Overlord... Overlord, I will not lose again!

It must be said that Hawkeye is remarkably skilled at concealing his emotions.

Of course, Hawkeye’s strength truly reaches the level of a top-tier swordsman. Yet, just a mere flicker of killing intent released by Chu Bawang was enough to make him wary, leaving him not daring to harbor the slightest thought against Zoro. There is no doubt that Hawkeye felt the chasm of strength between himself and Chu Bawang. It was a divide as vast as a natural trench.

According to the original trajectory of events, Hawkeye held Zoro in high regard; during the later Summit War, Zoro even became his apprentice. Although he repeatedly called Zoro a "pathetic weakling" to his face, Hawkeye’s actions proved otherwise. Otherwise, he would never have offered such earnest guidance, let alone taken him on as a student.

But now, Chu Bawang’s interference has completely stripped Hawkeye of the thought of taking Zoro as an apprentice. There was no helping it; the disparity in their power was simply too immense.

Nami wore a thoughtful expression, then, taking advantage of Chu Bawang’s distraction, she planted a kiss on his cheek.

Chu Bawang: "..." This little girl really is like a little thieving cat!

Kaya, seeing the scene and deciding to look away, turned to leave, waving a farewell: "This fight is boring. I’m going back to the study to read."

Nami made a triumphant face at Kaya’s retreating figure, only to be met by a ruthless knuckle-rap from Chu Bawang. "Nami, cut out these flashy antics in the future."

Nami stuck out her tongue and acted spoiled. "Understood, Baba! But I’ll probably do it again anyway!"

"..."

Usopp rushed to Zoro’s side, holding a medicine jar, and kept Zoro’s wounded chest at a "low water level" to prevent further heavy bleeding. "The medicine is here! Quickly, apply it to the wound!"

Hawkeye Mihawk made a strange move. He first bowed in apology toward the second deck of the floating restaurant Baratie. The crowd was confused, unable to fathom the purpose of his gesture. As for Nami and the experienced "Red-Leg" Zeff, they harbored a bold guess.

"In that direction... you can only see Baba and that little girl named Nami. Could it be that Hawkeye Mihawk is apologizing to them for wounding Zoro?! Hiss! If that’s the case, then this Baba’s strength is truly unfathomable!"

Red-Leg Zeff’s expression began to darken and shift. His intuition told him that the seas of the future were about to be stirred by massive waves. And at the center of the vortex would undoubtedly be the Straw Hat crew and that imposing figure—Chu Bawang!

"The seas will never be calm again." Zeff sighed internally. His own era had already passed.

The remnants of the old era, there aren't many left, are there?

After these actions, Hawkeye finally turned his gaze toward Zoro. A thin layer of sweat had already seeped onto his back! It was terrifying! What had he just sensed? A soaring killing intent! Endless sword intent! That biting, cold gleam had felt like a blade piercing his heart, leaving him suffocated.

He actually felt a tinge of envy for Zoro’s "fearless ignorance." If he weren’t a top-tier swordsman himself, perhaps he might have had the courage to challenge Chu Bawang.

Hawkeye looked at the half-dead Zoro and shook his head slightly. "Boy, it is far too early for you to die. I am Dracule Mihawk. See yourself clearly, understand the world, and grow stronger! No matter how much time passes, I will be waiting for you at this... this strongest position!"

The people present did not notice that when he mentioned the word "strongest," Hawkeye’s tone faltered slightly. Had he not felt Chu Bawang’s soaring sword intent, perhaps he would have brazenly called himself the strongest. But now, Mihawk felt those two words were a mockery of himself!

Hawkeye Mihawk brandished his black blade, Yoru, and said intensely, "Roronoa Zoro, I look forward to the day you can surpass this sword! Surpass my sword intent!"

Johnny and Yosaku were emotional, shouting toward Zoro, "Boss! Boss! Can you hear us?"

Red-Leg Zeff crossed his arms, his braids bobbing, and said solemnly, "To be able to make Hawkeye Mihawk say such things, it is truly shocking."

Zeff glanced secretly at Chu Bawang. Could the swordsman who earned Hawkeye’s recognition be nothing more than a minor, unacknowledged disciple of this man?! If Hawkeye were to face Chu Bawang, who would win and who would lose?

Zeff was destined to never know the result. Because, in front of Chu Bawang, Hawkeye’s swordsmanship wasn't even fit to carry his shoes! He couldn't even summon the desire to fight!

Hawkeye’s cold gaze shifted to Luffy, and he asked with a faint smirk, "Boy, what is your goal?"

Luffy responded without hesitation, "King of the Pirates."

Hawkeye laughed. "That is a path even more perilous than surpassing me!"

Luffy pouted, "I don't care, I'm going to be it anyway."

Luffy probably didn't know that because of his unintentional declaration, Chu Bawang had turned Gol D. Roger into a woman... turned her into a girl... into a girl...

According to Chu Bawang’s original words at the time: "Luffy, aren't you a man who wants to be King of the Pirates? I have resurrected the Pirate King Gol D. Roger and successfully turned her into a woman! Now, as long as you take Roger, you will be the man of the King of the Pirates that the world gazes upon!"

Of course, that is a story for another time.

Usopp looked joyfully at the slowly awakening Zoro and shouted, "Zoro isn't dead! He just fainted!"

Zoro tremblingly raised the only intact blade in his hand, the Wado Ichimonji, and used all his strength to say, "Baba... can you hear me?"

"Did I make you worry? If... if I don't become the world’s strongest swordsman, it would be a trouble for you, right?"

"Cough, cough... cough, cough..." Zoro coughed up another mouthful of blood.

Yosaku and Johnny were as anxious as ants on a hot pan. "Big Brother, stop talking, you’ll tear your wounds!"

The fighting chefs of the sea were shocked by Zoro’s powerful willpower. To be able to speak after suffering such fatal wounds?

There was a hint of tears in Zoro’s tone—it was a desperate longing to grow stronger!

"Baba... I... I won't lose again!"

"Before I defeat Mihawk and become a great swordsman, I will never lose again! Do you have any objections? Baba?!"

Zoro’s voice echoed in the air for a long time, deeply imprinted in the ears of everyone present! Everyone’s gaze snapped toward Chu Bawang, who was technically Zoro’s master but had never once stepped in to help.

This was the true powerhouse! Otherwise, how could he have conquered a pirate hunter with such an indomitable spirit as Roronoa Zoro?

Chu Bawang looked down from above at Hawkeye and Zoro, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint smile as he replied, "I have no objections."