Pirates: Invincible from the Start

He stepped onto the gangplank and boarded the Freedom.

Kuta had barely set foot on the deck when a hefty figure in a chef's hat rushed out of the kitchen.

Ahua held a kitchen knife in his hand. He had clearly been cooking.

He hurried up to Kuta and complained loudly, "Kuta, that Hawk Eyes guy turned his nose up at the tea I made!"

"Hey! I'm still here!"

Holding a cup of coffee, Mihawk stood on the raised foredeck, leaning against the rail. He looked down at Ahua. "I didn't turn my nose up at it. I'm just not used to drinking it."

"Not used to it? You were clearly looking down on it. I saw your face."

Ahua looked up at Mihawk and shouted angrily.

"Oh..."

Kuta looked at Ahua, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth.

"He didn't like your tea, so why tell me? Do you want me to teach him a lesson?"

"Yeah!"

Ahua nodded without hesitation, then looked at Kuta expectantly.

"Why don't you do it yourself? Weren't you training hard on Little Garden?"

"Uh!"

Ahua faltered. "I'm giving you the chance, that's all! I'm not afraid of him! If he weren't your friend, I'd have taught him a lesson already for insulting my tea-making skills."

"Since when did you get so brave?"

Kuta gave Ahua an odd look.

Thump, thump, thump!

Just then, A-Luo came up from belowdecks, clapping his hands.

As soon as he reached the deck, he called to Ahua, "This guy can't even beat me most days. How would he dare pick a fight with Mihawk?"

"You..."

A vein bulged on Ahua's forehead. He gripped his cleaver, slowly turned, and glared at A-Luo. "Looking for another fight?"

"Bring it on!"

A-Luo ran a hand over his head and gave