"Stussy left? Are you sure she wasn't captured?"
After the initial shock, Naruto's first thought went to the worst-case scenario.
But before Hancock could answer, he immediately overturned his own speculation.
"No, even if there are remnants of the World Government, they shouldn't be able to infiltrate Amazon Lily under your watch."
Hancock then took out a letter from her bosom, waving it in her hand.
"This is the letter she left, for you."
"Here, see if it's her own handwriting."
Saying so, Hancock directly threw the letter over, with no intention of hiding anything.
After all, she was the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock, the most beautiful woman on these seas!
Her self-confidence didn't allow her to do something so despicable.
Even to defeat that thieving cat Stussy, it had to be a proper, overwhelming victory face-to-face!
After catching the letter, Naruto opened it while chatting casually.
"You didn't plan to take a look in advance?"
"Tch, this one and that woman aren't on such good terms."
Perhaps because standing was a bit tiring, the giant snake Salome beside her voluntarily lowered itself, acting as a seat.
Sensing this, Naruto first set the letter aside, then came over and gently supported Hancock.
The attendants and the two princesses tactfully retreated to the periphery, also taking the confused Konohamaru along.
"Huh? I still want to know about that letter... mmpphh..."
Konohamaru, still clueless, wanted to say something, but under the combined efforts of Sandersonia and Marigold, before he could continue, he was wrapped up like a mummy by hair and snake tails.
For now, let's leave the space to the lovebirds.
Gently placing a hand on the slightly protruding belly, Naruto could sense the life force developing beneath.
Seeing Naruto's gentle gaze, the slight resentment in Hancock's heart also cleared up.
This man, the man she had waited for so many years, had ultimately stayed by her side.
"...By the way, back in your chambers, you and Stussy were still... mmmpph!"
'This dead man!'
Hancock, uncharacteristically, blushed, directly covering Naruto's mouth with both hands.
Perhaps because she used too much force, she even blocked his nostrils.
"Mmphh mmphh..."
After some struggle, Naruto 'barely' freed himself from Hancock's grip, then gently embraced her, spreading open the letter.
"Let's look together."
No concealment or avoidance. In fact, when the three decided to be together, they had already prepared themselves mentally.
The reason Hancock hadn't opened the letter in advance was also because she believed Naruto wouldn't intentionally hide things from her with Stussy.
And Stussy daring to leave the letter directly in the chambers probably meant she didn't mind Hancock seeing it.
Unfolding the letter, there was no signature, but the familiar handwriting allowed Naruto to recognize it instantly.
The letter didn't have the expected lengthy text… only a few lines.
"I want to have a child with you too."
"Let Boa Hancock be smug for a few more days."
"Don't you dare hold the wedding secretly before I come back! Otherwise, I will never forgive you!"
Below was also a lipstick mark, clearly Stussy's own doing.
These few lines left Hancock full of question marks.
'Child?'
"But Stussy can't..."
Hancock looked at Naruto, puzzled.
Earlier, when she and Stussy chose to cooperate, she learned about the other's infertility issue. She had even agreed to participate in a certain experiment because of it.
But now, that so-called 'experiment' didn't seem to have started at all.
Instead, Stussy left quietly and wanted to have Naruto's child.
However, unlike Hancock, Naruto only thought for a few seconds before realizing something.
"I think I know where she went."
"Where?"
…
Long before the World Government collapsed, Stussy had already quietly relocated.
In her own words, with her strength, she couldn't guarantee safety in the coming chaos, so she could only choose to leave the scene early.
Though she really wanted to see the Five Elders' faces get thoroughly slapped by Naruto.
As it turned out, the Summit War not only met expectations but even exceeded Stussy's predictions.
In her best-case scenario, it was only about using the Revolutionary Army and pirate forces to make it difficult for the Marines to handle both sides, ultimately dealing a heavy blow to the World Government forces led by the Five Elders.
She never expected Imu, the figure behind the scene, to have the Five Elders come to the scene in one fell swoop to capture Naruto.
While this strengthened the World Government's forces, it also planted a hidden danger.
Sure enough, once they faced adversity, the ruling structure Imu had maintained for so many years began an irreversible collapse.
And just when Naruto and the others were carrying the entire show at Marineford, Stussy had once come to Egghead Island.
At that time, she told Dr. Vegapunk about Naruto's subsequent plans and also requested something from him.
Now, she was here to see how things were progressing.
Egghead Island.
An island filled with a 'futuristic technology' atmosphere.
This wasn't an illusion either… the technological level on Egghead Island was already far ahead of the outside world.
Because Stussy had high-level permissions granted by Vegapunk, the large ship she was on directly passed through the transformed sea beasts' defense line, heading toward the dock.
When she disembarked, a tall, thin figure was already waiting for her.
"Yo, Shaka. You're the one greeting me this time? Didn't see you last time."
The newcomer wore a dark blue trench coat, a full helmet with the number '01' on his head, and powered [DOM boots] on his feet.
This person was named Shaka, and his identity was similar to Stussy's… both were creations of Dr. Vegapunk.
The difference was that Stussy was a clone created from Miss Buckingham's genes. Although she had physiological defects, her self-consciousness was independent.
But including Shaka, there were five other clones, all actually created by Dr. Vegapunk for himself.
Each inherited a part of Vegapunk's traits. Although they had independent personalities, their knowledge and memories were shared through the [Nomi Nomi no Mi]. (T/N: Brain-Brain Fruit.)
For example, Shaka inherited Vegapunk's 'integrity'.
"Last time..."
Shaka pondered his words, then, considering that the World Government had already collapsed, decided to tell the truth.
"You're saying York planned to betray?!"
After hearing Shaka's explanation, Stussy couldn't help but exclaim.
"But aren't you all..."
York was also one of the six clones created by Dr. Vegapunk, inheriting the 'desire' aspect.
"Ah, yes, that's why we were able to discover her little moves."
"Last time you came, she was preparing to leak information to the World Government. I was the one responsible for monitoring her."
Shaka led Stussy onto a means of transportation… a fully enclosed, capsule-shaped transport vehicle.
This vehicle was extremely fast, efficient, and safe, one of the most convenient means of transportation on the island.
"Then—"
Stussy opened her mouth, and Shaka immediately guessed what she wanted to ask, explaining directly.
"It's fine. Because we discovered it early, her actions didn't cause any damage."
"She has... been dealt with."
When saying the last few words, Shaka's tone couldn't help but become somber.
After all, everyone was creations of Dr. Vegapunk. Having lived together for so many years, if not treating each other as family, they were at least considered friends.
As if not wanting the atmosphere in the cabin to become too stagnant, Shaka changed the subject.
"By the way, Stussy, you're here for 'Adam', right? He's doing very well..."
Hearing the name 'Adam', Stussy put aside her regret over York's betrayal, an expectant expression appearing on her face.