https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-11-What-Exactly-Are-Your-Ambitions-/13535716/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-13-Apologies-the-Seven-Warlords-of-the-Sea-Are-Simply-Unmatched/13535718/
Chapter 12: You've Got to Be Kidding Me, Pirate!
Chapter 12: You've Got to Be Kidding Me, Pirate!
The ship continued sailing, and over these past few days, Klah had been closely observing this patrol vessel.
He learned it was a Navy ship from Base 153, and discovered its bitter history with Mongar.
But this only deepened his confusion. Through his intelligence gathering over these days, he understood Kuro was merely an Ensign - nothing special. Though respected by the Navy of this Warship, they portrayed Kuro as just another diligent, conscientious Navy man.
And Kuro's behavior matched this - just an ordinary Navy officer, maybe even somewhat lackadaisical.
He never participated in training exercises, never went out on patrols, delegating everything to Sergeant Kass, his deputy officer on board.
All day long he'd hang out in the cabin with that little girl. One chain-smoking and drinking, the other constantly munching on snacks.
If Klah hadn't etched that blade strike into his memory, he might have been fooled by Kuro's facade.
If even he could be deceived, then this man's decade-long concealment in East Blue must mean a grand scheme was at play.
This man was terrifying!
Klah stood on the Deck gazing at the sky. Though the sky was perfectly clear with not a cloud in sight, he felt like storm clouds were about to gather overhead, as if a giant hand were about to cover all of East Blue.
"Oh! Baratie, Baratie!"
Lida's joyful voice rang out from the cabin as she came running over, jumping up and down with her hands raised high.
In the distance, a ship's silhouette faintly appeared.
The most famous restaurant in East Blue - the floating restaurant Baratie.
"Mr. Klah is interested in Baratie too?"
Kas noticed Klah staring off into the distance and asked curiously.
These past few days, the Navy had tried to get Klah's 'real name', but Klah used the excuse, "What better way to remember this shame than to live with the name Klah", to firmly establish Klah as his official name.
Hearing this, Klah felt momentarily dazed.
He'd heard of this restaurant before. As a pirate, he'd never been there, so he hadn't expected he'd have a day where he'd dine here.
This must count as peaceful living.
That Kuro wasn't lying after all.
Just as he was thinking this, a brilliant flash of light erupted from the horizon. It was a vertical, crescent-shaped slash of light hurtling directly toward them.
"What is that?!"
Klah froze in shock. He'd never seen such a thing before, but he didn't doubt for a moment that if he were hit, he'd be reduced to dust.
"Flying Slash?! A swordsman?!" Kuro, come out quickly!"
The white-haired girl exclaimed in alarm.
"It's too late!"
Seeing the slash approaching faster and faster, Lida gritted her teeth, jumped onto the ship's bow, her body growing as she transformed into a young woman. She crossed her arms to block the attack, her forearms covered in Armored Haki.
"Maximum Seiki Wheel!"
She clapped her hands together, then forcefully pushed forward.
Boom!!!
The air seemed to twist, Lida's hands pushing against the slash as the ship's bow cracked under the pressure, sending a massive shockwave across the Deck, blowing Navy personnel sprawling.
Klah was struck by the blast, sliding backward across the deck, his entire body aching as if stabbed by knives.
"What is this? Is there something like this in East Blue?" Klah's mind reeled in shock.
And that girl... why did she transform like that? What was that black stuff on her arms? It felt like one punch from her would finish him off.
"Get out of here!"
Lida roared, pushing with all her might, forcing the relentless slash upward.
The slash changed direction, shooting straight into the sky.
"Haha, what kind of joke is this? How can there be such a powerful slash?!"
Lida's form instantly reverted to her child form, panting heavily as she stared ahead.
Just one slash had nearly exhausted her completely.
"Hmm? It was blocked?
On the Shattered Ship near Baratie, a man wearing a Luffy and another in Golden Armor were locked in battle. A spectator nearby just finished sheathing his Black Blade and looked over in surprise.
Those hawk-like eyes showed a flicker of surprise. "That little girl?"
The Black Blade was raised once again.
"Again, again!"
Klah's eyes widened as he watched another slash even larger than the previous one materialize.
This time, there was no time to react.
A golden crescent-shaped slash suddenly erupted from the Deck, shooting toward the dark green slash, meeting in the middle with a collision.
Boom!!!
The two slashes refused to yield, pushing against each other like wrestlers, until finally they exploded into a shockwave, creating massive waves upon the sea.
The waves surged into the sky, turning into torrential rain that battered the Warship.
"Flying Slash? Interesting."
A trace of a smile appeared on the distant man's lips as he jumped onto his small boat, heading toward the Warship.
Kuro's face darkened. At some point, he had taken his place at the bow, glaring fixedly at the small boat gradually emerging in the distance.
"Kuro, you big idiot, I'm hungry", Lida muttered weakly.
Kuro glanced at her. "Sorry, my mistake. I was napping. Klah, get something for Lida to eat."
He had been sleeping peacefully when this unexpected attack came. If it weren't for Lida, this ship might have been destroyed. And the bloodstains on Lida's arms left his mood sour.
Soon Klah brought over a pile of food, which Lida devoured hungrily before finally patting her belly with a sigh of relief.
"I've recovered. That was terrifying. What was that slash? When did East Blue get swordsmen?"
He didn't need to say more, because Lida had already seen the approaching small boat and the man sitting on it.
Those piercing Hawk-Eye eyes, and the massive Black Blade strapped to his back.
"That Black Blade... It must be the Chaos Blade: Double Flower Cross (the strongest Black Blade in the world). That's Hawk-Eye!"
Lida's eyes widened in shock.
Kuro nodded solemnly. "Seven Warlords of the Sea. The World's Greatest Swordsman. Hawk-Eye Mihawk."
"The World's Greatest Swordsman?!"
Klah stared in alarm. Even in the information-starved East Blue, he had heard of this name.
What was a man like this doing in East Blue?
Whoosh!
The boat drew close, and Mihawk's figure flashed, appearing on the Warship's Deck.
"It's you, the one who released the Flying Slash."
Mihawk regarded Kuro with interest. He had thought it was some swordsman he knew, but he had never seen this young face before.
When had the Navy produced a new swordsman?
"Not me."
Kuro immediately denied it, pointing at Klah. "He was the one who released the Flying Slash."
"???!"
Klah's glasses were covered in question marks.
Mihawk turned his gaze to Klah, who immediately put on his Ten Blades gauntlets, preparing for battle.
"Oh?"
Mihawk slowly drew his Black Blade. The faint oppressive aura emanating from it made Klah sweat profusely.
Was he just going to be sold out like this?
What about that peaceful life he was promised!
"Spoon!"
Under pressure, Klah launched his attack first. His figure vanished, and the ship's railing was immediately torn apart by a Rend.
This was Klah's ultimate technique. Its speed rivaled the Six Styles' Razor, though he couldn't control his direction himself.
With this move, he should at least be able to hold out for a while!
Snap.
Mihawk lightly pushed forward with the flat of his blade. The invisible Klah immediately reappeared, struck by the flat and falling to the ground.
"I can still tell the difference."
Mihawk looked at the sword in Kuro's hand and smiled slightly. "A rare strong man. How about a match?"
What?! Why me!?
Kuro's forehead veins bulged. "Am I to take this as you challenging the Navy? Do you even want to keep your position as Seven Warlords of the Sea anymore, Mihawk!"
"A mere Navy officer can't represent the Headquarters. I don't particularly care about that position."
Mihawk wore a nonchalant expression as he slowly drew his Black Blade from behind, glancing at the battle in the distance. "There's a fight happening over there. It would be troublesome if the Navy got involved. Why don't you keep me company here?"
Swish!
He slashed toward Lida.
The strike came too quickly, Lida had no time to react, only watching helplessly as the Black Blade approached.
Clang!
A sword covered in Armored Haki blocked the Black Blade.
Kuro's face was icy cold as he spoke through clenched teeth, "You've got to be kidding me, pirate!"
(End of Chapter)
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