"Keel, don't forget we're both part of the Pheromone Chamber of Commerce. If you make a move here, do you think the Chamber will just pretend nothing happened?" Butler Alex stepped forward and coldly rebuked Keel.
"Hmph, the president's already dead. How many people do you think actually care? Don't be ungrateful. The fact that I've set my eyes on your young lady is me doing you a favor. Besides, we're in the Uncharted Sea now—so even if I take her by force, it's fine. Men…" Keel showed no fear; he had long known the shady dealings within the AKS Chamber, otherwise he wouldn't dare act like this.
"What a nuisance." Xia showed no fear either. Instead, she drew an elegant pistol. Conflicts like this were common enough at sea.
"A small fry like this can be a vice president? Are all four great chambers filled with this kind of trash?" Rosen, upon seeing Keel, began to wonder if he had overestimated the four great chambers.
If their branch vice presidents were of this caliber, the Pheromone Chamber couldn't be that formidable.
"Grab her, but make sure not to hurt my treasure," Keel said, his catfish-like face filled with lust and lewdness.
"Get lost." Rosen couldn't be bothered to waste time with them. His gaze sharpened.
A wave of Conqueror's Haki burst forth, the sky trembling with golden ripples. A soft hum rang in the air as the shock slammed into everyone's minds.
Thud, thud… The thugs who had been charging forward collapsed by the ship's rail as if struck by a heavy blow. Those on the ship's edge or climbing the ropes fell into the sea in droves.
Keel's face froze in shock, then he turned toward Rosen, his body trembling. "What are you all doing? Get up! Hurry!"
"Lord Keel, that's Conqueror's Haki! We—" A well-known bounty hunter, cold sweat on his brow, froze mid-motion, his hand still on the hilt of his blade.
He had lost the courage to draw it.
It wasn't his first time experiencing Conqueror's Haki, but this time it felt far more terrifying.
He remembered when the Empress of Amazon Lily had raided merchant ships in this sea. Back then, as a merchant guard, he survived only because they surrendered their goods.
Those who resisted were turned to stone.
Yet even the Haki of that angelic beauty, hailed as the most beautiful woman in the world, had never felt so overwhelming.
"What Haki? It's probably some Devil Fruit power. You're all still fine, so clearly it doesn't work on you. Now go kill them!" Keel cared for nothing but his purse and the women who warmed his bed.
"No matter who you are, hand over that woman and I'll let bygones be bygones. I'll even pay you more to work for me. Otherwise, don't blame the Pheromone Chamber for being ruthless. Whatever a washed-up man like you can offer, we can pay ten times more." Perhaps realizing Rosen wasn't easy to deal with, Keel tried both threats and bribes.
Naturally, he assumed Rosen was just a bodyguard or mercenary.
"Stupidity should have its limits." Rosen drew a guard's longsword—an ordinary blade—and crushed it to pieces in his hands.
"You—you… What are you waiting for? Kill him! Useless fools!" Keel, seeing Rosen's hostile gaze and the crushed sword, began to panic.
Even an idiot could sense danger closing in.
"L-Lord Keel!" Just as the clash was about to erupt, a bamboo raft drifted over from the distance. On it sat the world-famous greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk, known as Hawkeye.
"Your ship is blocking my way," said the man in a black top hat, a massive sword strapped to his back, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's.
Keel's ship, having approached the Xia, was positioned at a slant—its bow near Xia's bow, but its stern still swaying, blocking several berths.
"The Shichibukai! The World's Greatest Swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk!" The man before them had been famous for years. Countless challengers had sought to defeat him, but none had succeeded. His reputation was so great it even eclipsed most Marine Headquarters admirals.
He had reigned at the pinnacle of swordsmanship for so long that no one could forget him.
"How is he here? Turn the ship, now!" the bounty hunter guard cried in terror.
But the crew capable of steering were already unconscious, and a ship of this size needed at least twenty or thirty men to maneuver precisely.
Now, only four or five were still standing. Keel had some strength, but strength alone couldn't steer a vessel.
"Shichibukai?!" Keel was startled, but he didn't think his Chamber would fear one. With so many people watching, if he caved now, his pride would be shattered.
He would never allow such humiliation. Even knowing Mihawk was a Shichibukai, he felt emboldened by the World Government's backing. To him, the Shichibukai were merely the Government's lapdogs.
Thinking this, his courage swelled. "Our Pheromone Chamber is taking this spot and the ones nearby. Find another place."
The bounty hunters and guards despaired. Lord Keel, this was a pirate—one with a fearsome reputation.
"Annoying." Mihawk remained calm, completely uninterested in the matter at hand. To him, obstacles were handled simply—by cutting them down.
He drew the black blade Yoru, one of the twelve Supreme Grade swords. Keel and the others paled, though Keel forced himself to bluff, "W-What do you want? We are merchants under the Celestial Dragons."
Mihawk didn't answer. He simply raised Yoru to strike.
To him, Celestial Dragon merchants were nothing special. If it were a Celestial Dragon themselves, he might hesitate, but these were just petty traders.
"That's prey I've already claimed. Please wait a moment," Rosen's voice rang out amid Keel's growing despair.
Nearby pirates and hunters turned toward the masked man who spoke. A mere bodyguard daring to speak to the World's Greatest Swordsman—was he not afraid to die?
Mihawk's hand paused. He looked at Rosen and frowned slightly. Such a powerful presence—it made his fighting spirit stir. And he seemed oddly familiar.
If Rosen had still been wearing his golden hook, Mihawk might have recognized him.
"No problem." Mihawk had no real interest in them anyway; they had just been in his way. If someone else wanted to deal with them, so much the better.
"It's a wonder you've lived this long, being this stupid." Rosen said calmly. Not wishing to reveal too much yet, he took another guard's sword, crushed it, and used it as his weapon.
With that, he spread the shattered fragments in his hand, sending them sweeping out like a storm.
(End of Chapter)