《One Piece: Rising》Chapter 62: The Most Terrifying Power on the Grand Seas!

As Mihawk observed the scene in the courtyard, where Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr, the three senior figures of Marine Headquarters, were happily devouring hot pot, their mouths glistening with oil, and where Admirals Sakazuki and Kuzan silently raised their glasses in unison, even the world's greatest swordsman couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

To be precise, it was the atmosphere radiating from Marine Headquarters, inside and out, that inexplicably unsettled him.

It was one thing for the officers of Marine Headquarters to be unified, but seeing the three Admirals sitting at the same table, sharing a meal and drinks with the former Fleet Admiral, the Marine Hero Garp, and the former Admiral Zephyr, was something else entirely.

If this scene were to be published in the Marine Headquarters' newspaper, it would undoubtedly have as profound an impact as the previous group photo of the Marines.

For a fleeting moment, Mihawk regretted coming to Marine Headquarters at this particular time.

In that instant, he finally understood why the officers and soldiers on that narrow road earlier had dared to draw their blades against him. It wasn't because they were blindly arrogant enough to think they could defeat the world's greatest swordsman. It was because they now possessed an unprecedented sense of confidence.

Mihawk was certain that if he had dared to swing his Black Blade (Kokuto) at those officers and soldiers earlier, the three Admirals sitting here would have immediately sprung into action.

Even if he fought with all his might, he might barely manage to defeat one Admiral. But if all three Admirals acted at once, not even the man hailed as the strongest in the world, Edward Newgate (Whitebeard), who ruled the New World, could emerge unscathed.

At that point, losing his title as a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea would be the least of his worries. Whether he could leave Marineford alive would be an open question.

"Ahahaha, Mihawk! Long time no see!"

Just as Mihawk was feeling overwhelmed by the presence of the former Fleet Admiral, the Admirals, and the Marine Hero Garp in the courtyard, Garp suddenly turned his head, his mouth still slick with oil, and waved enthusiastically. "Don't just stand there—come have a drink with me!"

Sengoku looked up at Mihawk as well. "So it's Mihawk. I didn't expect you to show up at a time like this! Since you're here, take a seat. After all, you're still a member of the Seven Warlords."

Sakazuki and Kuzan, evidently drunk, completely ignored Mihawk's presence. They raised their glasses together and, mimicking Fleet Admiral Xayuki's favorite drinking phrase, shouted in unison, "Bottoms up~!"

Borsalino (Kizaru), as if he hadn't noticed Mihawk either, smirked lazily and said, "How scary~ You two have already downed five bottles! Sakazuki, are you planning not to leave until you're completely wasted?"

Seeing the three Admirals blatantly ignoring Mihawk, Garp immediately took the opportunity to poke fun at them. "Hey, hey, don't you three have any manners? Can't you see Mihawk is here?"

"Oh~"

The three Admirals raised their heads in unison, glanced at Mihawk, and said in perfect synchronization, "Sit."

Mihawk said nothing. Swallowing his pride, he found an empty seat and sat down.

The moment he sat down, Mihawk realized something felt off.

He was the world's greatest swordsman, yet for some reason, he felt inexplicably uneasy—like a sheep that had wandered into a den of wolves.

Steeling himself, Mihawk discreetly surveyed the group around him.

Apart from a few vice admirals, everyone present was someone he couldn't afford to provoke.

It wasn't an exaggeration to say that this was the most pressure he had felt since becoming the world's greatest swordsman.

The pride that came with his title? He didn't dare show even a shred of it here.

"Mihawk-san~"

At that moment, Gion (Momousagi) approached, placing a set of chopsticks and a bowl in front of Mihawk. Hound, another vice admiral, carried over a crate of wine, casually "dropping" it beside Mihawk before turning away with an air of disdain.

!!!

A mere vice admiral dared to show him such disrespect?

Glancing at Hound, who had seated himself opposite him, Mihawk clenched his jaw, suppressing the urge to draw his blade. He exhaled deeply, forcing himself to calm down.

The Marines had changed.

The Marine Headquarters he once knew had changed completely.

Under Sengoku's leadership, even the most arrogant soldiers would have shown him respect. Vice admirals like Momonga and Hound, who were now so casual around him, would have been on high alert with just a glance from him.

But now? Momonga was entirely focused on his hot pot, while Hound, though he had brought Mihawk a crate of wine, had done so with evident reluctance.

"Here we go~"

At that moment, Xayuki emerged from the house, carrying another crate of wine. He sat down beside Mihawk with a carefree grin. "One crate per person. No one's leaving until they're finished!"

With that, Xayuki pulled a bottle from his crate, handed it to Mihawk, and then opened another for himself. Raising his bottle high, he declared, "No need for glasses—everyone, grab your bottles and drink up! Let's give Mihawk a warm welcome!"

At Xayuki's words, everyone who had been eating and drinking moments ago immediately raised their bottles, their eyes now fixed on Mihawk.

Mihawk glanced at the bottle Xayuki had handed him, then at the crate of wine beside him. His lips parted slightly, as if to say something, but in the end, he stayed silent. Resigned, he raised the bottle and drank deeply.

"Hahaha, good! On a night like this, we should drink to our hearts' content!"

After downing an entire bottle, Xayuki wiped his mouth with a laugh. He pulled another bottle from his crate and handed it to Mihawk.

"?????"

Mihawk's mind filled with question marks. Wasn't it supposed to be one crate per person? Why was Xayuki pulling bottles from his own crate and handing them to him?

"Fleet Admiral, no cheating~"

Noticing Mihawk's reaction, Gion, seated on Xayuki's other side, chuckled softly. "Hound brought Mihawk-san his own crate of wine earlier. The bottles you're handing him are from your crate."

"Ahaha, right, right~"

Xayuki scratched the back of his head sheepishly and quickly withdrew the bottle. "Don't just sit there, Mihawk! If it weren't for you passing by that deserted island six years ago, I'd have had to endure a survival challenge! Words can't express my gratitude—let's let the wine do the talking. Cheers!"

After two more bottles with Xayuki, Mihawk, now tipsy, began to relax. The initial tension and unease faded, replaced by a willingness to engage in conversation.

Mihawk started asking Xayuki about his experiences over the past six years. Xayuki, though careful to omit details about his system and his identity as a transmigrator, answered candidly.

Listening to Xayuki recount his rapid rise within the Marines, as well as the coup he had orchestrated with overwhelming support, Mihawk, who had been seven parts drunk, gradually sobered up.

As the world's greatest swordsman, Mihawk wasn't naive enough to believe that Xayuki had achieved all this through mere wealth.

Loyalty and sacrifice were never bought with money.

What Xayuki possessed was a dazzling charisma—a magnetic personality capable of rallying people to his side and uniting them into what Mihawk now recognized as the most terrifying power on the Grand Seas.

(Author's Note):

(Though late, here's the extra chapter! Mwah~ Please support with your love!)

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