The Sovereign Gale moved steadily across the calm stretch of sea, its sails filled with a clean eastern wind. The ship cut through the water with practiced grace, leaving a thin white wake behind it.
Nami stood near the helm, one hand resting on the wheel while the other adjusted the compass beside her. Her eyes moved between the horizon and the chart spread across the small navigation table.
After a moment, she glanced toward Kael.
He was leaning lightly against the railing near the side of the ship, watching the open sea in quiet thought.
"So," Nami called out, "where to next? Loguetown?"
Kael looked over, a faint smile forming.
"That was the original plan."
Nami raised an eyebrow slightly.
"But?" she asked.
"But we'll stop somewhere first."
Kaya and Tashigi both looked up from where they stood nearby.
"Baratie," Kael continued casually. "I've heard good things about their food."
Nami blinked.
"The floating restaurant?"
"That's the one."
He gave a small shrug.
"Let's see if the rumors are true."
Kaya tilted her head with interest.
"I've heard about it too," she said. "They say sailors from all over the East Blue stop there."
Even Tashigi showed a faint flicker of curiosity.
Kael noticed their reactions and suppressed a smirk.
(Of course the food is top-tier…)(But letting them anticipate it a little won't hurt.)
Nami rolled her eyes slightly.
Kaya chuckled.
Tashigi looked away with mild annoyance.
Nami adjusted the wheel again, turning the ship slightly as she corrected their heading.
"Baratie it is then."
The Sovereign Gale shifted course, sails tightening as it caught the wind at a sharper angle.
Time passed quietly.
The steady rhythm of the sea settled over the deck.
Tashigi stood near the mast, her gaze drifting toward Kael more than once. Each time, she looked away quickly, clearly debating something in her mind.
For the past few days, she had come close to asking him a question several times—
And stopped every time.
Her eyes flicked toward the sword resting at his waist.
Then away again.
But this time, she forced herself to move.
Step by step, she approached him.
Kael noticed her before she spoke.
She stopped a short distance away, hands slightly clenched, eyes lowered.
"Something wrong?" he asked calmly.
Tashigi hesitated.
"K–Kael-san…" she began nervously.
He waited.
She swallowed.
"Can I… take a look at your sword? Just once."
Kael studied her for a moment.
Then he closed his eyes briefly in understanding.
(I see…)(So it's about the sword.)(As expected from a sword enthusiast.)
Tashigi's face flushed slightly at the thought.
Without another word, Kael removed the sheathed blade from his side and extended it toward her.
"Here."
Tashigi accepted it with both hands, excitement instantly replacing her nervousness.
"Thank you!"
She carefully drew the blade from its sheath.
The moment the steel slid free, her voice disappeared.
Silence settled over the deck.
The blade caught the sunlight, its surface gleaming with a cold, flawless polish. The edge was impossibly clean, the steel carrying a faint, flowing pattern—like quiet wind moving beneath the light.
Tashigi's hands trembled slightly.
Her eyes widened.
"It's…"
She exhaled slowly.
"It's the most beautiful sword I've ever seen."
Nami and Kaya leaned closer to look.
Neither of them knew much about swords, but they had seen Kael's blade before.
Even so—
They had to agree.
It was striking.
Kael allowed himself a small smile.
Tashigi's excitement returned immediately.
"Is it one of the Supreme Grade Blades?"
Kael paused briefly before answering.
"It isn't recorded among the Twelve Supreme Blades, but..." he said.
Tashigi frowned slightly in confusion.
"But…?"
"It's a family heirloom," Kael continued. "So it was never officially catalogued."
He shrugged faintly.
"But in terms of quality… it's worthy of that rank."
Understanding flashed across Tashigi's face.
"I see."
Her eyes returned to the blade, admiration still clear.
"No wonder I couldn't recognize it."
Then she glanced up again.
"A family heirloom… does that mean you're from some kind of ancient swordsman clan?"
Kael thought for a moment before answering.
"Something like that."
His voice remained calm, but his gaze drifted slightly toward the horizon.
"My parents left me this sword some time ago."
A brief pause.
"Before they…"
He stopped there.
"I'd rather not go into it."
The atmosphere shifted subtly.
Kaya and Nami both stiffened.
They already knew from his inner thoughts that he had grown up alone, and the reminder brought a quiet sadness to their expressions.
Tashigi immediately realized she had stepped into sensitive territory.
Her face paled.
"S-Sorry! I didn't mean to pry," she said quickly. "I was just curious."
Kael waved it off lightly.
"Relax."
"It's not that serious."
Tashigi let out a small breath of relief.
She carefully slid the blade back into its sheath, taking one last appreciative look before returning it.
Kael accepted it with a nod and secured it at his side.
Then he turned toward the helm.
"Nami."
She looked over.
"How long until we reach Baratie?"
She checked the wind direction and glanced back toward the chart.
"If the wind holds like this…"
She thought for a moment.
"We should reach it by tomorrow."
Kael nodded once.
"Good."
He looked toward the horizon again.
"Then let's move at full speed."
Nami grinned slightly.
"You got it."
The sails tightened.
The Sovereign Gale surged forward, its bow cutting cleanly through the water as it accelerated toward the distant horizon.
Somewhere ahead on the sea—
The floating restaurant Baratie waited.
The Arrival:
The distance between the ships shrank with every passing second.
On the bow of the Sovereign Gale, a tall figure stood calmly as the wind moved through his dark hair. His hand rested loosely near the hilt of his sheathed sword.
Kael watched the scene ahead with quiet awareness.
The Baratie.
The aftermath of the duel.
And the man who stood at the peak of the world's swordsmen.
Even from this distance, the scene was unmistakable.
The wounded green-haired swordsman, barely standing.
The massive black blade resting casually over its owner's shoulder.
The stunned silence surrounding the deck.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…So we really arrived at this moment."
Behind him, Nami leaned slightly over the railing, studying the restaurant ahead.
"That place looks lively…"
Kaya followed her gaze curiously.
But Tashigi suddenly stiffened.
Her eyes locked onto the tall man standing near the edge of the Baratie's deck.
"…That man…!!"
Her voice came out sharp.
Kael glanced toward her.
Then toward the deck.
"…Yeah," he said calmly.
"That's Mihawk."
Nami blinked.
"Mihawk…?"
Kaya's eyes widened.
"You mean—"
"The world's greatest swordsman," Kael finished.
Both women stared toward the distant figure with stunned expressions.
Meanwhile—
More people on the Baratie had begun noticing the approaching ship.
Pirates.
Customers.
Cooks.
Murmurs spread slowly across the deck as the elegant vessel drew closer.
Sanji narrowed his eyes slightly.
"That's a fancy ship…"
Zeff remained silent beside him, studying it carefully.
Luffy leaned forward over the railing.
"Whoa… that's cool."
Then—
A sudden voice broke the quiet.
"T–That ship…!"
Everyone turned.
Usopp stood frozen near the railing, staring wide-eyed at the approaching vessel.
Luffy blinked.
"Huh?"
He looked at him.
"What happened, Usopp?"
Usopp slowly raised a shaking finger toward the sea.
"That's…!"
His voice rose in disbelief.
"That's Kael's ship!"
Luffy's eyes immediately lit up.
"That's his ship?!" he said excitedly.
Zoro lifted his head despite the pain running through his body, narrowing his eyes toward the approaching vessel.
"So that's the guy you kept talking about…"
Usopp nodded quickly, still staring at the Sovereign Gale.
"I didn't think we'd run into them here…!"
Meanwhile—
Mihawk had not moved.
His golden eyes remained calmly fixed on the figure standing at the bow of the ship.
Recognition flickered faintly within them.
"Yes…"
He murmured softly.
"That presence."
On the Sovereign Gale, Kael noticed it immediately.
Mihawk was looking directly at him.
And smiling.
A faint, amused smile.
Kael sighed inwardly.
(Sigh… I don't have a good feeling about this.)
The Sovereign Gale finally slowed as it reached the Baratie.
The massive fish-shaped restaurant towered above the sea, its decks filled with staring figures.
All of them watching.
The anchor dropped.
The sails loosened.
With a final shift of the tide, the Sovereign Gale came to a stop beside the floating restaurant.
Silence followed.
Every pair of eyes slowly turned toward the bow of the ship.
Toward the man standing there.
Kael stepped forward.
Tall.
Calm.
A quiet confidence surrounded him—like still water before a storm.
The wind moved through his dark hair as his coat shifted lightly behind him.
For a moment, he simply stood there.
Then he stepped down from the ship.
The wooden dock creaked softly beneath his boots.
Behind him, three women followed.
Nami.
Kaya.
And Tashigi.
Together, they began walking toward the entrance of the Baratie.
Across the deck, the gathered crowd watched in silence.
Sanji narrowed his eyes.
Zeff studied the young swordsman carefully.
Luffy grinned with growing excitement.
Even Zoro, still bleeding heavily, forced himself to lift his head to see the newcomer.
But Mihawk—
Mihawk's gaze never left Kael.
The amusement in his golden eyes deepened slightly.
Finally, he spoke.
His calm voice carried easily across the quiet sea.
"Well now…"
The corner of his lips lifted faintly.
"Here comes the big fish in a small pond."