Hawkeye Mihawk

Passing by, Golden Lion Shiki seemed to sense someone staring at him, so he turned his head and looked toward Lu Ge. As their eyes met, seeing that Golden Lion Shiki had actually noticed him, Lu Ge immediately shot him a provocative look and crooked a finger at him, intending to intercept Golden Lion Shiki in this manner.

With Time Is on My Side, he remained completely unfearful even upon encountering a legendary great pirate. If he lacked a bit of confidence, how would he ever dare to harbor the notion of rescuing the three Hancock sisters?

Upon feeling Lu Ge's gaze, which was filled with provocation, Golden Lion Shiki visibly frowned slightly and let out a disdainful cut: "The Kuja Pirates? A woman still wants to seduce me? I am the Flying Pirate, how could I be seduced by you? Hmph!"

With that, he retracted his gaze, turned around decisively with a look of disdain, and continued forging ahead toward his own objective...

Obviously, in Golden Lion Shiki's view, Lu Ge's intensely provocative gaze had transformed into attempted seduction. Who told him to wear women's clothing, possess quite a high level of looks, and be right in the middle of the Kuja Pirate Ship? It was hard not to let others misunderstand.

Actually, after dealing with Ark's group, Lu Ge could have changed into men's clothing, but alas, he found the clothes of a bunch of dead people repulsive, so he did not change, planning instead to change after landing on the next island.

Yet in Lu Ge's eyes, Golden Lion Shiki's indifferent gaze felt like a completely different story: "Damn! He actually dares to ignore me. Next time we meet, you'll see if I don't just mess you up."

Just like that, the first encounter between Lu Ge and Golden Lion Shiki unfolded amidst such a misunderstanding, also serving as the prelude to the great battles between the two in the future.

"Sanya! Sanya! Quickly tell us the story of that Golden Lion Shiki!"

Venturing out to sea for the very first time and immediately running into such an immensely legendary figure, Kama and the others all seemed extremely interested and pestered Sanya to tell them a story.

Unable to resist them, Sanya had no choice but to explain Golden Lion Shiki's story to them. This was about the same as what Lu Ge already understood, so he had no interest in listening either, walking off to the side, picking up a barbell weighing several hundred catties, and continuing his workout.

Don't look at how Lu Ge had been sprawled out like a salted fish earlier; that was simply because he was tired from exercising and was just taking a rest.

In truth, over these past five days, he had not slackened for even a single moment, consistently striving hard in his cultivation. Although it had only been a mere five days, with the supplementary boosting effects of the Nascent Dimensional Power, his speed of progress and results were astonishing. Now, even without the blessing of the Nascent Dimensional Power, a single punch from him was sufficient to shatter stone.

Just like that, another half day simply slipped away.

By this time, it was already dusk.

The sun had practically sunk to the exact same level as the sea surface, and as its golden afterglow spilled down, even the ocean surface was dyed with a brush of golden warmth.

"So pretty!"

Such scenery naturally attracted the attention of Bolan and the others. One by one, they pulled Lu Ge to sit at the bow of the ship, appreciating this rare and beautiful landscape.

Yet right under the gaze of the few of them, they saw a tiny wooden raft abruptly appear within their field of vision beneath the afterglow of the golden sunlight.

Sitting on the raft was a single person with short, neat black hair, eyes as sharp as an eagle's, yellow pupils, and short facial hair. He wore a black formal hat adorned with white fluff on his head, looking exceptionally steady and calm. Even sitting there motionless, he could give off a fierce momentum as if a treasured sword were about to be unsheathed.

"Eh? Who is that person? Did he encounter a shipwreck? To actually drift in the sea alone relying on a wooden raft—Sanya, let's save him!"

Sanya looked at the person and felt somewhat conflicted: "But our Kuja Pirates do not allow men to set foot!"

"What does it matter? After all, hasn't Lu Ge already boarded the ship?"

"Lu Ge is different from other people! He is our close friend and benefactor; how could others compare?"

"Then are we saving him or not?"

"We definitely have to save him. Just let him stay at the stern."

Listening to the bickering of the few young women beside him, Lu Ge's eyes instead stared straight at the figure on that wooden raft, his heart filled with emotion: "Is this world really this small? I ran into Golden Lion Shiki in the morning, and this afternoon I actually bump into the strongest swordsman in the world, Hawkeye Mihawk! And it's even a younger version of Hawkeye Mihawk!"

"According to the Era of the Sea 1498, the Pirate King Roger was executed in Loguetown. Mihawk was only 19 years old at the time, and the three Hancock sisters were captured in the Era of the Sea 1503. A year has already passed since then, so calculating it now, Hawkeye Mihawk is already 25 years old."

Hawkeye Mihawk at 25 years old. Facing Hawkeye Mihawk at this moment, blazing fighting spirit had already surged within the depths of Lu Ge's heart: "By now, he should have already become the strongest swordsman in the world, right?"

With a calm expression, Lu Ge interrupted the conversation among the women: "You don't need to argue anymore. That guy doesn't look like he's suffering at all."

Mana: "Eh? Hearing you put it like that, he really doesn't look like it. Not only does he not look like it, but he even has a rather leisurely vibe?"

Kikyo said with a solemn expression: "Floating alone on the ocean sitting on a wooden raft, have we run into... an expert?"

Lu Ge did not speak further. Instead, he circulated the Nascent Dimensional Power within his body and, under the shocked gazes of Kikyo and the others, leaped off the Kuja Pirate Ship, stepped onto the ocean surface with one foot, and landed gracefully atop Hawkeye Mihawk's wooden raft as if he weighed nothing.

"Nice moves!"

Watching the uninvited Lu Ge, Hawkeye Mihawk could not help but voice his praise.

Bolan and the others in the rear could not help but let out gasps of surprise: "Wow! Lu Ge can actually fly while stepping on the sea surface. This is way too amazing!"

"Dracule Mihawk, it truly is a fortune to be able to meet the strongest swordsman in the world here. My name is Lu Ge. I wonder if we might get acquainted?"

Feeling Lu Ge's gaze, Hawkeye Mihawk stated straightforwardly: "You want to challenge me?"

Lu Ge shook his head: "No, I'm not interested in that kind of empty fame. I am simply very interested in swordsmanship, so I want to experience firsthand just how formidable you, the strongest swordsman in the world, have actually become."

Hawkeye Mihawk remained calm, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression: "Wanting to spar with me will cost you your life."

Lu Ge met his gaze calmly: "If you have the capability."

"Very well. Since you are already prepared, I'll play with you for a bit." Saying this, Hawkeye Mihawk stood up, reached into his pocket, and took out a tiny little sword—calling it a fruit knife wouldn't even be an exaggeration.

Seeing this, Lu Ge's expression remained unchanged, and his state of mind stayed steady: "Looking down on me this much? I hope you won't let me down in a moment."