Chapter 343: The Stalker Named Dracule Mihawk
A week had passed since the end of the war.
One afternoon in the New World, the sun was shining brightly. Shane, having just finished dealing with administrative affairs in the Galaxy Sea, was on the Curtain Call flagship, heading towards Dawn Island.
On the deck, Shane rubbed his temples wearily, relaxing under a parasol. After their victory against the World Government, the Curtain Call's territory had expanded once again. In addition to the islands where the Marine G-bases were located, many other islands that had been on the fence had also submitted applications to join. This had led to a sudden surge in Shane's workload.
Although the Curtain Call now had a mature administrative system and many officers to share the burden, at a time like this, as the leader, there were still many important decisions that required his personal attention. From the garrison arrangements on the frontline islands to the handover of power in some new territories, to the reallocation of resources… many things were interconnected, forcing him to spend a lot of energy weighing the options.
Tsk. Politics is as troublesome as ever…
"Bro!" Nami walked over with an armful of tangerine sodas and tossed him two. "Here, catch!"
"Hmm?" Shane caught them and glanced at them, surprised. "Canned?"
In the past, the tangerine water he drank was personally mixed by Zeff. This was the first time he had seen proper canned tangerine soda.
"Hehe, it's the hottest trend in the beverage industry right now!" Nami giggled and sat down on the lounge chair next to him. She popped the tab and took a big gulp. "You really have no idea how popular you are, Bro."
"Two months ago, some newspaper reported that you liked tangerine soda, and suddenly a bunch of brands popped up specializing in tangerine soda! They're all selling like crazy!"
"That's probably what they call the celebrity effect," Robin walked over with a smile, also opening a soda. She blinked and teased Shane, "And when it comes to fame, who can compare to our King of the Four Seas now?"
She had been stationed in the Galaxy Sea recently, spending all her time in the Ohara Library. But the day after tomorrow, Dawn Island would host the grandest banquet since the Curtain Call's founding, so she had come aboard. Also on the ship were Kuina, Zeff, Smoker, Gin, Nojiko, and others. Everyone was gathered on the deck, sharing tangerine sodas. As for Gin, he had just stolen some strawberry milk and was passed out from a carb coma, snoozing on the prow in the sun…
The sea breeze blew. For a moment, it felt like old times. Like when they had first set out from the East Blue, at the very beginning of their adventure. Those were the days.
The only thing slightly out of place was Angewomon, standing behind Shane like a bodyguard, motionless. She was clearly eyeing the warm spot next to Gin, wishing she could run over and lie down too. But she held back, not wanting to ruin the image of the holy archangel she had created…
"King of the Four Seas? Stop teasing me, Robin," Shane shook his head helplessly, snapping out of his daze.
The title "King of the Four Seas" had reached his ears in the past couple of days, and he still wasn't used to it. It sounded weird, a bit too exaggerated. After all, although the Curtain Call's territory now covered most of the New World and extended to the North and West Blues, they were still far from unifying the four seas.
But it was barely acceptable. Better than that nondescript "World's Strongest Swordsman" title. That title had caused a certain middle-aged man who sailed around in a coffin to stalk him like a pervert ever since the war ended, stubbornly insisting on a final duel between swordsmen…
Duel my ass! How am I supposed to duel?! He had mastered hundreds of martial arts, but he knew absolutely nothing about swordsmanship! He had sincerely told the guy this, but Hawk-Eye refused to believe him, thinking Shane was looking down on him and didn't deem him worthy of a fight!
Just thinking about it made Shane speechless. He crushed the empty soda can in his hand and casually tossed it into the sky to vent his frustration.
BANG!
Five seconds later, a distinct thud came from the stern. Everyone on deck froze and turned to look. The empty soda can Shane had just thrown had traced a graceful arc and then, two hundred meters away, accurately hit the forehead of a man sitting in a small coffin-shaped boat. It left a dent in his forehead.
"…" Dracule Mihawk reached up expressionlessly and peeled the soda can off his forehead. Then he looked up, his hawk-like eyes staring eerily at Shane.
That accurate? Shane felt a headache coming on. He went to the railing. "Seriously? Are you done yet? Why are you still following me?"
"If you want peace, accept my request for a duel," Mihawk said calmly. "As I said, we have missed each other too many times. I will not rest until I have fought you."
"And I said, I really don't know how to use a sword!" Shane was going crazy. "If you want the title of World's Strongest Swordsman, take it! Wait for Kuina to take it back from you later! It has nothing to do with me! Do you understand human speech, you idiot?!"
If it weren't for the fact that this guy was Tashigi's master and had been sensible enough not to attack again after defeating Kuina in the previous war, he would have beaten him up by now.
He, Shane, was the King of the Four Seas! Being stalked by a pervert in his own territory… didn't he have any dignity?!
"Let me fight him for you, my lord," Kuina walked over, her expression serious. "I've been brooding over my loss to him last time. I want to challenge him again." Her hand was already on the hilt of Sakura Snow, her eyes burning as she stared at Hawk-Eye in the distance.
Last time, his skill had indeed been superior, and she had failed to hold out. But after that battle and these few days of rest, her understanding of the way of the sword had improved, and she was eager to clash with this formidable opponent again.
"I acknowledge your swordsmanship, Miss Kuina. But I apologize, there is no need to fight an opponent I have just defeated a second time," Hawk-Eye shook his head at Kuina, then turned his sharp gaze back to Shane, frowning. "Stop making excuses. The only one I want to challenge is you, Lord Shane!"
"Out of respect for you, I have tried to be courteous first. But my patience for your arrogance has reached its limit. If you continue to refuse to fight…" He slowly stood up and drew the black blade Yoru from his back. "…then don't blame me for using this sword to prove my resolve!"
Don't know how to use a sword? Using such a laughable excuse at this point… did he take him for a fool like Tashigi? How could he believe that! On the battlefield that day, he had seen with his own eyes, in a fleeting glance, how Shane had beheaded the Elder, Saint Garling, with a single stroke! That domineering, arrogant scene could be described as the dream of all swordsmen! At least, he would never forget it in his life!
SWISH!
In the next instant, the black blade Yoru was drawn! A sharp sword qi instantly tore through the sea, forming a massive black-and-red slash that roared horizontally towards them! From the looks of it, he intended to cut the entire Curtain Call flagship in two!