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Liam soared through the air above the city wall, stepping lightly with Geppo. With a rapid "pā pā pā," he maneuvered in front of the passing newsbird, cutting off its flight path.
Startled, the newsbird flapped its wings in alarm, hovering midair as two feathers spiraled down to the ground below.
"Oi, you blind, feather-brained pigeon! Can't you see there's a whole city down here?"
Standing firmly on Geppo, Liam crossed his arms and scolded the newsbird, pointing toward Kuja City below.
The newsbird tilted its head in confusion. In all its years of service— punching in, delivering newspapers, soaring across the seas on countless routes— it had never run into a situation like this.
Liam rummaged through his pockets and finally pulled out a one-hundred Belly coin. He plucked a newspaper from the dazed bird's satchel, stuffed the coin into its pouch, and gave it a firm pat on the head.
"Just because this is the Calm Belt, you think you can skip deliveries? That's discrimination, you know. I ought to report you."
In the manga, after Luffy's infamous photo from Amazon Lily surfaced, he happened to read a newspaper reporting Ace's impending execution— one that Elder Nyon had brought aboard the Kuja pirate ship from outside waters.
Liam and Robin had lived on Amazon Lily for years and had never once seen a newsbird come down to sell newspapers. During their months at sea, Hancock and her crew must have collected plenty of old newspapers, yet Liam had never noticed.
Now that he had intercepted this bird, it was time for a proper lesson.
The newsbird, overwhelmed by Liam's bizarre lecture, glanced downward. Sure enough, a thriving city of humans lay below.
The Calm Belt was a strange place— windless and eerily still. Flying through these waters was uncomfortable, and many islands here were abandoned, their ancient ruins giving no hint of civilization. It was no wonder the newsbirds had never realized Amazon Lily was still inhabited.
Under Liam's "gentle guidance," the newsbird gave a solemn nod. Adjusting the tiny sailor-like cap atop its head, it saluted with its wing before flapping away into the horizon.
Liam landed back atop the city wall, newspaper in hand. As he unfolded it, his eyes settled on the boldest headline:
"The Levely, huh…"
Several pages were dedicated to coverage of this year's World Summit. But as expected, the World Government's iron grip ensured that details about the meetings were scarce.
Instead, the articles were filled with fluff, lacking interviews with actual rulers. Even Morgans, with all his reach, couldn't extend his talons into the sacred halls of Mariejois.
"From Ryugu Kingdom: The Queen, Mother of the Mermaid Princess!"
"Queen Otohime Advocates for Human-Fish-Man Peaceful Coexistence!"
Unlike the rest of the vague political drivel, Queen Otohime's interviews were surprisingly extensive. Likely because she had cooperated willingly, the paper contained several features about her and her ideals.
But in the end, it was all the same rhetoric, and Liam wasn't particularly interested.
Not that he opposed her message— if asked, he'd readily agree that Fish-Men and humans should coexist peacefully. But words alone weren't enough.
The Ryugu Kingdom had no real power. Hoping the World Government would treat them as equals? Dreaming that they'd relinquish the lucrative black-market trade of Fish-Men and mermaids in favor of "fish rights"? It was a naïve thinking at best.
Otohime spoke with sincerity, but she had no concrete plan. To Liam, Fish-Man Island's plight reminded him of another forsaken land from a different world. Both sought equality within an inherently unequal system, and peace despite generations of hatred.
But in that other world, the people of Paradis Island weren't just discriminated against— they were despised. Meanwhile, in this world, humans didn't fear Fish-Men… they coveted them.
If a certain reckless bastard from that other world had been born on Fish-Man Island and gotten hold of Poseidon's power, he'd probably have long since led an army of Sea Kings to smash through the Red Line, drown Mariejois, and sink every major kingdom. The entire world would become the sea's domain.
What would they call that? The Roar of the Sea?
Liam smirked at the thought and shook his head. In some ways, Queen Otohime was like Armin.
No— Armin, at least, had a scheming, decisive streak. Otohime was purely an idealist, a true Pacifist sacrificing herself for a dream.
As Liam continued reading, he heard a voice below calling Giorno's name.
Looking down, he spotted Hancock gazing up at him. Beside her stood Bonney.
Liam stepped off the wall, using Geppo to descend smoothly.
"Take me up," Hancock ordered.
Liam, well acquainted with her moods, could tell she wasn't in the best state of mind. In times like these, only he or Robin could approach her without risk.
Bonney, meanwhile, stood awkwardly beside her, avoiding Liam's gaze, her face tinged red. Whatever had happened at the base of the wall, Liam had clearly missed something.
"So, it's true? Her ability can't save Snake Princess?" he asked.
Hancock didn't answer. If anyone else had spoken to her so casually, they would have been turned to stone on the spot. Yet this bastard still had the nerve to confirm what he already suspected. Annoying.
"Take me up," she repeated, her long black hair swaying as if her Medusa-like fury might manifest at any moment.
Liam sighed, wrapping an arm around Hancock and lifting Bonney with the other. With Geppo, he leaped back to the top of the city wall.
Hancock's gaze drifted to the newspaper— one perk of the Calm Belt's windless air was that loose papers didn't blow away. She glanced at it briefly before losing interest. Bonney, however, picked it up eagerly, flipping through the pages on Levely.
Liam sat on the edge of the wall beside Hancock. "Do you have to wait until Snake Princess dies before you take the throne? Is that your tradition?"
"The Snake Princess is Kuja's strongest warrior," Hancock replied flatly, staring out at the sea. "The title is not passed down by will. I was a special case— my beauty and strength made it obvious. Even without Tritoma's blessing, it wouldn't have changed anything."
Liam nodded.
Amazon Lily was a stable society, and their method of choosing a ruler was simple: the strongest warrior inherited the throne. Likely, past Snake Princesses were mourned briefly before the nation held a grand tournament to determine the new ruler.
In the manga, when Hancock and her sisters escaped from Mariejois and returned home, the previous Snake Princess, Tritoma, had likely already passed. In the original timeline, Hancock took the throne at eighteen. The Hancock standing beside him was only fifteen— meaning she'd already ruled for two years. Short, yet long.
"What's your plan?" Liam asked.
Hancock remained silent, gazing at the sea.
"Since the Snake Princess must rule until death and she refuses to leave, you can't command her unless you take the title yourself," Liam continued. "Are you really going to just watch her die?"
Still, no answer.
Instead, she countered, "And you? What will you do?"
"Same as always," Liam said, standing up and stretching. "Train, eat, fight. We'll talk when you become the Snake Princess."
Hancock looked up at him. Smirking, Liam playfully tapped her chin with his foot.
For a brief moment, Hancock froze. Then her face turned red with fury. Just as she was about to unleash her wrath, Liam leaned back and let himself fall, tumbling toward the forest below.
"You insufferable brat…"
Expressionless, Hancock rose to her feet. Bonney kept her head down, pretending to have seen and heard nothing.
B.I.B., clad in armor, leaped from the wall, using Geppo to carry Hancock and Bonney down before vanishing like a ghost.
Liam strolled into the dense jungle beyond Kuja City, his black-armored Stand following closely.
By the time they reached the shore, a group of sea monkeys had gathered, lazily picking at their fur.
"Where's that wine you brewed?"
(End Of This Chapter)