After spending half a day in Foosha Village,
Xiu had already hit it off with everyone there.
"Oh... so you're that Vice Admiral who's been so famous lately!"
"Come on, young man, let me drink to you!"
The mountain bandit Dadan raised her cup as she spoke.
Xiu did not refuse.
"Hahaha! Let's drink!"
Looking at the uninhibited woman before him,
Xiu felt admiration more than anything.
She had raised Luffy, Ace, and Sabo.
Some of Dadan's views could be said
to have influenced all three for their entire lives.
The sun had begun to set.
Glancing at the clock on the tavern wall,
Xiu stretched and said,
"It's already this late. Time to go..."
Dadan said with some surprise,
"Kid, at this hour,
you're still heading out to sea?
Haven't the pirates in the East Blue
already been mostly wiped out by you?"
Xiu smiled and said,
"There really aren't many pirates left,
but since I still have some time,
there are a few more places I'd like to visit..."
Hearing this, Dadan and the others nodded,
and no longer insisted that Xiu stay.
After buying several large barrels of fine liquor,
Xiu, amid everyone's farewells,
left aboard his warship.
Slap watched Makino standing on the shore,
lost in thought,
and sighed softly.
Honestly, he had never expected
Xiu to be so charming...
But the difference in their status...
The village chief shook his head to himself.
"Makino, next time Xiu comes,
be a little bolder!"
"Mm... huh? Huh?!"
"N-no, Chief! I..."
Seeing Makino's flushed face
and her flustered manner,
the village chief smiled, turned, and left.
Makino gazed at the distant sea,
and without realizing it, someone's figure had found its way into her heart.
After they sailed out of Foosha Village,
Hina asked curiously,
"Vice Admiral Xiu, which beauty
are we visiting next?"
Xiu: "..."
Clang!
He gave Hina a headbutt.
"All you ever do is talk nonsense.
Pass down the orders. Our destination... Shimotsuki Village."
"Ooh... that hurts... Hina understands."
Holding her head,
Hina ran off to relay Xiu's orders.
Xiu gazed out at the distant sea,
thinking of the rumors about that man.
"Shimotsuki Koshiro,
the man who grasped the highest level of swordsmanship...
How much insight into swordsmanship can he give me?
I'm really looking forward to this..."
Five days passed in a flash.
On the streets of Shimotsuki Village,
Xiu and Hina appeared in the distance.
"Vice Admiral Xiu, so this is Shimotsuki Village..."
Hina looked all around,
but could not see what was so remarkable about this village.
It was just an ordinary village through and through.
She really could not understand why Vice Admiral Xiu wanted to come here...
Beside her, Xiu smiled without answering.
By the roadside, several children dressed in kimonos
and holding bamboo swords were playing together.
Xiu walked over,
holding a handful.
"Kids, want some candy?"
The children looked at Xiu warily.
He gave them a gentle smile.
"Go on, take it. This is
candy specially made in Marineford."
The children's eyes lit up.
"Thank you, mister!"
"Mm-hmm, good kids.
Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure..."
Xiu scratched his head and said,
"Actually, I came here
to learn some swordsmanship,
but I don't know where the dojo is.
It's quite a headache..."
Hearing Xiu's words,
one of the children
pointed toward the mountain.
"Mister, behind that mountain,
there's a dojo!"
"Really? You've all
been a huge help!
Here, you can have the rest too!"
As he spoke, he gave the candy in his hand
to the children, leaving none behind.
"Let's go, Hina. We're heading behind the mountain!"
On the way, Hina asked,
"Vice Admiral Xiu, you're already so strong.
Do you still need to study swordsmanship?"
Xiu waved his hand.
"Hina, on the path of swordsmanship,
there has never been a strongest,
only stronger!"
A voice came from the bushes beside them.
"I very much agree with that view!"
"Who's there?" Hina demanded sharply.
Whoosh! A figure flashed past.
The man's eyes were sharp as a hawk's,
his black hair was short,
and a katana hung at his waist.
His bright, piercing eyes fixed on Xiu.
"My name is Dracule Mihawk.
Years old, and a swordsman traveling from place to place!"
"What you just said deeply resonated with me!"
"And..." Mihawk's gaze turned to
Ryūjin Jakka at Xiu's waist.
"You're a swordsman as well, aren't you?"
"I hope to spar with you!"
"To improve my swordsmanship!"
Indeed, this man was none other than the future Dracule Mihawk!
Xiu raised his brows slightly.
"Era Xiu. Swordsman."
Hearing Xiu's name,
Mihawk felt as though he had heard it somewhere before.
Suddenly, realization dawned!
"You're the swordsman who
fought Whitebeard to a draw!"
An indescribable feeling filled Mihawk's eyes!
It was the excitement of encountering a powerful opponent!
"Please allow me to challenge you!"
A faint smile played on Xiu's lips.
"Sure... Mihawk!"
PS: I want flowers (starry-eyes.jpg). I want tips (pretty-please!.jpg).