one piece: gene extraction and fusion system-Chapter 270: A Spark of Envy

The three sisters who were hugging each other tightly and trembling in fear couldn't help but look up when they heard Mio's voice.

When she saw that familiar face, Hancock's eyes widened in astonishment.

She remembered this face very clearly.

It was the man who had troubled her elder, Elder Nyon, two years ago.

"What are you going to do?" Hancock shielded her two younger sisters behind her, her voice shaking slightly.

"Come with me. I'm here to save you," Mio replied. He waved his hand, and in an instant, wind blades shimmered into existence and slashed clean through the cages. The metal groaned and shattered.

"Follow me," Mio said, turning around and walking toward the cabin exit. His voice echoed again, calm and emotionless. "The people outside are all dead. This ship is yours now. You can go wherever you want."

The slaves inside the cages blinked in disbelief, then slowly lifted their heads to look at Mio. For the first time in days—maybe even weeks—a glimmer of hope lit their eyes.

The three Hancock sisters were stunned. Hancock bit her lip, hesitating, but eventually pulled her sisters by the hands and followed Mio.

When they stepped onto the deck and saw the corpses scattered across the floor, the three girls turned pale, and each of them threw up. The overwhelming stench of blood, the twisted bodies—it was too much for children who had never seen such brutality.

Meanwhile, the looming shadow of the Black Glory approached. The massive warship was far larger than the slaver's ship, and after the two vessels drew close, Mio took the three sisters aboard.

"Let's move to the next location," Mio ordered Bai Feng as he stepped back onto the deck.

Bai Feng nodded and turned to Robin. "Go arrange a room for them. Let them stay there for now, and when we return to the Sabaody Archipelago, hand them over to Rayleigh."

"Alright. Leave it to me," Robin said with a nod. She glanced at the three young girls, noting the guarded look in Hancock's eyes. Smiling softly, she said, "Come with me. Don't worry, we're here to rescue you."

"Rescue?" Hancock repeated, clearly confused.

"People from your Amazon Lily requested help from Rayleigh on the Sabaody Archipelago. He passed the request to the captain," Robin explained gently as she guided the sisters below deck. She found a room for them, gave them clean clothes, and led them to wash up.

On the deck, Mio turned to Bai Feng. "How far are they?"

"Very close. With the Black Glory's speed, we'll reach them in less than three hours," Bai Feng replied after a brief moment.

Mio tapped his chin in thought. Then, with a thought, a black shadow soldier appeared silently before him, kneeling.

"Go find Kizaru's location," Mio commanded. "Roughly confirm his position, but don't follow him too closely."

The shadow soldier bowed and vanished like smoke in the wind.

Mio's eyes narrowed with thought.

Tiger must die—but not yet.

First, he had to go to Fish-Man Island. Only then could he tell his people how he escaped, and give the credit to someone else. Someone they could thank. Someone they would remember.

If his fellow Fish-Men didn't hear it from him, how would they know who helped him? And if they didn't know who helped him, how could they be made to feel gratitude—or rage?

Besides, Tiger had already become the figurehead of the Mary Geoise riot in the eyes of the World Government. Once he was captured and executed, they'd recover their lost face.

And the Black Crow Pirates would be spared from suspicion.

After all, just like in the original story, Tiger would still die.

He would still die at the hands of Kizaru.

But all of this had to happen after Tiger returned to Fish-Man Island.

Knowing Tiger's personality, he wouldn't linger there. He'd visit, say what he had to say, then leave again. He wouldn't risk bringing danger to his homeland.

Once he left...

"Heh." Mio's lips curled slightly as he looked out at the waves. Once Tiger died, the divide between humans, Fish-Men, and the Celestial Dragons would widen even more.

And yet—none of that would touch the Black Crow Pirates.

"Everything is still going according to plan," Mio murmured. "Next... time to test my acting skills."

Half an hour passed.

In the cabin, Robin emerged, followed by the three Hancock sisters.

Mio sat at the bow, facing the sea. He practiced his Influence Fruit powers, causing waves to rise and roll beneath the Black Glory, increasing its speed as the wind surged forward.

"Captain! Look! They're all three beautiful girls," Robin teased lightly from behind.

Mio turned slightly to glance at the sisters. He had to admit—even without the Sweet-Sweet Fruit—Hancock was already beautiful. Though still young, she had striking features. The fruit later only enhanced her charm with an added allure.

As for the other two...

Well, they were alright as kids. But Mio remembered what they would become in the future—bulky from overeating and entirely different.

"I've got something important to take care of," Mio said after a pause. "You three stay in the cabin and don't come out."

After all, they were about to meet Tiger.

"I understand." Hancock nodded. Her sisters clung tightly behind her, too nervous to speak. Only Hancock had the courage to answer, even though she was visibly trembling.

This ship—the Black Glory—had once filled her with dread. Its crew emanated a fearsome aura, one that now still overwhelmed her young heart. Staying in the cabin was far more comfortable than braving the presence of these monsters.

Still...

"Is this the power of strength?" Hancock thought as she looked at the warriors on the deck. There was admiration in her eyes—admiration tinged with envy. She envied the strength they had. She envied their ability to crush evil without fear.

If she had power like that...

She and her sisters wouldn't have been taken.

She forced that envy down quickly—but not quickly enough. Mio caught the subtle change in her expression and smirked.

He stood and approached Hancock step by step, his tall figure casting a shadow over her.

Faced with Mio, the three sisters instinctively backed away.

Mio raised his right fist, clenched it lightly, then suddenly punched the air beside them.

A powerful shockwave exploded outward.

The pressure made the three girls feel like death itself had passed over them.

It lasted only a moment.

But their faces turned pale. They gasped, paralyzed by the sudden rush of suffocating fear.

Mio leaned slightly forward, his voice soft and calm.

"Do you want power?" he asked, a faint smile playing on his lips.