Two days after the meeting on Fish-Man Island, the turquoise waters of Amazon Lily sparkled under a bright sun. The island, stronghold of the Kuja and forbidden territory for men, vibrated with a deceptive tranquility, its dense jungles hiding the recent agitation caused by the unexpected arrival of an intruder. Gojo glided on the waves aboard a camouflaged small ship, his usual smile hovering on his lips. He had taken care to conceal his identity, to avoid attracting the attention of the spies of the World Government, who lurked even in these remote waters.
Upon his arrival, Gojo immediately noticed the absence of the usual patrols. The Kuja ships, usually vigilant, were conspicuously absent. Puzzled, he discreetly docked near an isolated cove, his black coat fluttering in the breeze. Barely had he set foot on the sand when a slender figure emerged from the ferns: a Kuja warrior, her bow drawn, stared at him with suspicion.
"Identify yourself!" she ordered, her voice firm but tinged with hesitation in the face of the overwhelming aura of the man with white hair.
Gojo raised his hands in a theatrical gesture, his smile widening. "Easy there, easy there!"
The Kuja blinked seeing Gojo, then lowered her bow, a mix of surprise and contentment crossing her face. "Gojo-san... Forgive me. We have been on alert since the arrival of an intruder. A man, on our island!"
"A man?" Gojo raised an eyebrow, amused. "Well, this is getting interesting. Tell me everything."
The warrior quickly explained the situation: a young pirate, Monkey D. Luffy, had washed ashore on the island. Intrigued by this intruder, Hancock had spared him and had taken him to the palace for questioning. The news sparked a mischievous gleam in Gojo's eyes. "Luffy, huh? Sukuna was right, this kid is everywhere." He burst into laughter, clapping his hands. "Alright, take me to the palace. I have an empress to see... and a pirate to meet."
***
In the throne room of the Kuja palace, the atmosphere was tense. Boa Hancock, resplendent in her purple gown, sat with intimidating grace, her sisters Marigold and Sandersonia by her side. Facing her, Luffy, dressed in his blue vest and straw hat, spoke with rare intensity, his fists clenched and his eyes shining with determination. The Kuja, fascinated by this man who dared to address their empress without fear, listened in silence.
"They're going to execute Ace!" Luffy exclaimed, his voice trembling with anger and despair. "He's my brother, and I won't let them do it! No matter what it takes, I will save him!"
Hancock, arms crossed, watched Luffy with a mix of curiosity and apparent coldness. "You speak of Portgas D. Ace, the commander of the 2nd division of Whitebeard's crew. Defying the World Government for him... it's suicide."
Luffy gritted his teeth, his gaze unwavering. "I don't care! Ace is my family. I'm going to Marineford, and if I have to go through Impel Down to get him out, I will!"
Marigold growled, her imposing figure straightening. "Such audacity! Do you think you can defy the whole world, kid?"
Sandersonia, more composed, placed a hand on her sister's shoulder. "He's daring..."
Hancock looked away, a faint blush betraying her inner turmoil. Before she could respond, a familiar and casual voice echoed in the room, startling the assembly.
"Well, well, looks like quite the touching family reunion!" Gojo quipped, entering nonchalantly, his black sunglasses shimmering under the coral chandeliers. "Luffy the Straw Hat, in the flesh. You have a knack for finding yourself in the worst situations, kid."
Luffy turned, his eyes wide. "Huh? Who are you?"
Hancock, on the other hand, immediately stood up, a rare and genuine smile lighting up her face. "Gojo!" she exclaimed, her voice betraying an affection she reserved for few. Her sisters exchanged a knowing look, accustomed to the effect Gojo had on their eldest sister.
"Hey, Hancock," Gojo replied with a wink, approaching her. "Still as dazzling as ever. And you, Luffy, seem to have quite a story to tell."
Luffy furrowed his brow, wary. "Are you a friend of Hancock's? Are you a pirate?"
Gojo burst into laughter, seating himself on a pillar without ceremony. "Let's just say I'm... a curious traveler. But enough about me. You were saying you want to save your brother, right?"
Luffy nodded, his expression turning serious again. "Yeah. Ace means everything to me. I have to get him out, even if I have to face the entire Marine!"
Gojo observed him for a moment, his smile softening slightly. "You've got guts, kid... but with your strength, the rescue of Ace is doomed to fail."
At that moment, the old Nyon, the elder of the Kuja, entered the room, her staff clicking on the floor. She fixed Gojo with a mix of respect and suspicion. "Gojo... Always appearing where you're least expected. Tell me, are you planning to go to Marineford as well?"
Gojo shrugged, his enigmatic smile returning. "Of course. A war like that is not to be missed."
Nyon narrowed her eyes. "You're playing a dangerous game, as always."
"And isn't that what makes things fun?" replied Gojo, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Hancock, who had been silent until then, walked up to Gojo, her gaze filled with contained emotion. "Gojo... be careful. Marineford won't be a simple battle. Even for someone like you."
Gojo gave her a gentle smile, unusual for him. "Don't worry, Hancock. I know how to handle myself." He paused, then added more seriously, "But tell me, why not accept his request. Take Luffy to Impel Down."
Luffy jumped. "Huh?! Impel Down? Do you know where Ace is?"
Gojo nodded. "That's where they're holding him before the execution. If you want a chance to save him, that's your first step. Hancock, you can take him there with your status as a Warlord. What do you say?"
Hancock didn't hesitate for a second. "If it's you asking, Gojo, I'll do it." She turned to Luffy, her expression softened. "I'll take you to Impel Down, Straw Hat. But don't make me regret this decision."
Luffy, stunned, stammered, "Th-thank you! I... I'll repay you for this!"
Nyon sighed, shaking her head. "What chaos... Hancock, are you sure you want to get involved in this madness?"
Hancock crossed her arms, a confident smile on her lips. "Gojo is here, I trust him. And besides..." She cast a knowing look at Gojo. "I can't refuse him much."
Gojo burst into laughter, clapping his hands. "That's what I like about you, Hancock! Well, I gotta go. I have a few things to take care of before Marineford." He stood up, adjusting his sunglasses. "Hancock, take care of yourself... see you soon."
He approached her, whispering something in her ear that made her blush intensely. Then, with one final wink, he left the room, leaving behind an atmosphere charged with emotions. Hancock touched her cheek, a dreamy smile on her lips, while Luffy, perplexed, muttered, "That guy is weird..."
Outside, Gojo returned to his ship, his smile turning more serious. As he gazed at the horizon, he murmured to himself, "Luffy, kid... you might have more weight in this story than you think." He pulled out a small notebook from his pocket, where scribbled notes mentioned the Forgotten Century, Joy Boy, and a certain "treasure." "Marineford will be just the beginning. The World Government won't know what's coming."
The wind blew, carrying his words away, as his ship sailed away from Amazon Lily.