"Swordsman?"
Mihawk picked up a bottle of iced black tea from the ice bucket. "Talk to me after you can execute a Flying Slash."
A Flying Slash is a swordsmanship technique in which a swordsman swings their blade to generate detached sword energy, enabling long-range attacks.
"Stop looking down on me."
Astrix gritted his teeth and purchased the Swordsman Training Experience. "In one month, I will definitely become a swordsman."
Mihawk shot him a sideways glance. "If you can execute a Flying Slash within a month, I'll grant you one condition."
Cultivating an opponent seemed like a good idea.
Of course, that was only if Astrix could surpass the level of cutting steel and master the Flying Slash within a month.
Was that possible?
It was simply impossible.
Mihawk suspected that Astrix had spent all his energy researching gourmet food while on Roger's ship. Otherwise, it would be hard to explain how he could make such delicious food and iced black tea.
"Mihawk, you're definitely going to be the Vice-Captain!"
Astrix, as if pumped full of adrenaline, howled as he pulled out his plasma sword and began practicing.
Mihawk, you'd never guess—your captain is about to use a cheat code.
[Use Swordsman Training Experience]
A massive amount of training experience flooded his mind, like the sudden awakening of unfamiliar memories. Astrix rubbed his brow and realized, somewhat awkwardly—
Brain: I've learned it.
Hands: I haven't!!
One swing. Then another. And another.
At first, Astrix's swordsmanship looked extremely clumsy. But after just over a thousand swings, Mihawk's expression began to shift.
The rhythm of his strikes was already taking shape.
Seeing this, Mihawk pursed his lips and decided to raise the difficulty for his future captain.
"You take the helm. I'm going to rest."
Astrix nodded. "Okay."
Mihawk, I didn't expect someone like you to get anxious. But even so, what does it matter?
The Vice-Captain I, Beelzebub Astrix, have chosen isn't going anywhere.
Mihawk picked up the ice bucket and returned to the cabin. Ever since Astrix started making sweet iced black tea, Mihawk rarely brewed his own.
Over the past month, Astrix had revealed four trump cards in succession: the great treasure, gourmet food, sweet iced tea, and Shandora.
Anyone would be shaken by that.
It was a perfect example of subtle influence.
One could only say that Astrix's "grooming" had been very successful—the day Mihawk became Vice-Captain… was not far off.
The weather on the Grand Line was like a girlfriend's temper—clear skies one moment, stormy the next.
Strong winds stirred towering waves. Astrix quickly channeled lightning to form a protective barrier, vaporizing seawater before it could drench the deck.
After consuming the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Astrix's hatred for seawater surpassed even his hatred for Momonosuke, placing it firmly at the top of his list.
Dark clouds blanketed the sky, and the sea turned pitch black.
The pirate ship drifted alone, rocking violently under the relentless waves.
Fortunately, Astrix didn't get seasick.
As rain poured down, he steered with one hand while browsing the Trading Platform.
On the Roger Pirates, even cooks had to master sailing.
[For Sale: Flying Bamboo Dragonfly — 500 points
Seller's note: Conceptual-grade anti-gravity device. Requires no energy. Never breaks.]
"Hiss—"
Astrix's eyes lit up with desire.
An anti-gravity flight device—this was a top-tier item.
While Rumble-Rumble Fruit users could "fly," it wasn't true flight—more like instantaneous movement via elementalization and electrical conduction.
And it consumed stamina.
Once exhausted, the advantages of the bamboo dragonfly became obvious.
Unfortunately, he only had 266 points.
Looking at the turbulent sea, Astrix felt a surge of determination.
"I need to take Sky Island as soon as possible. Otherwise, I can only stare at these treasures."
At present, Sky Island shells and Devil Fruits were his fastest ways to earn points.
Devil Fruits could sell for over 1000 points, but something like the Ope-Ope no Mi—capable of granting eternal life—was far too valuable to sell.
After all, who wouldn't covet eternal life?
Three days later, a massive island appeared on the horizon.
Alabasta.
Astrix had no intention of exploring it.
His objective was clear—head straight for Jaya, find the Knock-Up Stream, and reach Sky Island.
Back when he was sailing with Roger, Astrix had recorded every island using a Log Pose.
"At some point, I'll sail these routes again myself."
Looking back, that had been a wise decision.
Beside him, Mihawk suddenly asked,
"Pirate King Roger… what kind of person was he?"
Astrix paused briefly.
"The Captain… he was an excellent pirate."
An unqualified husband and father.
"Just excellent?" Mihawk sipped his iced tea. "I thought you'd call him the strongest. Then who do you think is the strongest pirate?"
"Rocks. And Mr. Gabban."
Before Mihawk could question him further, Astrix continued.
"In a world where people abandon their families for their dreams, Rocks gave up his dreams for his family. That alone makes him a real man."
"Still, compared to Rocks, I admire Mr. Gabban more."
"In front of him, even the likes of Golden Lion and Kaido fall short."
Mihawk's gaze sharpened, but since Astrix didn't reveal Gabban's location, he let it go.
"Then he must be very strong."
Astrix smiled smugly.
After training on Sky Island, he planned to visit Elbaf and learn from Mr. Gabban.
"I won't explain yet. When we meet him, you'll understand."
"Our current goal is Shandora."
After docking, they split tasks clearly.
Mihawk handled supplies.
Astrix repaired the ship.
He had learned it all on Roger's ship.
As the only non-combatant, his skill tree was heavily skewed toward utility.
It wasn't intentional—just talent distribution.
His combat ability was poor,
but his life skills were exceptional.
Cooking, navigation, ship repair, mapping—even crafting Eternal Poses.
Aside from fighting, he could do everything.
…
East Blue, Konomi Islands.
CP9 agent Ruki Ichijou returned once more and found the muscle man.
"Has Beelzebub Astrix come back recently?"
"No, sir! But… I remembered something strange."
"Something strange?"
Ruki raised an eyebrow and pulled out 10,000 Berries.
"Go on."
The man eagerly took the money.
"A few years ago, we used to bully him. But one time, he suddenly started glowing red…"
"And then we all passed out."
Ruki waved dismissively.
"I've heard enough."
A backwater nobody who didn't even know who Roger was—hardly credible.
Red light?
What a joke.
Could it be Conqueror's Haki?
Impossible.
Astrix joined Roger's crew at nine years old. There was no way a child like that possessed such power.
Thinking back to how that little cook slipped away under his nose—taking his promotion prospects with him—Ruki's expression darkened.
"Beelzebub… you're truly unforgivable. I'll capture you myself."
He didn't regret not calling the Marines in Loguetown.
He only hated that Astrix had been too cunning.
"Just how did he escape…?"