Leo, having misspoken earlier, chose not to press further. Relaxed, he casually followed Lan around for a stroll through Kuja Island.
Kuja Island was no small place. From the urban center to the outskirts, there was ample space to house the Amazon warriors who called it home.
Here, everyone was a warrior. From an early age, even ordinary citizens trained in Haki. Their competitive strength was far beyond anything found in the Four Blues. Kuja Island might have remained isolated within the Calm Belt, but even if it were located in the fiercely contested South Blue, few pirates would dare target them.
Leo witnessed warriors settle disputes by jumping into combat arenas—fist against fist, with blood flying—yet he also saw peaceful scenes: civilians living stable lives, artisans, blacksmiths, carpenters, farmers, and martial arts trainees…
It had all the hallmarks of a functioning nation—except for the fact that it was populated entirely by women.
He, of course, drew outrageous amounts of attention. Everywhere he went, Amazonian women put down their tools just to watch him.
This told him two things:
1. Many of these warriors had clearly never seen an adult man before.
2. No man had ever set foot here in recent memory.
That begged the question—how did the Kuja people reproduce? Was there a national program for selecting mates, followed by confiscating male children?
Unlike Luffy, who had first arrived as a nobody, Leo had Lan, a seasoned warrior from the Kuja Pirates, as his escort. She held a respectable position in the crew and was considered one of their officers. Thanks to her presence, Leo avoided much of the chaos.
The other women only dared to admire him from a distance—his treatment was very different from Luffy's.
Still, Leo had his concerns. Someone like Lan, a battle-hardened warrior, wouldn't be easily swayed by fancy words or idealistic thinking. She had faced pirates, revolutionaries, and Marines alike. Eloquence alone wouldn't convince her to spare anyone.
But those naive young lambs… they might be easier to "persuade."
Unfortunately, with Lan acting as a barrier, he had no chance to speak with them directly. But then, an idea struck him.
"I'm getting kind of hungry. Got anything to eat in your kingdom of women?"
"I don't eat much—any place with something simple will do." He was careful to downplay his appetite in advance. Lan nodded and brought him to a small roadside diner.
Unsurprisingly, a horde of Amazonian women followed them in, crowding the establishment and observing him like a rare animal. Lan didn't bother stopping them. As long as the Empress didn't object, she didn't care.
And with her around, they wouldn't dare get too close.
"Lotus, get him some Gorgonhorn Cheese Pasta," Lan called to the proprietress as they sat down.
Other than Boa Hancock, the women of Kuja Island were all named after flowers. For instance:
Sandersonia meant Torch Lily,
Marigold meant Calendula,
Gloriosa (Elder Nyon) referred to Glory Lily.
The naming tradition was consistent, though minor translation differences existed.
Leo's eyes lit up with realization.
Could it be… that Peony, the woman who ran a couple's bar with Rayleigh on Sabaody Archipelago, was also a former member of Amazon Lily?
He had uncovered another small secret—and the discovery pleased him.
"Hey, this guy's kind of cute," someone muttered.
One woman was like five ducks quacking—so with dozens packed into the room, it was like fifty thousand ducks. Even Leo, who lacked any real strength, could clearly hear their whispered conversations.
Still, he refrained from chatting with them. After his earlier slip, he had likely left a bad impression on Lan. If he suddenly ran off to socialize, she might react violently.
And he really didn't want to find out what getting punched with Armament Haki felt like.
Soon, the food arrived—a golden, crispy pastry dish that looked like a cross between a puff pastry and baked pasta. The cheesy aroma was mouthwatering.
As she placed the food on the table, the proprietress—Lotus—gave Leo a thorough once-over, her gaze intense and curious, like she was inspecting a rare beast.
She was bolder than the others—getting this close, and this… heated.
"This bottle of wine's on the house," she said, slamming a bottle down between Leo and Lan. It was unclear who exactly she was addressing.
Clearly, though, it was meant to bribe Lan.
Lan sighed, popped the cork, and took a hearty swig without hesitation. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve—unapologetically wild.
Lotus quickly plopped down on the bench across from Leo, resting her chin on her hands.
"So, mister, where are you from?"
Leo casually tore open a cheese pastry. Melted golden cheese stretched between the layers, revealing tender meat inside. It smelled delicious.
He nodded politely and replied with a smile, "I was shipwrecked on the Grand Line and ended up here. Thank you for saving me."
"This guy's polite."
"Yeah, and he's handsome, too."
"Seems weak, though."
"So what? We don't need him to fight—just stay home and raise the kids."
"I'm claiming him! Don't try to steal him!"
Their whispers grew louder. The room buzzed with flirtatious chatter as women jostled closer.
Leo wasn't fazed. Compared to the slave riots under Celestial Dragons rule, this was nothing. He kept eating calmly. The food was a little dry, so he didn't mind grabbing Lan's half-finished wine and taking a swig.
The wine was slightly sweet, reminiscent of strong rum—probably at least 30% alcohol—but he could handle it.
"Say, mister," Lotus pressed on, "you must've had lots of adventures on the Grand Line, right? Why don't you share one with us?"
While watching Leo eat and drink, she also gave her assistant a meaningful glance. The assistant quickly slipped out the door to spread the word. With a man this rare eating at their restaurant, even just charging a viewing fee would bring in massive profits.
Leo's eyes lit up.
This was perfect timing.
Even Lan looked intrigued. Despite being part of the Kuja Pirates, she likely hadn't seen much of the Grand Line herself. Clearly, she was eager to hear stories too.
How convenient.
Leo cleared his throat and began.
"Alright then… Let me tell you a story I personally experienced…"