The Man Who Ended an Era

For a moment, Ivy felt as though she were dreaming.

Only long after Bullet had turned and left did she finally come to her senses, and then she broke into a happy smile.

Meanwhile, aboard the Thunderer.

Daz Bones knelt on both knees, his forehead pressed firmly against the deck. He said nothing.

Xia Le looked at Crocodile in confusion. "What's he doing?"

Crocodile shook his head. "I may be his superior, but I don't know what he's thinking."

As he said it, a smile touched his lips.

Not so foolish after all!

Eating the Dice-Dice Fruit without training in kendo would be an utter waste.

And the man before them had fought the World's Greatest Swordsman to a draw head-on. He was the best person Daz Bones could ask for guidance.

"Superior Officer Xia Le, please teach me swordsmanship," Daz Bones said in a low voice.

He tried to keep his voice steady, but everyone around him could still hear the tremor beneath it.

Kuzan's snores remained clear. Otherwise, the ship was silent, every eye turned toward them.

"You want me to teach you swordsmanship?" Xia Le asked with a smile, watching the man kneeling before him.

"Yes," Daz Bones said.

A simple, decisive man of few words.

He was rather like Xia Le himself had once been.

Xia Le fell silent, tapping his fingers softly against the arm of his chair.

After a long while, he suddenly smiled.

"I like how straightforward you are."

"From today on, you can study the sword under me!"

Daz Bones shuddered. Without a word, he knocked his forehead against the deck three times. The blows rang out, leaving a dent in the planks.

With that, he had accepted Xia Le as his teacher.

Kuzan went on snoring, as though nothing could