章 57: #57 Hancock's Backstory
"No, Mr. Carlo... I've thought about it..."
"Since you got on this ship and killed that Celestial Dragon in front of us, I shouldn't hide this anymore."
"When I was twelve, I was kidnapped and sold to the Celestial Dragons as a slave..."
Hancock couldn't resist Carlo's gentle coaxing, and she began to talk about her painful and dark past.
"This is what you want to say, I didn't force you," Carlo thought.
He knew her dark history well and wanted her to reveal it herself. If she didn't open her heart, how could he win her trust completely? And without that trust, how could he complete his task?
Carlo's goal was clear: to help her confront her past and gain her full loyalty.
"It wasn't until Fisher Tiger freed the Celestial Dragons' slaves that my two sisters and I escaped."
"After drifting at sea for a long time, we met Granny Nyon, who took us in. That's how the Nine Snake Pirates came to be."
At this point, the Empress no longer seemed like a queen. She sat on a beach rock, curling into herself, pulling her white cloak to cover her delicate body.
Thinking about her past filled her with shame and fear. The Celestial Dragons had treated her and others worse than pets, making them perform for their entertainment. They even forced her and her sisters to eat Devil Fruits for their amusement.
"Hancock, it's time to let go of your fear," Carlo said.
"That Celestial Dragon is dead. What is there to be afraid of? I killed him, proving they aren't invincible gods. They aren't better than you or me; they're just arrogant, self-righteous pigs who think they're above everyone else. But not anymore. As long as I'm here, the Celestial Dragons won't get away with anything."
Carlo's words were strong and confident, surprising the Empress. He was determined to turn the tables on the Celestial Dragons, even imagining them as slaves or mounts.
He gently placed his hand on the Empress' head, offering comfort she had never experienced. The warmth of his touch felt like an electric current, making her heart race.
"Mr. Carlo, I believe in you completely," she said, wiping away tears and taking his arm.
Though she still feared the Celestial Dragons, she wasn't as terrified as before. Carlo's actions and words had given her new strength.
"Show me the 'Hoof of the Celestial Dragons' mark. Maybe I can help you get rid of it."
The Empress, her face flushed, led Carlo to a higher part of the beach.
"Mr. Carlo, can you really remove this mark of shame?" she asked, her body tense with hope.
This mark, the symbol of her slavery, had haunted her for years. Even the Fish-Man Pirates could only change its shape, not remove it.
"How will you know if you don't try?" Carlo replied, leading her to a secluded jungle area. He gestured for her to show him the mark.
Blushing deeply, the Empress turned around and unbuttoned her dress, exposing her back.
"Let's see if this works," Carlo said, donning a special glove and pressing it against the mark on her back, activating its healing ability.
After about ten minutes, the Empress felt a strange sensation on her back. Carlo's confident voice reassured her: "Starting today, you are no longer a slave to the Celestial Dragons. I've removed the mark."
Tears of relief and gratitude filled her eyes. She turned and hugged Carlo tightly, overwhelmed by emotion.
"Thank you, Mr. Carlo! This mark was my greatest nightmare..."
As Carlo comforted her, he felt a rare sense of sadness for the Empress' suffering. Even knowing her story, hearing her cry in person made it all the more real.
"Remember, one day I will help you kill those who tormented you and erase all your fears," he promised, gently patting her shoulder.
The Empress felt a strange warmth and security in his words. But then Carlo's playful tone broke the moment: "Are you really this impatient?"
The Empress was stunned, realizing what had just happened. She had turned to face him, fully exposed.
"Mr. Carlo, please don't misunderstand. I'm not that kind of person," she stammered, trying to cover herself.
Carlo, however, ignored her protests, lifting her into his arms and carrying her into the jungle. "You've taken the initiative, so now it's my turn."
Placing her on his cloak, Carlo smiled down at her, satisfied with how he had lightened the mood and dissipated her fears.
Later, as dawn approached, Carlo heard a system notification in his mind, signaling he had completed his task and earned a reward.
"Receive and use,"
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