THE STRONGEST CREATURE OF THE BEAST PIRATES

Sandersonia couldn't help but ask the Empress directly, "My lord, do you really have a sweetheart?"

The Empress's pretty face flushed like rouge, and a bit of sweat appeared on her fair forehead.

Granny Niu took out a handkerchief, wiped off the sweat from the Empress's forehead, and whispered in her ear, "It's okay to say it, Snake Princess. This kind of thing always catches people off guard like a storm."

The Empress's face turned even redder. She gasped and said, "I am... just tired."

As she spoke, she turned sideways, showing her back to everyone with her jade-like beauty. The curve of her back was extremely charming, especially from her slender waist to her hips, resembling a thrilling mountain arc.

Such allure made Granny Niu tempted. "Tsk tsk, you truly deserve to be the most beautiful Empress of Amazon Lily for so many years."

Granny Niu admired her, but then she seemed to notice something. Her face changed, and she asked everyone in the room to leave, including the Empress's two younger sisters.

Once everyone left, Granny Niu placed her hand on the center of the Empress's back, where the skin under the gauze was slightly different in color, indicating new flesh that had just grown.

"Your Celestial Dragon's hoof mark is gone. You actually used the method of cutting flesh. It's really cruel. Is that the man you like?"

The room was very quiet, only the Empress's delicate panting could be heard.

"If you don't answer, it will be regarded as your acquiescence."

Granny Niu's hand wandered on the Empress's back, feeling the tenderness of the skin through the tulle. She really wanted to know which man would be so lucky in the future.

"Speak out, Snake Princess. Maybe I can help you. Don't underestimate lovesickness; it can kill you if it's serious."

There was a long silence. The Empress finally spoke a name.

Granny Niu was obviously taken aback. "It turned out to be him. When did you meet him? Was it during the war?"

"No, it's impossible. He was a troublemaker in that war and was hunted down very badly."

"That was before that..."

Granny Niu's curiosity was ablaze with gossip, so she pressed the Empress for details.

The Empress, not usually shy, was really flustered and spoke about her and Alastor intermittently.

"...that man has surrendered to my beauty, and he will propose to me!"

Granny Niu listened with relish and said, "No man can resist your beauty, Snake Princess, but that man should not be underestimated either. He has brought great chaos to the world and almost killed Rayleigh's favorite apprentice. It's really troubling!"

Meanwhile, at the Revolutionary Army Headquarters in Baltigo, under the care of Dragon, Sabo, and Koala, Straw Hat Luffy finally woke up.

The moment he saw Sabo, he broke down and cried. "Sabo, Ace... Ace is dead!"

Sabo hugged Luffy, and the two brothers cried together. Luffy's collapse was more complete, and he lost all his energy.

This was unacceptable. He was the Joy Boy destined to change the world.

"Luffy, wake up! You must cheer up. Don't forget you still have your crew!" Dragon shouted, his voice like thunder.

Thinking of Zoro, Nami, Sanji, and his other companions, Luffy gradually regained his senses.

Dragon seized the moment and said, "Remember what you said before? You need two years to train, and this information must be passed on to your crew."

"Yes, I still have my crew. I want to train and become stronger! If I had been stronger, Ace wouldn't have died!" Luffy gritted his teeth and vowed to become stronger.

At that moment, an old man with white hair and glasses walked in with a gratified smile. "Have you cheered up? It's not too late."

He then addressed the room, "Sorry for the intrusion. Silvers Rayleigh wants to recommend himself as Luffy's teacher. Any objections?"

Compared to Kaido's brutal training methods, Rayleigh's approach was far more refined. Fortunately, Alastor wasn't there, or Rayleigh would have been beaten to pieces.

Alastor was currently visiting a country in Whitebeard's territory with Yamato. Although this country wasn't rich, it was peaceful. With Whitebeard's protection, no pirate dared to invade.

Compared to Wano Country under Kaido's rule, this place was like paradise.

Yamato snorted angrily, "Such a beautiful place must not be destroyed by that bastard Kaido! Speaking of which, Whitebeard is quite impressive. He truly is a hero who can rival the Pirate King."

"Pirates and Marines both have good and bad individuals, but they are just temporary measures and cannot solve the world's fundamental problems," Alastor said casually beside her.

Alastor and Yamato were shopping together, looking very much like a couple.

There were no members of the Beasts Pirates around, as Jack had sent them all out to search for the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates.

"The fundamental problem is the Celestial Dragons," Yamato said, clenching her fists.

"It's not that simple to overthrow the Celestial Dragons. They've ruled the world for eight hundred years, and their influence runs deep," Alastor replied. He never underestimated the Celestial Dragons, especially the mysterious Im, who had the terrifying power to wipe out a country from a distance.

Alastor had to increase his bargaining chips as much as possible. Creating a Seraph Whitebeard was one of his preparations. But success was uncertain, and the priority was to increase his own combat power.

"By the way, Yamato, do you know about the combo attack between Kaido and Big Mom called Hakai?"

"Huh?" Yamato's eyes widened. "You mean the Yonko Charlotte Linlin? Aren't she and Kaido enemies?"

"Well, you can ask Kaido for the specifics."

"Tch, I'm not interested. Why are you bringing this up?"

"Because I want to create a combo attack for us. My strength was far behind yours before, but now it should be fine."

"Haha, sounds interesting. Don't mess it up."

Alastor led Yamato to a lush, uninhabited forest.

"How do we practice?" Yamato asked, blinking.

"Let me think... We need to get familiar with each other's auras first. We should get closer and hold our fingers tightly."

"Is that so..."

Yamato moved closer to Alastor.

"Right, that's it."

"But how do we train like this... What are you doing? It doesn't work here, ah!"

It seemed like two fierce beasts were fighting in the woods, and all the birds in the trees flew away in fright.

"It's full, it can't fit, it's so bloated..." Yamato's mouth was wide open, her cheeks bulging. Her throat felt blocked and uncomfortable.

Alastor sighed comfortably and smiled. "You see how powerful I am, Yamato. Let's see if you dare to challenge me again."

Yamato mumbled something unintelligible.

"If you can't handle it, just spit it out," Alastor laughed.

"No... I can eat it," Yamato said, swallowing hard. It took a lot of effort, but she finally swallowed all the food in her mouth.

Alastor handed her a glass of water, which she drank in one gulp before burping.

"I'm so full, I've never been this full. I feel like I might burst."

"Isn't that because you exhausted too much energy in the woods?"

Yamato glared at Alastor. "It's maddening to mess around like that. What if someone saw us?"

"No one did. My Observation Haki is always active, so I can detect any trouble in advance," Alastor replied calmly.

Being in the wild was indeed different from being in a hot spring. Despite Yamato's annoyed look, she had been more excited and proactive than Alastor. She had to eat so much to replenish her energy.

"Hey, it's about time. Yamato, you should digest now."

Alastor raised his eyebrows as he heard a distant voice. Yamato stood up and stretched, her figure becoming more and more impressive. Alastor had just measured it with his hands, and she was definitely more impressive than the Empress.

"Are those the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates? They are quite pitiful. They've lost their father, their companions, and their territory."

"This is the reality of the world, where the weak are preyed upon by the strong. Without support, they become stray dogs. This is a future many hopeful pirates have not considered."

Why do so many people want to become pirates in the Great Pirate Era? Besides those pursuing One Piece or those who are desperate, many seek a carefree and romantic life due to the freedom of being a pirate.

Straw Hat Luffy is the most typical example, wanting to become a pirate purely for freedom, believing the Pirate King is the freest person in the world.

Freedom without order brings chaos.

Yamato's voice was resolute, "Then I will liberate and regulate this world!"

Alastor smiled. "Let's focus on defeating the enemies in front of us first."

At the edge of Whitebeard's territory, on an island where Kaido and Red-Haired Shanks had previously fought, the ground was long destroyed but perfect for a new battle.

Jack the Drought led a group of men, standing on the coast, watching the approaching Whitebeard Pirates' fleet.

"Hiss, there are still so many of them!" Sheepshead, an artificial Devil Fruit user with a sheep form, gasped. He originally thought the Whitebeard Pirates would have only a few members left after their defeat by the Navy. But there were over 10,000, outnumbering their own group.

Among the Whitebeard Pirates were powerful figures like Marco the Phoenix, Diamond Jozu, and Vista the Swordsman. On their side, only Jack was present for now.

Sheepshead wiped sweat from his brow and urged Jack, "Master Jack, let's not act rashly. We should wait for Master Yamato and Master Alastor before starting the battle."

Jack glanced at Sheepshead coldly and let out a heavy roar under his steel mask.

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