Since he was Teacher Ozz,
for many Marine Vice Admirals, he had been the one who first guided them in the use of Haki.
Not to mention that for a man this powerful and charming, Doll naturally held a great deal of affection for him.
Even if they now stood on opposite sides, it would not affect their personal friendship. After all, even Roger and Garp had once trusted each other enough to entrust children to one another.
They did not talk for long.
But while they were speaking, Hancock looked utterly devastated.
Watching Ozz smile as he spoke with Doll, her heart practically shattered.
Who was this Marine woman!!!
Why did she seem so close and familiar with Lord Ozz? Could it be...
As if some horrifying thought had struck her, Hancock's face turned pale and she covered it with both hands.
"Hancock, I do not love you anymore."
"Doll is the one I have chosen in the end. I am sorry."
"No!!!!"
The sudden change in her expression was so absurd that even Mihawk could not help breaking into a cold sweat.
Women were truly nothing but obstacles on the path of swordsmanship.
Fortunately, the conversation really did not last long. Doll soon led her Marine unit back onto their ship and departed for Sabaody.
Ozz turned his head and looked toward Mihawk. The first thing he said left him stunned.
"Little Hawk, why are you still here?"
"???"
Mihawk's expression stiffened for a moment. After a brief silence, he asked,
"What are you planning to do next?"
"As for me, I might go travel around Amazon Lily for a bit. Then I'll probably stop by Tesoro's place and collect some spending money."
Mihawk frowned. But being the proud type he was, there was no way he would ever say what he meant directly.
"I happen to have some free time."
In other words, he could tag along with Ozz and travel a little.
Ozz raised a brow when he heard that, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Really? That works out nicely then. You can go back and babysit."
"???"
"I blasted Perona and a rookie swordsman named Zoro over to the island where you live. Since you have nothing to do, you can go teach him some swordsmanship or something."
"..."
Mihawk left.
Paddling away in his little coffin boat, he departed without looking back.
There was nothing he could do about Ozz going off to enjoy himself alone, so all he could do was silently go home and take care of the children.
On the other side, Hancock's expression changed instantly, as fast as a slash. One moment stormy, the next bright and sunny.
"Ha!!!"
"Lord Ozz is coming with me? That is wonderful!!!"
"I am so happy...!!!"
Hearts filled her eyes. Hancock was already imagining the wedding scene back on Amazon Lily.
"..."
Mihawk pretended not to see any of it.
By the time Ozz arrived at Amazon Lily and began researching the origins of life, Mihawk had already slowly paddled his little coffin back home.
The moment he returned, he found a bunch of baboons fighting with a green-haired idiot.
He strolled back at an unhurried pace.
"That presence is..."
Zoro, covered in wounds and blood, had his face change the instant he saw Mihawk.
After being blasted here by one of Ozz's instantaneous kicks, Zoro had naturally met Perona as well.
She acted as if she had returned home, and quite casually helped settle him in.
And today,
the castle's true owner had finally returned.
Mihawk's terrifying presence instantly overwhelmed Zoro.
Perona, however, acted as if she saw nothing at all.
She floated over to Mihawk's side, hands on her hips and cheeks puffed up.
"What took you so long to get back!!!"
"Do you have any idea how boring it is staying in this creepy place all alone!!!"
Mihawk ignored Perona's complaints. He simply patted her on the head the same way he used to when she was younger.
Then, under her irritated stare, he walked over to Zoro.
"What a pathetic sight. Getting beaten into this state by a bunch of baboons."
After walking past Zoro, Mihawk, still in a foul mood, entered the castle and poured himself some red wine.
Zoro said nothing.
Instead, after worsening his injuries even further while beating down the baboons, he entered the castle and knelt before Mihawk.
"You intend to beg your enemy to teach you swordsmanship?"
Zoro lowered his head. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Only now do I understand what Master meant. Back at Sabaody, he used the fighting styles we each specialized in to crush us completely and without mercy.
It was because he wanted to tell us that we are still far too weak. We are not strong enough to protect our comrades."
"Whether it was Master teaching me, or me asking you to teach me, it is all for the sake of surpassing you both!!!"
When Mihawk heard that, the face he had kept cold the entire time finally loosened into the faintest smile.
"Master, hm?"
"So he wants me to raise a swordsman who can one day take my head?"
"It seems you now have a reason to grow stronger that matters more than mere ambition...
Then let me teach you more in Ozz's place."
Having been piqued by Zoro, Mihawk finally agreed.
And so the three of them, Mihawk, Zoro, and Perona, began living a strangely peaceful retired life together inside the castle.
During that period, Zoro also saw the news reports about the Summit War.
"Luffy... he is all right, isn't he?"
Mihawk nodded.
"With Ozz's strength involved, Fire Fist Ace naturally escaped successfully, and Straw Hat Luffy was rescued as well."
"I see..."
Since Mihawk had already told him what Ozz had arranged for Luffy, Zoro no longer felt anxious about leaving. He settled down and focused on training his swordsmanship and Haki.
As she watched Zoro go off to train, Perona floated over beside Mihawk and asked,
"Say, where did Lord Moria go?"
Naturally, she knew that as one of the Seven Warlords, Moria must have taken part in the Summit War.
"Moria, hm... no idea."
Mihawk shook his head.
"He vanished afterward. According to Ozz, it is also possible the World Government has set its sights on him."
As one of the Warlords who was not part of the inner circle, and one whose strength was rather pitiful, Moria naturally became the best outlet for the World Government's frustration over Ozz's actions.
That way, if the news got out, they could still save face without provoking Ozz's wrath.
Sometimes the Government's agents and CP really were clever.
"Nani?!!"
"Lord Moria, he...!!!"
The moment she heard that, Perona burst into tears, which gave Mihawk an immediate headache.
But there was no way he could allow a young girl like Perona to sail out alone.
So all he could do was comfort her by promising that he would ask Ozz later about Moria's whereabouts.
Only then did she barely stop crying.
And not long after the Summit War ended,
it was not only the pirate world that saw a major development.
Within the Marines,
something huge happened as well.
The battle for the Fleet Admiral position had begun.
...
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