The meeting at Marineford concluded, and Hiroto's 100 million berries bounty was swiftly issued.
The 100-million bounty issued by the Marines was identical to the headline from the World Economy News Paper, quickly spreading across the four seas and even the Grand Line.
It wasn't that the number was exceptionally high, but rather that it was rare for a pirate still in the four seas to receive a 100 million berries bounty. Even Ace, who was currently the most prominent figure, did not get a 100 million berries bounty while in the East Blue.
This caused many people to start taking notice of this rising star.
For example, Mihawk, who had stopped at a certain island in the Grand Line after a fruitless pursuit.
He was currently standing on a pirate ship, with a deck full of corpses lying before him.
A dying man wearing a pirate Captain's hat pleaded desperately, "I was wrong, please let me go..."
The man's eyes were filled with terror. If only he had known that this guy rowing a boat with a sword was so terrifying. They shouldn't have laughed so loudly, shouting things like 'Look, there's some idiot rowing a tiny boat with a sword in the Grand Line.'
Swish—
Mihawk walked past the corpses expressionlessly, entering the cabin to find a few bottles of wine before preparing to leave.
However, as he was leaving, he suddenly paused, his gaze falling upon the wall inside the Captain's quarters. Many pirate bounty posters were pinned to the wall. Some were crossed out with an X, while others were marked with red dots. It was likely how these pirates kept track of their enemies.
However...
Mihawk's gaze fell upon the topmost and newest bounty poster.
[Sea-Cleaving Swordsman Hiroto]
[Bounty: 100,000,000 berries]
[Dead or Alive]
"A potential enemy worth watching in the future... If you lot could have recognized me, you wouldn't have been completely wiped out."
Mihawk shook his head and shifted his gaze to the side, where the accompanying photos were displayed.
One photo in particular piqued his interest. It was a shot of a divided sea, the sharp slash seemingly projecting right before his eyes through the photograph.
Mihawk narrowed his sharp eyes, he seemed to have found someone who could help pass the time.
Stepping forward, he suddenly frowned after reading further, discovering that the person on the bounty poster was actually still in the East Blue.
Deliberately staying in the East Blue?
Mihawk looked at the young face on the bounty poster and dismissed that possibility.
Another explanation surfaced in his mind.
"Interesting. Can the East Blue, which has been weak for so many years, still produce such a talent? It's worth paying some attention to."
He tore down the bounty poster and left the pirate ship with his wine.
He planned to wander around and see if there were any opponents worth drawing his sword for.
As for Hiroto on the bounty poster, he might be a decent opponent in the future. But for now, a mere minor swordsman wasn't worth him personally heading back to seek. A bounty of 100 million berries was far too insignificant.
Swish!
A roaring slash erupted in the next instant, cleaving both the sea and the pirate ship apart.
The sky and earth changed color as the turbulent sea split open, revealing a deep abyss stretching for several nautical miles. If one looked closely, they could even see a deep trench appearing on the seabed.
Meanwhile, the small boat Mihawk was on shot into the distance, propelled by this slash.
...
Two days later.
Cocoyasi Village, tangerine grove.
The Going Merry had already left Gosa Village, moving its mooring to a small bay near the Arlong Park ruins.
Mainly because the locals were too enthusiastic. A continuous stream of people arrived with thank-you gifts, wanting to offer their modest contributions.
Of course, this feeling wasn't bad. It was just that the Going Merry really couldn't hold any more.
So Hiroto and the others simply changed locations, the tangerine grove offered much more space.
But there was another reason.
Because of Hiroto's title as the Sea-Cleaving Swordsman and his 100 million bounty, Zoro felt a deep sense of pressure. He hadn't met a noteworthy opponent in a long time. He couldn't help but turn his focus toward Hiroto.
Naturally, Hiroto, who was also on the verge of a breakthrough, needed a high-quality opponent.
At this moment, in the cleared space in the tangerine grove, Zoro, gripping the hilts of his swords and assuming a Three Sword Style stance, was slightly dazed.
Because Hiroto was actually holding two swords.
Shigure and Wado Ichimonji.
Moreover, from the way he held them, Zoro found the posture oddly familiar.
No way, right?
A suspicion faintly formed in Zoro's mind, yet he found it hard to believe.
"Watch out."
With only a single warning, Hiroto suddenly charged forward, his speed so great that Zoro could barely react.
The moment he closed in, the twin swords in his hands performed a horizontal cut with minimal movement.
Two Sword Style: Nigiri!
A chaotic, high-speed flash of blades attacked, met by an identical Nigiri in response.
"How can I lose to you in my own area of expertise!"
Zoro's fighting spirit erupted, his eyes locked onto Hiroto's twin swords.
An unprecedented pressure washed over him, making him feel as if he were suffocating in the deep sea. But similarly, he could feel his blood boiling throughout his body.
Hiroto was exactly the powerful opponent he craved.
Without thinking of victory or defeat, or considering the consequences, a surge of battle intent burst from Zoro's heart.
Meeting Nigiri with Nigiri, relying on his seasoned skill, he forced an opening and then changed his move.
Two Sword Style: Nigiri - Otoro!
Two slashes surged upward from below, only to be blocked by the downward-pressing blades in the next instant, and even pushed back.
Two Sword Style: Maguma!
Relying on strength far superior to Zoro's, Hiroto seized the initiative and sent Zoro flying with brute force. Then, without stopping, he immediately lunged forward.
Blades clashed, and the sharp ring of steel echoed continuously throughout the tangerine grove.
They didn't use flying slashes, but rather the most direct and primitive clashing of swords, entangled with each other at extremely close range.
For Hiroto, an opponent like Zoro was a rare find.