Chapter 184 – Imu's Past, A Mysterious Person Attacks!
"Little brother, do you have time for a drink?"
At the port of Loguetown, Renji had been waiting for some time. Looking at Mihawk before him, Renji extended the invitation.
As expected, Mihawk still seemed quite green at this age.
"So why would someone like you come looking for me?"
Mihawk nodded in agreement, though he was curious why Renji sought him out.
On the seas, compared to Renji, he could hardly be considered a man of renown.
"I noticed you back on the execution platform."
From Roger's vantage point on the stage, one could see all the faces below.
Renji had also taken note of certain individuals. After leaving with Roger's corpse, he had not gone far, for there were still people he needed to find.
He had considered it carefully. Among those present, the future Seven Warlords of the Sea numbered four—Hawkeye, Crocodile, Doflamingo, and Moria.
Of these, the only one he could truly invite at this time was Hawkeye.
Doflamingo might cooperate, but would never join him. Moria and Crocodile would not even consider cooperation; working with someone dangerous went against their natures.
But Hawkeye was different. Renji could not read him, yet his strength would one day be the greatest among the Warlords. No matter what, Renji had to try.
"Here?"
"Yes, right here in Loguetown."
The two agreed, paying no mind to the Navy patrols still searching the area.
According to memory, they entered a tavern Roger had once frequented. The tavern keeper looked in surprise at the visitors.
"Today was meant to be closed, but since it's you, have a drink?"
The keeper had watched the execution. In his heart he felt joy for Roger, whose dream had been realized, and who had not died at the Navy's hands.
That was perhaps the best end Roger could have.
Though Renji had killed him, he had given Roger the most dignified death.
"Two cups then, since I have a friend with me."
Renji pointed at Mihawk. Following silently at his side, Mihawk's demeanor made Renji feel a touch of helplessness. At this time, the man bore a strong air of weariness toward the world.
Later accounts revealed Mihawk's past—his hatred of the Navy and the deep betrayal he had suffered. It left him lonely, unable to trust in humanity.
He had joined the Seven Warlords only for peace from pursuit, to live quietly.
This would be Renji's point of approach.
"Drink as you like. The bar is yours tonight. I won't be open for business."
The keeper gestured to the shelves, leaving everything to Renji and Mihawk.
Though he allowed them to drink, he had no wish to continue his trade. With Roger's death, today was not a day to be doing business.
He turned, leaving through the back door to rest early.
"How carefree."
Renji shook his head, then raised his cup toward Hawkeye. Mihawk hesitated, then clinked his glass in return.
They drank on in silence. One or two hours passed before the door creaked open. A man with a somewhat aged look entered, glancing about the room. "The boss isn't here?"
"He's not. If you want a drink, help yourself."
Renji cast a surprised glance at him but said nothing more.
To think he would meet this man here, in Loguetown.
"Not very polite, is it?"
Then put your hand down, why don't you!
Renji's expression turned odd as the man's words belied his actions. His hands moved without pause, pulling bottles from the bar and mixing drinks for himself.
"Don't mind me, you two go on drinking!"
"..."
The stranger busied himself with his own drinks, ignoring Renji and Mihawk.
Renji studied him briefly, then dismissed the matter.
Turning to Mihawk, he asked, "Have you ever thought of joining a pirate crew?"
In the end, his goal was to invite Mihawk to his own crew.
So why not state it outright?
Mihawk was stunned for a moment.
So direct? He had expected as much, but hearing it plainly still caught him off guard.
"No."
Mihawk did not know what it was Renji valued in him.
But he truly had no intention of joining any crew.
His past left him unwilling to trust others so easily.
That made Renji think—wasn't this almost the same as Barrett's story?
Even Kaido had suffered betrayal from his kingdom!
Was betrayal the shared path of every strong man in this world of pirates? That would make the Navy and World Government the greatest villains of all!
"Setting sail alone?"
"Yes."
Mihawk nodded. "If this is about inviting me, I see no need."
"You set out to defeat every swordsman in the world, to become the strongest, isn't that so?"
Though Mihawk's dream had never been clearly described, his actions told the story. He was consumed by swordsmanship, challenging all masters until he stood alone as the greatest of them all—the world's strongest swordsman.
When Renji exposed his purpose so directly, Mihawk was not surprised. Renji's attempt to recruit him proved he understood. Otherwise, he would never have extended the invitation so openly.
"My crew has swordsmen, punching bags, and even those who have suffered betrayal and struggle to trust others. I will never restrict the members of my crew. If one day you feel you can no longer stay, you may leave freely."
Renji had never forced Kaido or Barrett to remain.
If they wished to stay, they stayed. If they wanted to leave, Renji would not stop them. He never intended his crew to become a dictatorship ruled by his word alone.
Hearing Renji so directly point out his past, Mihawk was taken aback. He had not expected even that to be uncovered.
"I intend to challenge the world's swordsmen."
"I won't stop you. Come and go as you wish, just as now. But if you mean to leave for good, at least tell me first."
A farewell would suffice. There was no need to slip away in secret.
"And my place is safe. If you wish for peace, you can settle there. The Navy will never find it."
Renji brought up the very condition under which Mihawk would one day join the Warlords.
At that time Mihawk had only wanted to live quietly, free of pursuit.
It was not fear—just distaste. Constantly wandering the seas, only to be hounded whenever he stopped, was intolerable.
Renji's offer stirred his heart.
He was not yet the world's greatest swordsman, only a newcomer with growing fame.
For Renji to value him, to grant him a haven and the right to leave whenever he wished, seemed a bargain.
"What would I need to give in return?"
Mihawk admitted his interest.
With such generous terms, few pirates could refuse. And Mihawk, who lacked the ambition to rule, was no different.
But before agreeing, he had to know the price.
"You need give nothing. Once you come, you will see. Our crew has no endless rules. If anything, just lend your strength to protect our comrades when needed."
At present, Kaido sought to usurp the captaincy, Barrett longed daily to defeat him, and Old John thought only of squeezing money. Yet even so, Renji felt hope in his crew.
He asked no great sacrifices—only support in battle when it mattered.
"I see."
It did not sound like any pirate crew at all.
Mihawk fell into thought, weighing Renji's words.
Yet he realized Renji had no reason to lie. His strength surpassed Mihawk's—if he wanted something from him, deception was unnecessary.
And such a man of power would keep his word for the sake of his own honor. If reality proved otherwise, Mihawk could see through it at once.
So perhaps Renji was being truthful.
"Little brother, I am curious about something."
The man who had quietly sat drinking now set down his cup.
"Weren't you ignoring us?"
"Forgive me, my ears are too sharp. May I ask you a few questions?"
"Speak."
Renji nodded. If not for the man's potential, he would already have thrown him out.
"Tell me—are pirates just, or is the Navy just?"
His white eyes fixed on Renji. From the moment he entered, he had used Observation Haki to 'see' him.
Curiosity about Renji's deeds had kept him here. With these two on the verge of an accord, he knew it was now or never to ask.
"Justice belongs to the victor."
"No—it shouldn't be that way."
He shook his head. Renji's words held truth, but he refused to believe it.
If justice lay only with the strongest fists, then was justice nothing but brute power?
"So you deny the Navy is justice?"
"I do not."
He shook his head again, puzzled even by his own feelings.
But then the realization struck him. His white eyes locked tightly on Renji.
"So you mean to say the victors are the World Government?!"
"Exactly. Eight hundred years ago they triumphed, and so they became justice. The pirates they call criminals are only names they gave. Who truly is a thief—who can know?"
Renji had long suspected Imu was tied to Devil Fruits—perhaps a demon, perhaps something else.
Defeated once by Joy Boy and imprisoned within Zunesha, guarded by the giant automaton. The Five Elders, once of the Ancient Kingdom, betrayed their own, allowing Imu to escape. Imu then united the other kings, bringing about the kingdom's fall.
That might explain why Zunesha lived in penance, why two hundred years ago the giant automaton struck at the Holy Land.
But these were guesses. Only by meeting Imu or uncovering the Ancient Kingdom's fall could the truth be known.
Summoning Roger by Edo Tensei might reveal those secrets of eight hundred years, but Renji dismissed the thought.
Discovery held more joy when earned by his own hands.
"Few know what happened eight hundred years ago. The World Government has buried it all. Whatever they once were, now they are rotten.
The Celestial Dragons divide all into ranks while they live above all, enjoying everything.
The world is broken. Those I invite are not only crew, but those who will help reshape it."
Renji raised his cup and drank.
At his side, Mihawk felt a thread of resonance.
From the moment Renji's name was known, he had stood against the World Government.
While other pirates sought power, beauty, and treasure, he had declared war on the Government and the Celestial Dragons.
"If your view is right, then perhaps the Celestial Dragons are indeed the greatest evil." The man sighed, his white eyes staring at Renji. "To be blind is perhaps a blessing. This world is filled with too much filth, too much corruption."
He had seen the evil of nobles and of pirates alike. Using eyes to look upon such a world was tragedy.
And he could not change it. The world was sick, just as Renji said.
"So do you wish to change the world—or become the new Celestial Dragons?"
His words froze the air of the tavern.
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