Nerona furiously slapped the stone statue of her maid, now petrified. Witnessing this, Hancock offered a calm warning.
"If you keep hitting her like that and manage to crack it, she might actually die."
Nerona's hand froze mid-air.
Truthfully, Hancock's warning was unnecessary. With Nerona's strength, even slapping for a year wouldn't leave a mark.
Turning with fury, Nerona snapped at Hancock.
"Was it you? Release her right now or I'll tell Chiga! He's the Fleet Admiral!"
Raising an eyebrow, Hancock folded her arms under her ample chest and looked down at her coolly.
"And why would Chiga-sama listen to you? This concubine is—"
She cut herself off abruptly, her gaze shifting to the doorway.
Chiga had appeared, watching the confrontation with a mixture of amusement and mild exasperation.
Seeing him, Hancock's face softened immediately.
"Chiga-sama," she greeted with a slight bow.
Chiga gave her a light smile.
"Hancock, please release the petrification on the maid."
Obediently, Hancock turned to the maid. Her eyes glowed with heart-shaped light, and within moments, the petrification lifted. But Sylvia remained frozen in mind, mumbling softly.
Nerona scowled and twisted Sylvia's ear.
"Can't you have some self-respect? She almost killed you just now!"
Hancock scoffed, unimpressed.
"This concubine had no intention of killing anyone. You were the one who nearly got her killed."
Chiga's voice silenced both women. Hancock immediately stepped forward and clung to his arm.
"It's my fault, Chiga-sama... I didn't mean to make you upset."
Not wanting to be outdone, Nerona latched onto his other arm, pouting silently.
Chiga wasn't truly angry. He just wanted some peace.
"Alright. Now that you've met—Nerona, this is Hancock. She's one of us."
He signaled a maid to bring food and led them both to the living room.
Seated on the plush sofa, Chiga turned to Hancock.
"You arrived just in time. I have a gift for you."
With a wave, a black rectangular object floated out from a swirling Door-Door Space. Hancock raised an eyebrow.
"Chiga-sama, what is this?"
With a subtle motion, he peeled back the dark exterior, revealing a battered figure: Rizwell—her head grotesquely twisted to face her back.
Hancock's expression shifted instantly. Even after all these years, she recognized her tormentor—the Celestial Dragon who had once bought her as a slave.
Hate and fear surged simultaneously. Her long black hair stirred as if alive, transforming into nine serpentine shadows that hissed toward Rizwell.
Rizwell hadn't eaten in days. Isolation and darkness had driven her to the brink of madness. The moment she saw Chiga, she screamed like a lunatic.
"I'll kill you! Not just you—everyone connected to you!"
Before Chiga or Hancock could react, Nerona suddenly strode forward.
She struck Rizwell across her bloated face with full force.
"You think you're worthy to kill Chiga-sama? Look at yourself. If you want to kill someone close to him, start with me!"
Another slap. And another. Rizwell spat out two bloodied teeth, staring in disbelief.
"Nerona! Are you betraying your own kind?!"
"You don't get to define what being a Celestial Dragon means. Just being in the same race as you makes me nauseous. Die already."
She kicked Rizwell's bloated face again and again, her breathing ragged from exhaustion. She hadn't eaten much either.
Hancock stood frozen. Even the nine shadow-snakes seemed stunned, their expressions almost comical.
Was she really seeing this?
A Celestial Dragon was beating another Celestial Dragon to death.
This... shattered everything she believed about their kind.
Nerona finally collapsed into Chiga's arms with a sigh.
"I'm tired. Chiga-sama, massage me~"
Chiga chuckled and gently stroked the stubborn cowlick atop her head. Ever since she stopped styling it upward, the little tuft refused to behave.
At that moment, the maid arrived with food. Nerona's stomach growled audibly. Saliva dripped from the corner of her mouth as she eyed the feast.
Amused, Chiga nudged her.
"Hungry? Go on, eat."
Flustered, Nerona buried her face in his chest.
"Not hungry... I want to eat with you."
"I'll join you soon. Let me handle this first. Be good."
Still blushing, she hurried to the table, avoiding his gaze.
Hancock, still shaken, watched her devour the food like a starved animal.
"...Is she really a Celestial Dragon?"
Rizwell's gaze turned venomous.
"She's a disgrace! I'll see her punished!"
Even now, she clung to that toxic pride.
Chiga snapped his fingers—and Rizwell's mouth vanished.
Transferred elsewhere... specifically, to the public restroom at Marineford Headquarters.
The overpowering stench blasted her senses. Her eyes bulged in silent horror as she turned blue from nausea.
Chiga turned to Hancock, calm as ever.
"I've modified her. She won't die for at least a week. What happens next is up to you."
Tears welled in Hancock's eyes as she embraced him tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.
Nerona, halfway through chewing a meatball, swallowed it whole in surprise. She quickly gulped water and thumped her chest.
"Hey! Are you trying to kill this princess while she's eating?!"