The White Wolf sailed through the waves, its path blocked on the blue sea by a small coffin boat.
"Long time no see, Uchiha Griffin."
Griffin walked to the bow and looked down, a faint smile on his lips.
"It's you... Mihawk."
...
On the deck, the chef brought drinks and retreated, leaving the two seated opposite each other.
Hawkeye's gaze fell on the twin swords behind Griffin. With their change of ownership, these blades had returned to the world's sight.
However, Griffin hadn't fought frequently over the past few years. Sakura Ten Withered Wood remained among the Great Grade Sharp Blades of Twenty-One Craftsmen, and people were uncertain whether they had reached the level of Supreme Grade Swords.
"It seems you haven't neglected your swordsmanship training. Good."
Hawkeye could hear the low hum of the Black Blade - Night behind him, his fighting spirit boiling.
...
...
"What... is that..."
Ordinary crew members couldn't see it, but Shiryu, with his considerable swordsmanship skill, could.
Behind Mihawk was a black eagle spreading its wings and raising its head, while around Griffin roared and murmured two fierce dragons.
Was this the clash of Sword Intent between Great Swordsmen?!
...
Griffin grabbed a sizzling roasted beef leg: "Ugh... how many times must I say it? I have no interest in competing with you in swordsmanship. Don't get so enthusiastic on your own."
The fighting spirit in Hawkeye's eyes faded as he picked up a barrel of wine: "No cups?"
"Don't have those girly things."
...
"Crude."
"Pretentious."
...
...
After a moment of silence, Hawkeye spoke lowly: "I want to know what happened back then. Why were there two Shanks?"
After drinking a large barrel of juice, Griffin showed no surprise in his eyes.
Perhaps it was because he noticed the anomaly that Hawkeye hadn't acted back then.
"Hasn't Shanks told you about his family affairs?"
Hawkeye shook his head: "Do you think I would ask such boring things?"
"You're asking now, aren't you?"
...
...
Griffin chuckled lightly, not continuing to tease Hawkeye: "Anyway, Shanks isn't dead yet. That's what you wanted to ask, right?"
Hawkeye's lips seemed to show a barely perceptible smile: "Is that so..."
"Does the world's top throne make you feel lonely, Mihawk?"
...
Hawkeye looked at Griffin with some regret: "If you hadn't eaten a Devil Fruit..."
"Why haven't you eaten a Devil Fruit, Mihawk?"
Griffin leaned slightly forward, staring directly into the Hawk Eye that terrified countless people: "You lost interest in fighting Shanks after he lost his arm, you feel regret over someone not being a pure swordsman..."
"Swordsmanship..."
"Is it such a narrow thing?"
Flash—
In an instant, Griffin's finger stabbed toward Hawkeye's forehead.
Clang!!
His fingertip struck the hilt of the Black Blade - Night, erupting with a metallic clang.
...
Griffin smiled lightly at the corner of his mouth, black-red electric arcs sparking where his finger met the hilt.
"If you truly want to be so pure, then don't use Armament Haki."
"The so-called... World's Greatest Swordsman?"
Crack—
Fingertips pressed down, the white bandages wrapped around the sword hilt snapped inch by inch, revealing a pitch-black color.
...
Is a battle about to begin?!
Shiryu waved his hand and shouted, "Everyone, retreat to the cabins!"
After spending years together day and night, no one understood better than him just how terrifying that man's destructive power had become.
...
...
Hawkeye gripped the hilt tightly, his eyes lowered. "That is merely a title others have placed upon me."
"Then, in your view, what is swordsmanship?"
...
"A mere classification of a method of killing."
"Mihawk, you could be stronger! Abandon the pride of a swordsman, enhance your power by any means necessary—that is the path to reaching the pinnacle!"
...
"Is that so... I cannot agree."
A faint smile curled at the corner of Hawkeye's lips.
"For me, only the blade in my hand can perfectly express my heart, body, and skill—everything about me."
"As for making me abandon the way of the sword..."
"Give up on that idea!!"
—
Crack————————
The sea split open into a cross-shaped abyss, its boundaries stretching beyond sight.
...
...
The anticipated great battle did not occur. Before the crew could even retreat to the cabins, the terrifying fluctuations ceased.
Griffin withdrew his hand. "OK, I give up."
"And don't you dare ask me why I ate a Devil Fruit or any such nonsense. It's incredibly rude."
...
"Hmm, my apologies. I misspoke."
...
One moment, they seemed ready for a fierce fight; the next, the two were sitting side by side as if nothing had happened... Shiryu was at a loss for words.
Are you two children?
Even children don't make up this quickly after an argument!!
Fight! Let me witness a battle between top-tier Great Swordsmen!!
...
As he was thinking this, Griffin's gaze drifted over.
"You seem quite eager, don't you?"
"Mihawk, there's a pure swordsman over there who looks like he wants to fight you."
Hawkeye glanced over at the sound.
"Shiryu of the Rain... I've long heard of you. It would be worth a try."
...
"No, no, no!!"
Shiryu quickly raised his hands. "I'm not pure! I really want to eat a Devil Fruit—I just haven't found a suitable one yet!"
As he spoke, he looked at Griffin with a hint of expectation. "Rear Admiral Griffin... You brought me along this time because you intend to give me the Float-Float Fruit, right?"
"Rest assured, even if I eat the Float-Float Fruit, my loyalty to you will not waver in the slightest! Heh heh heh..."
Yes... I've never been loyal to you in the first place, so of course it won't change!
Once I possess that ability...
I will repay the humiliation of these eighteen hundred days and nights a hundredfold!!
...
"Huh?"
Griffin shot Shiryu a sidelong glance. "When did you get that idea? I'd rather give it to a stray dog on the street than to you."
"Have you even finished today's cleaning duties, jabbering away like this?"
...
"I..."
Shiryu clenched the deck brush so tightly he nearly shattered his teeth.
Bastard!!
To make me do such a thing!!
Just you wait! One day, you'll learn just how cruel Shiryu-sama's revenge can be!!
...
...
...
"So we really are heading to Dressrosa."
Hawkeye said solemnly, "I've met Doflamingo. He's a dangerous man, absolutely scheming."
"It won't be that simple..."
...
"He might as well tattoo 'I'm the villain' on his face." Griffin shook his head with a faint smile. "But he lacks the strength to match his ambition."
"Just a joker card, that's all."
...
"He has deep ties with Kaido, so you should be careful."
Hawkeye's eyes darkened. "In a one-on-one fight, I really can't think of anyone who could stand against that monster!"
Wanting to know Shanks' situation was one thing.
Hawkeye had another purpose in coming here—to persuade Griffin not to clash with Kaido.
He had seen Kaido before and deeply understood his strength.
...
"I don't understand..."
"Whenever Kaido is mentioned, you all seem to think I'm the one in danger."
Griffin sat cross-legged.
The sea breeze swept his black hair back from his forehead, revealing a smooth brow and eyes burning with crimson flames.
In a tone that brooked no argument, he declared firmly.
"You should go ask him, Kaido..."
"if he dares to go to war with me!"
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