After what felt like an eternity, the shock swimming in Sanji's young eyes gradually faded away, replaced by an icy cold detachment that seemed far too mature for his age.
"What are you doing here? Didn't we already sever our blood ties completely?"
"Sanji..." Reiju had countless swirling thoughts churning in her heart like a storm, but when they finally reached her trembling lips, only a weary sigh remained: "Are you doing well here?"
Red-Leg Zeff realized their complicated relationship and laughed harshly, deliberately blocking Sanji's path as he looked with razor-sharp intensity at Reiju: "So you're part of Sanji's tragic family?"
He waved his large weathered hand toward the ship's rail with obvious hostility, rudely ordering: "Get out immediately! Baratie doesn't welcome people like you!"
"Wait just a moment!" Sanji unexpectedly spoke in direct opposition: "Baratie shouldn't turn away any customer who comes here genuinely hungry."
He knew better than anyone the terrifying power and complete unreasonableness of the Vinsmoke family.
Although only his sister had appeared for now, he didn't doubt for a second that those inhuman brothers were certainly lurking somewhere nearby.
"How truly admirable."
Kai cheerfully broke the increasingly tense deadlock, gesturing gracefully to Reiju: "Go ahead, Reiju. Have a good chat with your brother. We have plenty of time available."
Reiju nodded slightly with obvious emotion, stood up gracefully, and departed, gently pulling the reluctant Sanji outside.
Though Sanji appeared resistant on the surface, his body involuntarily followed as she led him toward a quiet corner of the deck away from prying eyes.
Seeing this touching interaction, Zeff realized the siblings' relationship didn't seem too damaged after all. He snorted gruffly but no longer interfered with their reunion.
Mihawk had absolutely no interest in this sudden family drama unfolding, but as Reiju departed, Kozuki Hiyori caught his peripheral vision and he simply couldn't look away.
More precisely, it was the long sword resting at Kozuki Hiyori's slender waist that captured his attention.
What an absolutely ominous blade!
Mihawk's predatory eyes flashed with instant recognition as he stood with fluid grace and slowly walked to Kozuki Hiyori's side, his razor-sharp gaze fixed unblinkingly on the legendary Enma. "Hey there, you're a swordsman, right? How about an interesting match?"
"Who are you?"
Sensing the dangerous sharpness emanating from him like an unsheathed famous blade, Kozuki Hiyori instantly became alert, her delicate hands instinctively moving to the twin swords at her waist.
Having lived in isolated Wano Country all her life, she didn't know much about the legendary strong fighters who were less active on the seas.
Kai introduced him with obvious respect: "Hawkeye Mihawk, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the world's greatest swordsman. If you're interested, Hiyori, you might as well accept his challenge. It might help your future path tremendously."
Here's an important side note: the world's greatest swordsman isn't necessarily the strongest among all sword users.
For example, Charlotte Linlin also uses a massive sword, but she relies mainly on overwhelming brute force rather than refined swordsmanship for her livelihood.
Using a sword as a weapon and considering oneself a true swordsman are two completely different things.
Back to the main topic at hand.
"He's that impressive?" Violet clicked her tongue with amazement.
Regardless of anything else, anyone who could claim the prestigious title of "world's number one" and not get killed immediately must undoubtedly be an extraordinarily strong fighter.
Like Whitebeard, the world's strongest man; Kaido, the world's strongest creature; Charlotte Linlin, the world's strongest woman; and so on.
"The world's greatest swordsman?" Kozuki Hiyori felt somewhat genuinely tempted.
Even though she wasn't a woman who particularly loved fighting, as a dedicated swordsman, who could possibly refuse a match with the world's greatest swordsman?
"Eh? A sword fight?! I want to watch! I definitely want to watch!"
Yamato perked up immediately with boundless enthusiasm. Watching an epic duel before their food arrived would be absolutely wonderful.
"Let's do it then." Kai was also looking forward to this rare spectacle.
Hawkeye didn't mind having eager observers for his duel, as long as they didn't interfere with the proceedings.
Soon, the entire group arrived at the spacious Rayquaza.
After all, Baratie simply didn't have adequate space for them to use as a proper battlefield.
"This is my first time boarding a Beast Pirates ship."
Hawkeye spoke with characteristic calm, with only a trace of mild curiosity flickering in his hawk-like eyes and no other emotions, even though this was the infamous Beast Pirates' legendary vessel.
He hadn't expected that just coming to peaceful East Blue for some casual fun would lead to encountering the notorious Beast Pirates.
Before the historic duel began, Kai lightly tapped the wooden deck with his right foot.
Deep, pitch-black Armament Haki spread from beneath his feet like a living organism, instantly covering a massive area of the deck.
Without proper Armament Haki reinforcement, he feared that after just one serious duel, most of the deck would be completely destroyed.
"Let's begin this dance."
Hawkeye withdrew his calculating gaze, focusing entirely on Kozuki Hiyori as his right hand gripped the Supreme Grade sword strapped to his back: the legendary black blade Yoru.
This was a truly magnificent long sword, nearly as tall as a full-grown person, with a jewel-encrusted cross-shaped hilt and an irregular heavy-flower T-shaped blade that seemed to drink in light itself.
Mihawk slowly raised the massive weapon with practiced ease, pointing the razor-sharp tip directly toward Kozuki Hiyori.
"Please teach me well." Kozuki Hiyori suppressed the nervous trembling in her heart, drew her usual skillful grade sword, and assumed her practiced starting stance.
Unexpectedly, Hawkeye frowned with obvious disappointment: "Why aren't you using the other sword?"
He had approached Kozuki Hiyori specifically because he sensed Enma's extraordinary cursed nature and wanted to witness the skill of a swordsman who could wield such an ominous blade.
Kozuki Hiyori answered with complete honesty: "I haven't completely tamed Enma yet. I only have the power for one devastating strike."
"I understand the situation."
A flash of obvious disappointment crossed Mihawk's predatory eyes.
To everyone's absolute shock, he actually sheathed the mighty Yoru.
Though regretful, he had no intention of canceling the anticipated duel. Instead, he removed the cross necklace from his chest and, with a slight finger movement, extracted a small, coldly gleaming knife from within.
"My apologies, I don't have a worse blade than this with me."
Hawkeye shrugged with casual arrogance, his entire being radiating an unmistakable air of showing off.
There it was: the famous scene with the small knife duel.
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly with recognition: "What an incredibly proud man."
But regardless of his motivations, this behavior was somewhat insulting to the opposing swordsman.
With Hawkeye's condescending action, even the usually friendly and gentle Kozuki Hiyori couldn't help but grip her skillful grade sword much tighter.
Kozuki Hiyori understood perfectly that without sufficient strength, any demand for respect was nothing but a fleeting mirage.
"Oden One Sword Style: Flying Dragon!"
Kozuki Hiyori's gaze sharpened with deadly focus as she kicked off the reinforced ground with her right foot, her graceful figure shooting out like an arrow from a masterfully drawn bow.
The Armament Haki-wrapped skillful-grade sword became a straight beam of cold light, stabbing directly at Mihawk's unprotected heart.
CLANG!
The sharp sound of clashing metal rang out across the deck.
A small knife, a ridiculously small knife that seemed only suitable for cutting fruit at dinner, precisely blocked the razor-sharp blade tip.
"This is impossible!"
Kozuki Hiyori's pupils contracted with shock as she exerted tremendous force with both hands trying to break through but felt as if the blade tip had struck a completely impenetrable mountain wall, unable to advance even a single fraction.
Hawkeye, positioned across from her, remained completely motionless, his weathered face still wearing that maddeningly indifferent expression.
In that case, change tactics immediately.
"HAH!" Kozuki Hiyori instantly changed her approach, withdrawing her sword to strike again with renewed fury.
Sword light, like swift wind and sudden rain, frantically swept toward Mihawk from every conceivable angle.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Dense, rain-like collision sounds continued without any end in sight.
Mihawk, positioned at the storm's very center, remained as indifferently calm as ever.
The pitch-black small knife in his experienced hand followed the most concise, most precise trajectory possible, blocking and deflecting each of Hiyori's increasingly tempestuous attacks.
Not one strike missed its mark, not one movement wasted!
This was pure, undiluted showing off.
Finally, Mihawk seemed to grow bored with the one-sided display. His wrist moved slightly as the small knife casually thrust forward.
BANG!
With just one effortless strike, Kozuki Hiyori couldn't withstand the impact. Her entire body flew backward uncontrollably, stumbling back more than ten steps before barely managing to steady herself.