Although they didn't know what method Meiser planned to use, since he was so confident, they couldn't say much more.
"Then we'll leave this matter to you, Meiser!" Luffy said with a toothy grin. "I'm going to train with Uncle Rayleigh."
He would give his all to training during these two years!
"No problem, leave it to me with confidence!" Meiser said, giving a thumbs-up.
He would find a way to pass the information from the newspaper to their crewmates.
"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, Meiser glanced at Hancock in confusion and asked, "What's wrong?"
"May I go with you?" Hancock asked.
If possible, she hoped to fight side-by-side with Meiser!
Even if... even if it meant returning to that hellish place, she wouldn't hesitate!
"No!" x2
"Hmm?"
Meiser first glanced quizzically at Granny Nyon, who had also shouted, then turned to Hancock and said, "I can't agree to that, Hancock."
"Why not?"
Hancock looked at Meiser pitifully, as if to say: If you don't give me a convincing reason, I'll cry right here and now.
Seeing this, Meiser's heart softened.
Is… is this still the same queenly, older-sister type from before?
Isn't this contrast a bit too much?
No, no, now is not the time to think about this!
No matter what, he could not agree to let Hancock go with him to Mary Geoise!
With this in mind, Meiser said, "I know what that place means to you, which is why I can't let you go."
To Hancock, Mary Geoise was a hellish place, a place she never wanted to return to, not even in her dreams!
So there was no way he would agree to let Hancock go with him.
"Meiser…"
Hearing Meiser's words, Hancock's eyes filled with deep emotion.
"I don't agree either, Hancock!" Granny Nyon said.
"Why not?"
Hearing Granny Nyon's words, Hancock's expression changed instantly. She turned to look at Granny Nyon with displeasure and said, "Why won't you let me go either?"
"Have you forgotten your status?" Granny Nyon said in exasperation. "Do you want to bring danger to Meiser and Kuja Island?"
If Hancock, one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, were to appear in Mary Geoise and cause a scene there with Meiser…
The consequences would be extremely severe!
Therefore, she would absolutely not allow Hancock to do such a thing.
Hancock froze for a moment, then her expression turned grim.
"Damn it, it's this cursed title of Royal Warlord again…"
If she had known this would happen, she never would have accepted this damn title. It would have been so much better to be a free-spirited pirate!
If she had, she could have joined Meiser in this battle!
The thought of it made Hancock extremely frustrated.
'This is just like what happened with Shakky back then…' Rayleigh thought, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
Could it be that being lovesick was a tradition on Kuja Island?
Thinking this, Rayleigh fell into deep thought.
"Hancock, for your own safety and the safety of Kuja Island, just stay here obediently," Meiser said, looking at Hancock seriously. "I promise you, I will definitely come back alive."
"Then… then you can't lie to me!" Hancock said. "Otherwise, I'll… I'll…"
Hancock stammered for a long time but couldn't bring herself to say anything harsh, making Rayleigh shake his head.
"How about you just kill this kid?" Rayleigh pointed at Luffy, teasing.
Luffy: ???
How did he get dragged into this?
"Don't cause more trouble, Uncle Rayleigh," Meiser said, giving Rayleigh a weary look.
What did he mean by killing Luffy? What did this have to do with Luffy?
Rayleigh chuckled, looking like a mischievous old man.
"Granny Nyon," Merry said in a "whisper" to Granny Nyon, "is it really okay for Luffy to train with Uncle Rayleigh?"
"He won't get him killed, will he?"
Rayleigh: …
Oh no, his image!
"Hahahaha."
Granny Nyon couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing. "I don't think so, hahahahaha."
Then, she glanced at Rayleigh, her eyes seeming to say: See what happens when you talk nonsense? Serves you right.
Rayleigh looked helpless. He was just joking.
"Don't worry, Uncle Rayleigh won't do anything to Luffy."
Meiser spoke up for Rayleigh, which finally made Merry's gaze return to normal.
Seeing this, Rayleigh breathed a sigh of relief.
Good, his lifelong reputation was saved.
Meiser shook his head at the scene, then turned to Hancock and said, "Anyway… I promise you, I will definitely come back alive. This is my promise to you."
"Then you should pinky promise!" Merry raised her hand.
"Pinky promise?"
A question mark appeared over Hancock's head. What was that?
"It's like this."
Little Merry jumped out of Granny Nyon's arms and trotted over to Meiser and Hancock. She then took their hands with her own small ones and hooked their pinky fingers together.
"Pinky swear, cross your heart, hope to die, for a hundred years we won't change…"
Watching this heartwarming scene, a smile appeared on Granny Nyon's face. She thought to herself, 'They look a bit like a family of three…'
Ah~
I wonder when Hancock and Meiser will have a child. That way… even if Merry goes sailing with Meiser and the others, I won't be so bored.
At this thought, a hint of anticipation appeared in Granny Nyon's eyes.
"Ah!"
Looking at her finger held by Meiser, Hancock's face turned bright red, and steam started rising from her head.
'He… he's holding my finger…!' Hancock screamed internally.
Is this what married life is like?
It's wonderful!
Meiser, on the other hand, was looking at Hancock with a smile. He found this side of Hancock quite amusing.
"Alright, that's it!" Merry said after completing the ceremony.
After speaking, she noticed Hancock's strange state and asked with a puzzled expression, "Why is Sister Hancock steaming?"
"It's… it's nothing…" Hancock said, covering her face with one hand.
"Your Sister Hancock is probably just too happy," Meiser said with a smile, ruffling Merry's hair.
"Is that so?"
Merry tilted her head and looked at Hancock for a moment, then nodded. "She's a strange sister."
It was the first time she had seen a sister who could steam. How interesting!
Meiser chuckled, then looked at Hancock and said, "Is it okay now, Hancock?"
"Mhm, mhm!"
Lost in her own world, Hancock nodded subconsciously.
Just then, Luffy's stomach suddenly rumbled.
Grumble…
Looking down at his stomach, Luffy scratched his head and said, "Um… can we eat first?"
"Haven't you eaten every single meal?" Granny Nyon looked at Luffy in shock. "How are you hungry again?"
The last meal was about four hours ago, right? How could he be hungry again so soon?
Meiser shook his head helplessly, then turned to Hancock and said, "Hancock, could you help us prepare some food?"
"Are you hungry?" Hancock asked, looking at Meiser with concern.
"Uh… I'm fine," Meiser said, patting his stomach. "I'm not particularly hungry. It's mainly this guy, Luffy…"
"Ah, him…"
Hearing that it was about Luffy, Hancock's expression changed dramatically.
She gave Luffy a rather disdainful look, clearly not wanting to bother with him.
Luffy: ???
He was just hungry. Why was she looking at him like that?
"Hancock," Meiser said helplessly, "just do it as a favor for me."
Hearing Meiser's words, Hancock's attitude immediately changed.
"Since it's your request…" Hancock said, her face blushing.
As she spoke, Hancock beckoned to Sandersonia behind her, signaling for her to prepare food.
"Then how about… we have a banquet?" Sandersonia suggested.
Meiser thought for a moment, then nodded. "That works."
There had been too many happy occasions recently, so it was fitting to celebrate with a banquet.
"Alright, I'll go prepare right away," Sandersonia said. "Come with me, Marigold."
After speaking, she turned and walked outside.
"Yes, Sister Sandersonia!"
"I'll go too, I'll go too!" Merry immediately chased after them, declaring that she wanted to help Sister Sandersonia prepare for the banquet.
Marigold scooped Merry up and followed Sandersonia out.
After watching the three of them leave, Meiser turned to Luffy and said, "Let's go, I'll take you to get something to eat first."
It was uncertain how long the banquet would take to prepare, so it was better to get Luffy something to eat first, or the guy might starve to death.
"That's great!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Luffy stretched out his Gomu Gomu Fruit Ability hand, grabbed Meiser, and dashed outside.
A moment later, Meiser's exasperated voice echoed from the courtyard.
"You bastard, you did it again."
"Ahahahaha, time to eat!"
Thump!
"I'm sorry…"
After getting a punch on the head from Meiser, Luffy obediently squatted on the ground and apologized.
Meiser snorted coldly, then turned to walk away, saying, "Let's go, time to eat!"
"Okay!"
"Coming!"
Hearing the word "eat," Luffy immediately felt the pain in his head disappear and trotted after Meiser.
Watching the interaction between Meiser and Luffy, a nostalgic look appeared on Rayleigh's face. "What a nostalgic scene."
Back then, wasn't that how he and Captain Roger got along?
That idiot captain…
Recalling Roger's face, a smile appeared on Rayleigh's.
Those were truly nostalgic times.
It was a pity… those times were gone forever.
At this thought, Rayleigh's expression became somewhat complicated.
Shaking his head, Rayleigh stood up and said, "Gloriosa, help me find a place to rest. I need to rest for a bit."
After swimming in the Calm Belt for several days, he felt a bit tired, so it was better to rest first.
Once he had recovered his energy, he would take on the role of a teacher.
"You get tired too?"
Granny Nyon looked at Rayleigh with surprise, clearly not expecting the man to say such a thing.
"I swam in the Calm Belt for several days. Of course I'm tired," Rayleigh said, rolling his eyes.
Swimming for days and nights without rest would make even him feel extremely exhausted.
Granny Nyon: ???
What the hell did he mean he swam in the Calm Belt for several days?!
"Are you out of your mind?"
Rayleigh: ???
How was he out of his mind?
"My mind is perfectly fine," Rayleigh said irritably.
"Then why were you swimming in the Calm Belt?" Granny Nyon retorted.
No sane person would go for a swim in a place like the Calm Belt. After all… it was full of giant Sea Kings!
Even if this guy Rayleigh was strong, it would have been more than a handful for him.
"That's because the ship I was on was destroyed by a Sea King, so I had no choice but to swim to Kuja Island," Rayleigh said helplessly.
If he had a ship to ride, he wouldn't have gotten in the water!
"I see…" Granny Nyon nodded, then said with a hint of schadenfreude, "Then you really are unlucky."
"Hahahaha."
Rayleigh: …
Was it really appropriate to gloat at a time like this?
"Mister, you can actually swim in the sea for several days and nights…" Margaret said, looking at Rayleigh in shock. "Are you that strong?"
Hearing Margaret's words, Rayleigh's mood clearly improved. He laughed heartily and said, "Of course. I'm quite strong."
Listening to Rayleigh's proud laughter, Granny Nyon pouted, then turned to Margaret and explained, "This guy was the vice-captain of the Pirate King, after all. It's not strange that he can do something like this."
This statement was also a way of giving Rayleigh some face.
Then, Granny Nyon said, "Margaret, take this guy to a guest room. After that, go help Sandersonia and the others. I don't need you here for now."
"Yes, Granny Nyon!"
With that, Margaret turned and led Rayleigh away.
After watching the two leave, Granny Nyon turned her gaze to Hancock and said, "You've been spacing out since just now. What are you thinking about?"
Hearing Granny Nyon's words, Hancock, who had snapped back to reality, propped up her chin and said, "I was thinking about how to live our married life."
"Married life?"
Granny Nyon was stunned for a moment, then shook her head. "You two aren't married yet."
"Huh?"
Hancock was taken aback by Granny Nyon's words, then asked in confusion, "This doesn't count as being married?"
"He told me to be his woman. Isn't that marriage?"
If that didn't count… then what did?
Hancock, who had never been married and knew nothing about such matters, had a look of utter confusion in her eyes.
Granny Nyon thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't think so."
"Then what exactly is marriage?"
Granny Nyon fell silent for a moment, then said with some embarrassment, "You're asking me, but I also…"
She had never experienced such a thing, so she didn't know either!
The two women, who had never been married, looked at each other and both fell into deep thought.
So… how exactly does one get married?