"It looks like we're approaching the three kilometer distance we are required to stay at!" A distant marine shouted down to the deck. It had been a few days of sailing on the sea; Valdis was dreaming of fighting giant animals, which is worrying because she thinks we're going to be fighting, but I think that's all she seems to think we do. Aokiji on the other hand took a completely undeserving nap, he's already slept for a majority of the time we've been on this ship. While me, I've just been doing... absolutely nothing. I suppose this whole expedition is full of dreaming, lazy gits. "My, my, I've only just gotten time to rest my eyes." Aokiji stepped outside of his quarters, he looked off in the distance where Amazon Lily was located. "We somehow avoided the Sea Kings, but we should really keep our guard up, just in case." I looked around to check if there was anything dangerous nearby, the sea was almost jokingly silent. "Did you contact the Kuja?" "Yes, Hancock sounded displeased about our visit. She did say that she would meet us at the three kilometer distance however." He explained, Aokiji scratched the back of his head while looking around the ship, he clearly was uncomfortable about something. "It doesn't seem like they expected us this early. I should tell them we've arrived. Also, make sure Valdis doesn't get over-excited. Hancock shouldn't be underestimated." "Yeah, yeah... just tell them." Aokiji turned back around and headed back inside his quarters to contact the Kuja pirates, meanwhile I had to make sure that we were prepared to at least discuss the treaty and position with them. Hancock is arrogant and has too much confidence in her beauty, she believes she can do anything she wishes because no matter what people will be captivated by her beauty and forgive her. Therefore she will constantly demand things from us during the discussion and we have to make sure we don't give in. However, she is aware that her position as Shichibukai protects the Amazon Lily, and will try to ensure she keeps it. So in other words... it would be better if the discussion doesn't even happen and she just turns all the marines to stone. This doesn't look good for us. Oh, wait... I'm also forgetting Valdis, who knows what kind of havoc she could cause during the discussion? "Valdis! Come on out Valdis, we've got to discuss the discussion!" I called out to her, but alas there was no response, she must have been still dreaming about fighting giant animals. I suppose a time like this is better than any to use Haki to find her. It was rather easy using Kenbunshoku Haki, it doesn't drain stamina at all and considering how strong mine is... that's really a--YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! "YOU! GIVE ME YOUR TELESCOPE!" I grabbed a telescope off a nearby marine and looked out into the distant sea where it was quite clear to see a red-haired child who had just made her way onto the shore of Amazon Lily. Yes, Valdis swam around three kilometers to reach an island just to fight giant animals. We're talking about a nine year old child who mastered fish-man karate here. Even then, I don't think she'd be able to stand against the giant animals. "Tell Aokiji that I'll be back, I'm going to get Valdis." I jumped out of the ship, yes you heard me; I jumped out of the ship. I didn't fall into the water because I transformed into lightning and made my way over to the shore where she was located, considering I traveled at a third of the speed of light, I made it over there quite fast. Even then, Valdis ran off somewhere in that time. "Son of a bitch!" Yes, unfortunately Valdis ran off somewhere, even if I find her now there's no telling what kind of chaos she has caused. However, she wasn't exactly hard to locate. In fact, I didn't even need Haki. "COME ON, BOAR! I CAN TAKE YOU ON!" Well... I did travel quite fast, so she most likely didn't make it a meter from me. But did she really already get into a fight? I suppose it's better with a boar than the snake princess. I heard Valdis shout yet again. "YOU CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD! DOESN'T COUNT!" I decided to calmly walk up, the idea of Valdis reaping the consequences of her actions just sounded far too nice. What would I teach her if she didn't suffer at least a bit...? When I did reach her she was in what was meant to be an area filled with trees, but she got thrown around by the boar to the point where they were just in an open space. "So when I mentioned giant animals your first thought was; I can totally win against them?" I openly mocked her as she was not only fatigued but heavily beaten up and facing the giant boar which considered her a nuisance at best. "I'm getting used to them! It just takes a bit!" Despite the failure of a fight she was having she rolled her eyes at me as if I was an idiot. "Besides, didn't we come here to beat them up?" What annoyed me was that despite all my explanation, all my voiced concerns and the times I explained to Valdis that we are going to discuss the treaty and position of Shichibukai with Boa Hancock the leader of the Amazon Lily island and the tribe which inhabits it... she didn't once hear it. "Valdis... I've explained it to you sixty times. All of which were clear and simple." I was getting angry, who wouldn't after someone just somehow completely ignores the objective you've told them about. "WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS THE KUJA TREATY AND THE POSITION OF SHICHIBUKAI WITH BOA HANCOCK!" The boar however was still enraged and was still wishing to kill Valdis and now me since I am most definitely a threat at this point. So, I ask you this; what would a pissed off nine year old girl who possesses the most potent Haki do? Too obvious? I used Busoshoku Haki on my arm, of course I didn't use much since it was just a boar, but I punched it in the nose. I suppose I did underestimate how strong I hit it, because it was thrown through the trees and made a clear path off the island into the sea... where it continued for a while after that. "... You did hold back, right?" Valdis looked down the path, everything that once stood there was destroyed and the boar wasn't even visible anymore! "Quite a bit... I didn't even harden my Haki." We both looked around after that to see if there were any potential witnesses. "I guess two years does pay off..." "You've got to teach me that." Valdis was elated by my show of strength, I do need to remind myself that her mind is rather combat-orientated to make her not seem so weird. "That would take an awful lot of time. Besides, we should head back, Aokiji should be waiting for us." I reasoned with her, she only pouted and folded her arms. "Can't we do something more interesting? If all we're going to do is just talk and discuss treaties and all that then anyone could do the mission! Can't we spend more time fighting giant animals?" I suppose that was the only thing which got her to accept the mission in the first place. if I stopped her now and we headed back she would probably mess up the entire thing, if I kept her here on the other hand... she would cause less of an issue technically. "Only until I see the Kuja ship in the distance." I mumbled out, Valdis was rather happy with that decision and ran off to find another giant animal. Our relationship oddly seems like a responsible adult and a mischievous child. "Oh, you look rather normal, what are you doing here?" Valdis called out, that was probably the end of all the fun she was having here. Although I don't hear anything being broken or the sound of screaming, so it's possible they're having a peaceful conversation. However I wasn't so sure it was going to last so I jogged my way up to where she was, only to find her face to face... with a child. A petit girl stood opposite Valdis, she was a brunette who had curly hair and dressed in an... exposed outfit, although she's a child so I'm not sure there's much to see. What is worrying me is that this child who is clearly a Kuja and is equipped with a bow and arrow... is smiling like she's happy. I feel as though she's going to kill us. Which is highly unlikely but then again she is rather creepy. "I'm out exploring! What are you doing?" She looked to both me and Valdis for answers, she appeared quite innocent. "Well... fighting giant animals to be honest. So, who are you?" Valdis lacked any discretion in communicating with her. "I'm Anne Fukushu, but everyone calls me Babylon!" It was rather confusing both me and Valdis seeing as though the child's nickname in no way made any sense. Was she named after the capital of the Babylonian Kingdom? But wait, that doesn't even exist here! "Who are you two?" "Well, Babylon... this is my colleague and friend, Valdis Delahaye and I'm Monkey D. Maris." Even Valdis showed to be creeped out by how happy this child is. She just doesn't stop... smiling. "We're marines who have come to talk with the ruler of the island, Boa Hancock." "Oh, you're the people who the Snake Princess doesn't trust!" Well... I suppose that was one way to put it. "Can all marines throw giant animals off the island?" Oh yeah, this girl has no direct line of information to the outside world, that might explain her odd tendency to smile at strangers she has never met and has seen punch a giant boar off the island. "You're a bit odd, aren't you?" Valdis bluntly stated, Babylon looked genuinely complimented by her words, which is making me think she's crazy. "You're so kind!" I don't think she properly understands the mood. "Do you guys need directions to the Snake Princess' tower? I can help!" We both nodded in agreement, Babylon appeared quite naive to be honest, and a bit too happy for anyone's comfort. Then again what are the chances that she's secretly insane and is going to lead us to her secret lair where she'll try and kill us? Seems pretty low. True to her word, Babylon began leading us while me and Valdis followed behind. "I think something is wrong with that girl." Valdis leaned in to whisper to me. "She's creepy." "I know, but I don't suspect she harbors malice towards us... she looks far too innocent to be honest." It was hard to believe that someone so innocent could exist, but... unless she's good at lying she is more innocent than any child I've seen. "How did you guys get here?" She began chatting with us, although she didn't turn her head around to look. "We took a boat, went within a three kilometer range of the island and Valdis swam here and I flew here." That sounded like a completely irregular sentence. "Oh wait... I forgot about Aokiji!" (Third Person POV) "Admiral! The Kuja are approaching!" A marine shouted out, Aokiji exited his quarters and looked to the crimson ship which was drawing closer to his own, he glanced around to try and find both Maris and Valdis but was only concerned when he couldn't see either. "Where are Maris and Valdis?" He questioned, one marine approached him and pointed over to the shore where they had disappeared off to. "They journeyed into the island, sir! They've been gone for a while now!" The marine explained, Aokiji blankly stared at the island only sighing and approaching the end of the ship where the Kuja would stop at. "We've only just gotten here and they've already messed around." Aokiji could only patiently wait, if he abandoned his ship to go search for Maris and Valdis then he would be violating the treaty before they even discussed it. It only took a few minutes before the Kuja had actually settled their ship aside the Marines. The entire ship was populated with only women. "I didn't think they'd do me the courtesy of sending an Admiral to me." It was a surprise to the majority of the marines on board and even Aokiji himself; Hancock had shown herself before them and was captivating them with her beauty. "Is the World Government growing impatient to the point of threatening me?" "I don't believe so." Aokiji managed to remain calm and collected, which was hard to say for his crew who were already infatuated with her. "We've come here for a civil discussion, and it appears there's a slight issue we must discuss especially." "If this is so civil then why did they send you, Admiral? It is much too difficult to see this as anything but an attack!" Hancock's words were very cautious, she was confident but not arrogant and was wary of how she acted in front of Aokiji. She was facing one of the Navy's powerhouses, it could turn south quickly. The men however were still as simple as they always were. "Whatever the issue may be, are you sure it is not just an excuse to blame us?" "Well, the issue is actually more my fault and is actually offending the treaty." Aokiji openly spoke, he pointed to the shore where he was told Maris and Valdis disappeared to. "Two of my Ensigns have ventured into your island. I would appreciate if I could get them back." Hancock was shocked, even infuriated by the information she had told him, yet she was also happy that she somehow had an upper hand if they were to have a discussion, seeing as though they broke the treaty. Despite that, she was in shock. There was no sign of any other boat, no creature which could fend off the Sea Kings and somehow those two meager Ensigns traveled around three kilometers and weren't attacked by a Sea King. It was miraculous. "I see... so this discussion was all a facade. Your little ploy of infiltrating the island had failed when your Ensigns went missing, or perhaps they became Sea King bait?" Hancock clearly wanted to take advantage of their failure, it was so far the best outcome they would have. "If you so frivolously decide to throw away the terms of our treaty and we are entitled to compensation, are we not?" "Ah... well could we discuss this after we retrieve my Ensigns?" It was at that point that great echo could be heard, everyone's attention was drawn to rising dust and a giant boar which was thrown outside of the island. "Oh, that would be them." "That...?" It was rather shocking, the only one who was calm was Aokiji and even he was unsettled by it. "Don't try and scheme us with your subterfuge any longer than you have! That isn't a person neither is it two! Were you planning on destroying the entire island with such a weapon?" Aokiji knew that her response was justified, to anyone who didn't know about Maris' Haki she might as well just be a weapon. "It seems I can't convince you otherwise." It was unreasonable for Aokiji to try anything in his situation, without knowing it; Maris and Valdis both destroyed any chances of a successful discussion by trying to avoid it. "Perhaps we could talk about the reparations?" "Sonia! Mari! Go retrieve the weapon the marines have placed on the island!" Hancock ordered her two sisters who stood behind her, she gave Aokiji a loathsome glare, despite that the marines and Kuja were still heavily captivated by her! "I shall allow you to board our ship, Admiral, but be grateful... despite how rude and violent you have been with your arrival I am welcoming you into our country which forbids men. You shall pay a great price for what you've done." "Ah~! Hebihime is benevolent!" The praise of her people were loud and clear, but in truth him entering the country wasn't out of kindness, but instead out of spite. Once her sisters retrieved the weapon they had, then the World Government would listen to anything they said; Aokiji entering the country was just for convenience, they needed someone to blame.