One Piece : Strongest Vice-Captain Mr. 3!

Ding!

[Detected host awakening Conqueror's Haki, stunning the audience. Charm (personal charisma) +10, slight improvement in physical fitness] 

[Special reward obtained: A sea bicycle similar to that of former Marine Admiral Aokiji (can be nourished with Armament Haki to become a 'black bike')] 

[Current target reward has been updated] 

[Current goal: Successfully recruit at least one Warlord (new or old) to join the Buggy Pirates, strengthen the crew, and secure the second-in-command position for Buggy] 

[Goal Reward One (one Warlord): Fruit Ability Development Capsule, Conqueror's Haki awakening qualification (crossed out), Rayleigh-sensei's Haki lecture (newly added)] 

[Event Evaluation: Stunning! Incredible! Unbeatable!] 

A notification from the system echoed in Mr. 3's mind, but being at the center of the clash of Conqueror's Haki, he clearly didn't have the spare mental energy to check it out. He didn't even have time to feel happy about his increased charm. 

After barely withstanding Hancock's Conqueror's Haki, Mr. 3 felt the terrifying pressure weighing on him lighten, and his drained strength gradually returned. 

He straightened his back and stood up little by little, locking eyes with Hancock, who was staring back at him in disbelief. 

The newly awakened Conqueror's Haki he unconsciously released was extremely difficult to control, making it impossible for him to match Hancock, who had trained for years. 

To be more accurate, even maintaining the most basic state of "mutual resistance" was a challenge. 

The reason Mr. 3, having just awakened his Conqueror's Haki, could withstand the pressure was mainly because Hancock had actively lowered the intensity of her Haki. 

Whoosh! 

After holding firm for about five seconds, Mr. 3 had reached his limit; the Conqueror's aura swirling around him plummeted and vanished in an instant. 

At the same time, Hancock also withdrew her Conqueror's Haki. 

Watching Mr. 3's imposing presence dissipate, she stood there, lightly biting her right thumb's nail. 

From the tightly furrowed brows, it was clear that she was filled with intense confusion and disbelief. 

Was it an illusion? 

Why do I suddenly feel that after he unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, Mr. 3 became a lot more pleasant to look at? 

No, no, no! 

Hancock gently shook her head, quickly dismissing this irrelevant thought. 

What truly perplexed her was Mr. 3's stark contrast in performance before and after. 

Although it was clear that his awakening had been unintentional, there was no denying that this man before her truly possessed the qualities of a king. He had the Conqueror's Haki that countless people could only dream of!

As a holder of the Conqueror's Haki herself, she understood that to awaken such power, one needed to have an impeccable will, unwavering beliefs, and unyielding courage.

In the face of such a formidable Conqueror's Haki, the influence of her Love Fruit would become negligible, almost entirely ineffective! 

Thus, a question arose.

Why would a man with such powerful Conqueror's Haki be instantaneously petrified by the Love-Love Beam, without any resistance, even while fully focused?!

"Mr. 3, I didn't expect you to possess the potential of a king…" 

As the domineering and arrogant Pirate Empress, Hancock couldn't be bothered to speculate. Instead, she directly implied, "A man like you should logically be immune to my powers."

She fixed her gaze on Mr. 3, who was still in a daze, her eyes dark with suspicion.

"Why did you intentionally create a situation where you could be easily petrified twice? What is your intention?!"

Her voice was calm yet carried the unique majesty and authority of the Pirate Empress.

Faced with her questioning, Mr. 3 stood there, stunned, his expression blank.

Due to being forcibly awakened from a strong external stimulus, his mental energy had been greatly depleted.

Therefore, he could not clearly recall the encounter of their Conqueror's Haki just moments ago.

He could only vaguely reminisce about that mysterious state.

Was that just now… the Conqueror's Haki?

"Wait, I actually awakened Conqueror's Haki on my own without the system's rewards?!!"

Mr. 3, gradually regaining his clarity, felt an immense joy.

Back when he was suppressed by Hancock's Conqueror's Haki, he was merely unwilling to back down, unwilling to accept defeat, and reluctant to submit to a woman's power.

What he never expected was that such a pure thought would directly lead him to awaken this formidable ability!

What a delightful surprise!

"Answer me, Mr. 3. What conspiracy is hidden behind your deliberate petrification of me?!"

Seeing that Mr. 3 remained silent, Hancock asked again, her tone even colder.

Being schemed against by a powerful user of Conqueror's Haki was terrifying no matter how one looked at it.

She was even beginning to grapple with whether she should eliminate Mr. 3, a potential future rival, right here and now.

The world of pirates was brutal and bloody.

Even allies with strong bonds could turn against each other in an instant.

If she had to choose between allowing a scheming user of Conqueror's Haki to grow stronger or offending a Warlord of the Sea, Hancock would unhesitatingly choose the latter!

The answer Mr. 3 provided next would ultimately influence her final decision.

Hancock's repeated questioning finally snapped Mr. 3 out of his astonishment.

His mind raced at that moment.

Although the sudden awakening of Conqueror's Haki disrupted his original plans, it did not lead to chaos in the situation.

On the contrary, if he utilized this unexpected turn of events well, he could gain a more advantageous position.

If before arriving at Amazon Lily, Mr. 3 had only a 60% chance of successfully recruiting Hancock, now that confidence had risen to at least 80%!

"I already answered that question just now."

After organizing his thoughts, Mr. 3 looked directly at Hancock and said in a serious tone, "Hancock, I hope you can join our Buggy Pirates and face the upcoming upheaval in the world together."

Hancock remained unmoved, maintaining her posture as a high-ranking individual.

Unlike the first time she heard such a foolish proposal of "recruitment," where she had immediately turned hostile and attacked, Mr. 3, who displayed the qualities of a Conqueror's Haki, clearly had gained her recognition.

"It's laughable. What do these two things have to do with each other?" Hancock retorted. "Since your initial intention was recruitment, you should demonstrate your own strength. How could you be so easily petrified?"

Hearing this, Mr. 3 helplessly shrugged.

"Before I witnessed it with my own eyes, I thought the same way. I had enough confidence to remain clear-headed in front of your abilities."

"But when faced with your bizarre petrifying beam, for some reason, my body lost all resistance in an instant."

"If I had to give a specific reason..." 

Mr. 3 straightened his back, his expression resolute, and beneath his slightly damaged goggles were eyes that sparkled with determination.

"That's right; I am actually a lecherous person!"

Hancock: "..."

Elite members of the Kuja Pirates: "..."

The Boa sisters and Granny Nyon: "..."

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