"Rhett Vane sama, I want to ask you something important."
Granny Nyon's voice broke the quiet, her tone carrying the weight of long contemplation. She had been thinking about this ever since the young man arrived, and now, for the sake of Amazon Lily's future, she could no longer hold back.
Vane replied calmly, sipping from his drink.
"Although I know it's rude to ask for help from someone I've just met, and who owes us nothing…" Nyon began.
"What do you want to say, Granny Nyon?"
Boa Hancock frowned, visibly displeased. She had been in the middle of speaking with Vane, enjoying his attention, when the old woman interrupted. The Princess's irritation flared instantly — how dare she break into their conversation?
"This matter is important, Hancock," Nyon said firmly, her voice sharper than before.
Vane gestured for Hancock to stay quiet, his expression telling her to let Nyon continue.
The old woman's eyes softened in gratitude. As the former empress of Amazon Lily, she had always placed the island's survival above personal feelings.
"This request may be rude, but we have no other choice. It concerns the future of Amazon Lily," she said gravely.
"What is it?" Vane asked again.
Nyon's face grew even more serious. "Right now, Amazon Lily is protected by the Snake Princess's status as a Shichibukai. But I believe the Shichibukai system will not last much longer… and Hancock is far too willful. I fear she could lose her position at any time."
"Old woman! Are you calling this queen willful? Impossible!" Hancock snapped. Then, in a sudden shift of tone, she turned to Vane with a sweet, almost pleading voice. "Vane sama, don't believe a word she says…"
But Vane's hand rose again, silencing her without a word.
Nyon continued. "Hancock is strong, but no one can fight the entire world. Times are changing. The world's shipbuilding technology has advanced. Once, we relied on the Calm Belt to keep invaders away, but now ships can cross it easily. If the Snake Princess loses her Shichibukai status, Amazon Lily will be defenseless. The island could become a living hell."
Her words trembled at the end.
"Even without the Shichibukai title, This queen can protect Amazon Lily!" Hancock shot back. "We don't need the World Government's charity! They serve scum like the Celestial Dragons — why would we want their protection? And old woman, if you hadn't begged this queen to join the Shichibukai, we never would have!"
Her voice carried the bitterness of someone who had suffered under the rule of the Celestial Dragons.
"Hancock, can't you see the truth? The island is made up entirely of women. No matter how strong we are, in this ruthless world, we are still a target. Are the navy our friends? Are pirates any better? Once your Shichibukai status is gone, every eye will turn to this island, and I promise you… it will be destroyed."
Hancock opened her mouth to retort, but Vane's voice cut in.
"The Shichibukai system will be abolished soon. Maybe in two or three years… maybe less." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel⚑fire.net
The room fell silent.
"What…? The system will really be abolished?" Hancock and the others stared at him in disbelief. Deep down, they believed his words.
"The Shichibukai system is corrupt. Once the truth spreads, the nations allied with the World Government will demand its end. The Shichibukai are nothing more than pirates with a license to plunder, as long as they don't go too far. Doflamingo enslaved Dressrosa. Crocodile sought an ancient weapon."
Even Blackbeard used the title to infiltrate Impel Down and release the most dangerous criminals alive. Even the World Government's own choices — like adding someone like Weevil — show how far the rot has gone. Vane said in his mind.
Nyon's eyes widened. "Doflamingo… Crocodile…"
Even Hancock, who had been dismissive before, looked shaken.
When the system is gone, Amazon Lily will be exposed. In the original events, the navy had wasted no time — surrounding the island the moment Hancock's protection vanished. A nation of women is a temptation too many would be unable to resist.
Whether they called themselves justice or embraced the title of pirate, men would come. The only difference would be in how openly they bared the knife.
In this world, there had never been a savior.