Red-Haired Shanks

Lu Ge could clearly sense that although Hawkeye Mihawk was already the world's greatest swordsman, he was still far weaker than he would be after the story began. After all, there were still fifteen or sixteen years until the start of the story, leaving Hawkeye Mihawk plenty of room to grow.

It was just like Red-Haired Shanks at present. Even a few years later, he would still have one arm bitten off by a Sea King. All the future powerhouses were still in their growth stages, and none had reached their peaks.

"Sigh~ Looks like there'll be no shortage of trouble in the future." Lu Ge watched the direction Hawkeye Mihawk had left in and helplessly shook his head, but his eyes were filled with absolute confidence and determination. "But defeating me is impossible. I'll only grow stronger and stronger, until you can no longer even look up to me."

After several leaps across the surface of the sea, Lu Ge drifted down onto the Kuja Pirate Ship.

Kikyo and the other women immediately crowded around him, surrounding him completely. Their eyes were all filled with admiration. "Wow~ Lord Lu Ge! You're amazing! That was the world's greatest swordsman! You actually defeated him! Does that mean you're now the world's greatest swordsman?"

"More or less!" Lu Ge was somewhat helpless. With this resounding title of supreme glory hanging over his head, he would probably have countless swordsmen coming to cause trouble for him in the future. Even if he used ruthless methods and killed every challenger, people like that would likely still keep coming one after another, like moths flying into flames.

"Wow! We actually witnessed the birth of the world's greatest swordsman! We're so lucky!"

"This is something worth celebrating! Sisters, get moving! Let's start the banquet at once!"

For a while, the entire Kuja Pirate Ship became incredibly lively...

Elsewhere.

After parting ways with Lu Ge, Hawkeye Mihawk sailed aimlessly on a small raft, drifting with the wind. Even after night fell, he was still immersed in the insights he had gained from his duel with Lu Ge.

A pirate ship even approached to within twenty meters of him without him noticing. He remained completely sunk in his own world. After all, he had sensed no hostility. If he had sensed any, he could still have detected it immediately.

"Yo~ Mihawk, I called out to you several times from far away. Why didn't you answer? What happened? Did something get to you?"

The familiar voice echoing beside his ear finally awakened Mihawk. He abruptly turned around and looked at the familiar pirate ship before him, somewhat surprised. "Shanks? Why are you in these waters?"

This was one of the future Four Emperors, Red-Haired Shanks.

However, he had not yet become a Four Emperor. As a former member of the Roger Pirates, though, his recently established Red Hair Pirates had already made a name for themselves and become renowned.

Shanks waved at Mihawk, beckoning him aboard to talk, then said casually, "I have some business in the East Blue. But forget that for now—let's talk about you. What happened? I called out to you several times, but you didn't respond. Did something get to you? Or were you defeated by that challenger?"

After boarding, Mihawk nodded silently. "Yes. Just a short while ago."

The entire Red Hair Pirates immediately erupted. "What? Mihawk, are you serious?"

"You were really defeated? How is that possible?!"

All the crew members cried out in shock. They had witnessed Mihawk's strength firsthand. Even their captain would have trouble defeating him. Someone like that had actually been beaten—it was simply unbelievable.

After his initial shock, Shanks also showed great interest. "Unbelievable. The world's greatest swordsman was actually defeated. Come, tell me in detail. What's that person's name? Beckman, stop spacing out and bring out the sake!"

"Ah~ Oh, oh~ All right, wait a moment."

Seeing Shanks looking so delighted, Mihawk helplessly shook his head. He knew his friend's personality and did not take it to heart. "His name is Lu Ge. He should be a member of the Kuja Pirates."

Shanks became even more curious when he heard this. "The Kuja Pirates? Isn't that an all-female pirate crew? You actually lost to a woman?"

Hawkeye Mihawk answered seriously, "Although that person's clothes were somewhat strange, I can guarantee that he is a man."

Beckman happened to return with a barrel of wine and immediately looked envious. "A man actually joined the Kuja Pirates? Wow~ That's seriously enviable!"

Mihawk's sharp gaze immediately turned toward him. Beckman awkwardly gave a sheepish smile. "Ahem, ahem~~ Go on. I was just making a comment."

As he spoke, he filled their cups.

Mihawk took a deep drink from his cup and said, "That person's performance at the beginning was very strange. He didn't even seem like a beginner in swordsmanship, yet he possessed an ability similar to the Munch-Munch Fruit. After devouring my sword techniques, he could actually unleash sword-realm power equal to mine. In fact, the sword intent he released was even stronger."

Shanks grew curious upon hearing this. "Oh~ The Munch-Munch Fruit? As far as I know, although the Munch-Munch Fruit has the ability to devour things, and there are even rumors that devouring an ability user's power allows one to acquire it, I've never heard of devouring sword techniques to obtain their sword-realm power. Still, once a Devil Fruit user develops their ability to the awakened state, it undergoes a qualitative transformation. At that point, anything is possible. Perhaps that person had awakened the Munch-Munch Fruit, or perhaps it was an entirely new Devil Fruit none of us had ever seen."

Benn Beckman asked, "So you lost to yourself?"

Mihawk shook his head, his expression serious. "A loss is a loss. There are no excuses. That person was truly formidable. Besides that ability resembling the Munch-Munch Fruit, he also possessed another Devil Fruit—the Door-Door Fruit."

Shanks said, "I've heard of the Door-Door Fruit. It can open doors at will and enter any place one wants to enter. It's a very convenient ability."

Benn Beckman, however, looked astonished. "Two Devil Fruits? Th-this... is that possible?"

Shanks nodded thoughtfully. "Some people with special constitutions can indeed possess two Devil Fruits at the same time."

Benn Beckman was stunned. "Huh? People like that really exist in this world?"

Shanks looked at Mihawk. "Go on. I imagine the Door-Door Fruit isn't simple in that person's hands either, is it?"

Mihawk nodded solemnly. "Yes. Perhaps in someone else's hands, the Door-Door Fruit can only open doors. But in Lu Ge's hands, he has developed it into an almost invincible form."

"Invincible? What do you mean?" Shanks immediately became interested.