Chapter 332: Let him join the Shichibukai? What kind of joke was that? He intended to follow in Roger's footsteps and become a pirate.
Before Shanks could speak, Mu Chen cut in. "Forget it, Shanks. He's not what I'm looking for."
Mu Chen knew Shanks was Luffy's guide. More importantly, Shanks was a Celestial Dragon. If he joined the Shichibukai, he might have to visit the Holy Land Mary Geoise now and then. That would put him in an awkward position. A Celestial Dragon playing pirate—the thought alone was amusing. But Shanks bristled at being rejected. "What's that supposed to mean, Mu Chen?"
"What do you mean, I'm not good enough?"
"Am I really that weak?"
Shanks wasn't about to take Mu Chen's jab lying down. He had no desire to become a Shichibukai, but that didn't mean Mu Chen could call him unqualified.
Turning down an invitation and never receiving one were two different things.
Seeing his reaction, Mu Chen grinned mischievously. "Don't you want to carry on Roger's legacy? Becoming a Shichibukai would tie your hands. I'm looking out for you, so why are you getting upset?"
Shanks had no answer to that.
Seeing that Mu Chen had no interest in Shanks, Mihawk thought for a moment, then asked, "What would I gain by joining the Shichibukai?"
If they were inviting him, he wanted the terms clear. "You could travel freely throughout the Grand Line and face more powerful opponents. The Marines wouldn't come after you without good reason. Most importantly, you could pursue stronger opponents openly."
Mihawk wasn't exactly a pirate. He simply sought the pinnacle of swordsmanship and challenged all kinds of people, including Marines. That was how he'd earned his bounty. The Marines weren't going to tolerate someone provoking them for no reason, so they