As expected, Gion still lost to Hawkeye.
Yet she showed no discouragement. She accepted the outcome with a steady breath. A defeat to someone as formidable as the World's Greatest Swordsman didn't weaken her spirit. What drove her now was something else entirely.
Inside the castle, Hawkeye had seen everything that had occurred between Gion and Zoro's small group. From the moment she arrived to her emotional declarations and sudden attack, he observed it all with calm eyes.
During that time, he also analyzed her Haki presence, sensing that her feelings for Zoro were genuine, not shallow or manipulative.
For a moment, he nodded to himself, quietly amused at the odd situation. Despite her rank and power, she was willing to challenge him not for glory or justice, but for the affection of a pirate.
"I wonder why this young lady is here," Hawkeye said in that flat, even tone of his, voice calm yet curious. "She isn't here to challenge me like other swordsmen, is she?"
Gion lifted a finger, pointing at Zoro with bold confidence, "I'm here to take back my man!"
Hawkeye raised an eyebrow at her blunt declaration, silently marveling at such straightforward boldness. Few people in the world spoke with such raw determination.
"I can't make that decision. That choice is entirely up to Zoro," Hawkeye said calmly, eyes flicking toward Rolan.
Meanwhile, far away at the Sabaody Archipelago, a fore-and-aft rigged ship about thirty meters long drifted to a stop near Mangrove 41. Its mast bore the iconic Straw Hat skull flag.
A boy in a Straw Hat leapt from the deck, full of uncontrollable excitement.
"I'm going down first!" he shouted.
"Hey, Luffy, don't run off by yourself!" a familiar voice called out as the others disembarked.
This ship was the Dawn, built by Iceburg for the Straw Hat Pirate crew. Luffy bounced around on the ground, his grin as wide as ever, eyes sparkling with excitement as he took in the unusual landscape beneath his feet.
"Come on, everyone! The ground here feels strange!"
Carina and the others jumped down one after another, wide-eyed and smiling.
Suddenly an older man dropped the anchor with a sharp clang and stepped onto the land in a single fluid motion.
"Hey, Sakazuki! What are you doing?" Sanji called out, waving from behind him.
The man turned, "I'm going for a walk, what's it to you?"
"Remember to pick up some ingredients!" Sanji said without hesitation.
The man's face shifted into a scowl. "Fine, I'll get them. After all, someone is so weak they need me to buy groceries!"
Sanji's brows twitched, vein throbbing, "Huh? I definitely heard that."
The two began bickering loudly while walking side by side.
"I'll buy ingredients that some people could never dream of!" Sakazuki called back.
"Oh really? Then I'll find ingredients that aren't even on this island!"
"Then I'll find things not in the Grand Line!"
"Then I'll find ingredients not in this world!"
Their argument echoed across the mangrove forests.
"Hehe, could you two stop bickering already?" a female voice finally sounded behind them.
Sanji's eyes immediately turned into hearts upon hearing it.
"Hi, Kalifa-chan~"
This Kalifa was a former member of CP9. After failing her mission during the clash with Rolan's crew, she knew returning to the World Government was no longer an option. She had been trained from childhood by the World Government as a weapon, and though she grew to resent its darkness, leaving wasn't easy when it meant abandoning comrades.
After wandering the seas and returning to Water 7, she feared being expelled by Iceburg. Instead, Iceburg accepted her as his secretary, easing the hatred the people had for her past actions.
But the citizens of Water 7 still whispered about her betrayal.
Then a bright figure entered her life — Luffy.
Despite his carefree attitude, Luffy had a way of seeing people clearly, and he had saved her from the pit of despair.
So Kalifa chose to join the Straw Hat Pirates.
"That's sexual harassment!" Sanji collapsed to the ground, twitching.
"Is calling a name sexual harassment now?" Kalifa asked, amused.
?? could only retort, "Of course, as expected of the perverted cook!"
"What did you say, white-haired monster!" Sanji snapped.
"Huh, want to fight? Perverted Kappa!"
The two erupted into another round of chaotic shouting.
…
Elsewhere on the archipelago, another Straw Hat was in the thick of battle.
"Gum-Gum Pistol!" Luffy extended his arm like a cannonball, smashing through a horde of bounty hunters with explosive speed.
One brutal leader snapped at his subordinates, "Be careful, he's as agile as a monkey!"
But before he could finish, Luffy vanished from sight, only to appear a second later behind another opponent.
Bang!
Another enemy flew backward.
His attacks were swift and untouchable.
To the side, a skeleton with an afro danced through the crowd with rhythmic finesse.
"Yohohoho, Revolution Dance!"
With a forceful thrust of his cane sword, several opponents were launched aside like ragdolls.
"What kind of skeleton attacks like that!" a bewildered hunter exclaimed.
Suddenly, a dark fist appeared before his eyes.
Bang!
He crashed to the ground.
Before losing consciousness, he saw a familiar Straw Hat standing tall.
These people weren't ordinary fighters; they were bounty hunters hoping to capture Straw Hat Pirates for their bounties. Sabaody Archipelago was notorious as the most prosperous supply point before the New World. Countless routes passed through here for restocking and repairs. Hence, it had also become a hunting ground for those eager for quick fortune.
But the Straw Hats had arrived, and their appearance changed everything.
…
After dispatching the last of the bandits, Luffy placed his Straw Hat back on his head and turned to the green-haired girl beside him.
"Let's go, Caimie! First we find a coating craftsman, then we go to the amusement park."
The green-haired girl, Caimie, lit up at the mention of fun, "Amusement park! Amusement park!"
Suddenly, a starfish wearing a hat — Papaggu — slapped Caimie playfully.
"Caimie, control yourself! The amusement park is a dream we can never hope to reach in this life," he teased.
Caimie scowled, "Fine, then I won't go, Papaggu."
Luffy tilted his head curiously, "Why not? Didn't you say the amusement park was the thing you wanted most?"
Papaggu's expression turned serious, "Do you remember the group you just drove away?"
Luffy nodded.
"Right," Papaggu continued, "In this world, slave trading is rampant, especially here at Sabaody Archipelago. Slaves are graded, with male humans at the bottom, beautiful women next, and at the top of this cruel hierarchy are merfolk. If a slave trader captures a mermaid, they live comfortably for generations."
Sanji stroked his chin, contemplating, "So if Caimie goes to the amusement park, they'd see her, and she could be captured, right?"
Papaggu nodded.
Caimie's expression darkened.
"Baka! We'll go to the amusement park and I'll protect you, Caimie!"
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Powerstones?? (´ε｀ )
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Patreon = _Zeph