The Advancement Mission of the Erudite (Cont.)

"Never heard of it."

"Ushimaru is rather fond of being serious, so I must ask you to please not hold it against him, Tao Ya!"

Shimotsuki Yasuie walked over with a head full of black lines, pulled forcefully at Shimotsuki Ushimaru's sleeve, and flashed Adrian an embarrassed yet polite smile.

"The banquet is about to begin, let us move to the main hall."

Three rounds of drinks later, the banquet was in full swing.

Adrian silently discovered yet another commonality between Shimotsuki Ushimaru and Zoro—ah no, Rayleigh: they were both heavy drinkers.

As a swordmaster, Shimotsuki Ushimaru's perceptive power was not the least bit weak.

Halfway through his drinking, he put down the wine bottle in his hand, lifted his gaze, and looked over in this direction.

"Tao Ya, although I am grateful and deeply admire what you have done, please stop looking at me with such an impolite gaze."

"My apologies, it was rather rude of me."

Adrian offered an official, fake smile.

"It is simply that, having eaten and drunk my fill and meeting a swordmaster, my hands are itching slightly."

"Yasuie! You saw that! This is not me proactively provoking!"

A sharp gleam flashed suddenly in Shimotsuki Ushimaru's eyes, and a single hawkeye locked tightly onto Adrian's vital points while he spoke with mounting excitement.

As early as when he learned from Shimotsuki Yasuie that this "Tao Ya" who had come from overseas was not only a sorcerer but had also successfully acquired the cursed sword Nidai Kitetsu from Tenguyama Hitetsu—

Shimotsuki Ushimaru had been filled with curiosity about this "Tao Ya".

As a swordsman, one naturally could not avoid the competitive urge to test one's swordplay against other swordsmen.

Otherwise, titles like the "World's Greatest Swordsman" would never have appeared on this vast sea!

Adrian glanced