Naruto: Copy System

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The Pluton sailed in the Calm Belt without being attacked by a single Sea King. This was a bit of a surprise.

Shin felt it was because of Shirahoshi.

Even if her power had not yet awakened, it could not change the fact that she was the ruler of the Sea Kings. It was normal for them not to attack.

"It would have been better if we had encountered a Sea King." Amatsuki Toki's face showed disappointment.

Sea King meat was exquisitely delicious.

Creatures that terrified others were, to her, nothing more than food.

"Yes, that's right. The meat of a Sea King is indeed delicious. It's necessary to catch one." Shin's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Speaking of which, he hadn't eaten Sea King meat for a long time. Now that Amatsuki Toki had brought it up, he suddenly felt a little nostalgic.

"<Universal Pull!>"

A black hole-like gravitational force erupted from Shin's hand. The Sea King at the bottom of the sea was pulled up by him.

A huge Sea King, looking very ferocious, its size as large as a small island.

"I'm curious how the Sea Kings grow so massive and still survive in the deep sea," Shin said.

The deeper the waters, the greater the pressure, making it nearly impossible for such huge creatures to live there.

Then again, this was the world of One Piece—unusual by nature—so he wasn't surprised.

"Let me kill it." Hancock drew her sword.

Shin hauled the Sea King up, still alive but on the brink of death.

One strike from Hancock's sword ended it instantly, her blade dismembering the massive creature. She kept only a portion of the meat and tossed the rest back into the sea.

"Let's have a barbecue when we get back to Amazon Lily." Shin looked at the huge piece of meat left behind.

Even a small portion was the size of a sea beast, more than enough to feed everyone on the ship. They couldn't finish it all, but nothing would go to waste.

With an entire nation waiting in Amazon Lily, there was no fear it wouldn't be eaten.

"Shin, I've already notified Elder Nyon. She will bring the citizens to welcome us," Hancock said to Shin.

Shin nodded slightly.

"By the way, Shin, do you think we should move Amazon Lily to the New World?" Hancock asked Shin.

Kalifa possessed the Float-Float Fruit, giving her the power to lift even an island into the air. That was why Hancock suggested it. For Kalifa now, moving an island was no challenge.

"It's better to stay in the first half of the Grand Line. The New World is too chaotic—it's not necessarily any better than here." Shin shook his head slightly.

"That's true..." Hancock gently said on Shin's body.

The New World was no safe haven. It was a paradise for the strong and a graveyard for the weak.

If Amazon Lily were moved there, what would happen if someone reckless attacked in Shin's absence? It was a real possibility—there was no shortage of fools without sense.

Before long, they returned to Amazon Lily, where Elder Nyon led the women of the kingdom in greeting them. Even without Shin, Hancock alone warranted such a welcome—she was their Empress after all.

Yet she was not a particularly dutiful one, rarely staying on the island and spending most of her time abroad.

The kingdom's affairs naturally fell to Elder Nyon, who had no choice but to shoulder them. With the overwhelming power of the Love-Love Fruit, opposing Hancock was impossible.

Its charm was irresistible to both men and women alike.

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"I respectfully welcome the Emperor and the Empress." Elder Nyon said respectfully after seeing Shin and Hancock.

"Elder Nyon, there's no need to be so formal. We're old acquaintances," Shin said with a smile. Even so, Elder Nyon continued to regard him with deep respect.

"Empress-sama, you're back just in time. Some development decisions of the Amazon Lily will be up to you."

Elder Nyon showed a smile to Hancock.

But Hancock was rather annoyed.

"Where is the need for me to appear for such a small matter? You can just solve it." Hancock waved her hand and said.

Such an important matter was brushed off as trivial by Hancock. It concerned the kingdom's development—how could that be a small matter? Yet Hancock had no interest in discussing it.

To her, these issues were nothing but nuisances that cut into her time with Shin. Elder Nyon tried to speak again, but Hancock activated her Devil Fruit ability. Elder Nyon left happily.

"..." Shin looked speechless.

With Hancock's personality, she was hardly suited to be an empress. Yet with the power of the Love-Love Fruit, she embodied the will of the people. Everyone who laid eyes on her erupted in cheers, hearts practically shining in their eyes.

"Is Sister Hancock really so popular in the country? She must be a benevolent ruler." Shirahoshi couldn't help but say.

"Of course." Hancock declared proudly, tilting her chin upward.

Robin scoffed, then patted Hancock's shoulder and pointed toward Shin.

"You can say that after you win him over. And really, you call yourself a benevolent monarch?"

Robin nearly gagged at her own words. To her, Hancock was nothing more than a narcissist.

"It won't be long before I capture him," Hancock replied confidently.

"I don't know where you get that confidence. But you shouldn't boast too much. It'll be pretty embarrassing if you fail, Hancock" Robin shot back.

"Oh? Then do you want to make a bet with me?" Hancock looked at Robin and asked.

"I'd appreciate it if you two didn't use me as the bet—" Shin couldn't help but say.

"—and besides, so many people are watching. Maybe you should argue in private..." Shin reminded.

Robin glanced around and quickly noticed the unfriendly stares of Amazon Lily's people. To them, she had been disrespectful to their Empress.

If Hancock gave the order, they would arrest her without hesitation.

With that realization, Robin decided to heed Shin's warning—there was no sense in drawing the people's ire here, in Hancock's own territory.

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When they arrived at the palace, Shin realized it had been nearly half a year since their last return.

The palace itself looked new, and after asking Elder Nyon, he learned it had indeed been rebuilt.

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