After saying these words, Empress burst into tears again, suddenly unable to control her emotions, and sobbed while hugging her legs.
Her two younger sisters also sniffled along, murmuring.
"Sister…"
After crying in a low voice for a while, Empress gradually stopped her sobbing.
She asked Luffy in a somewhat unconfident tone.
"Will you look down on…"
"Us, who were once slaves?"
After asking Luffy the question, she hugged her legs tightly, appearing extremely nervous.
She was very afraid that Luffy would say an answer that would disappoint and sadden her.
Luffy quietly looked at Empress, who was hugging herself tightly, and slowly said.
"If I looked down on you, I wouldn't have blocked that mark for you!"
Hearing Luffy's answer, Empress immediately seemed to let out a sigh of relief, and a smile appeared on her tear-stained face.
And Luffy's voice continued without stopping.
"And I hate Celestial Dragons!"
"One day…"
"I will lead people to Mary Geoise and overthrow the World Government and the rule of the Celestial Dragons!"
Upon hearing this, her two younger sisters and Niu Popo's pupils immediately constricted, and infinite shock flashed in their eyes.
Empress, however, couldn't help but tremble inside, staring blankly at Luffy.
Tears couldn't help but slide from the corners of her eyes again.
Yet, her lips still carried a smile, and while wiping her tears, she looked at Luffy and said.
"Haha…"
"You really are an idiot!"
"To actually have the idea of challenging the Heavens!"
"However…"
"I like it very much!"
…
After finishing her story, Empress asked about Luffy's situation.
She was still very curious as to why Luffy and his crew had come to this island.
Afterward, Luffy told Empress about their mission to rescue Ace and how they were sent flying here by Kuma.
After hearing Luffy's explanation, Empress and the others were extremely shocked.
Her two younger sisters couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"We didn't expect Fire Fist Ace to be your brother!"
"Are you actually going to face the entire power of Marineford? That's too incredible!"
Empress, on the other hand, looked at Luffy with even more fervent eyes, excitedly saying.
"You're actually going to such a dangerous place to save your brother, Luffy!"
Calling out Luffy's name for the first time made Empress feel hot all over and blush.
She shyly turned her head, not daring to look directly into Luffy's eyes.
Just then, Niu Popo suddenly thought of something and immediately said to Empress in a panic.
"That's right! Snake Princess!"
"Why haven't you agreed to participate in that war yet?"
"That warship has been waiting in the outer sea for several days!"
"If you don't go with them, your Shichibukai status will be revoked!"
"In that case, our country will not be protected by your title."
"The Marine will come to attack us here!"
Upon hearing this, Empress immediately showed a pitiful expression, saying plaintively.
"But…"
"I'm so scared!"
Seeing Empress's pitiful appearance, Niu Popo immediately felt her heart melt.
"Ah… So pitiful!"
Suddenly, she shook her head violently, regaining her senses from Empress's charm, and persuaded her.
"With your skills, you will definitely survive safely on such a battlefield!"
However, no sooner had she finished speaking than she saw Empress looking at Luffy with extremely fervent eyes, saying with utmost sincerity.
"I don't want to be enemies with Luffy!"
Seeing Empress's fervent gaze and her infatuated look at Luffy, Niu Popo's eyes widened instantly, and her heart trembled greatly.
She thought to herself.
"Oh no! Snake Princess is completely captivated by this man now!"
"If this continues, this country will be lost!"
In her helplessness, she could only place her hope in Luffy, saying to him.
"You quickly persuade Snake Princess!"
"Now, only you can persuade her!"
Upon hearing this, Luffy suddenly blurted out.
"How about…"
"Let Hancock join our Pirate Crew!"
"That way, the Marine wouldn't come here to pursue her even if her Shichibukai title was revoked, right!"
Upon hearing this, Niu Popo and her two younger sisters simultaneously had their pupils tremble.
Niu Popo exclaimed in disbelief.
"What did you say?!"
Her two younger sisters were also extremely shocked.
"Sister is the Empress of Amazon Lily, how could she become a pirate with you~.?"
"That's right! Sister also has to manage our Nine Snake Pirates! Don't talk nonsense!"
Just as these people were questioning and refuting Luffy.
Empress, however, felt a sudden jolt like an electric shock in her heart upon hearing Luffy's words.
Another scene involuntarily appeared in her mind.
In the scene.
Luffy extended a hand to her, saying with extreme tenderness.
"Hancock! Come with me!"
"Ah…"
Empress let out a sigh in her heart, her eyes seeming to sparkle, looking at Luffy with immense fervor.
"Luffy…"
Calling out Luffy's name, she took his hand and threw herself into his embrace.
"Snake Princess! Snake Princess!"
The shouts of Niu Popo came from her ears.
Empress suddenly snapped back to reality, feeling her body hot and stiff all over.
"Is… Is this…"
"A marriage proposal!!!"
Empress suddenly covered her cheeks, falling into a state of extreme shyness.
And Niu Popo's voice continued to sound from the side.
"Snake Princess! Quickly refuse this man!"
"You are the Empress of this country, you cannot leave here!"
No sooner had Niu Popo finished speaking than everyone heard Empress suddenly say with great excitement.
"I do!"
As she said this, she also twisted her body, appearing extremely shy and excited.
Immediately, Niu Popo and her two younger sisters were dumbfounded.
Niu Popo looked at Empress's foolish appearance and murmured.
"Are you really answering this man's question?"
And her two younger sisters cried out in panic.
"Sister! What are you saying?"
"Sister! Are you really going to give up your status as Empress and join this man's Pirate Crew?"
Pulled back to her thoughts by her two younger sisters' panicked cries, Empress realized that she had been distracted just now.
After returning to normal, she took a deep look at Luffy and said.
"I… I'm sorry, Luffy!"
"I cannot leave this country."
"If I'm not here, many pirates will come to invade."
Nine Snake Island also has another name famous throughout the world, Maiden Island.
Just hearing this name, one knows that this island is full of women.
It is also for this reason that many pirates covet this place, wanting to seize the women on this island.
However, because it is located in the Calm Belt, and coupled with the fame of Shichibukai Empress, very few people invade now.
But once Empress's Shichibukai title is gone, and she also leaves here, then this place will probably be invaded by countless pirates and turn into a hell.
However, just when they thought Luffy would stop there, they heard Luffy say.
"If the flag of a Four Emperors is hung here, other pirates probably wouldn't dare to invade, right!"
As soon as this was said, Empress and the others were stunned.
Niu Popo was the first to speak.
"The flag of a Four Emperors is not that easy to borrow."
"To borrow their flag, a huge price must definitely be paid."
"Moreover, we don't associate with men here, let alone borrow the flag of a Four Emperors."
Although Empress and her two younger sisters didn't say anything, they all agreed with Niu Popo's words.
However, Luffy's words once again made them involuntarily stunned.
"I mean…"
"Hang my flag here!"
When Luffy said this, his tone was extremely calm.
However, it was precisely his seemingly calm demeanor that revealed his immense confidence and powerful aura, leaving Empress and the others somewhat stunned.
After staring blankly at Luffy for a while, his two younger sisters immediately spoke up.
"Don't be ridiculous! Can your flag compare to a Four Emperors' flag?"
"That's right! We've never even heard of you people! Your flag is probably not as useful as our Nine Snake Pirates' flag!"
The people on Nine Snake Island have no contact with the outside world.
Even News Seagulls don't come here because it's located in the Calm Belt and is remote.
Therefore, to get information about the outside world on this island, they can only rely on the Nine Snake Pirates.
But the current Nine Snake Pirates hardly pay attention to outside news.
They only occasionally venture out to sea when they are forced to purchase new resources for their country.
And even when they go out to sea, they rarely pay attention to current events.
It's like when they got newspapers from Mole, no one bothered to read them.
If Niu Popo hadn't cared about these things, they probably wouldn't have known what happened on Sabaody Archipelago.
Luffy's words made his two younger sisters find it laughable, but Niu Popo couldn't help but frown, becoming very serious.
She had personally witnessed the strength displayed by Straw Hat.
Moreover, Luffy also said they were going to that dangerous battlefield to rescue Ace.
All of this made Niu Popo feel that Luffy and his crew shouldn't be nobodies.
Out of curiosity, she tentatively asked Luffy:
"You said you are a pirate."
"So..."
"What's your bounty?"
While bounty doesn't represent strength, it can very directly reflect a person's influence.
Luffy said indifferently, "3 billion Berries!"
Boom!
As soon as these words came out, Empress and the others felt as if their hearts had been struck by lightning.
Everyone showed an expression of extreme shock.
And Luffy continued to say, "Although we are not yet recognized as an Emperor's crew by the outside world!"
"But after this war, the whole world will acknowledge us."
When Luffy spoke these words, there was infinite confidence in his eyes.
This aura left Niu Popo and his two younger sisters deeply shaken.
And Empress's eyes were filled only with Luffy.
She had personally fought Luffy, so she believed his words.
After lowering her head and pondering for a long time, Empress suddenly looked up, her bright eyes fixed on Luffy, and said, "Luffy! This concubine is willing to go with you!"
Upon hearing this, Niu Popo and his two younger sisters simultaneously exclaimed, "Snake Princess?!"
"Sister?!"
Empress, however, spoke to them with a serious expression this time.
"You all know that I detest the World Government immensely."
"The only reason I cooperated with them was to use the title of Shichibukai to protect this island."
"But if Luffy's flag is there, it can achieve the same effect."
"And..."
"Luffy said he wants to overthrow the rule of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons!"
As she spoke, Empress gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with intense anger, and she said in a deep voice, "I want... to personally witness that moment's arrival!"
Hearing Empress's last words, her two younger sisters silently closed their mouths, swallowing back the words they wanted to use to dissuade her.
They also harbored intense hatred for the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, so they fully understood Empress's feelings.
But Niu Popo frowned and asked seriously, "How can overthrowing the World Government be possible?"
"And..."
"If you leave, who will manage this country?"
"Don't be so willful!"
As soon as Niu Popo finished speaking, Empress immediately said, "When this concubine is not here, Marigold will temporarily manage this country!"
"Aren't you the Empress from many generations ago?"
"With your assistance, managing the country should certainly be no problem!"
"If we succeed, then this concubine will return to continue as Empress."
"If we don't succeed, then this country will be left to you!"
Seeing that Empress was not joking this time, Niu Popo couldn't help but frown deeply.
His two younger sisters' eyes were filled with intense worry.
They felt that challenging the World Government was extremely unreliable.
However, Empress had made up her mind, blocking any words they wanted to use to persuade her.
"This concubine has made up her mind!"
"Fisher Tiger once desperately challenged the World Government alone and rescued us."
"But even so, we still live under their shadow, not daring to let anyone see our backs."
"So this time..."
"I want to completely break free from this shadow!"
Upon hearing Empress's words, the others fell silent, no longer offering any words of dissuasion.
...
Luffy left the palace alone.
Although Empress had decided to join Straw Hat.
However, as the Empress of this country, she certainly couldn't suddenly resign and leave.
So, they still needed to discuss how to announce this matter to the citizens and other related affairs afterward.
When Luffy returned to the banquet hall, the banquet had long since ended.
Only a few members of Straw Hat were still waiting for him there.
But this time, the expressions on their faces as they looked at Luffy no longer held the previous chill.
Instead, each of them showed sympathy and understanding.
Seeing their expressions, Luffy immediately realized something.
He looked at Nami and asked, "You heard?"
Nami glanced at the others and said, "We all know!"
"But don't worry!"
"We won't say anything!"
Luffy nodded, not saying much more.
He believed these people had a sense of propriety and would not do anything that would harm Empress.
Afterward, he led his crew back to Straw Hat's gathering place outside the city.
Then, he began to plan targeted special training for each member of Straw Hat.
Uta's current fighting style mainly relies on Armament Haki and Observation Haki, so Luffy's plan for her was to fight her using stronger Armament Haki and Observation Haki, stimulating her growth through this type of similar combat.
For Zoro's improvement, the focus was mainly on Haoshoku.
Haoshoku Haki Infusion is undoubtedly the top-tier power, so Luffy planned to fight Zoro with powerful Haoshoku abilities to help him strengthen his strongest part.
Sanji's Observation Haki was already top-notch, and his physical strength had become extremely formidable due to the activation of his lineage factor, so Luffy wanted to strengthen his relatively weaker Armament Haki.
Although this wasn't what he was best at, it was what could most enhance his combat power.
For Nami and Nojiko, Luffy mainly wanted to strengthen their respective Devil Fruit development abilities, as well as their respective Good at Haki.
Coincidentally, both forms of Gear Fourth are the ultimate development of Devil Fruit abilities, and they respectively embody extreme Armament Haki and Observation Haki.
Fighting them with these two forms was the most suitable.
Chopper's current main drawback was his slow speed.
So Luffy planned to teach him Soru, one of the Six Powers.
This way, he could become more well-rounded.
As for Franky, Brook, and Bonney, for them, the best approach for now was to first improve their basic physical qualities using the [Ultimate Body Forging Technique] and learn to master Haki.
Karu could develop his abilities on his own.
Finally, for Usopp, Vivi, and Robin, Luffy planned to help them obtain the strongest power of Devil Fruits: Devil Fruit Awakening!