]
[Note: If you defeat the 'Mountain-Cutting Realm Swordsman Yoriichi Tsugikuni,' you will inherit all of Yoriichi Tsugikuni's swordsmanship-related abilities.]
[Boa Hancock's personal attributes have been refreshed, please check them yourself.]
[Name: Boa Hancock]
[Age: 29 years old]
[Weapon: None]
[Life Force: 50,003, S-level]
[Sword Realm: Entry Level]
[Sword School: None]
[Abilities: Advanced Armament Haki, Intermediate Observation Haki, Intermediate Conqueror's Haki, Love-Love Fruit]
'As expected of Hancock from the Shichibukai,' Ikki thought. 'Her life force level is directly S-rank, and her Haki is quite strong too. However, it's really unexpected that she has entry-level swordsmanship. Hancock can actually use a sword.'
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Of course, what surprised him even more was that after accepting Hancock, the system had actually rewarded him.
'That makes sense. If rewards could be given out as I continue to gain partners, I could just keep stamping partner seals on different people. Sure enough, I still need to continue cultivating my partners' sword realm or life force level to get rewards. The three lottery draws are an unexpected bonus.'
'But Hancock also received a special reward. If she defeats Yoriichi Tsugikuni's sword shadow, doesn't this mean she can directly obtain Sun Breathing, the Innate Demon Slayer Mark, Transparent World, and the Mountain-Cutting Realm? She's so lucky, this woman.'
Ikki looked at Hancock, who was happily examining the partner seal on her wrist, and felt a sense of amazement.
With Hancock's status, there was a high probability she wouldn't be able to sail with him permanently. She had her own crew and her own country. But it just so happened that such a person had received the highest-level reward.
With Hancock's current situation, if he needed to ask her for help with something in the future, she should come back to assist him.
'In this case, it's worth properly cultivating her,' he mused. 'Since she'll control Sun Breathing, there's no need to leave Hyōrinmaru to her. It just so happens that the Noble Phantasm Aestus Estus is also a sword that controls the power of fire. And the original owner of Aestus Estus, Nero, was a beautiful and proud emperor just like Hancock. Perhaps letting Hancock inherit this sword will gain Nero's recognition.'
Thinking of this, Ikki nodded secretly, having already made his decision.
"You're not just friends with pirates, but you also invited her to become a partner?" Hina said, grabbing Ikki's collar again and asking impatiently. "What exactly are you thinking? There are still questions about you and Rayleigh. Hina doesn't understand why you'd still want to get involved with Empress Hancock, and even help her gain stronger power?"
"She's beautiful and she's my type. Is that reason enough?" Ikki replied calmly, the corners of his mouth rising.
Upon hearing this, Hancock, who had originally been dissatisfied with Hina because of her rude behavior toward Ikki, immediately covered her cheeks and twisted shyly.
Hina herself twitched her lips and looked at Ikki with a speechless expression.
"Haha, yeah, that's just like you," she said with exasperation. "You can't move when you see a beautiful mature woman. It's normal to be attracted to Hancock, supposedly the most beautiful woman in the world. You'll fall into her hands one day and be turned to stone."
Hina let go of Ikki's collar and took a deep drag from her cigarette, hoping to use the smoke to calm her slightly excited emotions.
"He will not be turned to stone by me," Hancock declared, coming to Ikki's side and excitedly taking his hand. "My abilities have no effect on him. But I'm very happy – Ikki, you really do like how I look."
"Your ability is ineffective against him? Is that true?" Hina glanced at Ikki in surprise.
Based on her understanding of him, Ikki was definitely the kind of person who couldn't move when he saw a beautiful mature woman.
"I wouldn't bother lying!" Hancock snorted coldly.
;Huh? Could it be that I misjudged him?; Hina muttered, rubbing her chin and looking at Ikki suspiciously. ;Is his usual behavior just an act? But then again, this guy really did just paint pictures of Vice Admiral Gion and me, and didn't actually do anything improper. Is he just pursuing art? Does he simply like to paint mature women and beautiful women?;
Ikki smiled sheepishly. There was no way he could tell Hancock that the reason he didn't react to the Love-Love Fruit was because of 'Transparent World.'
'I hope there won't be any changes after Hancock masters Transparent World,' he thought.
Although Ikki himself was somewhat surprised to receive Hancock's favor, now that he had it, he still hoped this affection wouldn't disappear.
Among other things, with this kind of favor, Ikki felt he could let Hancock wear various costumes and let him paint her. It was even possible that all the women on Amazon Lily could be used as models for his paintings.
Of course, Ikki could only think about this. After all, Hancock was a very jealous woman.