Watching the three Marine elders—Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr—gathered around the hotpot in the courtyard, their mouths greasy from eating, along with the silent but continuously toasting Admirals Sakazuki and Kuzan, even Mihawk, the world greatest swordsman, couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
To be precise, the aura emanating from the Marine headquarters, both inside and out, gave him an inexplicable sense of unease. It was one thing for the officers of the Marineford to be united, but seeing the three Admirals sitting at the same table, harmoniously sharing a meal with the former Fleet Admiral, the Marine hero Garp, and the former Admiral Zephyr—
This scene, if published by the Marine headquarters' news department, would surely have the same impact as the previous group photo of the Marine headquarters.
For a moment, Mihawk regretted coming to the Marineford at this time. It was also at this moment that he finally understood why the officers and soldiers on that narrow path earlier dared to draw their swords and block his way.
It wasn't because they were blindly overconfident in their ability to defeat the world greatest swordsman, but because they now possessed an unprecedented sense of confidence.
He was certain that if he had dared to swing his supreme-grade sword at the officers and soldiers blocking his path, the three Admirals sitting here would have immediately sprung into action. He might have been able to barely defeat one Admiral in a full-out fight, but if all three Admirals moved together, not even he—let alone Edward Newgate, the "Strongest Man in the World" who ruled over the New World—would stand a chance.
At that point, losing his Warlord title would be the least of his worries, whether he could leave alive would be a complete unknown.
"Ahaha, Mihawk! Long time no see!"
Just as Mihawk was feeling overwhelmed by the sight of the courtyard filled with former and current Admirals and Vice Admirals, Garp, his mouth greasy from eating, suddenly turned his head and called out to him with a hearty wave.
"Don't just stand there! Come join me for a drink!"
Sengoku also looked up at Mihawk at this moment.
"Ah, Mihawk. I didn't expect you to show up at this time! Since you're here, take a seat. After all, you're still a Warlord."
Sakazuki and Kuzan, clearly drunk, completely ignored Mihawk presence, both raising their glasses and mimicking Orion drinking catchphrase over the years, shouting in unison.
"Bottoms up~"
Kizaru, too, acted as if he hadn't seen Mihawk, tossing out his catchphrase with ease.
"How terrifying~ You've already drunk five liters! That's enough, Sakazuki. Are you two planning to drink until you drop?"
Seeing the three Admirals completely disregard Mihawk, Garp immediately took the opportunity to scold them.
"Hey hey, you three! Where are your manners? Can't you see Mihawk here?"
"Ohhhhh~" The three Admirals tacitly looked up at Mihawk and spoke in unison.
"Sit!"
Mihawk remained silent, gritting his teeth as he found an empty seat and sat down.
As soon as he took his seat, Mihawk sensed something was off. He was, after all, the world's greatest swordsman. Why did he feel inexplicably uneasy, like a lamb entering a den of wolves?
After discreetly scanning the room, Mihawk quietly exhaled. It was true that he was the world's greatest swordsman, but aside from the few Vice Admirals present, the others were not people he could afford to provoke.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this was the most stressful moment he had experienced since becoming the world's greatest swordsman. The arrogance that came with being the world's greatest swordsman? He didn't dare show even a hint of it.
"Mihawk~" At that moment, Gion brought a set of bowls and chopsticks and placed them in front of Mihawk.
Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Hound carried a crate of alcohol and 'dropped' it beside him before turning away with a haughty expression and returning to his seat.
!!!!!!!!!!!!
A mere Vice Admiral dares to give me attitude?
Glancing at Vice Admiral Hound, who had sat down across from him, Mihawk exhaled again, forcefully suppressing the urge to draw his sword.
Things had changed!
The Navy he knew had completely transformed!
In the past, under Fleet Admiral Sengoku leadership, not only would the arrogant soldiers he encountered on the way here would bow, but even Vice Admirals would have treated him with utmost respect.
Especially Vice Admirals like Momonga and Hound, who were now present—even a casual gesture from him would have put them on high alert.
Yet now, Momonga was completely focused on eating hotpot, and while Vice Admiral Hound had brought him a crate of alcohol, it was clear he had done so reluctantly.
"Here we go~"
Orion, who had also brought a crate of alcohol from the living room, casually sat down beside Mihawk and grinned at the group.
"One crate per person. No one leaves until it's all finished~"
As he spoke, Orion casually pulled out a bottle of red wine from the crate and handed it to Mihawk. Then, he opened another bottle and declared with great enthusiasm.
"No need for glasses! Grab your bottles and let's all toast together to welcome Mihawk!"
At his words, everyone who had been eating and drinking on their own immediately raised their bottles, their gazes now fixed on Mihawk.
Mihawk glanced at the bottle Orion had handed him, then at the crate of alcohol beside him. His lips twitched slightly as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he held back and simply raised the bottle, drinking heartily.
"Haha, excellent! On such a fine occasion, we should drink to our hearts' content!" Orion, who had already finished his bottle in one go, laughed heartily and wiped his mouth.
Then, he pulled another bottle from his crate and handed it to Mihawk.
"?????"
Mihawk head was filled with question marks, and his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Wasn't it supposed to be one crate per person? Why are you handing me bottles from your crate?
"Fleet Admiral, no cheating~" Gion, sitting on the other side of Orion, shook her head with a smile as she observed Mihawk reaction.
"Vice Admiral Hound already brought a crate for Mihawk. The one you're handing him now is from your own crate~"
"Ahaha, seems like it~" Orion scratched the back of his head and decisively retracted the bottle of wine he had offered.
"Don't just stand there, Mihawk! If it weren't for you passing by that deserted island six years ago, I would have had to start a survival adventure! No need for words of gratitude—it's all in the wine. Come on, bottoms up!"
After downing two bottles with Orion, Mihawk, now feeling the effects of the alcohol, began to loosen up. No longer as aloof and internally anxious as when he first sat down, he actively engaged Orion in conversation.
Orion, of course, answered everything without reservation, though he concealed the existence of the system and his identity as a transmigrator when Mihawk asked about the coup.
As Mihawk listened to Orion account of his growth over the past six years at Marine Headquarters and how he had rallied so many officers and soldiers to his cause, his initial drunkenness began to fade.
As the world's greatest swordsman, Mihawk wasn't naive enough to believe that Orion could have earned the loyalty of so many officers and soldiers at Marine Headquarters in just six years through money alone.
Loyalty and the willingness to lay down one's life could never be bought with money.
It was Orion radiant charisma that allowed him to quickly gather all those who could be united around him, forming the most formidable force on the high seas.
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