I Came for You
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Panic spread through the streets as word got out that the Marines had arrived on the island.
It didn't take long for people to put two and two together: with the Red-Haired Pirate Crew being the only pirates on the island, it was clear that the Marines were here for them.
The thought of a clash between these two forces filled everyone with dread, as such a battle could turn the entire island into a warzone, or worse, completely obliterate it.
Despite the fear, the island's inhabitants had a lot of confidence in the Red-Hair Pirates.
They are well-known in the New World, and the locals believed that no other pirate crew could stand up to them—except maybe the other three Yonko, the most powerful pirate captains in the world.
But the Marines wouldn't be trying to take down a Yonko without bringing in a significant force from Marineford.
This reassured the citizens somewhat, but their comfort was short-lived. When they found out that the former Marine-Admiral Ragnarok was leading the operation, their gut reaction was to flee as fast as they could.
It wasn't that they were afraid of the Marines. In fact, they generally had a more favorable view of the Marines than the pirates.
The Marines worked tirelessly to wipe out piracy and protect innocent people, which made them a symbol of safety in the pirate-dominated New World.
The arrival of Brontes, however, signaled a serious conflict on the horizon. The townspeople knew that staying would mean getting caught in the middle of a dangerous fight, so they quickly gathered their things and left the island.
The streets became chaotic, with shops closing down and people rushing to leave, leaving behind a ghost town where the only movement was the dust being blown by the wind.
...
When Brontes and his subordinates finally marched into the main street of the town, they were confronted by a group led by a man with striking red-hair.
"You're here. Fleet-Admiral Ragnarok, I didn't think you'd chase me all the way to the New World." Said Shanks, his expression was serious and his gaze sharp as he looked at Brontes.
Brontes's men instinctively took a step back, but Brontes himself was unfazed. He didn't have high expectations of them anyway.
With a dismissive wave of his hand, he said: "I'm not here for you, Shanks. If I were, you'd probably be too scared to even sleep at night."
"I'm not the same young pirate I once was. It's been five years, and now it's not so clear who would be running from whom." Shanks replied, with a confident smile on his face.
"Enough of this." Brontes interrupted, raising his hand. The Red-Haired Pirates tensed, ready for a fight, with Jesus, Lucky Roo, and the others pointing their guns at Brontes.
But then Brontes pointed directly at one man and continued: "I'm here for you, Hawkeye, Dracule Mihawk."
"Uhh!"
There was a collective gasp of surprise.
Shanks and his crew were surprised, and even Mihawk, who was standing a bit behind Shanks, couldn't hide his astonishment.
"Me?" Mihawk's eyes narrowed as he focused on Brontes.
This was the first time he had come face to face with Brontes, though Mihawk had heard tales of Brontes's fierce reputation long before he himself had ever sailed the seas.
Brontes had made a name for himself as a Marine Commander even before Mihawk had begun his own journey. Now, as they stood there, Mihawk was curious why Brontes would seek him out specifically.
Brontes got straight to the point, he said: "I'm here on behalf of the World Government to offer you a spot in the Seven Shichibukai Project."
"The Seven Shichibukai?" Mihawk was taken aback.
He knew about the Seven Shichibukai System, but he hadn't expected the World Government to come to him with an offer. They were supposed to be looking for pirates, so why approach him?
Once Shanks realized that Brontes wasn't there for him, he felt a sense of relief. He casually waved his hand and said: "I'll head back to the bar then. You two have your talk."
With that, Shanks and his crew headed back to the tavern. It wasn't his business, and he didn't want to get involved. Besides, he could tell that Brontes hadn't come looking for a fight.
Now it was just Mihawk and Brontes, standing there, sizing each other up. Brontes was the first to speak.
"The World Government gave me a list of strong individuals to invite to become Shichibukai. You're on that list. You may not be a pirate, but your strength is recognized by both the Marines and the Pirates, which is why you received the invitation." He explained.
"So you want me to become a dog for the World Government?" Mihawk asked in a cold voice.
"Not at all. It's merely a title. You'll be left to your own devices, except when summoned for important matters. You can skip other meetings if you like, but a summons is a sign that the World Government is preparing to move against someone powerful, like one of the Four Yonko. And the Marines wouldn't dare start a conflict with any of the Yonko unless they were certain they could win. It's possible you might never be called upon for such a duty." Brontes said, smiling calmly.
"That's quite a surprise. The World Government wouldn't normally allow such a candid talk, would they?" Mihawk's voice was filled with surprise.
"You're right, this is my personal view. The Shichibukai are not something I would rely on; to me, it's just a task to convey. If I were still in the Marines, would we even need the Shichibukai? It's all about maintaining a so-called balance." Brontes said with a hint of mockery.
"Hmm, interesting. The benefits of being a Shichibukai do sound appealing. But tell me, if I wanted an island, would the World Government grant that to me?" Mihawk asked, with a calm smile on his lips.
"Whatever you desire. If it's an uninhabited island, you can claim it as your own territory without issue. If it's an island under a World Government allied nation, you can reside there, but you can't meddle in the nation's affairs." Brontes answered.
"I understand. It's essentially just a title. Plus, I won't have a bounty on my head, which is always a troublesome thing. So, I accept the position of Shichibukai." Mihawk didn't think too much and made his decision on the spot.
"I'm surprised you agreed so quickly. That makes things easier. You're the fifth to join. Once we have all seven, we'll make the announcement to the world. The World Government may call a meeting, which you can attend or not, as you wish. That's your prerogative. But if there's an urgent summons, you must show up. If you don't, it'll be taken as you giving up your Shichibukai title, and you'll become a target for the Marines. I would lead the pursuit." Brontes laid out the terms.
"Is that supposed to be a threat?" Mihawk's tone was serious.
"In a way. Pirates are not known for being reliable. Without some form of leverage, it's difficult to ensure compliance." Brontes replied neutrally.
"And what if I wanted to challenge that?" Mihawk's hand tightened on the hilt of his sword, his aura of combat flaring up.
"ZliZli!" Brontes's body crackled with electricity, a sign of his readiness.
"You're welcome to try." Brontes said, his curiosity piqued about the strength of the world's strongest swordsman.
"Whoosh!"
In an instant, a gleam of green cold light flashed, and both men stood motionless. But as the breeze picked up, a small cut appeared on Brontes's coat.
Brontes, known for his speed, had just experienced "faster than lightning" firsthand. It was a minor cut, but it was enough for him to recognize Mihawk's extraordinary skill.
Mihawk, too, was taken aback. His strike, while appearing effortless, had been delivered with his full might. As a swordsman, he didn't hold back, especially when he sensed that his opponent's strength was far above his.
"Tap! Tap! Tap!"
Mihawk didn't wait. He lunged forward, one hand on his sword's hilt and the other on the guard, aiming straight for Brontes.
In response, Brontes reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a short silver rod.
"ZliZli!"
In a blink, the rod extended into a long spear in Brontes's grip. Mihawk's eyes widened. He heard of Brontes's combat style but had never heard of him wielding a weapon.
This rod was no ordinary item; it was a special alloy weapon, crafted by Dr. Vegapunk for Brontes a few years ago, but Brontes usually likes bare hands fighting, so usually he doesn't use it.
After undergoing a Cell Transplantation, Vegapunk had further improved the weapon, giving it its current amazing ability.