The distance between Marine Branch 18 and the seas surrounding Loguetown in East Blue was not short.
Even if a Marine warship sailed at full speed with a favorable wind, the journey would still take at least three days.
However, matters were entirely different if a sea beast was involved.
As long as the direction was correct, the journey could be shortened to less than half a day.
Saint Roselith Seraphina stood at the shoreline quietly.
In truth, she was somewhat looking forward to this meeting.
After all
Her opponent would be Dracule Mihawk, the world's strongest swordsman.
A man capable of dueling evenly with Shanks.
Seraphina had personally experienced the overwhelming pressure radiating from Shanks.
It had been suffocating.
Yet she was no longer the same person she had been back then.
More than a month had passed since that battle.
During that fight, she had been completely defeated by Shanks once he began using Haki seriously.
In particular, the terrifying force of Conqueror's Haki still lingered vividly in her memory.
The defeat had not crushed her spirit.
Instead, it ignited a powerful frustration within her heart.
For weeks she trained relentlessly.
Day and night she attempted to awaken her own Conqueror's Haki.
Unfortunately
She made no progress.
Realizing this, Seraphina shifted her focus back toward refining her swordsmanship.
Looking back, she could only sigh at her previous arrogance.
There had been a time when she believed that at her level, no one could rival her blade.
Because of that belief, she had gradually grown complacent.
Her training in swordsmanship had become less intense.
That arrogance was shattered the moment she crossed blades with Shanks.
A swordsman who had mastered both blade and Haki.
Her defeat had been inevitable.
But Seraphina refused to accept such a result again.
She would become stronger.
Far stronger.
"Muuuu !"
A deep cry echoed across the sea.
Moments later the water surged upward.
A gigantic sea cow surfaced.
The massive creature immediately attracted the shocked attention of the Marines stationed nearby.
"That thing is huge!"
"Is that a sea monster?!"
Several Marines instinctively prepared for battle.
Yet strangely enough
No one panicked.
Because Saint Roselith Seraphina was standing right there.
Since the battle that had frozen an entire battlefield into a vast sea of ice, the Marines of East Blue widely acknowledged her as the strongest Marine stationed in these seas.
The memory of that endless frozen ocean still filled them with awe.
Soon the Marines realized something astonishing.
Seraphina walked directly toward the enormous sea cow.
And the beast lowered its head obediently.
The creature was clearly responding to her.
"It's… her pet?"
The Marines stared in disbelief.
Even such a gigantic sea beast had submitted to her strength.
Muumuu surfaced quickly after hearing Seraphina's call.
To be honest, he had grown noticeably fatter lately.
Seraphina fed him extremely well.
She was a very practical person.
And Muumuu had certainly benefited from it.
"Muumuu."
Seraphina placed a hand on the creature's head.
"Give us a ride."
"Moo!"
Muumuu happily agreed.
Just as he prepared to move
"Glub!"
Another figure surfaced beside him.
It was Luna.
The small Sea King cub raised her head excitedly.
"Glub!"
Her meaning was obvious.
She wanted to go too.
Ever since spending time together, Luna and Muumuu had become inseparable companions.
Muumuu might be a little slow-witted.
But he was gentle.
And Luna had grown very fond of the large, simple-minded beast.
Even if he was sometimes clueless.
Seeing their enthusiasm, Seraphina didn't refuse.
"Alright."
"You can come along too."
Thus, Seraphina and Bruce climbed onto Muumuu's back.
Moments later the enormous sea cow surged forward across the waves.
Their destination
Loguetown.
LoguetownMeanwhile, the man they were going to meet walked calmly through the historic town.
Dracule Mihawk slowly observed the streets.
This place held special memories for him.
His gaze eventually rose toward the towering execution platform.
It was here that the Pirate King
Gol D. Roger
Had been executed.
For a brief moment, Mihawk seemed to see Roger standing there again.
As if the scene had only occurred yesterday.
The legendary pirate's final words still echoed across the seas.
"My treasure?"
"If you want it…"
"You can have it!"
"Search for it!"
"I left everything in the Grand Line!"
Those words had changed the world.
Like a stone cast into a stagnant lake.
They ignited the Great Pirate Era.
Countless pirates had set sail in pursuit of Roger's treasure.
Mihawk had also begun his journey during that era.
But his dream was different.
His ambition was simple.
To become the strongest swordsman in the world.
After countless battles…
After defeating one great swordsman after another…
He had finally achieved that title.
And now
He waited.
Blu Blu Blu
A Den Den Mushi began ringing.
Mihawk glanced at it calmly.
The snail's face resembled a stern man with round glasses.
It was Sengoku.
"Mihawk!"
"What are you doing in East Blue?!"
"You are one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"
Sengoku's voice thundered through the snail.
He had received an urgent report from the Marines stationed at Loguetown.
But Mihawk's answer was extremely short.
"Sparring."
Click.
He hung up.
He had no interest in continuing the conversation.
The title of Warlord meant little to him.
The only reason he had accepted the position was convenience.
It allowed him to travel freely.
And to challenge powerful swordsmen without constant interference from the Marines.
After all
Mihawk only cared about one thing.
Great swordsmen.
Far away at Marine Headquarters.
Sengoku nearly crushed the Den Den Mushi.
"That man…"
His veins bulged with frustration.
But as Fleet Admiral, he forced himself to calm down.
"Sparring…"
He muttered.
Who in East Blue could possibly attract Mihawk's interest?
The answer quickly appeared in his mind.
Saint Roselith Seraphina.
She was the only possibility.
Rumors across the seas claimed she had forced Shanks to retreat.
Sengoku knew the truth.
Seraphina had not defeated Shanks.
However
Her unyielding will had impressed him enough for the Yonko to withdraw peacefully.
Still…
That reputation had already spread.
"Not good…"
Sengoku immediately dialed another Den Den Mushi.
Moments later Seraphina answered.
"What is it, Fleet Admiral?"
Her calm voice came through.
"Commodore Seraphina…"
"What are you doing right now?"
"I'm heading to Loguetown for an inspection."
Sengoku immediately realized the truth.
She was going to fight Mihawk.
"Return immediately."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Why?"
"Because of Dracule Mihawk?"
Her voice turned colder.
"Since when did the Marines begin retreating from pirates without even fighting?"
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"
"Your Highness, listen first "
Click.
The call ended.
Seraphina had already hung up.
Back at Marine Headquarters, Sengoku stared at the silent Den Den Mushi in disbelief.
"Why are they all like this…?"
He rubbed his temples in frustration.
He was only worried.
Mihawk was not an opponent an ordinary Marine could face.
Even Sengoku himself could not easily defeat him.
Was Seraphina simply going there to throw her life away?
He sighed deeply.
"If you weren't a Celestial Dragon…"
"I wouldn't bother."
Because if a member of the Roselith lineage were to die under Marine jurisdiction
The World Government would make life very difficult for the Marines.
Salaries might even be frozen.
Standing nearby, Tsuru watched the entire scene quietly.
Seeing Sengoku so stressed, she almost laughed.
Being Fleet Admiral…
Was truly not an easy job.