Chapter 413: Erasing the Mark
Just as Kuina followed Smoker into the Grand Line, Ian, Ace, Robin, and Reiju were also traveling with the Kuja Pirates' ship from the New World, crossing the Calm Belt to arrive at Amazon Lily.
Ian and his group stayed here for three days, mainly to switch ships and restock supplies.
Amazon Lily does not permit men to enter, but Ian was a special guest, because at present, the Dragon Hunter Pirates and the Kuja Pirates were solid allies.
Thus, Ian and his crew were allowed to dock at the outer edge of the island. The currency of Amazon Lily was the "Snake Hair," and the country operated in a closed, self-sufficient manner. However, under Boa Hancock's orders, the merchants of Amazon Lily opened their doors wide to Ian's ship, offering all the supplies they needed for free.
Feeling grateful for Boa Hancock's considerable help, Ian arranged to meet with her and her two sisters privately before departing.
Earlier on Dressrosa, Boa Hancock had fought Doflamingo, and the back of her clothes had been accidentally torn. At that time, she had hurried away, afraid that someone might see the slave mark on her back. But Ian had kept it in mind, thinking about when he could help Boa Hancock remove this burden from her heart.
However, since Boa Hancock never brought it up, Ian didn't feel comfortable mentioning it. So this time, he found an opportunity to chat with Boa Hancock and her sisters for a while.
Then, Ian casually brought up his abilities. He told Boa Hancock that he had a special healing power that could not only heal injuries but also erase old marks. The Celestial Dragon marks on the members of the Dragon Hunter Pirates had been removed this way.
As expected, when Ian mentioned this, Boa Hancock and her sisters' expressions changed immediately.
Boa Hancock stood up urgently and asked Ian, "I... Ian-sama, is that true?"
"Yes!" Ian nodded seriously.
Boa Hancock exchanged glances with her two sisters, then said to Ian, "Ian-sama, please wait a moment!"
After hearing about Ian's ability, even her address for Ian changed. She had Ian wait outside for a while, then had her two sisters invite him into her cabin.
Ian had roughly anticipated what was about to happen. Sure enough, when he walked in, Boa Hancock was kneeling on her resting couch with her back to him. She had already removed her top, revealing her fair back. Her long black hair hung down, covering the location of the mark.
Boa Hancock turned her head shyly and said to Ian, "Ian-sama, can... can you remove this mark for me as well?"
With that, she reached a hand behind her neck and lifted her long hair.
As she moved, Ian couldn't help but catch a glimpse of the faint, full curve of her chest from behind. Though he couldn't see the whole view from the back, it was all the more alluring.
For a moment, Ian's heart stirred, but he forced himself to focus and looked at Boa Hancock's back.
The slave mark was a lifelong pain for Boa Hancock. Even showing it to Ian now made her tremble all over.
Ian sighed and said, "As I thought, it's a Celestial Dragon's mark..."
"Yes!" Boa Hancock said, her back to Ian, her head lowered as she trembled. "I... and my two sisters, when we secretly set sail on a Kuja pirate ship back then, we were unfortunately captured by human traffickers. Later, we were sold to a Celestial Dragon and became... slaves. Those days were the most painful memories for us three sisters. Fortunately, 11 years ago, the adventurer Fisher Tiger climbed Mary Geoise and freed thousands of slaves, and we three sisters managed to escape..."
"So that's why, after learning I escaped from Mary Geoise, you brought the Kuja Pirates to Windup Island to help me, right?" Ian said with a smile.
"Y-yes!" Boa Hancock said, her back to Ian, not daring to turn around, but a blush spread across her face.
"I had a vague suspicion about that too!" Ian nodded. "Don't worry, from today on, this mark will no longer exist."
With that, Ian stepped forward and gently placed his hand on the mark on Boa Hancock's back.
Feeling the warmth of Ian's hand, Boa Hancock's body trembled slightly.
This wasn't the first time Ian had touched Boa Hancock's skin; he had grabbed her long legs before. Now, touching her back, it still felt so warm and smooth. There was no denying that this woman was a born seductress; the title of Pirate Empress was well deserved.
Although Ian wanted to savor (take advantage of) the moment a little longer, lingering too long would be rude. So he collected himself and activated the Twin Heaven Return Shield.
A faint glow shone from Ian's hand, enveloping the Celestial Dragon mark on Boa Hancock's back. As the Twin Heaven Return Shield's effect took hold, Sandersonia and Marigold beside her watched in amazement as the mark on Boa Hancock's back gradually faded and disappeared.
"E-empress!! The mark... the mark is really gone!" Sandersonia couldn't help but exclaim.
Boa Hancock heard Sandersonia's voice, but she held back her excitement and didn't dare move. It wasn't until Ian said, "It's done!" that she hurriedly took the two mirrors Sandersonia handed her and placed them behind her to look.
When she saw that her clean, smooth back was truly free of any mark, Boa Hancock couldn't hold back her tears. The mirrors slipped from her hands, and she covered her face with both hands, sobbing.
Sandersonia and Marigold also rushed forward excitedly, embracing Boa Hancock as the three sisters wept together.
Ian remained silent nearby. He knew that these three sisters were truly pitiable. Without him, the experience and mark of being slaves would have haunted them for life, becoming their eternal nightmare.
Just as Ian was reflecting on this, a warm body suddenly threw itself at him, embracing him tightly.
In her excitement, Boa Hancock had actually hugged Ian, crying as she said, "Thank you... thank you, Ian-sama!"
Her emotional outburst was understandable, but she had forgotten that she hadn't put her top back on yet. Ian was caught off guard as she hugged him, feeling the softness of two large, full curves pressing against his chest. He was completely stunned!
Is this a perk!?
For a moment, Ian couldn't help but think of the old joke, "I choose the one with big boobs!" and he instantly understood the meaning behind it.
Any man would feel that his life was worth it when pressed against a J-cup, right?
So, without thinking, Ian's hand also wrapped around Boa Hancock's waist, pulling her a little closer.
After a while, Boa Hancock came to her senses and quickly let go of Ian, grabbing her clothes to cover her chest, her face flushed as she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
The warm body left his embrace, and Ian felt a sense of loss.
To be honest, Ian wasn't the type to flatter himself. Helping Boa Hancock remove the mark on her back was more about thanking her for her help. He hadn't planned to make her fall in love with him or anything. But Boa Hancock's emotional gesture just now made Ian feel that this "wave" was worth it!
Smiling, Ian masked his awkwardness and turned to Sandersonia and Marigold. "Alright, you two have marks too, right? Let me remove them for you as well."
"Okay!" Sandersonia and Marigold nodded without hesitation and unfastened their clothes.
Although Sandersonia and Marigold, due to eating the Snake-Snake Fruit, looked a bit... different compared to Boa Hancock, Ian wasn't the type to only treat beautiful women. So, despite it being a bit hard on the eyes, he kept his expression unchanged and removed their marks.
When the marks were completely gone, Boa Hancock and her sisters felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from their hearts.
If there had been any lingering distance between them and Ian before, at this moment, they had finally opened their hearts completely.
That night, Boa Hancock announced to all the people of Amazon Lily that the Gorgon's curse had been lifted by Ian-sama.
Thus, Ian became the most honored guest of Amazon Lily and was welcomed into Boa Hancock's palace for a reception...