Zoro's eyes burned with fervent battle intent. "I want to recreate that slash in my dreams! In ten minutes, I'm going to challenge him!"
Usopp instinctively wanted to refuse, but when he saw Mihawk's hawk-like sharp gaze, a crazy thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
Tell a tall tale in front of the world's greatest swordsman?
If this succeeded, how generous would the system rewards be?!
His gaze unconsciously drifted to Ron, who was looking at him with a half-smile, as if saying, "Go on, I've got your back."
"Al...alright!" Usopp swallowed, bracing himself, and stepped forward. "Hey! That...that guy in the hat!"
Mihawk's gaze turned to the long-nosed boy, his brows slightly furrowed.
Usopp forcibly controlled his trembling legs, puffing out his chest. "I heard... you're one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea? The world's greatest swordsman?"
Mihawk frowned, unsure what this seemingly foolish guy was up to.
"Ding! Detected a super high-difficulty tall tale situation!"
"Reward breaks through the original Bronze Reward Pool!"
"Random draw successful!"
"Successful Reward: Observation Haki Awakening (Super Long Range, Beginner)!"
This notification invigorated Usopp!
Haki!
It was Haki!
He took a deep breath and began to spin his yarn endlessly: "Since you're the world's greatest swordsman, then you must have heard of my title, the World's Strongest Sniper King, right?"
Mihawk still frowned, trying hard to recall but finding he had indeed never heard of this title.
"Hmph! Ignorant!" Usopp coldly snorted!
This scene utterly terrified everyone present. One must know that the man before them was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and also the world's greatest swordsman!
This guy actually insulted him to his face; had he gone mad!
Everyone present was shocked by Usopp, and Ron also smiled and nodded, indicating that Usopp's tall tale telling was becoming more and more polished.
Meanwhile, the system's notification sounded in Usopp's mind.
"Detected that the Host has pulled off a stunt that shocked the entire audience!"
"Reward: Sniper Talent Awakening (Intermediate)!"
"Do you wish to claim the reward?"
"Note: The system has detected the current scenario. If not claimed, the reward can be accumulated for a stacked release next time, with the final reward doubled!"
Looking at the notification in the system, Usopp also gasped. Rewards could actually be stacked!
Didn't that mean that as long as he kept accumulating them, he could unleash something massive at the end?!
"Do not claim!"
Usopp took a deep breath, his eyes suddenly turning as sharp as knives. His back was ramrod straight, his plaid shirt flapping in the sea breeze, and even his iconic long nose now appeared full of majesty.
An invisible aura rose from him, causing the wooden planks beneath his feet to creak under the strain.
He was putting on such a performance that even he himself almost believed it!
Mihawk's golden pupils slightly contracted, and his black sword, 'Yoru,' gleamed coldly in the sunlight. For the first time, he truly scrutinized the long-nosed boy. "Oh?"
"How about we make a bet?" Usopp's voice was frighteningly calm, his fingers gently caressing the slingshot at his waist. "You let me shoot once, and I'll take one of your slashes."
"Boom!"
This sentence exploded like a bomb on the dock.
Luffy's rubber jaw dropped to his chest with a "clunk." "U-Usopp... are you serious?!"
Sanji's cigarette burned down to his fingers, and he didn't even notice. "Is this long-nosed guy... crazy?"
Chef Zeff's wooden prosthetic leg crushed the deck with a "crack." "What a joke! That's the world's greatest swordsman!"
Even Krieg, who was sprawled in the rubble, struggled to lift his head, his eyes full of disbelief. "Is that kid... looking for death?"
The other pirates watching on the dock erupted into an uproar:
"Who does he think he is?!"
"That's Mihawk, who can cleave through waves!"
"After that slash, there won't even be a speck left!"
A hint of surprise flashed in Ron's eyes, quickly turning into an appreciative smile. He clearly saw that Usopp's left hand, hidden behind his back, was trembling violently, but the expression on his face was as steady as a rock.
"Ding! Detected an epic tall tale situation!"
"Current Shock Value: 87%!"
"Reward Estimate: Observation Haki Awakening (Super Long Range, Intermediate)!"
Mihawk slowly raised his black sword, its tip pointing directly at Usopp's brow. "An interesting proposition. However..." His voice suddenly turned cold. "Are you sure you can withstand one of my slashes?"
Usopp's Adam's apple bobbed, cold sweat already soaking his back, but now the reward had increased to Observation Haki Awakening, and it was even intermediate!
He had to take a gamble! As a man, bearing the hopes of Syrup Village, and with Kaya's expectations, he, Usopp, had to see this act through!
Then, his right hand, steady as a rock, raised the slingshot. "What? World's greatest swordsman... afraid of my sniping?"
This sentence completely ignited the scene!
The surrounding crowd gasped in astonishment, and a few timid pirates even knelt directly on the ground.
"He's crazy! Absolutely crazy!"
"He's provoking Mihawk!"
"Something big is going to happen in the East Blue!"
"Could he really be the Sniper King!"
The air seemed to solidify, and everyone's gaze focused on the man wearing the black top hat adorned with a feather. Mihawk's hawk-like golden pupils slightly contracted, his sharp gaze seemingly intent on piercing Usopp through.
The sea breeze swept across his chiseled, stern face, and the hem of his black trench coat flapped in the wind. His thumb unconsciously caressed the hilt of his black sword, 'Yoru,' producing a faint metallic friction sound.
"World's Strongest... Sniper King?" Mihawk's low voice held a hint of amusement.
His gaze moved from Usopp's trembling fingertips to the seemingly ordinary slingshot, finally settling on his eyes, which were trying hard to appear calm.
On the dock, a splinter of wood fell from a broken mast, making a crisp "clunk" in the silence.
Mihawk's thoughts raced:
This long-nosed boy has no aura of a strong person.
But daring to face him and propose such a bet means he's either crazy or truly skilled.
Could this weakest of seas, the East Blue, really hide such a master?
His gaze inadvertently swept over Ron, who stood behind him. The man in the sea-blue cape stood with his arms crossed, a faint smile playing on his lips—an expression of absolute trust in his companion.
"Interesting." Mihawk suddenly spoke, his voice as cold as a black sword being drawn from its scabbard. "I accept your bet."
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