Kaguya and Perona sat quietly at the table eating, ignoring everything happening around them.
To Kaguya, someone like Krieg, who couldn't even make it into the Grand Line, was just a small fry. No, perhaps not even that—at best, just cannon fodder.
Kaguya couldn't be bothered to pay attention to someone like that, much less take action.
Perona, sitting beside her, was also someone who had seen the world. Having witnessed all kinds of scenes, how could she be afraid of a little underling like this?
"You two brats are the ones who damaged my ship, right?" Krieg walked over and sneered. "Very well, looks like I'll have to capture you first."
"What's this gorilla talking about?" Kaguya said nonchalantly as she sliced the tender beef on her plate.
Perona chimed in, "Probably thinking about bananas."
"You're mocking me!" Krieg roared in fury. "Damn you!"
"Wait," Zeff stepped forward and blocked Krieg's path, speaking in a deep voice, "Don't cause trouble in my restaurant. Anyone who does—get out."
"Oh?" Krieg said mockingly. "What, you think an old man like you can play the hero?"
Zeff's eyes narrowed as he said coldly, "I won't allow anyone to disturb my guests while they're eating—not even pirates."
"Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson so you understand the strength of Lord Krieg," Krieg said coldly. "Old fool."
"We'll see if you're capable of that," Zeff retorted with an equally cold glare.
The atmosphere in the restaurant instantly turned tense. A large number of pirates poured in from outside, weapons in hand. At the same time, members of the restaurant staff surged out from the kitchen. Both sides were on edge, a standoff ready to explode at any moment.
But just then, a deafening explosion sounded from outside the restaurant. The glass shattered instantly, tables and chairs shook, and even the floor of the restaurant trembled.
Everyone froze, then quickly rushed outside. What they saw stunned them: the several large ships Krieg had docked near the restaurant had been reduced to wreckage, floating on the sea and slowly sinking.
"What... what happened?" Krieg's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the scene before him. "M-My ships..."
Still seated inside, Perona said gleefully, "Looks like his dream of reaching the Grand Line sank before it even began. How pitiful."
"Well, not entirely," Kaguya shrugged. "Didn't someone once head for the Grand Line on a raft?"
She was referring to none other than Blackbeard. In the original story, when he first set out, he had only a raft—which eventually sank. A bitter tale.
Kaguya couldn't help but sigh. Starting a journey... is hard.
"I really don't get why so many people are so eager to head to the Grand Line," Perona said disdainfully. "What's so great about it anyway?"
"You can't say that. Maybe the Grand Line means nothing to you," Kaguya said through a mouthful of veal as she worked through her plate with knife and fork, "but to others, it might be a dream they can never achieve in their lifetime."
A nearby chef scoffed, curling his lip in disdain, thinking to himself that these two girls sure talked big. The Grand Line was a place only the strong could go.
"Who was it? Who did this?!" Krieg's eyes were bloodshot as he roared in fury. "Who destroyed my ships?!"
This was the fleet he had painstakingly built up.
And now, it was gone.
"What, got a problem with that?"
At that moment, accompanied by a cold voice, a thin man wearing a hat and carrying a massive sword on his back stepped forward.
"Who is it?!" Krieg roared.
But when he saw the man, his eyes widened suddenly, his face turned pale, and he looked as if he'd seen a ghost. He stammered, "Y-You... You're..."
Everyone present was confused, not understanding why Krieg's expression changed so drastically upon seeing this person. Was he someone important?
"It's him! He's the one who destroyed our ships!" a pirate rushed over, both shocked and furious.
Krieg's eyes bulged, cold sweat pouring down his body as he stuttered, "H-Mihawk..."
Mihawk.
Everyone was still baffled.
At that moment, a restaurant waiter nearby turned pale and exclaimed, "Mihawk... could it be the one from the Grand Line, the Shichibukai?"
Shichibukai.
Hearing this term, everyone was shocked.
Though they were in a remote location and didn't know exactly who Mihawk was, the name "Shichibukai" was thunderously well-known.
These were pirates officially appointed by the World Government, given legal rights to plunder, and known for their overwhelming strength.
Anyone selected as one of the Shichibukai was, without exception, extraordinarily powerful—top-tier even in the Grand Line.
Could the man before them really be one of the Shichibukai?
"Was it you who wanted to fight me?" Mihawk glanced coldly at Krieg.
Cold sweat dripped down Krieg's back as he swallowed and said, "N-No, that won't be necessary."
To fight a powerful Shichibukai? That would be suicide.
He wasn't foolish enough to go that far.
Even though it tore at his heart to lose the fleet he had painstakingly built, his life was clearly more important.
Kaguya looked at the fleeing Krieg in surprise—she hadn't expected this fool to actually run away. In the original work, he had at least dared to challenge Mihawk.
Although he was swiftly defeated.
What Kaguya didn't know was that because of her appearance, the World Government had placed even more emphasis on selecting Shichibukai from among the pirates. The scale of the program was far greater than before, and the level of publicity was much higher. Even remote regions had heard of the Shichibukai.
So it wasn't strange that people in the East Blue knew about them.
"You're the owner of this place, right?" Mihawk, with the sword on his back, walked over and asked.
"That's right," Zeff said in a deep voice. "You must have some business here."
"Yes," Mihawk replied. "I came here to find someone."
"To find someone?" Zeff was taken aback.
"That's right. And it seems... I've found her," Mihawk turned his head and looked at the silver-haired girl by the window, still eating her meal at a calm and steady pace.
Kaguya wiped her lips with a napkin, turned her head, and lifted the corner of her mouth. "It's been years. I didn't expect to run into you here, Mihawk."
Hearing Kaguya's words, everyone present was stunned.
She actually knew one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
"I knew you came to the East Blue, so I followed," Mihawk said coldly as he walked over.
"I didn't expect that the legendary Shichibukai would have a habit of stalking," Kaguya said playfully.
Mihawk ignored her teasing. His eyes sharpened. "I came here hoping to fight you again."
Everyone was shocked by his words. Did this mean they had fought before?
But looking at the impossibly beautiful silver-haired girl, it was hard to associate her with someone powerful.
"So, you're here now," Kaguya said with interest, resting her chin on her hand. "Do you think you can beat me this time?"
So arrogant.
Everyone was incredulous. They had never seen someone so full of themselves—daring to say such things to a Shichibukai.
Yet what happened next stunned them even more.
Mihawk shook his head. "No, I don't believe I can defeat you with my current strength."
The crowd erupted.
Mihawk, a member of the Seven Warlords, had actually admitted weakness.
Unbelievable. The Shichibukai were immensely powerful; otherwise, they wouldn't have earned such a title. Just moments ago, he had sliced several large ships in half with a single swing, fully showcasing his terrifying strength.
Yet someone that powerful just said that.
Some even began to suspect whether this Mihawk was a fraud.
"Sorry, I'm not interested," Kaguya shrugged casually. "To me, things that are bound to happen are like unseasoned food—bland and tasteless."
"Only through constant challenges can one improve," Mihawk said calmly.
"Right, isn't Shanks still around?" Kaguya said. "He should be happy to be your sparring partner."
Mihawk replied indifferently, "I haven't considered dueling someone who has lost his left arm."
Lost his left arm.
Kaguya raised an eyebrow. Shanks lost his left arm?
It seemed Shanks had chosen the future he believed in. She wondered if the one he chose was Luffy.
Either way, sacrificing an arm to bet on the future of the Great Pirate Era was indeed a bold and courageous move.
But unfortunately, due to her presence, everything might change.
"So that's why you came looking for me," Kaguya said with a smile, resting her chin on her hand.
Mihawk didn't reply, but his meaning was clear.
"Alright then. Since you went through all this trouble to find me, it wouldn't be right to just send you back," Kaguya said, walking out of the restaurant. "Come with me. This place can't handle your rampaging. Besides, I haven't finished eating. If the food gets cold, it won't taste good."
Mihawk's eyes narrowed. "You think you can defeat me before the food gets cold?"
Kaguya beamed. "Exactly."
As she spoke, Kaguya stepped forward, and in an instant, her figure turned into a streak of light, tearing through the air and disappearing into the horizon. Mihawk followed close behind, stepping on the debris floating on the sea, leaping several times toward a nearby island.
Everyone looked at each other, unable to hide the shock in their eyes.
Could that silver-haired girl really possess such immense power?
...
On the small island not far away—
With a light tap of her toes, Kaguya landed gracefully from the sky. She turned around and said to Mihawk, "Being able to keep up with me so easily, it seems you've improved a lot over the years."
Mihawk replied calmly, "If this is all the progress I've made, there's nothing to boast about."
"Your personality hasn't changed much," Kaguya said with amusement. "Still so arrogant."
As she spoke, Kaguya extended her arm, and with a flash of light, a tachi engraved with petal patterns appeared in her hand—it was Liuli.
Mihawk's eyes narrowed. This was the very sword that had defeated him ten years ago.
Kaguya smiled and said, "Come, let me teach you properly."
As soon as the words fell, Kaguya stepped down, the ground cracking beneath her feet. With a burst of speed, she dashed forward like a stream of light, leaving behind afterimages.
A sharp gleam flashed in Mihawk's eyes. He unsheathed his sword, stepped forward, and shot out like an arrow to meet her.
Kaguya flicked her thumb, and the green-glowing blade slid free from its sheath. With a sweep of her arm, she slashed with blinding speed.
Clang!
With the crisp sound of metal clashing, their blades collided violently, creating a shower of brilliant sparks.
They separated instantly, only to clash again.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
In Kaguya's hands, Liuli moved as if it were an extension of her body—smooth as flowing water, fierce as a storm, forming countless afterimages that rained down like a monsoon.
Mihawk held his breath, both hands gripping his massive blade, making wide, powerful strikes—his style bold and overwhelming.
His swordsmanship was indeed impressive—far stronger than when Kaguya first met him. It was clear he'd made great strides over the years. His fierce aura was something few could match.
But under Kaguya's relentless, storm-like assault, what began as an even match gradually turned against Mihawk. He started to struggle, his defense faltering.
Kaguya's swordplay was sharp to the extreme. Every strike aimed straight at vital points, her movements ghostly and unpredictable—like a phantom, impossible to guard against.
Just defending forced Mihawk to use every ounce of his strength.
It wasn't long before fine beads of sweat formed on Mihawk's forehead.
Even during his duels with Shanks, he had never been in such a sorry state.
Just then, Kaguya stepped forward like a graceful flash, Liuli in her hand slicing forward with a flick, unleashing a razor-sharp blade of energy aimed straight at Mihawk's throat.
A clear opening.
Damn it.
Mihawk's pupils shrank. His heart sank. He immediately gave up attacking, stepped back, and retreated at full speed.
But Kaguya's sword pursued him like a shadow, never leaving his throat for even a moment. Mihawk was now caught in a moment of weakness—his old force exhausted, and his new force not yet gathered. It was already too late to turn and block.
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