One Piece: Ninja of Straw hats Chapter 169 169: Conqueror’s Haki?!

"So it should be around here…"

Marigold frowned while examining the devastated landscape ahead.

"The destructive power here is seriously ridiculous…"

The ground was filled with massive craters.

Even enormous ancient trees hundreds of years old had been snapped apart.

Clearly—

The battle between the two had been unbelievably intense.

Still…

Did that man really possess this kind of strength?

Could he actually fight Elder Sister to such an extent?

With those thoughts in mind—

Marigold quickly led the Kuja warriors deeper into the forest.

At that mont—

Another explosion echoed from the distance.

BOOOOM!!!

Along with the thunderous sound—

Several towering trees were blasted apart once more.

Seeing that—

Marigold instantly understood.

"They're over there!"

"Move!"

"Haa…"

Boa Hancock slowly stood up while supporting herself against a broken tree trunk.

Monster…

Looking at the still-unkillable Jin—

Her expression looked extrely grim.

She had tried countless thods.

She had personally killed him multiple tis already.

And yet—

Nothing worked.

Every single ti—

That man simply revived and reappeared beside her.

As though…

He truly was invincible!!

Can he actually not be killed?

If this man truly couldn't die—

Then today…

She might really fall here.

No.

Wait—

If she died—

Her country wouldn't survive either.

After all—

This man was a man.

Thinking that—

Hancock wiped the blood from her lips and sharpened her gaze once more.

No matter what—

She would never allow him to destroy her nation!!

"Nice look in your eyes."

Jin nodded slightly.

"Looks like you haven't lost your fighting spirit yet."

Good.

That ant he could continue sharpening his abilities.

Glancing at his golden Susanoo—

A smile appeared in Jin's eyes.

After this prolonged battle—

His control over Susanoo had clearly improved.

Maybe—

It wouldn't be long before he evolved it further again.

"Tch…"

"You're really arrogant."

"I'm rely stating facts."

Jin replied calmly.

The instant his words fell—

He charged directly at Hancock again.

Without giving her another chance to speak—

He swung a massive palm downward!

The gigantic skeletal hand smashed rcilessly toward Hancock's body!

Hancock's expression changed imdiately.

She rapidly retreated to create distance.

The next instant—

BOOOOM!!!

The skeletal palm slamd into the earth—

Creating a gigantic crater instantly.

"Heh… your strength really is increasing…"

Looking at the destroyed ground—

Hancock felt deeply irritated.

This bastard really was using her as a whetstone!!

But no matter what—

She could not lose.

Because…

She had a reason she absolutely could not lose!

Thinking that—

Hancock's eyes turned icy.

"I refuse to believe I can't kick you to death!"

The mont her voice fell—

Armant Haki once again coated her long legs.

Clearly—

She intended to use Grand Perfu Femur again to shatter the skeletal defense.

"Then co try it!"

Jin grinned.

But just then—

The two suddenly heard voices approaching from the distance.

"Snake Princess-sama!!"

"We've co to support you!!"

"Elder Sister, I'm here!"

Marigold shouted loudly.

Hearing the voices—

Hancock's expression changed drastically.

She could guarantee her own survival against Jin.

But others?

Absolutely not.

Thinking that—

Hancock imdiately turned toward the rear and shouted:

"Marigold, don't co any closer!"

"Eh?!"

Hearing her sister's voice—

Marigold froze.

Not let them approach?

…Why?

They had rushed here specifically to reinforce her.

Yet now—

She wasn't allowing them to fight?

Still—

Out of trust toward Hancock—

Marigold chose to stop advancing.

She also ordered the Kuja warriors to remain where they were.

"But Snake Princess-sama…"

"Since Elder Sister said so, then she'll be fine."

Marigold said firmly.

"Don't worry."

"…Understood."

The others reluctantly stayed put.

Sigh…

Marigold silently sighed while staring worriedly ahead.

She could sense it.

Sothing about Hancock felt off.

Was it because the opponent was simply too powerful?

"Not letting your subordinates help you?"

Jin crossed his arms while looking at Hancock.

"Maybe overwhelming numbers could kill ."

But imdiately after speaking—

Jin suddenly paused.

Because he noticed sothing exposed behind Hancock.

What's that mark on her back…?

After hearing Jin—

Hancock turned back toward him and snorted coldly.

"Hmph. I'm not stupid."

Against an enemy that couldn't be killed—

Numbers held no aning whatsoever.

Rather than letting her warriors die pointlessly—

It was better for her to remain here alone and attempt to kill him herself.

At that mont—

Hancock sensed sothing strange.

That look in Jin's eyes…

What did it an?

Before she could ask—

Jin suddenly spoke first.

"What's that hoof-like symbol on your back?"

CRACK—

The instant those words fell—

It felt as though Hancock had been struck by lightning.

Her entire body froze.

"…Hm?"

Jin looked at Hancock in confusion.

She suddenly looked like she'd suffered a catastrophic ntal blow.

Her body was even trembling.

Hancock ignored him completely.

Instead—

She shakily reached toward her back.

Imdiately—

Her expression changed.

The clothing that had concealed the mark…

Had sohow torn open during the battle.

Perfectly exposing the slave mark beneath.

That realization caused Hancock's heart to sink instantly.

Damn it…

When did my clothes tear?

Why hadn't she noticed at all?!

It was over.

Her greatest secret had been seen by this man.

What a complete disaster…

"What's wrong with you?"

Jin asked in confusion.

He genuinely didn't understand why she reacted so violently.

It was just a strange symbol on her back.

What was the problem?

Could it have so special aning?

Jin wondered silently.

Then—

Hancock suddenly raised her head.

Her eyes overflowed with pure killing intent.

"You saw it… didn't you?"

Jin: ???

This ti—

The killing intent erupting from Hancock felt entirely different.

Far purer than before.

Just because he saw the mark on her back?

"I saw it, yeah."

"But what exactly is it?"

Jin asked honestly.

Hancock ignored the question completely.

Instead—

She lowered her stance and coated both legs with Haki.

Then she spoke coldly:

"Since you saw it…"

"Then you'll die here!!"

Yet before Hancock could attack—

Rustling noises suddenly ca from nearby bushes.

As though soone was approaching.

That realization instantly changed Hancock's expression again.

"Don't co closer!"

She shouted sharply.

Unfortunately—

Her warning achieved the exact opposite effect.

The sounds from the bushes intensified instead.

Hancock's eyes sharpened instantly.

BOOOOM!!!

A terrifying wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted outward.

It blasted indiscriminately in every direction.

WHOOOOOM—

Feeling the pressure—

Jin revealed a surprised expression.

"This…"

"Is this Conqueror's Haki?"

At that mont—

He recalled Silvers Rayleigh explaining Conqueror's Haki before.

Right now—

He could clearly feel that imnse pressure striking against his consciousness.

It simply couldn't shake him at all.

Interesting.

Unlike Jin—

The Kuja warriors behind Marigold suffered heavily.

A huge number of them lost consciousness instantly beneath Hancock's overwhelming Haki.

Even Marigold herself began sweating heavily.

"C-Conqueror's Haki…"

If she wasn't mistaken—

That was unquestionably Elder Sister's Conqueror's Haki.

But why was Hancock releasing it?!

The pressure filled Marigold with unease.

After hesitating briefly—

She shouted forward:

"Elder Sister, what happened over there?!"

At the sa ti—

She slowly advanced again.

"Don't co any closer!!"

"Eh?"

"Marigold…"

"My clothes tore behind my back…"

The mont those words landed—

Marigold's face changed completely.

She understood exactly what that ant.

If our secret gets exposed… then the consequences…

Thinking that—

Terrifying killing intent imdiately flooded Marigold's eyes too.

"Mira!"

"All of you stay here!"

Marigold turned toward the few remaining conscious warriors.

"No one advances further, understood?!"

"Is it because of… Snake Princess-sama's curse mark?"

"…Yes!"

Marigold nodded heavily.

"You all stay here. I'll go check the situation myself."

After receiving confirmation—

Marigold imdiately rushed forward alone.

anwhile—

Hancock finally withdrew her Conqueror's Haki.

"It was only a wild boar."

Jin casually walked out from the bushes carrying an unconscious boar.

"No need to panic so much."

The mont his words fell—

He tossed the unconscious animal before Hancock.

THUD.

Seeing the unconscious boar—

Hancock quietly relaxed.

As long as it wasn't a person…

Then she wouldn't need to kill them.

Taking a deep breath—

Hancock once more focused on Jin.

This ti—

She intended to kill him no matter the cost!

"I can see the resolve in your eyes."

Jin comnted calmly.

"That's right!"

Hancock replied coldly.

"Even if we die together…"

"I'll kill you!!"

The fact that she and her sisters carried slave marks…

Could never be exposed.

Otherwise—

Not only she—

But her sisters would also be destroyed.

"I'm here, Elder Sister!"

Marigold rapidly arrived in her King Cobra form.

The instant she saw Hancock's exposed back—

Her face darkened completely.

This situation is terrible…

Then—

She looked toward Jin.

"So this is the man…"

Yet the instant she saw the golden skeletal armor around him—

She froze briefly.

What is that strange golden skeleton around him?

So kind of bizarre Devil Fruit ability?

Whatever.

No matter what it was—

This man had to die today.

"That's right…"

At this point—

Hancock no longer cared that Marigold ignored her orders.

Right now—

Killing this man ca first.

"Man…"

"You must die!"

"…Seriously?"

"I just saw the symbol on her back."

"Do you really need to react this violently?"

"Or does that thing carry so special aning?"

Hearing Jin's words—

Both Hancock and Marigold frowned slightly.

This outsider…

Doesn't know what the mark ans?

Good.

That ant he wouldn't suddenly shout about it in front of Mira and the others.

Thinking that—

The two sisters exchanged glances—

Then imdiately charged at Jin together.

Yet before they could reach him—

Jin suddenly spoke again.

"If you care that much about the mark…"

"I can remove it for you."

"Of course, we'd need a trade—"

SCREEECH—

THUD!!

Before Jin even finished speaking—

Marigold abruptly halted mid-charge—

Then faceplanted directly into the ground.

Due to montum—

She even slid several ters forward.

That scene genuinely stunned Jin.

anwhile—

Hancock suddenly stopped moving too.

Then she stared at Jin intensely.

After a long silence—

She finally asked:

"…You're certain you can remove the mark?"

Even if he might be lying—

Even the slightest possibility—

She didn't want to let go of it.

Because…

That mark had always been a mountain crushing their lives.

"Elder Sister, don't trust him!"

Marigold suddenly jumped back up while gripping her weapon.

"He's definitely lying!"

Hancock said nothing.

She simply stared at Jin as though waiting for an answer.

"I've got no interest in lying to you."

Jin replied calmly.

Then paused before continuing:

"Honestly, I could simply use this secret to threaten you instead."

"Wouldn't that work too?"

The mont those words fell—

Both sisters' expressions shifted slightly.

With his immortal ability…

He could absolutely escape this forest and reveal everything to the village…

Hancock thought silently.

And if he truly chose to do that—

She had no way to stop him.

After all—

She couldn't kill him.

Perhaps noticing Hancock's thoughts—

Jin continued:

"But I'm not going to do that."

"So relax."

"As long as you agree to my conditions…"

"I'll remove the marks."

"Treat it as a transaction. Fair?"

As he spoke—

Jin dismissed his Susanoo and calmly walked toward them.

Judging from Hancock's reaction…

There's a very high chance this deal succeeds.

Jin thought inwardly.

If they reached an agreent—

Then there'd be no reason to continue fighting.

"Elder Sister, we—"

"Can you truly do it?"

Hancock interrupted Marigold directly.

"If you deceive …"

"Then even if I must chase you to the ends of the earth…"

"I will kill you!"

If the mark could truly disappear—

Then she and her sisters could finally be free.

"Relax."

"I won't lie to you."

Stopping a short distance before them—

Jin crossed his arms.

"I'm a dical ninja."

"Removing sothing like that isn't difficult for ."

Hancock fell silent briefly.

Then finally spoke:

"Fine."

"State your conditions."

"Elder Sister?!"

"Marigold… we have no choice."

Hancock said quietly.

"He… cannot be killed…"

The instant those words fell—

Marigold went completely silent.

Unkillable?

Even Hancock herself couldn't kill this man?

If that was true—

Then they genuinely had no options.

Either negotiate willingly—

Or be forced into negotiations later.

They had no real choice.

"Stop acting like I'm so villain taking advantage of your weakness."

Jin rolled his eyes.

"It's not like I'm asking for anything weird."

Unfortunately—

Marigold clearly didn't believe him at all.

After all—

Her sister was the world's greatest beauty.

"State your conditions."

Hancock repeated.

"My first condition is simple."

Jin replied.

"Undo Granny Nyon's petrification."

"And you're forbidden from punishing her for sheltering us."

"…Eh?"

Marigold froze slightly.

That was his condition?

Even Hancock looked briefly surprised.

Then—

After a short silence—

She nodded.

"…Fine."

"I understand."

"And the second?"

"Give the Eternal Pose to Marineford."

Jin said directly.

The mont those words landed—

Hancock froze completely.

Those were…

His only conditions?

This man…

Really had absolutely no interest in her?

She originally expected outrageous demands.

Yet all he wanted was this?

Seeing Hancock silent—

Jin frowned.

"You do have an Eternal Pose to Marineford, right?"

"You're one of the Seven Warlords."

If not—

Then Granny Nyon's judgnt had been wrong.

And that would be disastrous.

Without it—

He and Monkey D. Luffy couldn't reach Marineford to save Ace.

After remaining silent for several monts—

Hancock finally nodded.

"…We do."

As a Warlord—

Amazon Lily naturally possessed one.

Otherwise—

They wouldn't be able to answer summons from the World Governnt.

"That's good…"

Jin visibly relaxed.

As long as they had it—

Then reaching Marineford wouldn't be a problem.

Thinking that—

Jin walked beside Hancock.

Then casually removed his outer coat and tossed it toward her.

"Co on."

"Let's remove the mark and finish our transaction."

After saying that—

He casually walked ahead with both hands behind his head—

Completely exposing his back to the two sisters without any guard whatsoever.

Seeing that—

Hancock fell silent briefly.

Then she looked down at the coat in her hands.

"…Elder Sister?"

"It's fine."

"Let's go."

Hancock quietly shook her head.

After putting on Jin's coat—

She and Marigold followed after him.

If he truly could remove the marks…

Then he would beco their benefactor.

Thinking that—

Hancock's emotions beca extrely complicated.

Please… let this really work…

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