Blocker, Iron Rod Admiral Gill
Blocker, Iron Rod Admiral Gill, Arias, and Hancock successfully located Carter's Store amid the road disturbances and riots, swiftly resolving the issues.
"Boss! Do you have a map of North Blue?" inquired Arias.
The corpulent old woman, adorned in a coquettish pink floral dress, eagerly responded, saliva almost flowing. Hancock, displeased, held back her disdain.
"Yes! Yes!" The female boss, attempting her most beautiful smile, handed Arias a map, her attention captivated.
Arias, frowning, noticed the incomplete map, missing Mignon Island, Kaien Island, and Lubek Island. Disappointed, he returned it, asking, "Is there a more detailed map covering the entire North Blue?"
The female boss patiently explained, "Berwick is just a small island. For a complete map of North Blue, you should visit the larger islands."
Disappointed, Arias turned away, leaving with Hancock. As he departed, the female boss couldn't resist inviting him, "Handsome guy! Would you like to stay for a meal?"
Hancock, unable to bear it, exerted a slight force with her left foot, cracking the ground. The fearful crunching sound drove away the lustful advances of the female boss.
"Want a map of North Blue? Laozi has it!" declared a deep voice as a strong man, at least three meters tall, approached with a massive mace. Dozens of followers trailed behind.
Hancock recognized him as Gil, the captain of the Iron Rod Pirates, also known as the Iron Rod Admiral. She explained to Arias, "I fought against him a year ago in the first half of the Grand Line. We retreated to the Calm Belt, and he gave up the pursuit. We haven't seen him since."
Curious, Arias asked, "What was the result?"
Hancock responded, "There was no fight. We retreated to the Calm Belt, and they just abandoned the pursuit. After that, we never encountered him again."
"At that time, I wasn't the emperor," Arias exclaimed, shocked by Hancock's revelation. Despite her weaker Haki a year ago, the Fruit of Love was formidable, and Hancock's petrification ability had likely been immature then.
Realizing the untold stories beyond the main plot, Arias mused, "I ran away from you back then; I never expected to see you here again, Boa Hancock!"
Grinning widely, Gil, the Iron Rod Admiral, showed yellow teeth as he greedily eyed Hancock's face, obsessed since their encounter a year ago. If not for Nine Snakes in the Calm Belt, he would have snatched her away.
Furious about Hancock's involvement with Arias, Gil vowed, "This time, there's no Calm Belt to protect you!" His mace darkened with Armament Haki, ready to strike Arias.
As Gil prepared to attack, a sinister smile crept across his face once more.
"He thought of a more interesting method: 'Surrender Hancock obediently, and I might spare you! I can even reward you together. In this way, we can be considered as people of the same mind!'" declared Gil, his iron rod hitting the ground hard, creating a large hole in the bluestone with an ordinary strike. The onlookers scattered, avoiding involvement in the pirate conflict.
Curious, Arias asked, "What's your bounty?" surprising Gil, who expected anger or fear. Nevertheless, he proudly replied, "Two hundred and thirty million Baileys!"
Arias pondered, noting the significant increase from Jill's previous bounty a year ago. He wondered how such a powerful figure had no reputation in the original drama.
Confused, Arias heard Gil proudly proclaim, "I originally planned to kill Whitebeard and then go back to the paradise to collect Nine Snakes. But since I met you here, it means you are destined to be mine!"