Mihawk's single visible eye narrowed slightly as he looked down at Shanks.
"Red-Haired," he said calmly, his voice carrying weight without needing to rise, "I believe we had an agreement."
Shanks tilted his head, hands casually tucked into his pockets. "Did we?"
Mihawk's frown deepened. "We agreed to meet at Rusukaina in two years for our duel. I went there as planned. I stayed for seven whole days." His gaze sharpened. "You didn't show up."
Shanks broke into an easy smile. "Ah… sorry about that, Mihawk. I kind of forgot."
For the first time since appearing, Mihawk's composure cracked, just slightly.
"Forgot, you say," he repeated flatly. "Red-Haired, I implore you to take our duels seriously."
"But I do take them seriously," Shanks replied without missing a beat. "I just happened to forget once."
There was a brief silence.
Mihawk exhaled, clearly displeased. "Very well." His hand moved to the hilt of the massive blade strapped across his back. With one smooth motion, he drew Yoru, the blade gleaming ominously. "Then shall we commence our duel now?"
Before Shanks could respond, Giovanni moved.
In a blur, Giovanni launched himself forward, saber drawn, his body low and explosive. Steel clashed violently as Mihawk reacted instantly, placing Yoru between himself and Giovanni. The force of the impact sent a sharp metallic ring echoing across the dock.
Mihawk didn't budge.
He glanced down at Giovanni, unimpressed. "What is the meaning of this?"
Giovanni grinned, feet planted firmly as he pushed back before disengaging. "Sorry, Mihawk, was it?" he said casually. "But I can't have you drawing a sword at my captain in front of me and expect me to just watch."
Mihawk's gaze shifted past Giovanni to Shanks. "Captain?" he asked. "Red-Haired… who is this?"
Shanks scratched the back of his head. "Sorry, Mihawk. He's new."
Mihawk lowered Yoru slightly and took a step back, fully disengaging from Giovanni. "Oh," he said. "So he's a new crewmate of yours."
"Yes," Shanks confirmed. "So don't lose that temper of yours. He doesn't really know how things work yet."
Shanks then turned to Giovanni, his expression shifting from casual to exasperated. "Gio," he said, "when I told you this man was a Warlord one of the Three Great Powers. You thought it was a good idea to preemptively attack him. Are you an idiot?"
Giovanni didn't flinch.
"Shanks," he replied, voice firm, "when I left my village to become part of your crew, I resolved to become the best second mate known to man. I wouldn't care even if the man standing in front of me was one of the so-called Emperors." His grip tightened on his saber. "If they show hostility toward any of my crewmates, I'll cut them down without hesitation."
Shanks stared at him for a moment, genuinely surprised.
"…Wow," he said finally. Then he smiled, wide and proud. "I didn't know you were actually this duty-bound." He chuckled. "I think I already got the best second mate."
Mihawk observed Giovanni carefully, then nodded once. "I see. Red-Haired, you've truly found some loyal subordinates."
"No," Shanks corrected calmly. "They're not my subordinates. They're my friends."
Mihawk scoffed lightly. "I don't care for formalities." He shifted his attention back to Shanks. "Then will you not explain your absence? Our agreement still stands."
Shanks sighed. "Mihawk, we haven't seen each other in two years, and the first thing you want to do is cut me down. You didn't even say hello."
Mihawk's brow twitched. He sheathed Yoru partway. "Red-Haired," he said dryly, "what exactly do you think we have to catch up on?"
Shanks grinned. "Oh, I don't know. How about you not telling me you became a Warlord?"
Mihawk met his gaze evenly. "And where," he asked, "would I have found you to tell you in the first place?"
Shanks scratched the back of his head, a casual grin on his face despite the tension hanging in the air.
"Oh, I guess that's fair," he said lightly. "But Mihawk, I don't get it. You hate the Marines. Why would you willingly choose to work for the World Government?"
Mihawk let out a slow sigh, his sharp gaze never leaving Shanks.
"It makes things much easier for me," he replied calmly. "Getting chased by Marines everywhere. Weaklings or not can become irritating. Becoming a Warlord gives me the freedom to focus on improving my swordsmanship instead."
Shanks nodded slowly. "I see." He then turned his head slightly toward Giovanni. "Well then, Gio. You see, me and Mihawk here had an agreement for a duel. So you can calm down. I'll give him his duel, and then we can leave."
Giovanni's response was immediate.
"No," he said firmly. "If Mihawk wants to get to my captain, he'll have to go through me first."
Shanks blinked. "Huh?"
Then realization dawned on him. His eyes widened for half a second before he broke into a grin.
"Oh… Gio, you battle freak," Shanks said, pointing at him. "This was never about your undying loyalty to the crew, was it? You just want to fight Mihawk yourself, don't you?"
Giovanni visibly choked, eyes widening in shock at being exposed so easily. He coughed once, then cleared his throat and straightened his posture.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said stiffly.
Shanks clutched at his chest dramatically. "Oh, I'm so hurt. And here I thought you were doing the whole 'I'd die for you' thing."
Giovanni let out a short laugh.
"Shanks, the only person I'd die for is a beautiful queen," he said without hesitation. "Someone like Stussy, Gloriosa, or even Big Mom. Why the hell would I want to die for you?"
Shanks recoiled exaggeratedly. "Don't say that, Gio-kun," he said in mock despair.
A sharp clearing of a throat cut through the exchange.
Mihawk's golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"Shanks," he said, voice flat, "are you and your friend finished? We should really get started. I'm growing impatient."
Giovanni's expression shifted instantly. The humor vanished as he stepped forward, saber sliding into his grip with practiced ease. He lowered his stance, blade angled forward.
"Sorry, Mihawk," Giovanni said evenly. "But you'll have to go through me first."
Mihawk exhaled slowly, annoyance flickering across his face.
"I have no time for you," he said. "I came here for Red-Haired. I'll entertain you another time."
"I'm afraid that won't do," Giovanni replied, not moving an inch.
Shanks watched the standoff for a moment, then sighed.
"Mihawk," he said, rubbing his temple, "just give him a duel. He really won't move from that spot. Just finish it quick so we can have our own duel afterward."
Mihawk paused. The wind stirred his coat as he considered it, then he gave another quiet sigh. Slowly, deliberately, he raised Yoru and pointed its massive blade directly at Giovanni.
"Alright then," Mihawk said. "Before we duel… what is your name?"
Giovanni's lips curled into a confident smile despite the pressure bearing down on him.
"Norwell D. Giovanni," he answered. "And you?"
"Dracula Mihawk."
Giovanni tightened his grip on his saber.
"Then let's have a good duel."
Internally, Giovanni's focus sharpened completely. His eyes were locked onto Yoru, the massive blade aimed straight at him. It wasn't yet a black blade, but that fact brought him no comfort. The sheer presence of it was overwhelming, as if the sword alone could cleave him in half in an instant.
Still, Giovanni didn't step back.
If this was the wall standing before him… then he would test it head-on.