123. Should I Silence Him?
Sea Circle Calendar 1508, Grand Line.
The water is crystal clear, the sky exhibits a vibrant blue hue, and the sun radiates its brilliant rays.
A naval vessel fashioned in the distinctive Marine style drifted leisurely upon the ocean. The ship, predominantly adorned in aquamarine, proudly displayed the emblematic seagull flag fluttering in the breeze. Among Marine-style warships, it stood as one of the largest.
"Hey there! Smoker, head out to the sea and snag some Sea Kings to enhance the Marine's onboard cuisine."
On the deck, Atlas reclined beneath a shaded umbrella. Adjacent to the spacious lounge chair, a coffee table adorned with assorted fruit drinks awaited. In the background stood Smoker and Virgo.
Now is the specially sanctioned vacation time, courtesy of Sengoku. Since this proposal came directly from Sengoku, Atlas is gearing up to journey to East Blue for a visit. After all, East Blue constitutes half of his hometown. In his absence, Majors has assumed his position and are stationed at Sabaody.
Concerning Vergo, once this individual joined his fleet, Atlas resolved to bring him along wherever he went to prevent any complications or inconveniences for him.
"Brother Atlas, I'm a Devil Fruit user, and I can't venture into the sea."
Smoker uttered with a somewhat resigned tone, bearing the pain on his head.
Since he arrived at Sabaody for reporting purposes, Atlas has practically been dragging him all over the place for most of the day, resulting in him carrying a hefty injury on his head daily. His regenerative abilities don't match up to Atlas's extraordinary healing, so essentially, he's in a state where old injuries persist without being fully healed, and new ones keep adding up.
"Huh? Apologies, I've been defeating you so effortlessly lately that I almost forgot you're a Devil Fruit user."
Atlas offered an apologetic wave, then turned to issue instructions to Vergo, who stood at attention.
"Alright, Vergo, head down, and I'll entrust today's meals to you!"
"Yes!"
...
It must be noted that, apart from his undercover role, Vergo can be considered a diligent subordinate. He meticulously carries out nearly all of Atlas's orders, and his strength is commendable.
On the warship's deck, colossal Sea Beasts were laid out on the barbecue grill. This comprised Atlas's lunch for today. Approximately one-third of the Sea Beasts captured by Virgo would find their way into Atlas's mouth.
There's no denying it; Atlas's appetite is expanding by the day, but so is his physical strength, all thanks to the nourishment abundant in the pirate world.
"Vice Admiral! A ship has been spotted approaching our direction!"
Just as Atlas patted his satisfied, flat belly, a scout on the warship rushed over and reported loudly.
"Huh? Is it a pirate?"
"It appears the other party hasn't hoisted a pirate flag. I can't discern their specific appearance, but..." the scout hesitated, "That person seems to be rowing the boat with a sword?"
"...What?"
Soon, the ship the scout mentioned came into Atlas's view.
The hull looks peculiar.
The hull is exceptionally small, barely accommodating one person. White candles are lit on both sides, casting an eerie green glow. The mast takes on the form of a cross, and the canvas remains furled. There's no steering wheel on the ship for directional control. It gives off a somewhat coffin-like impression.
A man on the boat was frantically paddling in the water with a long sword, also shaped like a cross. The boat persisted in moving forward, propelled by this determined effort.
With his keen eyesight and perception, Atlas saw the man clearly for the first time.
Draped in a black top hat adorned with white fluff, a burgundy-patterned shirt paired with a black windbreaker, black short boots, and white trousers—just with this ensemble and the peculiar boat, onlookers unaware of the situation might mistake him for a ghost in broad daylight.
What struck Atlas the most were his eyes, sharp as an eagle's, exhibiting a cold expression, accompanied by a slight beard on his chin.
"Hm?"
As if aware of the scrutinizing gaze, the man nonchalantly sheathed the moving blade of his sword, stood up, and calmly took a seat on the boat's only chair, as if nothing had happened.
Atlas wore a perplexed expression on his face.
'Isn't this Hawkeye?'
'Could it be that Krieg's death in the future stems from witnessing Hawkeye using the Yoru rowing a boat? Was Krieg relentlessly pursued to East Blue as a consequence of this encounter?'
'No wonder Krieg never managed to comprehend why Hawkeye was after them until his demise. I didn't anticipate you doing that.'
Not far away, Hawkeye, on the brink of encountering the warship, was lost in contemplation.
'Should I... silence him?'
"That's... Hawkeye Dracule Mihawk?"
Smoker on the side appeared to recognize Hawkeye, wearing a solemn expression.
"Hawkeye?"
Atlas sensed it in his heart. It appears that Hawkeye is still striving for the title of the world's greatest swordsman.
In the original storyline, Shanks lost his arm two years later. Before that, he frequently engaged in swordsmanship competitions with Hawkeye. Now, Shanks might not be as formidable. He's likely just a moderate Shichibukai. On the other hand, this individual entered the Sea and became one of the Yonko in 1516, ventured into the New World in a decade, and spent six years conquering it. His talent is truly impressive.
If Roger is considered the son of the world in the preceding era, then the Shanks is likely the representative of the world in the interim period between Roger and Luffy. Becoming one of the Yonko at the age of only 33 speaks volumes about his influence and prowess.
"That's correct. Since this guy made his first appearance, he's been seeking out various formidable swordsmen for challenges on the sea. Thanks to his keen eyes resembling an eagle's, he's earned the moniker of the Hawkeye Swordsman."
"Is there a bounty on him?"
"Well, there should be. The World Government wouldn't let such a perilous individual go unnoticed, but I can't recall the exact bounty amount."
Smoker scratched his head and said.
Soon, the two ships encountered each other.
Initially, he had no intention of getting involved with the Marines, but Hawkeye's gaze suddenly fixated on the Sandai Kitetsu at Atlas's waist. His eyes then ascended, ultimately honing in on Atlas's face, as sharp as an axe.
In Hawkeye's mind, he ventured out to sea to refine his sword skills. It would be too bothersome to be pursued by the Marines for unnecessary matters.
However, if the opponent is a swordsman that piques his interest, he would be willing to give it a try, even if they were Celestial Dragons.
This is a genuine swordsman, utterly dedicated to his craft!
"Swordsman?"
The sound wasn't particularly loud, but it reached Atlas's ears distinctly.
"So what?."
Atlas nodded subtly and met Mihawk's sharp gaze without flinching.
Suddenly, a bold idea crossed Atlas's mind. This guy shouldn't have become a Shichibukai yet, right?
'Should I...'
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