Grove 21.
The specialty here was various taverns. Unlike Shakky's Rip-Off Bar, the taverns here were just ordinary taverns, not information exchanges.
Originally, it should have been the most chaotic lawless zone, but because of the Marine's focused intervention, it actually became one of the islands with the best public order among the dozens. The tavern owners who operated here initially thought that with the Marine's interference, those small-time pirates, gangs, etc., wouldn't dare to come spend money anymore, and their businesses would surely fail.
However, the reality was that improved public order attracted more 'ordinary people' willing to spend. This world wasn't just divided between pirates and the Marine. The real main consumers were those seemingly inconspicuous ordinary people.
Moreover, these owners discovered that ordinary drinkers didn't like to make loud noises like pirates, nor did they often get into fights when drunk. Most of them entered sober and left slightly tipsy. The owners not only didn't need to keep a flintlock under the counter at all times, but even the frequency of cleaning up vomit decreased significantly.
A stable environment was most suitable for business development.
Old York, the owner of York Tavern, was one of the first to understand this. While other peers remained cautious and didn't dare to open, he not only decisively opened his doors but even expanded his premises. That's why this small tavern with no particularly special drinks became as bustling as it is now.
Tourists visiting Sabaody Archipelago for the first time had no idea which bar had good drinks and which had bad ones… they just went to the one with the longer line.
But today, something changed slightly.
York was currently leaning on the bar, somewhat anxiously wiping glasses repeatedly… even though he had already wiped them over a dozen times.
"Another one, another one… Definitely another overconfident guy."
"Not necessarily… Look how tall he is."
"Yeah, yeah, and those arms…"
"Hey… how long do you think he'll last?"
Whispers of discussion kept coming from around. The drinkers weren't ordering anymore… they all held their glasses, standing aside to watch the commotion. At the same time, they didn't dare get too close, afraid of being accidentally hurt.
At the focus of everyone's gaze, a middle-aged man wearing a black top hat and a long coat over a floral shirt sat quietly in his seat, sipping his drink gently.
Even while drinking, this man didn't put down the large sword, shaped like a cross, strapped to his back. Those yellow pupils, like a bird of prey, just casually swept over, making people feel as if they'd been grazed by something sharp, subconsciously stepping back a few steps.
With such a distinctive appearance, it was almost impossible to find a second person like him in this sea.
The World's Strongest Swordsman… [Hawk Eyes] Mihawk!
And currently facing Mihawk was a long-armed, long-legged, vicious-looking swordsman from the Longarm Tribe.
"Hawk Eyes Mihawk! Let me test whether you truly deserve that title!"
This guy drew two long swords from his waist, not much shorter than the black blade [Yoru], pointing them at Mihawk, his tone extremely rude. Hearing this, even Mihawk couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
Initially, when he was drinking on Sabaody Archipelago and someone challenged him, he thought it might be another interesting prospect like Zoro.
After all, after becoming the [World's Strongest Swordsman], not many people were so overconfident as to provoke him actively.
But unexpectedly, those guys were simply arrogant, shrinking into worms after their swords were broken. Yet, such guys kept coming endlessly. This one in front of him was already the eighth today. Mihawk was even thinking about simply returning to Kuraigana Island earlier.
'No, can't do that. I haven't gone to find that guy Uzumaki Naruto yet.'
Speaking of which, why things developed to this stage was actually related to Naruto.
During the Summit War, these two drinking buddies on different sides very tacitly didn't attack each other. Because they understood that a sword technique duel shouldn't be held on such a chaotic battlefield, not to mention so many people on the Marine side were eyeing Naruto covetously at the time.
Mihawk didn't even show much of his strength from start to finish, just occasionally slashing out an exaggerated-looking slash to handle the situation.
Originally, swordsmen on the sea held the concept of the so-called [World's Strongest Swordsman] at the level of 'peak master'. How strong Mihawk was depended entirely on their imagination.
But this time, it was a worldwide live broadcast. Mihawk's obvious slacking off made some who couldn't read the situation think the so-called World's Strongest Swordsman was nothing special. And after that… it became like this.
Thinking of this, Mihawk gently put down his wine glass, then took off the small cross-shaped dagger hanging around his neck again.
This was specifically used to humiliate those overconfident frogs at the bottom of a well.
-Not just anyone was qualified to make him draw the black blade Yoru… arrogant clowns would only tarnish his blade.
"Haha! Using such a ridiculous toy! Who do you think you're looking down on-"
The Longarm Tribe swordsman wanted to say more but was interrupted by a suddenly appearing figure.
"Move aside."
Sasuke's figure appeared between the two at some unknown time. Seeing a new arrival, Mihawk was momentarily stunned, then narrowed his eyes slightly, observing Sasuke in front of him.
"Brat! Get lost!"
The surrounding people were first astonished by Sasuke's sudden appearance speed, then exclaimed as the man drew his sword to slash at Sasuke, who had his back turned.
"Quite fast."
The one who said this was Mihawk, while Sasuke, being praised, showed his signature cold smile.
"Otherwise, how would I dare to come find you, the number one swordsman?"
The Longarm Tribe swordsman's eyes were bloodshot with rage. The long sword originally aimed at Sasuke's back now turned towards his head.
'Bastard! How dare you ignore me! Then I'll take your head!'
"Yikes!"
"Murder!"
"Go call the Marine!"
Earlier, although Mihawk had defeated many swordsmen, he hadn't taken lives… with that small dagger, even burying it to the hilt would hardly kill someone.
Ding-
Just as tavern owner York was about to get his gun to intervene, everyone seemed to see a thin silver flash.
The next moment, Sasuke sheathed his Kusanagi Sword, and his hand had already left the hilt.
Behind him, the Longarm Tribe swordsman, holding his long sword high, now had over a dozen sword wounds on his body, and his two long swords had turned into fragments scattered on the ground.
"Fast Sword Technique?"
Mihawk finally showed some interest in the person in front of him.
"I remember you…"
Saying this, Mihawk's gaze fell on Sasuke's unique red eyes.
"…I thought, like Uzumaki Naruto, you didn't like using swords."
Sasuke's appearance was very distinctive. Although during the Summit War, he was mostly in his beast-human form, there were still a few moments when he reverted to human form. Mihawk was close to the battlefield, and with those unique Sharingan in the entire One Piece World, it wasn't strange that he could recognize Sasuke's identity.
"Learned it from an old man."
Saying this, Sasuke lightly tapped the sword hilt with his finger.
"Want to try?"
Hearing this, Mihawk finally showed a faint smile.
'Interesting.'