https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-12-You-ve-Got-to-Be-Kidding-Me-Pirate-/13535717/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-14-It-s-Not-Me-I-Mean-Yes-It-s-Me/13535719/
Chapter 13: Apologies, the Seven Warlords of the Sea Are Simply Unmatched
Chapter 13: Apologies, the Seven Warlords of the Sea Are Simply Unmatched
Dracule Mihawk was clearly determined to fight Kuro. That merciless slash he’d dealt Lida earlier had completely enraged Kuro.
Before that, he’d recklessly unleashed sword techniques without any caution. If Kuro and Lida hadn’t blocked those slashes, the entire crew aboard this warship would’ve been doomed.
Pirates really were lawless, undisciplined creatures.
“Single Sword Style!”
Kuro’s blade flipped upward, parrying Dracule Mihawk’s Black Blade, before instantly unleashing a cross-shaped slash.
“Interesting sword technique.”
Dracule Mihawk stepped back, raising the Black Blade to block Kuro’s strike. In a flash, he countered with a reverse slash.
Clang!
Kuro blocked it, his blade sparking against the Black Blade before sweeping horizontally at Dracule Mihawk’s neck.
“Your Haki is impressive.”
Dracule Mihawk vanished in a blur, commenting, “Why is a man like you in the East Blue?”
Without Haki, an ordinary blade would’ve shattered the moment it touched the Black Blade.
“Single Sword Style!”
Kuro leaped high, gripping his sword with both hands as he brought it crashing down.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
On the deck, the two clashed in a furious exchange.
The Navy personnel watched, stunned.
This was the World’s Greatest Swordsman, yet he was being matched blow-for-blow by their low-ranking officer.
So the World’s Greatest Swordsman isn’t that strong after all…
Limited by their experience, the Navy couldn’t comprehend their officer’s strength. They assumed Dracule Mihawk’s power was simply capped.
I could probably handle him too?
Kuro dodged another slash from Dracule Mihawk, sheathed his sword, then drew it again in one fluid motion.
“Single Sword Style!”
A torrent of killing intent radiated from his blade, enveloping the entire ship. Watching from the sidelines, Klah felt his head spin, nearly collapsing.
That terrifying sensation of imminent death again…
Thump.
Thump.
Navy crewmen stood dazed, one by one fainting on the deck.
Dracule Mihawk blinked. “Conqueror’s Haki? No, this is pure killing intent? To this degree? What a genius.”
“Kuro’s getting serious.”
Lida, standing aside and munching an apple, remarked casually.
“You’re saying Captain Kuro wasn’t serious just now?” Klah, struggling against the oppressive killing intent, asked.
They’d been fighting like that and he still wasn’t serious?
He wasn’t like those clueless Navy men. Every move between the two had made his heart race—the slightest misstep from either could mean instant death.
Lida replied, “That Hawk-Eye guy has no killing intent. He just wanted to test his skills. Kuro originally didn’t want to fight, but he got provoked.”
“Oh? Time to get serious then?”
Dracule Mihawk sensed it too, his gaze subtly sharpening with anticipation.
“Unenlightened Divine Wind Murderous Sword!”
Kuro’s fingers glided across his blade, radiating golden light as he slashed toward Dracule Mihawk.
Not just a Jiao, nor a Shen—but the true, combined form: “Jiaolong!”
The moisture in the air churned with the sea’s energy, coalescing into a serpentine dragon of water on Kuro’s blade.
Dracule Mihawk’s expression turned grave. Gripping the Black Blade Yoru with both hands, he slashed in response.
The two attacks collided, then veered apart.
Crack!
Kuro’s blade shattered piece by piece. Clutching the hilt, he murmured, “Can you hear it? The whisper of divine wind.”
Hiss!
Blood sprayed from Dracule Mihawk’s hand. Turning, he revealed a fresh wound across his cheek, blood streaming steadily.
Though injured, he showed no anger—only regret. “Your swordsmanship is fascinating. Controlling moisture, even blood. Pity your ordinary blade limits your strength. You need a Famous Blade.”
The World’s Greatest Swordsman was injured?!
While others might not understand, Lida recognized the significance.
An ordinary blade had wounded Hawk-Eye. Kuro had the potential to challenge the World’s Greatest Swordsman’s throne!
Kuro inhaled deeply, picking up a naval cutlass and coating it in Armament Haki.
“The Jiaolong won’t work on you, huh? Makes sense—you’re the World’s Greatest Swordsman.”
He ran his fingers along the blade again. “Lida, back off. Shinmeiryu Style Supreme Technique—Azure…”
“Enough. I’ve had my fun today.”
Dracule Mihawk suddenly raised a hand, sheathing the Black Blade. “If we keep fighting, your ship will fall apart. I’m not here to fight the Navy.”
Kuro glared. “Lida got hurt blocking your slashes, and you nearly wrecked my ship. Now you just walk away? The Seven Warlords of the Sea think they’re above consequences?”
The Navy was unconscious anyway—no witnesses. He really wanted to test the gap between himself and the World’s Greatest Swordsman.
“I’m injured too, aren’t I? We’re even.”
Dracule Mihawk shrugged nonchalantly, leaping onto his small boat. “Sorry, but the Seven Warlords of the Sea are unmatched. We have privileges.”
He smiled, satisfied. He’d come to the East Blue out of boredom, but now he’d encountered two intriguing men—Roronoa Zoro, and this one capable of challenging his throne.
“Young man, state your name.”
“I’m Klah!”
Kuro declared solemnly, “Remember my name, Hawk-Eye Mihawk. I, Klah, will one day take your place as the World’s Greatest Swordsman!”
“???
Klah, still awestruck by their battle, suddenly had a mind full of question marks.
What does this have to do with me?
Did you mispronounce it?
“I’ll remember it.”
Dracule Mihawk nodded seriously. “Seek a Famous Blade as soon as possible. A swordsman without a fine blade weakens his strength. When you’re ready, come find me. I’ll wait on that throne.”
He boarded his small boat, watching it drift away.
Kuro lowered his blade, eyes narrowing.
“Still some distance to cover…”
A skilled swordsman could instantly gauge the gap between himself and an opponent.
Kuro knew he still lagged behind Hawk-Eye. In a life-or-death duel, he’d lose—but not easily.
Thanks to Hawk-Eye as a benchmark, he could roughly estimate his own strength.
Safety first, though.
“Captain Kuro, earlier…”
Klah appeared behind him, eyes full of grievances.
“What?”
“Back when you introduced me to Hawk-Eye, you used my name… Klah.”
“Kuro? Who’s that?”
“Klah.”
“What ‘Kuro’?”
“Klah.”
“Kuro…? Forget it, I’ll rest over there.”
“Fine.”
After dismissing Klah, Kuro smirked at Dracule Mihawk’s retreating figure. “We’ll meet again. One day, I’ll knock you out cold.”
Though Dracule Mihawk had a point—he lacked a proper blade.
And a real battle would take time to resolve. He couldn’t afford attracting attention from the Navy’s headquarters yet. Too risky.
Lida’s injury was avenged, and Hawk-Eye was injured too.
He wasn’t intimidated. Even if Dracule Mihawk reported to the higher-ups, the name given wasn’t real.
Let them chase Klah. What did that have to do with him, Kuro?
…
The Navy’s unconsciousness left the ship inoperable. Kuro grabbed a telescope, watching the distant battle unfold.
Lida, holding another telescope beside him, observed,
“That’s Captain Krieg—the Pirate Admiral. Bounties around 17 million. Heard he went to the Grand Line, but why’s he back so soon?”
“Just unlucky. Five thousand strong ships entering the Grand Line would trouble the Navy. But he had to run into a storm and Hawk-Eye. If that’s not misfortune, what is?”
Kuro watched the armored giant fighting Roronoa Zoro in a back-and-forth duel, clicking his tongue.
“We’ll arrest him later.”
“You’ve changed,” Lida said, surprised.
“You don’t know why I’m arresting him?”
Kuro sighed, watching the white-haired glutton still chewing something absentmindedly.
Their funds were running low—they needed money.
(End of Chapter)
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