NOVEL NEXT Chapter 62: 62. Joining
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"It's a bit modest," Gloriosa said as she led Alex into a somewhat secluded chamber within the palace. "I hope Admiral Alex doesn't mind."
Although Gloriosa held the authority to represent Amazon Lily, she'd once left her homeland in pursuit of love, a decision that made her feel hesitant to use the palace's grand facilities freely. She had agreed to act as a caretaker primarily to oversee Amazon Lily until Hancock was ready to inherit the title of Empress, ensuring the island's safety and stability. But now, her plans seemed to be unraveling.
Alex stepped over a stool and sat down.
"So, I'll get straight to the point," Alex began, leaning back casually. "I can read your thoughts as clearly as if you spoke them."
Gloriosa's face fell, a trace of irritation flashing across her expression, but Alex pressed on. "Amazon Lily will join my nation. I understand you're concerned about maintaining the island's heritage, and rest assured, your traditions will be preserved."
"Amazon Lily will keep its name and autonomy," he continued smoothly. "My administration won't interfere excessively with your governance. In return, you'll receive funding and resources from my country, sparing your people the risk of constant plunder."
"And your obligation," Alex added, his tone growing sharper, "will be to support me in battle. When called upon, Amazon Lily's forces will unconditionally follow my command."
Though the terms seemed daunting, Gloriosa's expression softened slightly at the mention of preserving Amazon Lily's autonomy. Though she sensed little choice in the matter, she still needed to clarify one crucial point for the good of her people.
"Forgive me, Admiral, but is this country you speak of already established—or is it still being formed?"
Alex leaned forward, smirking. "It's not a country I built from scratch. You could say I gained control over it legally."
Noting her apprehension, he elaborated. "The nation under my control is Wanokuni, one of the most powerful and resource-rich countries in the New World. It's a wealthy and well-established nation, capable of outproducing and outfitting several other large countries combined. Amazon Lily won't be strained by supporting it."
"Wanokuni!" Gloriosa's eyes widened. "If it's that country, then wouldn't Wanokuni's forces alone be more than sufficient?"
Amused, Alex raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I didn't expect you to know about Wanokuni. Did you learn it during your rebellious and love phase?"
Gloriosa flushed at the remark, her old regrets momentarily resurfacing. "There are things I'd rather keep to myself for the rest of my life. I ask that you show some consideration."
Trying to regain her composure, she added, "As for Wanokuni, I learned of it through a… well-connected junior."
Alex already had a clear idea of the "junior" Gloriosa mentioned. He knew that Shakky, who had once ruled Amazon Lily as its Empress, must be the connection. This also explained the close bond between Shakky and Gloriosa and why Shakky had trusted Rayleigh to help Hancock and her sisters.
Returning to the matter at hand, Alex addressed Gloriosa's concerns. "Yes, Wanokuni is powerful, but its strength is geared primarily toward defense rather than offense. As for Amazon Lily, there's no need to underestimate the Kuja. Almost every warrior here wields two-color Haki. Even with smaller numbers, you'd be a formidable force on any battlefield."
He leaned forward, his gaze sharpening. "I'm especially interested in Hancock. She's incredibly talented—one of the most promising fighters I've seen. Someone like her could one day stand among the greatest on the seas. Sometimes, one strong warrior can make the difference of a thousand troops."
Gloriosa nodded knowingly. She understood this truth well. Alex's interest in developing Hancock's potential aligned perfectly with her hopes for Amazon Lily's future strength.
"So, Amazon Lily will join Wanokuni under my protection," Alex continued, "and I'll personally ensure Hancock becomes the strongest Empress your country has ever seen."
This resonated deeply with Gloriosa. A powerful Empress would mean a powerful Kuja, and Alex's commitment to nurturing Hancock's talent reassured her that Amazon Lily would thrive under his influence.
"I understand," she replied, taking a steadying breath. "I'll make a formal announcement that Amazon Lily will join Shogun Alex in your Wanokuni, and we will relocate from the Calm Belt."
Standing, she added one final request. "However, I hope you'll respect one condition: the dignity of Amazon Lily must be preserved."
Recognizing the significance of this, Alex nodded. "Of course."
"Then Amazon Lily will serve as a semi-autonomous region under Wanokuni," she said firmly. "No man from Wanokuni may set foot on our island without explicit permission."
Alex agreed easily, knowing that respecting this boundary would ensure Amazon Lily's cooperation. In time, he intended to build deeper ties with the island through Hancock's rule, but for now, these terms were enough.
Their conversation concluded, Gloriosa and Alex left the room, unaware that someone had been eavesdropping nearby. Or rather, Alex hadn't noticed, while Gloriosa chose to ignore it. Hidden in the shadows, Hancock clutched her hands together, her face flushed as she processed what she'd overheard. (T/N: Isn't Alex's Observation haki strong??)
Not only had she learned the truth of Gloriosa's departure from Amazon Lily, but she'd also heard Alex's words of confidence in her potential, which stirred something warm and unexplainable in her chest. Her worries faded, replaced by a new sense of happiness at the prospect of joining his forces.
Elsewhere, Gloriosa faced some resistance from the Kuja warriors.
"Master Gloriosa, are you truly serious?" one warrior asked. "Are we really to join this man's country? What if he's deceiving us?"
"That's right! How can we trust a man so readily?" another scoffed. "Men are always after something!"
Gloriosa met their gazes with an unyielding stare. "After decades of experience, I can judge sincerity when I see it. This change simply means we're exchanging our reliance on the Calm Belt for protection from a stronger country."
She paused, leaving unspoken her true thoughts about Alex's investment in Hancock, which would benefit Amazon Lily in ways she didn't want to discuss publicly.
"And besides," she continued, "the Calm Belt isn't as secure as it once was. I've received credible information that the Marines are developing ships that can navigate past the Sea Kings. If they succeed, our island's natural barrier will be worthless."
The Kuja warriors exchanged uneasy glances, suddenly aware of the shifting tides.
"It's better to join a powerful ally than to await a Marine invasion. Remember, Wanokuni itself is not affiliated with the World Government, and they command strength in the New World."
"Even if we face danger, floating as a Sky Island now would be safer than relying on the Calm Belt." Gloriosa's voice softened, but her resolve remained. "I'm not doing this for myself. I'm doing this for the future of Amazon Lily."
Moved by her words and her reputation, the Kuja warriors fell into silent and accepted the transfer.