Chapter 94

"The era will not only undergo drastic change; a massive war spanning the entire world is likely unavoidable."

Yet Hawk-Eye suddenly spoke these words.

The Red-Haired was taken aback, about to ask, when Ben Beckman suddenly interrupted:

"Hawk-Eye, you're injured?"

The Red-Haired was startled, his drunkenness clearing somewhat, and only then noticed the bandage wrapped around Hawk-Eye's abdomen.

The Red-Haired was deeply shocked.

"Hawk-Eye, you went to the East Sea to travel—how could someone with your strength get injured?"

The Red-Haired knew better than anyone how strong Hawk-Eye truly was, having sparred with him in swordplay.

Beckman, along with the other officers of the Red-Haired Crew, stared intently at Hawk-Eye.

They wondered who could possibly have injured Hawk-Eye.

Yet Hawk-Eye's expression was even more puzzled; he frowned and said:

"The East Sea has terrifying beings like the King of the Near Seas— isn't it normal for me to get injured?"

"Didn't you lose an arm to him too, Red-Haired?"

"Before I left, you warned me that if I met the King of the Near Seas, I might lose my life."

The Red-Haired had just felt thirsty and was pouring wine into his mouth; upon hearing Hawk-Eye's words, he spat it all out with a *puff*.

Luckily, Hawk-Eye dodged quickly, or he would have been sprayed in the face.

Hawk-Eye growled: "Red-Haired, what are you doing!"

Shanks hurriedly apologized: "Sorry, sorry, I couldn't hold it back."

Besides Beckman, Lachry and the other Red-Haired Crew officers all looked like they were desperately suppressing laughter.

Hawk-Eye was even more confused.

What's so funny? Why laugh?

The Red-Haired said: "Hawk-Eye, you really encountered the King of the Near Seas—and got bitten… no, injured by it?"

Hawk-Eye's voice carried regret:

"No, I didn't get to meet the King of the Near Seas this time. I encountered another unexpected presence—the source of the great war I just mentioned."

The Red-Haired breathed a sigh of relief—glad he hadn't met him—and asked:

"Who?"

"Imperial Son-in-Law Luo Xing of the Beasts!"

"Who?!"

The Red-Haired's eyes widened instantly; Beckman rose from his seat; Lachry dropped his drumstick; all officers of the Red-Haired Crew wore expressions of shock.

Clearly,

Luo Xing's reputation as one of the Five Emperors of the Sea had reached such heights that even the Four Emperors' crews took him seriously.

"I encountered the Five Emperor Luo Xing and saw his true face," Hawk-Eye repeated.

"Did he injure you?" Beckman asked.

"No, it was a raw, inexperienced Mao Touxiaozi."

"How could that be!"

The Red-Haired looked utterly incredulous.

"How could a Mao Touxiaozi possibly injure you?"

Hawk-Eye sighed:

"At first, he couldn't possibly have injured me—I defeated him easily with just a small dagger."

"But then, Emperor Luo Xing fed him a Devil Fruit cell—and his power instantly surged a hundredfold!"

"He also seemed to awaken Conqueror's Haki; I slipped up and was wounded by him."

The Red-Haired, Beckman, and the others were stunned silent.

A Mao Touxiaozi, ate a Devil Fruit cell, power surged a hundredfold, awakened Conqueror's Haki, and injured Hawk-Eye.

It was like listening to a fairy tale.

Beckman took a deep drag from his cigarette, thought for a moment, then said:

"That young man must have eaten a higher-grade Devil Fruit cell—the kind consumed by the Three Disasters—otherwise such an incredible boost would be impossible."

Beckman, worthy of his title as the wisest mind in the world, had guessed the truth so quickly.

A higher-grade Devil Fruit cell—one that could let someone injure Hawk-Eye—made the Red-Haired Crew officers all display expressions of intense envy, even longing.

After all, who doesn't wish to grow stronger?

After the shock, the Red-Haired asked a question far more critical than the Devil Fruit cell.

"Hawk-Eye, you're the first outsider to have seen Luo Xing's true face—what kind of man is he?"

This question made Hawk-Eye think for a long time.

He recalled how he had challenged Luo Xing twice, and both times Luo Xing refused, saying he disliked fighting—and if forced to fight, he would surely kill his enemy.

That calm, composed demeanor, yet radiating an incomparable authority, had deeply shaken Hawk-Eye at the time.

After much thought, Hawk-Eye finally answered:

"I cannot accurately describe what kind of man he is—only one word fits him—"

"Inscrutable!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the Red-Haired Crew—including the Red-Haired and Beckman—were struck with solemn awe!

…

…

Land of Wano.

Luo Xing, Yamato, and the others, having traveled for several days, finally returned.

Actually, it did not require so much time; mainly, this was Yamato's first time traveling far, and whenever he saw something novel, he wanted to go play with it.

Given Luo Xing's doting on his wife Yamato, of course, he agreed to everything without exception.

Thus, they were delayed for such a long time.

"So this is the land of Wano."

Zoro jumped off the ship, took a deep breath of air, and with a hint of excitement welling in his eyes, said:

"Even from such a distance, I can feel it; there are countless strong presences here, like wild beasts!"

Along the way,

Luo Xing had simply taught Zoro how to use Haki. Zoro's comprehension was strong, and he had already made some progress in Observation Haki.

Therefore, he could sense this.

Luo Xing smiled slightly: "The Beasts Pirates are all beasts; you will not lack opponents."

Zoro became even more excited.

Although he had eaten the cells of a Dragon-level Monster, he still had many shortcomings that needed to be made up.

He must train desperately and fight against the strong.

One day, he would defeat Mihawk and become the strongest swordsman!

Behind Zoro stood his Master, Shimotsuki Koushirou, and Koushirou's father, Shimotsuki Gorou.

The two had not returned to their hometown for over ten years; the moment they stepped onto Wano's territory, their eyes instantly moistened, filled with deep emotion.

At first, they actually did not want to return, because back then, they had been driven away by Kaidou and by Kurozumi Orochi.

But they could not withstand Zoro's pleas, and hearing that Kurozumi Orochi had been executed, and that Wano's face had now completely changed, with the people living in peace and prosperity, they could hardly believe their ears.

So they could no longer restrain themselves and decided to return to Wano to see it with their own eyes.

Upon seeing it, they were completely shocked.

Wano had not merely changed completely; it had undergone a earth-shattering transformation!

Had they not met a few elderly people they once knew, they would have thought they had gone to the wrong country!

Even more shocking was hearing that the people of Wano called Kaidou's daughter, Yamato, the most beautiful General, and called the Beasts' Imperial Son-in-Law, Luo Xing, Young Master.

Shimotsuki Gorou and Koushirou fell silent at the same time.

After an unknown period of time, Gorou sighed:

"Even if Lord Oden were alive and ascended to the position of General, Wano would not be better than it is now."

Koushirou expressed agreement.

Neither of them were retainers of Kozuki Oden, nor did they have any deep personal friendship with Oden himself.