A few days later, Morgans brought news.
"Shiki has made a move again."
Ian put down the Den Den Mushi. "This time, it was the Kingdom of Giliya that was destroyed. The entire country was smashed into the sea by an island falling from the sky."
"The resulting tidal waves swept through the entire surrounding sea area."
"Has he finally made a move again?"
Mihawk, whose gaze had already dulled, instantly regained his focus, his excitement clear. "Where is that country?"
"Viola?"
Ian spoke up.
Beside them, Viola was flipping through a map of the East Blue.
After confirming their current location and the position of the attacked country, she activated her ability and looked in that direction.
The range of her "Clairvoyance" ability reached up to 4,000 kilometers, a ridiculously long distance.
But…
Viola shook her head. "It's too far. It's out of my observation range."
The East Blue was just too vast.
4,000 kilometers wasn't considered an impressive range in this sea.
"Tch," Ian laughed and said, "Shiki is quite clever. The three attacks all targeted government member states, but there is no pattern to speak of."
He probably knew very well that the government had sent terrifying military forces to the East Blue to capture him.
So he played a little trick.
But this small trick had probably already caused a great headache for the Navy.
They had no idea where Shiki would strike next, so how could they possibly suppress him?
No matter how many troops they gathered, it would be useless if they couldn't find him.
Mihawk also frowned, "Then, how are we supposed to find him?"
He had come specifically to fight Golden Lion.
But now, it seemed that finding Shiki was already a difficult task, let alone defeating him.
It was just like a challenge that's close but not quite there—almost within reach, yet that last step is missing.
"We'll have to wait," Ian said, "Wait for him to appear within Viola's observation range."
A radius of four thousand kilometers is still quite vast.
Even if Shiki is carrying out random terrorist attacks, as long as he appears within Viola's detection range, there's no place for him to escape.
The chances of that happening are pretty high, or rather, as long as Ian is still in the East Blue, they are bound to cross paths sooner or later.
It's just unclear how many countries will be destroyed before that happens.
Ian couldn't help but sigh.
Oh, the ones being destroyed are all member states loyal to the World Government, right?
Well, that doesn't matter.
In fact, after this battle, the World Government's prestige is likely to suffer a huge blow.
After all, nothing like this has ever happened before—such a strong opponent attacking civilians, they really have no shame.
The World Government, unable to protect even its member states, how will it be viewed among its own members?
Good news.
The one hundred seventy member nations are the foundation of the World Government's rule over the world.
If they lose confidence in the World Government, then this organization will naturally collapse.
Just as Ian thought, the Marines were also in a state of panic at this moment.
"Another country has been destroyed!"
In a certain part of the East Blue, Admiral Sengoku was receiving a storm of complaints from the Five Elders. "What is the Navy doing?!"
Sengoku wanted to curse.
Not to mention that this time, the Navy only sent him, Garp, Borsalino, and Kuzan.
Even if they had brought all the top-tier forces from the entire Marine Headquarters, it would still be impossible to defend the entire East Blue.
Such a vast sea, and the four of them had each led their fleets to different parts of the East Blue to search and keep an eye out for Shiki, but it was still far from enough.
However, no matter how frustrated he felt inside, when facing the Five Elders, he could only honestly say, "It's our negligence, Your Excellencies."
"Listen, stop worrying about Ian or Mihawk. The only thing worth focusing on now is Shiki!"
The Five Elders shouted in anger. "We've sent CP0 to the East Blue to help you. They will fully activate the CP system to assist in searching for Shiki's whereabouts!"
"As long as that guy, Shiki, is human, he will leave traces!"
"Don't let him run wild anymore!"
"Yes!"
Sengoku's expression instantly became serious.
They couldn't let Shiki continue unchecked!
That was also the thought of the Marines.
They were betting on the name of justice!
While the Marines' morale was rising, the Golden Dragon was already approaching its destination.
"Is that the place?"
Mihawk and Ian stood side by side at the bow, gazing at the increasingly closer island in the distance, with a hint of expectation.
"Shimotsuki Village."
Ian said, "It should be here."
"Shimotsuki?"
Yamato leaned over, furrowing her once-beautiful brows until they looked like a caterpillar, deep in thought, "Why does this name sound familiar?"
"If you didn't spend all your time playing around, you wouldn't forget."
Ian tapped the back of his head.
It made a thumping sound. It was clearly empty in there.
"Did you forget about the samurai coalition we defeated back then?"
"Huh?"
Yamato blinked, unable to remember.
Ian wasn't surprised. Her memory was only slightly better than a goldfish's.
"So, Ian," Mihawk raised an eyebrow, "Is this village related to Wano?"
Speaking of samurai, that was, of course, Wano's specialty.
"Exactly."
Ian nodded lightly. "Let's go, let's see the descendants of the samurai."
Mihawk didn't comment.
The approach of the Golden Dragon Ship was anything but subtle. It was impossible to hide such a large ship. Anyone who wasn't blind could see it.
"Pirates are here!"
"Yes, it's the Golden Dragon Ship! Ian the Skyfire has arrived!!"
The news quickly spread from the harbor to the island.
At the dojo on the island, a man named Shimotsuki Koushirou heard the shouting outside.
His expression changed suddenly, and his always-smiling eyes immediately became sharp.
He quickly told his students, "Everyone, hurry and take shelter!"
This wasn't just any pirate!
They were from the Beasts Pirates!
The Beasts Pirates who had taken over Wano!
Is it because of the name Shimotsuki?
Koushirou gritted his teeth, gripping his sword tightly as he rushed toward the port like the wind.
No matter what, he had to protect this village!
At all costs!
By the time he arrived at the port, what he saw was a huge ship quietly docked at the shore, and a group of people walking down the lowered staircase.
"Huh?"
Mihawk, already at the dock, instantly narrowed his eyes, his attention focused on Koushirou.
A smirk formed on his lips. "Is there a swordsman like this in a corner of the East Blue?"
A top-tier swordsman could tell a person's skill with just one glance.
Seeing him, Koushirou froze for a moment. "Mihawk?"
The world's greatest swordsman, the goal of every swordsman—how could Mihawk be with Ian?
"After all, he is a descendant of the Shimotsuki family."
The words from the young man next to Mihawk caught Koushirou's attention.
Ian, Ian the Skyfire!
A monster known worldwide!
So young, just a few years older than Kuina.
Koushirou instinctively placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Ian the Skyfire, what are you trying to do?"
"I'm here to find a man," Ian said. "Shimotsuki Kouzaburou, the top swordsmith from Wano Kingdom. You should be familiar with him."
Koushirou's expression darkened.
Not just familiar—he was his father.
So, they came because of the Shimotsuki family?
Koushirou cursed inwardly.
His father left Wano Kingdom forty years ago.
Since then, he had no further ties with the country.
But now, they were actually coming for him because of the Shimotsuki surname.
Noticing the change in this guy's expression, Ian couldn't help but chuckle.
He was a bit too full of himself.
Who did he think he was?
If it wasn't for having a disciple with green algae hair and having to help Mihawk with his sword repairs, do you think Ian would bother showing up?
"Teacher! We're here!"
At this moment, a shout came from behind Koushirou.
Koushirou's face immediately changed.
Ian, on the other hand, curled the corners of his mouth.
Koushirou suddenly turned around, and the disciples he had called to take refuge now rushed back in unison.
Leading them was his precious daughter, Kuina, and his nephew, as well as beloved disciple, Zoro.
"Kuina! Zoro! What are you doing?"
Koushirou trembled with anger. "Didn't I tell you to hide?!"
These two little rascals were also descendants of the Shimotsuki family.
"How could we let our teacher face pirates alone?!"
The green-haired boy shouted loudly. "Teacher, you look so fragile!"
"Papa is not fragile!"
The blue-haired girl beside him retorted, then seriously added, "But, Papa! We can fight alongside you! Even the adults in the dojo aren't a match for us!"
The usually gentle Koushirou now felt like cursing.
This was no time for recklessness! Kids!
The opponents were not the kind of strong you could imagine!
"Huh?"
The green-haired boy, less than nine years old this year, Roronoa Zoro, tilted his head. He suddenly noticed the people behind his teacher.
Especially the man carrying a large sword, wearing a top hat, with eagle-like sharp eyes.
"Hawkeye!"
The words slipped out of Zoro's mouth instantly.
"Hawkeye?"
The blue-haired girl, Kuina, took a look and immediately exclaimed, "It really is Hawkeye! The world's greatest swordsman!"
The boy and girl exchanged a glance.
Then.
In unison, they charged forward.
"Dracule Mihawk! If I defeat you, that means I'll be the strongest, right? Come and duel me!"
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