Despite a minor hitch at the very end, the duel had concluded perfectly.
Mihawk had unleashed his strongest attack, and Dante had met it with his own. The transformation of Dante's technique from a gentle stream into a turbulent ocean, had been enough to surprise even Mihawk. They had clashed with the purest form of swordsmanship, and by now, everything that needed to be tested had been. To continue would have meant a battle with no end in sight.
So when Mihawk, his expression grim, turned his blade on the unfortunate hosts, Genry and Mock, the duel was effectively over.
The winner was clear.
After all, Mihawk had walked away before the fight was truly finished. Who else could have lost? Sullen and silent, the world's greatest swordsman admitted defeat.
He had gone into this thinking Dante was a mere trickster. He hadn't expected the man to be a trickster with genuine power. He'd been played, plain and simple. Still, the World's Strongest Swordsman wasn't one to go back on his word, especially not with a swordsman who had earned his respect. As long as the request wasn't unreasonable, he would honor it.
Dante knew this, of course. He'd been the one to set the trap. But his swordsmanship had been the key, without it, Mihawk never would have conceded.
'You can joke around,' he thought, 'but you can't actually be weak.'
His demand was surprisingly reasonable: for Mihawk to stay and teach the swordsmanship students at the 16th Branch, with Kuina receiving his personal instruction.
Mihawk didn't say much, and with what looked like an inward sigh of relief, he agreed.
However, the man was clearly not cut out for honest work. When it came to the branch students, he would offer a few casual words and nothing more. If a student dared to ask a question, he'd answer with a single slash and tell them to figure it out on their own before turning his back. The rest of the time, he was a master of slacking off. It was also entirely possible that the aspirations of the students simply hadn't earned his approval.
His instruction of Kuina, however, was quite serious. Dante had watched him. Mihawk's critiques were harsh, but Kuina never once faltered.
As for Vice-Admiral Garp, he had graciously accepted his special guest gift and promptly resumed his vacation. With Mock as his guide and a Golden VIP Card from Dante in hand, Garp had spent his days eating, drinking, and making merry across the Conomi Archipelago, seeming to genuinely enjoy himself. The card was the only one of its kind, granting certain free services and deep discounts on select goods.
Garp was more than satisfied. He no longer had to pay to visit the Romance Dawn, and he could even get a receipt. Mock had looked on with pure envy when he heard about it. He wanted one, too.
Of course, Dante wasn't taking a loss on the deal. For now, he was just playing the same dirty game as everyone else in the East Blue, but the future was another matter. The title "Hero of the Marines" was an incredibly useful brand. If it wouldn't have been too high-profile, he would have asked Garp to do a few advertisements. He was certain they would have been a massive hit.
Besides, Garp had brought a parting gift of his own. Marine Headquarters had agreed to source a portion of their snacks from the branch. While the profit margin wasn't as high as cosmetics or Tangerine Wine, it was a steady, reliable income. Even better, they would be placing an order for the wine as well.
It was the kind of deal only an old fox like Garp could pull off. 'Sensei Zephyr is just too honest,' Dante thought. 'He tried for years and got nowhere, but Garp gets it done the moment he shows up.'
The old man couldn't stay forever, though. Once he'd had his fill of relaxation, it would be time to leave. Every year during his vacation, he would stop by the Goa Kingdom to see family, rounding up a few pirates and bandits along the way.
A few days later, Garp stood cheerfully on the pier of the Marine 16th Branch, ready to depart. Unlike when he arrived, he was now dressed in casual attire made in the Conomi Archipelago.
"Bwahaha! Now that was a proper vacation!" the Vice-Admiral laughed, his voice booming as always. "Where's that Hawkeye kid? He's not coming with me?"
"He still has some business here for the time being," Dante said with a nod. How could he let that guy leave before he'd squeezed him dry? "He'll head back to the Grand Line from here when he's finished."
"Is that so? Then I won't wait for him." Garp nodded. When it came to the Shichibukai, he had no authority so long as they didn't violate World Government laws. He stuffed his mouth with a handful of snacks. "It's getting late. I wonder how that brat Luffy is doing. Time to head back!"
"Vice-Admiral Garp, sir! Goodbye!" Mock said seriously, seeing him off. "And don't you worry. The next time your... old friend... comes to visit, I'll make sure he receives the best hospitality. No one will ever know you're our backer."
"Is that so? Well, thank you very much! But..." Garp's grin widened as he looked at the earnest Mock. He reached out and snatched him by the collar. "For now, you're coming with me!"
'What is he doing?' Mock thought, utterly bewildered. 'Is he really going to kidnap me?'
"You're rumored to be strong enough to take down a Shichibukai, but this is all you've got?" Garp flashed a set of pearly white teeth. His smile was bright, but it sent a chill down Mock's spine. "Let me whip you into shape for a few days. Can't have you embarrassing this old Hero of the Marines. Bogard, grab him!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Boss! The East Blue can't survive without me!"
"You can do it!" Dante called out encouragingly to the stunned Mock, then turned to Garp. "I'll leave him in your hands. He's been with me a long time. His talent isn't bad, but he has a bit of a thick skull!"
"Don't you worry. As a Marine, I'm pretty good at disciplining pirates!"
"..." Before the speechless Dante could respond to Garp's sinister smile, the old man spoke again.
"Well then, I should get going before Sengoku starts nagging me again. Let me give you one last piece of advice, kid!" Garp popped another snack into his mouth. His face was still smiling, but his tone had turned serious. "Be careful. The World Government won't stay blind forever. But as long as you don't touch certain things, they won't care what kind of trouble you stir up in the Four Seas. You know about my stupid son, right? Just don't make me have to come and hunt you down myself!"
Dante understood. As long as you didn't punch a Celestial Dragon or go looking for Poneglyphs, the World Government would mostly leave you to the Marines.
Unfortunately, he had already stolen Vegapunk. They would come for him sooner or later.
Dante simply nodded with a smile. "Of course. I am well-versed in the laws of the World Government!"
"Is that so? That kid Kuzan said you didn't understand them at all. Ah, whatever. Not my problem." Garp waved a hand and started walking toward his warship with Bogard. "Just don't rat me out when you get caught," he said cheerfully. "I'm still the Hero of the Marines, you know!"
'This cunning old fox,' Dante thought. He quickly put on a righteous expression. "Of course not! As Mock's boss, I value loyalty above all else. If you don't believe me, you can ask him!"
"That's right! Me and the boss, we're the most loyal guys you'll ever meet! You can ask me!"
"Bwahaha, then I can rest assured."
Finally, amidst Garp's hearty laughter, the Dog-Head Battleship slowly pulled away from the shore. Dante continued to wave with a smile.
'Loyalty?' he thought. 'I'm the biggest warlord in the East Blue, keeping pirates as pets and bribing my superiors. Where would I even find something like that?'
Just as he was about to turn and head back, Robin, who had been silent the entire time, spoke up, an smile on her face. "Boss, did we forget something?"
"Huh? What?"
"Who was it that Mock returned with?"
"That old man Garp, of course!"
"..." Robin looked at her boss, who called him "Vice-Admiral Garp" to his face and "old man" behind his back. She smiled helplessly. "And who else?"
It was then that Dante remembered. He turned to watch the distant, shrinking warship, a twitch at the corner of his mouth. He sighed, his voice heavy with mock tragedy. "Ah... my great hope for the Grand Line pirates."
--**--**
Meanwhile, in the temporary brig of the Dog-Head Battleship.
A figure with a red nose lay weakly on the floorboards, struggling to lift a hand. "Is anyone there? Hello? Anybody? I'm still here! You damned Marines! Your master Buggy is still here!"
'Did these Marines just... forget about me? How long does it take to deal with one little East Blue Overlord?'
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