Aether naturally recognized Gloriosa. It was not only from his knowledge of the original story, even in the memories he inherited, he had encountered her before.
The first time had been when Gol D. Roger was thirty, traveling through the New World. Back then, Gloriosa was still in her forties, a refined and striking woman with silver hair. Time, however, had not been kind.
In this world, beauty faded mercilessly. No matter how stunning a woman once was, age would eventually erode it. Even figures like Charlotte Linlin, once known for her beauty, or Vice Admiral Tsuru of the Marines, had long passed their prime. Even mermaids, famed for their unmatched allure, could not escape the passage of time.
Men, on the other hand, often aged differently. Some retained their charm even into their later years.
Gloriosa's expression turned serious.
"Then how did you get here? If the Snake Princess discovers your presence, it will be extremely dangerous."
Aether smiled lightly.
"I am being hunted by a Marine Admiral, so I needed a place to lie low for a few days. I will leave before Portgas D. Ace's execution begins. As for being discovered by Boa Hancock, if it comes to that, then I will simply fight. A user of Conqueror's Haki and one of the stronger members of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, it would be interesting."
Gloriosa frowned. His calm tone made her even more uneasy. She could not gauge his strength, and with the World Government summoning the Warlords, this was not a time for trouble.
Aether had deliberately revealed that he was being pursued by an Admiral. It served as both a warning and a deterrent.
Seeing that she remained silent, he added casually,
"Do not worry, old lady. I will not cause trouble. I will leave within four days."
Gloriosa exhaled slowly.
"You may stay for five days at most. I will be watching you closely."
...
An hour passed in the blink of an eye.
Aether sat atop a cliff above the palace, holding a large roasted pig as he ate leisurely. From this height, the entirety of Amazon Lily stretched before him, a land wrapped in dense forest and surrounded by the sea. It felt wild and untamed.
Beyond the island, within the Calm Belt, massive shapes occasionally surfaced beneath the water. Sea Kings.
Aether narrowed his eyes slightly. He felt an urge to dive in and hunt a few just to taste them.
Below, the palace was covered in long hanging cloths. After asking around, he learned it was because the Kuja Empress was bathing.
The women of Amazon Lily all believed that Hancock and her sisters had slain a monster known as Gorgon, only to be cursed in its final moments. According to the story, eyes had formed on their backs, and anyone who looked upon them would be turned to stone.
Aether took a sip of his drink and shook his head slightly.
It was clear how deeply the Boa sisters feared their past.
At that moment, a notification appeared in his mind.
S Class figure Marco has developed a positive emotion toward the host, elementary friendliness. Experience gained, 1000.
Level up, Level 52.
Aether's stomach growled even louder, prompting him to continue eating. This time, the emotion came from Marco, the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Soon after, more notifications appeared. Several members of the Whitebeard Pirates had also developed emotional responses, though not even half of them. As for Edward Newgate himself, there was no reaction at all.
Aether wondered if the strongest figures of this era could reach the highest possible rank, and whether even Roger himself had achieved it.
Suddenly, a commotion broke his thoughts.
A figure rushed up from the cliffside path. Straw Hat Luffy appeared, still being chased by a group of Kuja warriors.
The moment Luffy saw Aether, his face lit up.
"Aether, it is great to see you!"
Before Aether could respond, Luffy grabbed him and bolted.
Aether blinked, momentarily confused.
Why am I running? He is the one being chased.
The two leaped off the cliff and landed on the roof of a nearby building.
At that instant, a familiar sense of danger washed over Aether.
Without hesitation, he kicked Luffy away.
The force sent Luffy flying, while Aether himself crashed through the roof and fell into the building below.
That sensation had appeared before in his memories. It was a precursor to something significant.
Aether dropped into a pool of warm water, splashing loudly.
Steam filled the room.
In front of him was a flawless back, pale and smooth. Upon it was a distinct mark, three triangles surrounding a circle.
Aether's gaze sharpened.
He knew that symbol all too well.
The mark of the Celestial Dragons.
Only slaves bore that brand.
Which meant there was no doubt about the identity of the woman before him.
Aether spoke calmly.
"That mark is familiar. How did it come to be on your body, Pirate Empress."
Hancock froze.
In an instant, she grabbed a robe and wrapped it around herself, turning toward him with fury in her eyes.
Hearing the noise, her two sisters rushed in.
The tall woman with long green hair was Boa Sandersonia, a user of the Snake Snake Fruit, Model Anaconda.
The shorter, sturdier woman with orange hair was Boa Marigold, a user of the Snake Snake Fruit, Model King Cobra.
All three of them glared at Aether.
Hancock's voice trembled slightly.
"He saw my back. He knows about the mark."
For a brief moment, she even forgot her usual arrogance.
Notifications appeared again.
S Class figure Boa Hancock has developed negative emotion toward the host, moderate hostility and fear. Experience gained, 2000.
Two A rank figures have developed negative emotion, moderate hostility and fear. Experience gained, 400.
Aether understood immediately.
This was the secret she feared most.
Was it fear of exposure, or fear of the World Government discovering the truth again.
"Kill him," the three sisters said in unison.
Hancock acted instantly.
"Mero Mero Mellow."
A wave of heart shaped energy passed through Aether.
Nothing happened.
Sandersonia and Marigold stared in disbelief.
"How is this possible? He saw Sister's back, yet he is unaffected."
Hancock's expression darkened further. This man had seen her secret and resisted her power. That made him even more dangerous.
Aether clicked his tongue slightly.
To be affected by something like that, they truly underestimated him. With his level of Conqueror's Haki, resisting such an ability was not difficult.
Still, he had no intention of fighting.
Hancock was only wearing a robe. If it slipped during a battle, things could become troublesome. More importantly, he wanted to gain more from this island.
Amazon Lily was filled with warriors. Even the weakest among them held value.
Aether raised both hands calmly.
"I surrender. I am innocent. That reckless Straw Hat Luffy pushed me, which is why I fell in here. I request a fair trial."
The three sisters fell silent.
His sudden surrender left them at a loss.
After a brief pause, Hancock regained her composure.
Since he had surrendered, she would grant him a trial.
After all, on Amazon Lily, strength determined everything. Even in something called fairness, the outcome was already decided.