“Kids really do get fired up over the smallest things.” Rayleigh laughed as he rose from his seat.
After spending years looking after Shanks and Buggy, even he sometimes felt less like a pirate and more like an exhausted parent.
He had to watch what they ate, what they broke, who they fought, and whatever fresh trouble they somehow found every day.
Now, seeing someone else’s kid remain so calm and composed even while arguing almost made him sigh.
“Hey, Shanks.
Don’t disrespect our host.” Roger, meanwhile, was far more interested in Kael.
He grinned across the table.
“Hey.
You’re pretty strong, aren’t you?” Having a younger brother admire you that much…
Roger couldn’t help feeling a little envious.
Mihawk hadn’t even raised his voice while arguing with Shanks.
Compared to the red-haired brat, he seemed far more mature than his age suggested.
Kael simply smiled.
He was strict with Mihawk, but with guests—and with the people who had come to live under his protection over the years—he was usually easygoing.
“Not necessarily.” He glanced toward Mihawk.
“To a little brother, his older brother is naturally going to seem like the strongest man alive.” Roger laughed.
“Fair enough.” Then he looked toward the two boys.
“So?
Should we stop them?” There was no concern in his voice.
Roger had spent years sailing the seas, and somehow even something as simple as watching two kids argue could entertain him.
Kael spread his hands and stood.
“I don’t interfere in a duel between men.” “Hahahaha!
That’s more like it!” Rayleigh gave Shanks a light smack on the head.
Then he looked up— And saw Buggy still shoveling food into his mouth as though nothing else in the world mattered.
Rayleigh’s eye twitched.
“Buggy!” Buggy froze with both cheeks stuffed full.
“Shanks is about to duel someone!
Aren’t you even going to cheer him on?!” “Huh?!” Buggy swallowed with difficulty.
“Shanks is causing trouble again?!” He immediately grabbed another piece of food.
“I’m busy eating!
I haven’t had a meal this good in forever!” His bright red nose made his indignant expression even more ridiculous.
Ignoring Rayleigh’s scolding completely, Buggy went right back to stuffing himself.
Bullet and the others burst out laughing.
Shanks and Buggy really were the ship’s greatest source of entertainment.
Mihawk, on the other hand, had been frowning from the moment the argument began.
He had always preferred peace and quiet.
Today alone, the castle had suddenly filled with yet another noisy group of pirates.
And this wasn’t even the first time.
Not long ago—maybe six months ago, maybe a year; Mihawk couldn’t remember exactly—Kael had entertained the pirate known as Whitebeard and even sold him several flasks of liquor.
Now there was this Roger.
Every one of them was loud.
Every one of them drank too much.
And worst of all…
Someone always ended up claiming Kael wasn’t the strongest.
That was the part Mihawk found truly unforgivable.
“Come on!” Shanks was already rolling his shoulders eagerly.
“Find us somewhere we can fight!” Just as Mihawk refused to tolerate anyone looking down on Kael, Shanks refused to hear anyone claim Roger wasn’t the strongest.
“Fine.” Mihawk stood.
The massive cross-shaped black blade on his back immediately drew several pairs of eyes.
Roger noticed it.
So did Rayleigh.
Both men were experienced swordsmen, and it took only a single glance for them to realize that the weapon on the boy’s back was extraordinary.
Not merely expensive.
Not merely well-crafted.
A true treasure.
A blade that might be unique across the entire sea.
Roger’s grin faded slightly.
“That’s one hell of a sword…” His expression became more serious.
“All right!
Let’s go watch!” At Roger’s shout, the monsters of his crew rose one after another and followed Kael outside.
He led them beyond the castle to an open training ground among the ruins.
Calling it a proper arena would have been generous.
It was really just an old stretch of collapsed stonework and broken foundations.
Which made it perfect.
No one cared if it got destroyed.
Shanks drew his sword.
It was a Western-style saber with a handguard.
He raised it proudly.
“Hey!
My sword’s called Gryphon!” His ten-year-old face became intensely serious.
“It’s a monster that’ll eat you alive, so you’d better be ready!” His red hair fluttered in the wind.
Kael almost laughed.
So this was what one of the future Four Emperors had been like as a child?
Surprisingly adorable.
And incredibly stubborn.
Mihawk barely reacted.
“Then attack.” He didn’t even reach for Yoru.
Instead, he picked up a battered wooden practice sword lying nearby.
Shanks stared.
“Huh?!” His face instantly twisted in outrage.
“Are you looking down on me?!” “You bastard…” He clenched his teeth.
Then his expression sharpened.
“Hah!” Shanks burst forward.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
His footwork was steady and controlled.
For someone so young, there was very little wasted movement.
He had clearly experienced real combat before.
Rayleigh’s eyebrows rose.
“Not bad.” A proud smile appeared on his face.
“Shanks has improved again.” He crossed his arms.
“Naturally, it’s because I taught him so well.” “Tch.” Gaban clicked his tongue.
Rayleigh immediately turned red.
“What’s that supposed to mean?!” “Enough.” Roger’s voice suddenly cut through them.
“Watch.” His expression had changed completely.
His eyes were locked on Mihawk.
The boy stood perfectly still, hawk-like gaze following every movement Shanks made.
Then, at the exact instant Shanks entered striking range— Mihawk moved.
One hand on the wooden sword.
A single step diagonally forward.
Then— A draw.
Fast as lightning.
Thud!
The wooden blade slammed directly into Shanks’s abdomen.
Shanks’s eyes flew wide.
All the strength left his body at once.
He folded forward and crashed into the broken stones beyond Mihawk.
Silence.
Mihawk lowered the wooden sword.
“You lost.” His tone was completely calm.
“My brother is still the strongest man on the sea.” Roger didn’t answer.
For several seconds, he could only stare before a dry chuckle escaped him.
“…Hah.” His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed.
Then he stared at Mihawk again.
“What a ridiculous talent…” Everything about the boy was exceptional.
His timing.
His composure.
His observation.
His precision.
None of it looked like the swordsmanship of a fourteen-year-old.
He carried himself like a veteran swordsman who had spent decades honing his craft.
And the technique he’d used?
Nothing special.
Just one of the most basic movements in swordsmanship— A simple draw slash.
That only made it more impressive.
Roger’s gaze slowly shifted toward Kael.
His eyes narrowed with renewed interest.
He trained this kid himself?
Add to library.
Send some Power Stones.