(Thanks for the support.
“Who are those two?!” “Hey!
Get back here!” The commotion among the pirates behind them quickly drew both Shiki’s and Roger’s attention.
They turned at almost the same time— And reacted very differently.
Roger stared for a moment.
Then his expression immediately brightened.
“That’s—” Kael.
That young swordsman he’d gotten along with so well.
Of all places, they had actually run into each other here.
What kind of coincidence was that?
Shiki, on the other hand, frowned.
His eyes narrowed as he studied the two strange vessels drifting quickly through the fleet.
Each was little more than a black slab upon the water, yet an ornate throne had been mounted atop one of them.
Kael sat there with one leg crossed over the other, calm and composed.
It had taken nearly two months to travel from Black Rose Castle to this point.
The journey had given Mihawk plenty of opportunities to broaden his horizons and mature.
Both brothers looked slightly more weathered than before.
Kael in particular had begun growing some facial hair, taking away some of the clean-cut youthfulness from his face.
If anything, it made him look more like a seasoned man of the sea.
Kael removed the flask from his waist.
Then he tossed it toward the Oro Jackson.
Pop.
Roger caught it easily.
The moment it landed in his hand, he could feel the cool liquor shifting inside.
Roger grinned.
“So a man like you really came all the way out here.” He raised the flask.
“Don’t tell me you finally decided to join me?” “No.” Kael smiled.
“I just brought you some new wine to try.” Finding a good drinking companion wasn’t easy.
The last time they met, Roger and Kael had talked about plenty of things.
Freedom.
Responsibility.
Adventure.
Companions.
Whatever else could be said about Roger, Kael liked him.
This was a man willing to destroy an entire nation for the sake of his crew if necessary.
Being friends with someone like that was surprisingly comfortable.
And since Kael had already been traveling toward the New World, with the battle at Edd War approaching, he figured he might as well come here personally and share a drink.
Roger gestured toward the enormous fleet surrounding them.
“Bad timing, though.” He pointed ahead and behind.
“I’m in a bit of trouble.” Shiki watched from his flagship.
He had been about to speak again, but swallowed the words.
For now, he wanted to see what this brat planned to do.
Kael looked young.
Yet there was something oddly mature about the way he carried himself.
It didn’t quite fit.
Kael glanced at the pirate ships surrounding the Oro Jackson.
Then he spoke casually.
“They’re nothing to worry about.” No hesitation.
No attempt to lower his voice.
The surrounding captains heard him perfectly.
“What?!” “That arrogant bastard!” “Damn brat…” Several captains who had followed from the Azure Sky Sea immediately bristled.
Being dismissed so casually by someone that young was more than a little insulting.
Crocodile stood among them in a heavy black fur cloak.
His eyes widened.
Then the corner of his mouth curled upward.
Whether he was smiling or furious was hard to tell.
Probably both.
He knows I’m here.
He knows I challenged him just recently.
And he still says we’re nothing to worry about?
Crocodile’s anger flared instantly.
You arrogant bastard.
I’ll make you pay for that.
Tap.
Kael moved.
For a moment, his figure blurred out of sight.
Then he was standing on the deck of the Oro Jackson.
Mihawk followed behind him.
The young swordsman now wore a black wide-brimmed hat, and there was noticeably more maturity in his bearing than before.
Kael, meanwhile, looked exactly as calm as ever.
Even with Golden Lion Shiki—one of the three legendary pirates ruling this era—standing before him.
Roger studied him.
“You’ve gotten stronger again.” There was genuine amazement in his voice.
Kael seemed almost unnatural.
As though he became stronger every single day.
Rayleigh, Gaban, Bullet, and the others also came over to greet him.
Shanks, however, only stole a few glances at Kael before immediately running toward Mihawk.
He slapped Mihawk on the shoulder.
“Well, well!” Shanks grinned.
“You came to save me when I’m in danger?” “Didn’t know you were that loyal!” He puffed out his chest.
“Fine!” “I officially recognize you as my friend!” “Hehehe!” Shanks laughed brightly.
Seeing Mihawk appear at a time like this genuinely warmed him.
“I only…” Mihawk scratched his cheek.
“I was traveling with Brother.” “I didn’t even know we were coming here.” “Yeah, yeah.” Shanks stood on his toes and threw an arm around Mihawk’s shoulders.
“We’re already friends.
No need to be embarrassed.” Mihawk’s face reddened slightly.
Then he glanced toward Kael.
When Kael didn’t scold Shanks for the overly familiar gesture, Mihawk relaxed.
He let Shanks drag him off toward Buggy.
From the other side of the deck, Buggy’s voice immediately exploded.
“You still have time to play?!
Shanks, I’m begging you—grow up already!
You’re impossible!” “No.” Shanks shook his head seriously.
“These enemy ships definitely have treasure maps.” Buggy froze.
“Huh?!” Treasure maps meant treasure.
His entire attitude changed instantly.
“You’re right!” He clenched his fists.
“We should sink one of their ships, board it, and steal everything!” Buggy threw his head back.
“Mwehehehe!
The great Buggy is joining the battle!” Mihawk: “…” Kael overheard them and burst out laughing.
With Mihawk’s personality, being around those two was probably going to be exhausting.
“HEY!” A furious voice boomed from above.
Golden Lion Shiki stood on the towering deck of the Great Admiral, staring down at Kael with obvious displeasure.
“This isn’t the time for children like you and Roger to play games.” His eyes sharpened.
“Take a good look at the situation.” “Otherwise, if you die out here…” His grin turned cruel.
“Don’t blame anyone else.” Then Shiki smirked.
“Won’t your parents worry about you, kid?” Kael smiled faintly.
“If I still had them…” “They probably would.” If I still had them.
Roger’s expression shifted.
So that’s why… Maybe that was part of what had shaped Kael into someone so gentle and dependable.
A man who had learned too early what it meant to carry responsibility alone.
And just as Roger was beginning to think of Kael as gentle— Kael moved.
His left thumb pushed Requiem slightly from its sheath.
A thread of golden light appeared.
His right hand closed around the hilt.
One step forward.
Then— BOOM!
Two flying slashes erupted.
One tore straight toward Shiki’s enormous flagship.
The other streaked toward the escort ship beside it.
SHHHK!
Blinding sword light ripped across the sea.
The slash struck the Great Admiral and carved a perfectly smooth gash through nearly a third of its massive hull.
The damage immediately triggered a violent explosion.
Smoke and debris burst outward, swallowing part of the vessel in a thick cloud.
At the same time— A green-black slash swept across the smaller escort ship.
Mihawk had drawn Yoru.
The vessel split cleanly in two.
And then— The entire Edd War Sea fell silent.
Author’s Note : Want to keep reading?
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