The Pirate Who Was Invincible from the Start

"Well, that's what I'll call you from now on."

Gulp!

Kuta pulled out his Wine Gourd and took a drink. "You're not even forty yet, are you? I don't want to call you 'uncle,' so using your name feels friendlier."

He breathed out the scent of wine, turned to Mihawk, and stopped. Then he faced him and held out his right hand.

"Mihawk, I'm Kuta. The 'ku' from 'space' and the 'ta' from 'space.' We're friends now, right? Nice to meet you."

Mihawk's mouth twitched, but he shook Kuta's hand. "Kuta. Nice to meet you."

"Hahahaha..."

Kuta laughed, withdrew his hand, and headed toward his companions. "Come on, I'll introduce you to everyone. Our sparring match can wait!"

"Besides, if we go all out, we can't fight on this island."

"Don't you agree?"

Mihawk glanced at the snow-laden mountains in the distance and nodded.

A fight here could trigger an avalanche at any moment—and a massive one at that. For the island's wildlife and residents, it would be a disaster they had no hope of resisting.

He was a pirate and a swordsman obsessed with his craft, but he wasn't willing to sacrifice countless civilians for a fight.

Besides, there was an uninhabited island not far from here.

He could take Kuta and the others there later. They could spar then.

Snow Country and Chopper

After introducing his companions to Mihawk, Kuta asked him to wait at the docks. He sent Ahua and the others to move supplies from the White Iron King, then set off toward the distant village with Kuina.

Now that they were here, of course he had to meet that adorable blue-nosed reindeer.

The villagers knew nothing about what had happened at the docks. When they saw two strangers, their eyes filled with suspicion. Still, one