"Wah!"
In the next instant—
Mihawk suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
At the same time, a long, diagonal wound—nearly two feet across—finally appeared across his abdomen, spraying blood everywhere.
"What!?"
Everyone in the Baratie—every single person except Lucky Drake—stared with wide, bewildered eyes.
"The hell? Why is he coughing up blood!?"
Only after several long seconds did they regain their senses.
Shock.
More shock.
And nothing but shock.
"Did I turn stupid for a moment? When the hell did he get hurt!?"
"I swear I didn't see Lucky Drake make a single move!"
"No way… that kid really won!?"
"Holy crap, the Thunder Pirates were actually THIS strong!? They hid it way too deep!"
The entire restaurant erupted.
Reality was undeniable.
Lucky Drake had won.
Cleanly. Decisively.
And no one had seen a thing.
The Thunder Pirates burst into cheers.
Nami rushed forward and threw herself into Lucky Drake's arms.
She had been terrified.
If Lucky Drake failed to receive the slash, he'd die instantly.
She had truly feared losing him.
But now—Lucky Drake not only survived, he won brilliantly.
As his woman, she'd never felt so proud.
She wanted to shout to the entire world:
Lucky Drake is the man I chose—my husband.
"Nami, sorry to make you worry."
Lucky Drake said softly, feeling like he was standing on the peak of life—
Shocking everyone present, and a beauty throwing herself into his arms.
Pretty damn good.
"Mhm… as long as you're alright."
Nami quickly realized how bold she had been.
There were a thousand people watching!
Her face went crimson and she scrambled away, wanting to hide in a hole.
At that moment, Mihawk looked at Lucky Drake.
Accepting defeat, he declared:
"I, Dracule Mihawk, have lost. I am not your equal."
"From this moment forth—you are the World's Greatest Swordsman."
"I, Dracule Mihawk, acknowledge you as my big brother."
His voice was calm, neither servile nor arrogant.
He accepted defeat fully.
But when Mihawk said "World's Greatest Swordsman," the restaurant exploded again.
"What nonsense! Greatest swordsman?"
"Yeah, I think someone else destroyed Krieg's fleet earlier!"
"Right! As if the greatest swordsman would lose to an East Blue pirate!"
"Exactly! Lucky Drake is just the Thunder Pirates' vice-captain! His bounty is only sixteen million Berries!"
"Clearly the guy in the hat was weak and failed at acting tough in the East Blue! Now he's pretending to be the greatest swordsman? Ridiculous!"
"Haha! If he's the greatest swordsman, then I'm the Pirate King!"
Mihawk ignored them all.
After all… he truly lost today.
The East Blue was surprising.
Weak, yes—but full of hidden monsters.
Even Shanks had lost his arm here…
And now Mihawk nearly died in the East Blue.
The wound across his chest was deep enough to kill most men.
Only his incredible swordsmanship and willpower kept him upright.
Ding!
Congratulations, Host.
Challenge Dracule Mihawk—Victory. Reward: 1000 Lottery Points.
Ding!
Host has perfectly completed multiple missions.
Advanced Lottery Pool unlocked. Each draw requires 1000 points.
One electronic chime after another echoed through Lucky Drake's mind.
He was thrilled.
Only 1000 points for defeating Mihawk felt low—
But the mission rewarded him win or lose, so that was probably why.
If it had been "defeat" or "kill Mihawk," the reward might've been in the tens of thousands.
But now wasn't the time to brag.
Lucky Drake immediately said:
"No, I can't accept the title of World's Greatest Swordsman. I only won by luck."
He would have to be insane to take Mihawk's title.
He won only because Mihawk didn't use Observation Haki seriously.
If he had, he might've sensed the lightspeed slash.
And Mihawk's swordsmanship far surpassed Lucky Drake's current level.
Lucky Drake's own strength, even with 80 years of internal energy, barely reached the fourth realm of swordsmanship—
the "Haki Sword" level.
He hadn't even reached the steel-cutting third realm, much less Mihawk's Black Blade realm.
And as for the first realm—the White Blade realm…
Only Whitebeard possessed such swordsmanship today.
Shanks might achieve it two years later.
White Blade required Conqueror's Haki.
Not everyone could reach that realm.
But anyway—
Mihawk was speechless.
"Luck? You call that luck?"
"To strike me before I could even perceive it—that is not luck. That is your true strength."
"If you refuse the title, you insult me."
"You would be saying my defeat is shameful."
Mihawk spoke with absolute seriousness.
He lost.
There was no luck involved.
~~--------------------------------
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