The two children eagerly charged at Mihawk, ready to challenge him.
Mihawk's gaze slightly lowered, sweeping across the faces of the two children before raising his eyes again, his expression unchanged, silent as ever.
Seeing that he didn't even acknowledge him, Zoro grew impatient. He was truly desperate and even gripped the real sword that Kuina had pulled from the dojo's warehouse, pointing it at Mihawk.
"Come and duel with me!"
"No, it's a battle with me you should have!"
Kuina also stepped forward, loudly declaring.
She wanted to prove that even women could become the strongest!
However, Mihawk showed no interest in even looking at them.
Shimotsuki Koushirou finally snapped out of it and stepped forward, pulling the two children back. "Stop fooling around, Zoro, Kuina! This isn't the time for your antics!"
Kuina struggled, still resisting. "That's Mihawk!"
"Yeah, teacher!" Zoro yelled, equally unwilling to back down. "The world's greatest swordsman is right in front of us! How can we just ignore him!"
You know that's Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman! He's not someone you two can just challenge now!
Koushirou stepped back a few paces, handing the children over to the other disciples before turning back around.
Mihawk then calmly spoke. "Shimotsuki Koushirou, is he the swordsmith you mentioned?"
This was clearly directed at Iain.
Iain smiled lightly, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't you hear the kids, Mihawk? They want to duel with you. Why not indulge them and meet their expectations?"
"I'm not like those so-called gentle instructors."
Mihawk spoke calmly, "I have no interest in playing with children. What I seek is a true worthy opponent."
Ian grinned weirdly. "So cold-hearted."
Mihawk, despite being close friends with Shanks, wasn't as easygoing as Shanks was.
He was proud and solitary, someone who could be said to look down on everyone. Not many people in the world could catch his attention.
For someone like him to entertain children, it really was a bit too much to ask.
"In that case," Ian stepped forward. "I'll just say it directly, where is Shimotsuki Kouzaburou?"
"We've already left Wano Country, and we have nothing to do with that country. The Beast Pirates have no reason to wipe us out!"
Koushirou gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, speaking seriously.
After all, he hadn't even returned to Wano Country. He had no sense of belonging to that place. Was he supposed to die just because of that?
And on top of that, drag his disciples and daughter down with him?
Wasn't that ridiculous? Koushirou could never accept it.
The sharp blade seemed like it was about to be unsheathed in the next instant.
But, that moment never came.
Ian grabbed Koushirou's wrist and pressed his sword firmly back into its sheath.
Koushirou's eyes widened in shock, his pupils trembling.
How could this be happening?!
He couldn't react at all!
Forget about escaping, it felt like his wrist was going to be crushed!
This was... Ian the Skyfire!!
What kind of monster was he?!
From behind, Kuina couldn't help but cry out in alarm.
Zoro's face was full of confusion. "What just happened?"
How did that guy suddenly appear in front of the teacher?
"Exterminate them all?"
Ian said faintly, "Really, don't be so full of yourself."
Koushirou's strength was actually quite formidable, even stronger than Jack in some ways. In the East Blue, he could be considered overwhelmingly powerful.
However, this level of strength was really not enough to catch Ian's interest.
It wasn't even worth mentioning. Could anyone really expect someone with this level of power to stage a counterattack against Wano, or defeat the Beast Pirates?
Koushirou was stunned.
Then he gave a bitter smile.
He had said that he would exterminate them all, but in the end, it was he who was being full of himself? What an arrogant man.
He did have the capital to be arrogant.
In front of him, Koushirou couldn't even draw his sword.
And that was just the tip of the iceberg of his true power.
Moreover, this man even had Mihawk by his side!
A top-tier swordsman could instantly gauge the strength of their opponent just by meeting them.
Koushirou knew better than anyone that Mihawk truly deserved to be called the world's greatest swordsman. That was a strength he simply couldn't contend with.
Their combination, plus the cadres aboard the Golden Dragon, was unstoppable.
They couldn't win. The result of any battle would only bring about their destruction.
"Don't make me say it a fourth time. Where is Shimotsuki Kouzaburou?"
Releasing his grip, Ian pointed at Mihawk. "This guy needs to repair his sword."
Finally freed, Koushirou instinctively looked at Mihawk. The swordsman's instinct made him exclaim, "A swordsman like you can't even protect your own sword?"
Unbelievable. How could someone damage Mihawk's sword?
What kind of person could do something like that?
Koushirou was shocked inside.
Mihawk is the world's number one swordsman. Even if someone is stronger than him, it's difficult to damage the sword he wields.
Mihawk twitched the corner of his mouth.
You really have to bring that up, huh?
Koushirou slowly let out a sigh and gently nodded. "Then please follow me."
It seemed that they weren't here to eliminate them.
Otherwise, with their strength, why would they waste so much time talking to him?
But even if they had bad intentions, just delaying for a bit would be enough.
So, Koushirou led Ian and the others to meet his father.
They met the man named Shimotsuki Kouzaburou outside a small house on the coast, just outside the village.
Wearing a loose kimono, old and frail, one hand holding a pipe and the other holding a fishing rod, he was fishing, with a sword hanging at his waist.
The old man, with peculiar continuous eyebrows, turned around in surprise, looking at the group following behind his son.
Koushirou approached him and softly explained the situation.
Shimotsuki Kouzaburou glanced at Ian, but didn't say anything. He simply stood up, walked in front of Mihawk, and, without a word, stared at him.
Mihawk frowned slightly under the gaze.
"The world's number one swordsman is indeed well-deserved."
It was unclear what the old man saw in Mihawk, but he started by complimenting him.
Mihawk paid no attention, likely accustomed to this kind of verbal praise.
"But for a man like you to have your sword damaged?"
The old man seemed curious.
Mihawk's eyelid twitched.
"Anyway, let me see it."
The old man extended his hand toward Mihawk.
Mihawk didn't hesitate much. He drew his beloved sword from his back and handed it to the old man.
He didn't think Ian would deceive him.
Moreover, this old man in front of him seemed to have some skill.
Shimotsuki Kouzaburou's eyes lit up. "Soft yet resilient, is this the Great Sword Yoru? Truly a treasured blade!"
Then, he noticed the chip on the blade, and his expression changed instantly. "How is this possible?! How could there be such a chip?!"
It was so smooth, there was no sign of any damage!
If it weren't for this glaring chip, which had grown large enough to affect the use of the entire sword, he might have thought it was there from the start!
What kind of attack could cause such a chip?
What kind of powerful person could have damaged this sword held by this man ?
"Interesting! Interesting!!"
Shimotsuki Kouzaburou seemed to have been touched by something strange, his face full of excitement as he looked at Mihawk.
"To think you could damage this treasured sword ! Will you still fight that enemy?"
Mihawk glanced at Ian. "Of course."
Shimotsuki Kouzaburou noticed the look in Mihawk's eyes and already had a guess in his heart.
Could it be the legendary flame of destruction?
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