"Mamamama! That bastard Roger is finally going to die!"
On Whole Cake Island, the increasingly plump Charlotte Linlin laughed maliciously while reading the newspaper.
"That fool refused to share his Poneglyphs with me! He should have died long ago! He was the world's Pirate King, yet he got captured by the Navy like a common thug. How laughable."
...
Across the world, absolutely everyone was heatedly discussing the impending execution of the Pirate King.
Many rookie pirates who had set sail inspired by Roger's legends began furiously heading toward the execution site announced by the Navy: Loguetown, the town of the beginning and the end.
This massive pilgrimage included numerous figures who would become legendary pirates in the future.
...
Meanwhile, Vice-Admiral Raleigh showed no interest in Roger's execution.
He already knew exactly how it would play out. Instead, his warship had just tracked down a highly specific target.
Dracule Mihawk.
A lone swordsman with impossibly sharp, hawk-like eyes.
He was extremely talented in swordsmanship, a man who would later become the World's Greatest Swordsman wielding a Supreme Grade Black Blade.
Raleigh's original mission from Headquarters included recruiting the young Mihawk into the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
At Banal Fishing Port, several unconscious, bleeding Marine soldiers lay scattered on the docks.
Merchants who had been doing business nearby fled in terror with their belongings upon seeing Mihawk effortlessly dismantle the local Navy patrol.
Mihawk calmly sheathed the small, cross-shaped dagger he wore around his neck.
He hadn't dealt lethal blows to these weak Marine soldiers, as they simply weren't worthy of him drawing his true sword, Yoru.
With complete composure, he walked toward his small, coffin-shaped boat.
But suddenly, he sensed a terrifying danger rapidly approaching from the sea.
His small dagger instantly swung through the air, releasing a compressed sword beam that sliced an incoming artillery cannonball perfectly in half mid-air.
BOOM!
An explosion erupted in the sky, spreading the thick smell of gunpowder through the surrounding air.
Violent shockwaves rampaged across the port, battering the nearby merchant ships.
Mihawk looked up, his hawk-like eyes swiftly locking onto the tall, imposing figure of Vice-Admiral Raleigh standing at the bow of an approaching Marine warship.
Raleigh's face showed no expression, his eyes were filled only with cold calculating killing intent.
Raleigh had originally come here fully intending to recruit Mihawk, remembering from his past life that this man hadn't committed any particularly heinous acts.
Compared to the other Warlords, Mihawk could be considered a relatively decent person.
But Raleigh had forgotten one crucial detail of the timeline—no pirate was truly "good," especially not in their youth.
Before being recruited as a Warlord and mellowing out, Mihawk's infamous epithet was the "Marine Hunter"!
If this were Raleigh when he first arrived in this world, he might have believed Mihawk was just a misunderstood, honorable swordsman.
But things were different now.
Raleigh enjoyed his comfortable life, the vast benefits of the Navy, and the genuine, heartfelt respect from his soldiers.
Witnessing his own Marine subordinates lying unconscious and bleeding on the docks under Mihawk's blade, Raleigh suddenly lost all patience for Headquarters' recruitment regulations.
"You deserve to die, Mihawk," Raleigh's voice held no emotion, his cold words falling heavily upon the port like a divine judgment.
Mihawk's expression tightened slightly.
He could instantly sense that this Marine would be a tremendously troublesome opponent—a true, top-tier powerhouse.
He reached over his shoulder and finally drew the massive Black Blade, Yoru, gripping it firmly.
"Marine."
Raleigh leaped high from the ship's bow, landing heavily on the docks directly opposite Mihawk.
A second later, Gion and Bullet jumped down from the ship, positioning themselves loyally behind Raleigh.
"Gion, provide full medical assistance to the injured soldiers. Bullet, clear all the remaining pirate scum from the port," Raleigh commanded coldly, never taking his eyes off Mihawk.
Gion and Bullet nodded simultaneously.
Gion led the medics to treat the bleeding Marines, while Bullet cracked his knuckles and began dealing with the lingering pirates, taking them down one brutal punch at a time.
"Run!"
Pirates were experts at recognizing shifting tides.
When they saw the massive Demon Heir charging toward them, they didn't even consider resisting.
They scattered in all directions immediately. In their panicked minds, they only needed to outrun their companions to survive.
But their speed was like snails crawling compared to Bullet.
With just a few explosive movements, Bullet caught up with all the fleeing pirates.
Crack! Crunch!
The sickening sounds of breaking bones demonstrated the brutality of Bullet's methods.
Now, only two people remained standing motionless in the center of the ruined port: Raleigh and Mihawk, facing each other in dead silence.
Mihawk adjusted his wide-brimmed hat slightly, a faint excited smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"You are a powerful individual in every aspect," Mihawk noted calmly. "Yet... I can sense that swordsmanship is actually your least proficient skill. May I know your name, mighty warrior of the Marines?"
Raleigh expressionlessly drew his Supreme Grade blade, Mikazuki Munechika, from his waist.
"Originally, I intended to recruit you into the Seven Warlords of the Sea," Raleigh said smoothly.
"But now, I have changed my mind. You must die here, for you have committed the unforgivable sin of hunting my soldiers."
Mihawk glanced at the distant Marines being rescued by Gion, then turned back to Raleigh with sudden understanding.
"So that's the reason. My apologies," Mihawk said, though his tone remained completely steady. "I never intended to kill them, but they sought to capture me for my bounty. I, Dracule Mihawk, am not a lamb waiting to be slaughtered."
CLANG!!!
Before Mihawk could even finish his sentence, a blindingly fast blade appeared directly before his eyes, slashing forcefully against the flat of his Black Blade.
Both swords were now coated heavily in black Armament Haki, locked in a fierce sparking clash of strength.
Mihawk raised his head, looking at Raleigh with pure, unadulterated excitement.
"A Swordmaster!"
Originally, Mihawk had only sensed that Raleigh might be a skilled swordsman.
But when actually crossing blades with the Vice-Admiral, he confirmed his judgment was correct.
Raleigh's sword technique held no flowery, particular artistry.
Speed, precision, and absolute, overwhelming ferocity were the true essence of his bladework.
He seemed to possess no special, named techniques, yet every single strike was as swift as the wind and as powerful as thunder.
With even the slightest carelessness, Mihawk knew he would instantly lose a limb.
Clang!
The two separated, skidding backward across the docks. Mihawk's hawk-like eyes shone with battle-lust as he gripped the Black Blade Yoru with both hands, pouring his full Armament Haki into the massive sword.
He suddenly stepped forward, swinging the sharp blade in a devastating upward cutting motion.
Raleigh's Observation Haki spiked, stinging his mind and warning him that this was no ordinary attack.
"Soru."
Raleigh's legs explosively propelled him, his figure instantly vanishing from his original position.
The massive, crescent-shaped green slash passed right through the afterimage Raleigh left behind, flying across the water toward the ships in the distant harbor.
A pirate ship unfortunately appeared directly in its flight path.
The next second, the entire massive galleon was split perfectly in half with a deafening roar, sinking instantly beneath the waves.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The two master swordsmen engaged in rapid, blinding close-quarters combat, a continuous series of sparks blooming violently between them.
In a duel between true Swordmasters, closer proximity meant vastly greater danger.
Each could unleash powerful, ship-destroying sword beams at a distance, but they could also easily dodge attacks of a similar level.
Thus, face-to-face, lethal close combat was the only true key to determining victory.
Raleigh's attacks were as swift and violent as a tiger descending a mountain, seeking to overwhelm with raw physical stats.
In contrast, Mihawk's movements were flawless and utterly inspired—seemingly without rigid technique, yet his perfectly placed strikes consistently and effortlessly dismantled Raleigh's brutal assaults.