45: Chapter 45 Hawkeye Arrives, Zoro Challenges HawkeyeKrieg's eyes lit up when he saw the food, then he paused for a moment when he saw Zeff, before exclaiming with delight, "Isn't this Red-Leg Zeff?I heard you went to the Grand Line and survived there for a year, right?"
Zeff waved his hand and said, "That happened many years ago, why bring it up again?" But Krieg continued, "I also heard you have a nautical logbook with details of the Grand Line, right?Give it to me." As he spoke, Krieg raised his gun and pointed it at Zeff, but Zeff shook his head and said, "I don't have such a thing.Let's grab the food and go."
But Klee remained unmoved, continuing to point his gun at Zeff, while Arkin pleaded desperately, "Chief Klee, let's go, that's enough." Klee impatiently replied, "Get out of my way, this is none of your business," then turned and threatened, "Old man, don't push your luck.By the way, I see your ship is pretty good, why don't you just give it to me?"
At this point, Sanji could no longer contain himself.He charged towards Krieg, shouting angrily, "What a joke!How am I supposed to give you this ship?" Unfortunately, before he could even reach Krieg, Gin knocked him to the ground with a single blow.Sanji tried to get up, but Gin pinned him down, saying painfully, "I'm sorry, Mr.Sanji." Seeing Gin's pained expression, Sanji stopped struggling.Krieg smiled smugly, "My entire fleet was wiped out by someone with eagle-like eyes, and my own ship is now a mangled mess." Zoro, hearing this, immediately looked up, about to get up, when Luffy grabbed him and whispered, "It's the one you wanted to challenge."
Just then, a wrecked ship stopped at the restaurant entrance.Krieg became even more smug and stepped out of the restaurant, shouting, "Men, seize this ship!" A group of henchmen scrambled to jump off the ship.Suddenly, a huge flash of light appeared, and Krieg's only remaining ship was split in two.Krieg cried out in horror, "Damn it, they've caught up with us!"
A coffin-like ship appeared on the sea not far away, and Zoro looked excitedly at the people on board, muttering, "This is the world's strongest swordsman—Hawkeye.I will defeat him and become the world's strongest."
Krieg, oblivious to his impending doom, continued his provocations.Luffy, growing impatient, rushed forward and stunned Krieg with a Gum-Gum Spiral, scoffing, "I'll let you be unconscious for a bit, then I'll deal with you." As Gin tried to move, Coby blocked his path, his hand transforming into a blade aimed at Gin.Any movement from Gin would result in a swift strike.Seeing this, Gin had no choice but to remain rooted to the spot, watching the situation unfold.Zoro then leaped onto a massive deck, removing his bandana and declaring, "I set sail to see you." Hawkeye calmly replied, "For what?"
Zoro ties a bandana around his head: "The strongest!"
Hawkeye gave a disdainful smile: "How foolish." Zoro, seeing this, didn't waste any words, drawing his sword and pointing it directly at Hawkeye: "You're bored, aren't you?Come and fight me." Hawkeye glanced at Zoro sideways: "Fight?Pathetic weakling." With that, Hawkeye flashed onto the deck and said: "If you were truly a first-rate swordsman, even before we've exchanged blows, you should be able to sense the gap between us.Daring to draw your sword against me, should I say you're bold, or just stupid?"
Usopp asked curiously, "Who is this guy?Why is Zoro so excited to see him?" Luffy replied calmly, "This man is Mihawk, the world's strongest swordsman, and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea." Upon hearing this, Usopp grabbed Luffy's hand and shouted, "Why aren't you stopping Zoro?He'll die!" Luffy pried his hand away and said, "First, this is Zoro's dream.As his captain, I have no reason to stop him from realizing his dream.Second, with me here, Zoro won't die." Usopp calmed down upon seeing Luffy's determined gaze and continued watching Zoro's battle.Zoro then drew his remaining two swords and said, "Not only for my ambition, but also to fulfill the promise I made to my best friend."
Hawkeye simply removed the cross from his chest, pulled out a small knife from inside, and pointed it at Zoro.Zoro asked, annoyed, "What do you mean by this?"
Hawkeye said with a disdainful look, "This is already my smallest knife.I'm not a wild beast that uses all its strength to catch a rabbit, even though you are a swordsman with some skill."
Zoro glared angrily at Mihawk, saying, "There's a limit to looking down on people.Don't blame me if you die!" With that, Zoro unleashed his Three-Sword Style: Demon Slash at Mihawk.Mihawk continued, "You're just a frog in a well.Take a good look at how big this world is!" Then, a scene that shocked everyone unfolded: Mihawk blocked Zoro's attack with just a small knife.Zoro exclaimed in astonishment, "What?This is impossible!Is the difference in strength really that small?"
Hawkeye, however, said with great interest, "Oh, I thought you were weak.I didn't expect you to be able to use Haki."