Chapter 59: Advancing to the Grand Line, Encountering Hawk-Eyes
Smoker and Tashigi stood there blankly, watching the Money Pirates' fleet sail into the distance.
For a long time, they didn't snap back to reality!
At this time, a few Marines walked over.
"Captain Smoker, Sergeant Tashigi, are you... alright!"
"Hmph, not dead!" Smoker snapped back, saying unhappily.
"Next, should we pursue the Money Pirates?" At this time, a Commander spoke up.
He was the second-in-command of the Loguetown Marine Base, also Smoker's adjutant.
He also knew Marine Headquarters' attitude towards Lister, which is why he asked.
"Can we win??" Smoker glanced at the Commander.
"Before, thirty-two warships couldn't keep him. Now, I fought him for less than a minute and was defeated!
"Chasing him now is just looking for death!"
"Then how am I supposed to report to Fleet Admiral Sengoku?" the Marine Commander said with a pained face.
"Don't worry about this matter. I will handle it!" Smoker said gravely.
"Yes!"
The Commander saluted Smoker and then stepped back.
Smoker sighed, then glanced at Tashigi, who still hadn't snapped back. He couldn't help but pat her on the head:
"That's enough. Isn't it just a famous sword??
"When I'm free someday, I'll help you get one back!
"Is it really worth this?"
"But that's Shigure. It's different from other swords.
It's been with me for ten whole years.
Ever since I got it when I was eight, it has never left my side. Now, it belongs to someone else. The thought of it being used by someone else... my heart hurts!" Smoker's words didn't help. At this, Tashigi couldn't help but cry.
"I don't even know if that Akame will take care of a sword.
I don't know if she'll use Shigure to kill good people!
"For Shigure to fall into her hands... it's just too pitiful!"
Tashigi cried as she spoke.
"..." Smoker was speechless.
If he hadn't known Tashigi since childhood.
If Tashigi wasn't so heartbroken right now.
He really would have cursed: "Women are so melodramatic!"
Sighing, Smoker comforted Tashigi:
"Then train hard. Strive to defeat Akame as soon as possible. That way, you can not only win back Shigure, but you can also win back the dignity you lost."
"Yes, I understand. I will definitely train hard from now on, strive to defeat Akame soon, and win back Shigure from her!" After hearing Smoker's words, Tashigi quickly filled with motivation again.
"Let's go. We're heading back!"
After Smoker returned to his office, he picked up the Den Den Mushi and reported what had just happened to Sengoku.
The result was as expected.
Smoker was cursed out by Sengoku.
A full two hours later.
Sengoku finally hung up.
Smoker let out a long sigh of relief.
He leaned back on the sofa, recalling today's disastrous defeat, and his gaze gradually firmed.
"My strength isn't enough... It's time to pick up the training I've neglected for so long!"
Marineford!
After Sengoku hung up the call, he also fell into deep thought!
Smoker's defeat, although partly for personal reasons, was more because of Lister himself.
"'Speed Demon' Lister?? I still underestimated him. He's only been out for two months, and he can already defeat Smoker!
"If he's allowed to continue growing, he might become another troublesome, thorny figure for the Marines.
"Next, how should I handle this..."
Sengoku sat in his office for a long time, but still couldn't find a suitable way to deal with Lister.
Sending an Admiral was like using a cannon to shoot a mosquito. It was overkill.
Send a Vice Admiral?
Although Marine Headquarters had many Vice Admirals, few seemed to be free, and... they probably wouldn't be happy to accept this kind of mission.
As for Rear Admirals, Captains, and the like...
"Forget it. Let him enter the Grand Line first. I'll have a few of the Shichibukai 'pay attention' to him. If that doesn't work, I'll find another way to deal with the guy then."
Time flew.
A few more days passed.
After leaving Loguetown, the Money Pirates headed straight for the Grand Line.
After several days of sailing.
The Money Pirates' thirteen ships were approaching Reverse Mountain.
This place was shrouded in dark clouds year-round.
The wind was strong, the rain was heavy, and the waves were massive.
The slightest mistake would result in the ship's destruction and the crew's death.
At this time, everyone on the Money Pirates' thirteen ships was on high alert, carefully maneuvering the ships towards the entrance of Reverse Mountain.
"I found it! The entrance to Reverse Mountain is there!"
"Everyone, steer the ships in that direction!!"
"Ships at the back, keep up!!"
Under Nami's command and the operation of the professional sailors, the New Money entered the entrance of Reverse Mountain without mishap. Then, it rode the wind, broke the waves, and followed the heaven-defying current, rushing towards the sky.
After that, one pirate ship after another followed into the entrance of Reverse Mountain.
But, faintly.
Lister heard a series of miserable screams.
Lister knew that of the thirteen pirate ships, it was impossible for every single one to make it into the entrance of Reverse Mountain safely.
There would definitely be accidents where ships were destroyed and people died.
But at this moment, Lister couldn't worry about that.
He could only look after the Money first.
As for the others, he could only deal with it after they safely reached the Twin Capes.
The Red Line was towering, reaching into the clouds. The Money rushed straight to the peak, and only after reaching the highest point did it follow the current into the downhill channel.
With that surging torrent, it finally rushed into the Grand Line.
Lister stood on the Money, glanced around, and didn't see the wall-crashing whale, Laboon, nor did he see the Pirate King's ship doctor, Crocus.
As far as the eye could see, the sea was vast. Apart from the Red Line, the seawater rushing down from the peak, and the other ships of the Money Pirates...
There was nothing else.
Lister didn't mind this.
He hadn't gone to Roger's execution platform in Loguetown to pay homage, and he had no intention of befriending the Pirate King's doctor now.
He wouldn't feel disappointed just because some scenes from the original story were missing.
Lister fixed his gaze on the exit of Reverse Mountain.
He watched as one pirate ship after another rushed out with the torrent.
One ship, two ships, three ships... seven ships, nine ships!!!
After the ninth ship rushed out, a long time passed, and no more pirate ships emerged.
Lister understood!
It seemed three pirate ships had been wrecked.
"Report the situation of each division!" Lister said to the four division captains.
"Captain, the First Division lost one pirate ship, with sixty-five men killed in action!" Johnson said, his mood somewhat low.
"The Second Division lost one ship, with fifty-eight men killed in action!" Rocky was similar to Johnson, his mood also low.
"The Third Division, all three ships passed safely, with no losses!" Jango said.
"The Fourth Division lost one ship, with sixty-seven men killed in action!" Gin said in a hoarse voice.
After hearing these reports.
Everyone couldn't help but fall silent.
They hadn't expected it.
Just passing through one entrance, they had lost three ships and one hundred and ninety men.
The price was a bit too high!
"Alright, don't look so dejected. We've entered the Grand Line. We've done what countless people in the East Blue haven't. We should be happy."
Others could be depressed, but Lister, as the captain, could not.
He could only encourage everyone.
Find the bright side in the unfavorable, and encourage everyone.
Sure enough, after hearing Lister's words, the crew's morale quickly recovered.
"Nami! Is the compass reacting??" Lister asked.
"It is!!"
"Then let's set off!"
"Head towards the first island of the Grand Line!!"
"ROAR!"
The crew roared in unison!
The Money Pirates, filled with anticipation and excitement, set sail once again.
On the Red Line, in that lighthouse.
A gaze was cast down.
Watching the gradually departing Money Pirates, a voice muttered to itself: "Another pirate crew entering the Grand Line... seems they're from the East Blue. I think they're called the Money Pirates!"
"I hope you can carve out your own legend in this sea..."
...
The Money Pirates, after leaving the Twin Capes.
Were quickly taught a lesson by the weather of the Grand Line.
The weather here was ever-changing. One moment, dark clouds gathered, wind and rain raged, and giant waves soared.
The next moment, the temperature would soar to forty or fifty degrees.
The next, it hailed and snowed heavily.
In just two or three hours, a dozen different climates took turns.
Everyone in the Money Pirates was tormented.
Even Lister felt a bit overwhelmed.
At this time, the Money Pirates were braving the oppressive dark clouds, the raging wind and rain, and the monstrous waves, continuing forward.
With Nami directing, the fleet, although looking a bit battered, was still safe.
Suddenly, the lookout in the crow's nest shouted:
"Captain, there's something ahead! A small boat is paddling towards us!"
"Telescope!"
Lister's expression changed. He quickly called for Youlan to bring a telescope.
After taking the telescope from Youlan's hand, Lister immediately looked in the direction the lookout pointed. He quickly saw the situation.
On a small, square, coffin-like boat, a middle-aged man was desperately paddling the small boat with a large, black katana.
Obviously, in this kind of weather, the middle-aged man on the small boat couldn't maintain his elegant demeanor.
He had no choice but to paddle desperately, to keep the small boat from being sunk by the giant waves.
When Lister saw this scene, his heart skipped a beat.
Because he recognized the identity of the person on the small boat.
That's right, that person was the Warlord of the Sea, the World's Number One Swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk!
In his previous life, he had once seen a joke.
The reason Hawkeye chased the Krieg Pirates all the way was because the Krieg Pirates saw Hawkeye's most pathetic side—paddling a boat with his big sword—so he was hunted down.
He didn't know if this joke was true or false.
But, at this moment, he *really* saw Hawkeye paddling a boat with his big sword.
Next...
Will Hawkeye start cutting??
Lister was momentarily stunned!
"Am I the stand-in??"
Indeed.
In Lister's mind, the Money Pirates had, at this moment, become the substitute for the Krieg Pirates.
And of all the rotten luck.
At this moment.
The lookouts on the other pirate ships also seemed to have spotted Hawkeye.
One by one, they shouted in shock.
"Look, there's a small boat up ahead!"
"There's a guy on the boat, paddling with a sword!"
"Such a small boat, and it hasn't sunk under his control. That guy is amazing at paddling!"
"Wow, he's paddling with a big sword!! Doesn't he even have an oar!!"
"Can't he afford one??"
Hearing these people's words, Lister's face turned completely black.
It's over.
It's completely irreversible!!
"Golden Finger!"
At this moment, Lister could only summon his Golden Finger to check his attributes.
Because he knew clearly that next, he would likely have a tough battle to fight!
[Gold Main: Lister]
[Physique: 20]
[Spirit: 20]
[Gold Points: 5]
"Golden Finger, add all five points to my Spirit!"
[Allocation complete!]
[Gold Main: Lister]
[Physique: 20]
[Spirit: 25]
[Gold Points: 0]
Although there were only five points left, at this moment, it could make him a bit stronger, enhance him a little.
As for why he added it to Spirit.
Because, in his view, a stronger spirit would allow him to more accurately grasp every opportunity in battle.
Lister returned to his senses from the enhancement, not having time to check Hawkeye's situation.
He heard Zoro's excited shout: "Bring the ship over to him!!"
Obviously, the shouts of the crew had also attracted his attention.
When he recognized the person on the small boat as Hawkeye.
His excitement was uncontrollable.
When Lister heard Zoro's words, his face turned even blacker.
Great.
The entire Money Pirates... everyone has a death wish.
As the captain.
He couldn't save them.
At the same time.
Hawkeye also noticed the fleet sailing towards him. He vaguely heard the discussions from the Money Pirates' ships.
Instantly, he stopped paddling.
He picked up his black sword and walked to the front of the small boat.
Without a second word.
He directly slashed at the large ship next to the Money, the Old Money!
*Boom————!*
In an instant, a green slash wave appeared.
It directly split the Old Money in two!
This sudden change startled everyone in the Money Pirates.
Hawkeye, however, didn't stop there. Before the Money Pirates could react, he swung another slash, this time towards the Black Gold, which was beside the Money.
"Overclock mode!"
Lister reacted (Praise Zhao).
Even though he knew he might not be Hawkeye's match, he didn't choose to just watch as the Black Gold was destroyed.
After entering overclock mode.
Lister pushed his speed to the limit.
With a *whoosh*.
Lister shot towards Hawkeye's small boat like an arrow.
He instantly appeared on Hawkeye's boat.
The katana in his hand slashed at Hawkeye like lightning!
Hawkeye's eyes moved slightly. He changed his slash to a block.
*Clang!*
An invisible airflow radiated out with the two at the center.
Hawkeye's black sword firmly blocked Lister's fatal slash.
"Hawkeye Mihawk! You shouldn't have cut my ship!" Lister said coldly.
Hawkeye was powerful.
But he didn't choose to be polite to Hawkeye just because he was strong.
"'Butcher' Lister??"
Lister's bounty poster had been making small waves around the world recently.
Hawkeye had naturally seen the bounty poster.
He recognized Lister at a glance.
"Please call me 'Speed Demon' Lister!"
Even in this situation, Lister was still correcting Hawkeye's way of addressing him.
Whether you're strong or not is temporary, but whether you're cool or not is for a lifetime. If he let the epithet 'Butcher' stick.
Lister felt his life would be ruined.
"'Speed Demon' Lister? A Kuài Kuài no Mi user??"
Hawkeye looked at Lister with great interest.
"That's right. I'm the Kuài Kuài (Fast-Fast) man who ate the Kuài Kuài no Mi. 'Speed Demon' is my characteristic!" Lister didn't pretend anymore and admitted it directly.
"An interesting opponent. You can help me pass some boring time." Hawkeye laughed.
He pulled back his black sword and took the initiative to attack Lister.
Lister did not choose to clash head-on with Hawkeye.
Don't be fooled by his physique of 20. Compared to Hawkeye, he was far behind.
Moreover, Hawkeye had Haki.
Fighting him head-on, he had no chance of winning at all.
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