Hawk-Eye's Guidance

"No... In my eyes, he's still just a young swordsman who hasn't come into his own. I can't let you kill him like this." Hawk-Eye's face was cold, and his words were utterly firm.

Aokiji's expression darkened further. "If you leave him alive, he may take your position someday!"

"Then let him take it! A swordsman never fears a challenge!" Hawk-Eye had held the title of the world's greatest swordsman for a very long time. He yearned for a true opponent.

No one among the older generation, or even his own generation, could match him. His only hope was the rising generation, and Lu Zhuo was undoubtedly a swordsman with tremendous potential to become his opponent.

Facing Aokiji without yielding an inch, Hawk-Eye said calmly, "If there's nothing else, you can leave. And while you're at it, thaw my little boat."

"Don't push your luck, Mihawk! Do you want to openly oppose the Navy?" Aokiji was finally starting to lose patience. If he had as little restraint as Akainu, they would have started fighting long ago.

"Isn't this your vacation? Besides, the Navy can't just order me around." Hawk-Eye ignored Aokiji's angry outburst, remaining as cool and composed as ever.

Seeing this, Aokiji sighed inwardly, his feelings deeply conflicted.

Was he happy that Robin had found true companions, worried about the Navy's future, or was there something about Lu Zhuo that stirred a trace of fear in him?

He shook his head, finally regaining his composure.

With Hawk-Eye standing in his way, there was no chance he could complete this secret mission. Even at full strength, he might not have been a match for Hawk-Eye, and he had already sustained some injuries.

As Aokiji turned and walked away, Hawk-Eye's expression didn't change in the slightest.

He slowly made his way over to Lu Zhuo, Nami, and the others.

Looking at Lu Zhuo, he felt a little perplexed.

The man didn't have the heart of a pure swordsman, yet he possessed the swordsman's unyielding spirit. His talent for swordsmanship was also terrifying. A mere swordsman who had grasped sword force had managed to fight Aokiji for so long.

And somehow, he had even awakened a trace of Conqueror's Haki.

A swordsman who would be king? Interesting.

Hawk-Eye's expression remained calm. Nami was focused on channeling lightning into Lu Zhuo's back, with no attention to spare for anything else. Robin, however, looked deeply grateful and bowed to Hawk-Eye.

"Thank you!"

"Don't mention it... I just don't want him to die at someone else's hands."

Robin's body stiffened at those words, and Nami's hand trembled as well.

Hawk-Eye said indifferently, "Don't worry. It won't be now. It's too soon. He's too weak to make me draw my sword."

Hearing this, Robin and Nami both felt relieved.

Nami didn't know who this man was, but anyone who could drive off a Marine Admiral had to be just as terrifying.

Robin, however, knew who he was. She didn't understand much about the rules between swordsmen, but she knew Hawk-Eye hadn't come to kill Lu Zhuo. He had saved him instead, and that was enough.

Half a day later, Lu Zhuo slowly came to. Seeing the familiar surroundings, he let out a small sigh of relief. Just as I thought. Hawk-Eye, you're a true swordsman.

Nami's face lit up beside him. She looked at him and said, "You're awake!"

"Yeah!" Lu Zhuo answered. His body had indeed been tempered by lightning and was remarkably strong. Under Nami's external electrical shocks and the internal strain, the Ice Needle had quickly been erased.

His body was also recovering rapidly. They exchanged no words, but their eyes said everything.

Lu Zhuo suddenly asked, "How's Robin?"

"She's fine..." Nami's expression dimmed slightly, but only for a moment. After seeing that Lu Zhuo and Robin had been willing to die for each other, she had already accepted Robin.

"And... what about that man? Did he leave?" Lu Zhuo's expression suddenly sharpened as he asked in a low voice.

Although he had already released his Observation Haki, he hadn't sensed the man. Still, based on what he knew, Hawk-Eye wouldn't have simply left.

"That man... is on deck!" Nami's expression shifted. "What are you going to do?"

Lu Zhuo wasn't surprised by her answer. Although his Observation Haki had reached mastery, it was still possible he wouldn't sense Hawk-Eye. After all, Hawk-Eye was so mysterious that even Lu Zhuo didn't know much about him.

Lu Zhuo smiled faintly and patted Nami's head. "Don't worry. I completely failed to anticipate this danger, and I was just plain unlucky. From now on, nothing like this will ever happen again."

"But... what he said..." Nami looked anxious and wanted to stop Lu Zhuo.

Lu Zhuo gently held her. "Don't worry. It'll be fine."

At that moment, someone suddenly walked in through the door and stared at Lu Zhuo in a daze.

Seeing that Lu Zhuo was all right, Robin felt relieved, though her cheeks flushed slightly.

Lu Zhuo's domineering words still echoed in her heart.

When he saw Robin, Lu Zhuo smiled at her, then jumped down from the bed and said, "You two wait here. I'm going to see that man."

"Mm." Nami knew there was no stopping him, so she gave a soft nod.

Robin whispered in Lu Zhuo's ear, "Hawk-Eye said he won't draw his sword against you for now. As long as you don't challenge him, you'll be safe. You can trust his word."

Lu Zhuo smiled and patted Robin's head in the same way. She didn't avoid him. Unlike usual, her cheeks turned slightly red as she smiled at him.

"Don't worry. I know."

When he reached the deck, Lu Zhuo slowly walked over to Hawk-Eye. Following Hawk-Eye's gaze, he saw a beautiful sunset sinking toward the sea.

No, the ice hadn't melted yet. It must have been sinking toward the ice.

Hawk-Eye turned his head and fixed his gaze on Lu Zhuo, making his heart tremble slightly.

What a terrifying gaze!

But Lu Zhuo wasn't afraid. He stared right back at Hawk-Eye, his presence not diminishing in the slightest.

Hawk-Eye suddenly asked, "What is your path of the sword?"

"I'll reach the top and cut down every enemy with my sword!" Lu Zhuo looked at Hawk-Eye and answered firmly.

The corner of Hawk-Eye's mouth lifted. "Those are fine words, but you still haven't truly found your own path of the sword."

"Huh?!" Lu Zhuo was startled, a trace of confusion showing on his face.

Looking at him, Hawk-Eye asked, "What are those sword techniques of yours?"

"They're naturally meant to make me stronger. They're the foundation of my strength."

Hawk-Eye shook his head. "You still don't understand. What is the foundation of the sword? The sword! Where is the sword? In your heart!"

As he listened to Hawk-Eye, Lu Zhuo's expression changed rapidly, shifting between confusion and understanding.

A moment later, he suddenly turned serious and looked at Hawk-Eye. "I want to experience it."

Hearing this, Hawk-Eye suddenly smiled.

"You haven't yet grown enough for me to draw my sword, but since you've come to me for guidance, I'll let you experience it. Your path... has strayed!"

After speaking, Hawk-Eye gently drew the Black Blade from his back and made a light swing toward a massive chunk of ice scattered in the distance.

Without a sound, countless sword marks appeared across the ice, as if it had been slashed again and again.

In the next instant, the Black Blade in Hawk-Eye's hand flashed in a flurry of rapid movements. The speed made Lu Zhuo's heart skip. He had truly swung his sword countless times in a single instant!

And yet, a fine sword mark had suddenly appeared in the center of the massive chunk of ice. There was only one!