Chapter 37: The Gambler Who Owes Gambling Debts

Regarding Master Tenghu's name, in the early manga chapters, the translation group mistakenly rendered the character's name as "Yixiao," but this is not the official setting.

In Chapter 957, Oda directly drew the Chinese name "Yisheng" on the sail of Master Tenghu's warship, so the translation group uniformly corrected it to "Yisheng."

Also, I typed this character by character on my phone; do not say I am an AI.

I shall take it all as you praising my writing style.

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Twin Serpent Island, Casino.

Smoke filled the air.

Seated before the table was a gambler with short black hair and a scar on his forehead extending to both eyes, wearing a pale purple kimono, waiting calmly for the dealer to flip the cards.

Behind the gambler, other gamblers who had lost all their money but were reluctant to leave gathered around, chatting aimlessly.

"This guy has lost nineteen rounds in a row."

"Isn't he a bodyguard? Why is he at the table?"

"I heard this guy lost all his savings two years ago, still owes a huge gambling debt, and can only stay at the casino as a bodyguard to pay it off."

The dealer slowly flipped the cards. "Yisheng, you currently owe the casino one billion Berries."

The gambler called Yisheng slowly rose, his tone carrying a hint of self-mockery.

"Truly regrettable."

He could have easily cheated using Observation Haki, but for a blind man like him, winning by luck... was even more irresistible.

Every bet, every card flip, was like a gamble with fate.

And the result was always full of the unknown.

Since the fall of the Cang Kingdom and the start of his manhunt by the World Government, Yisheng's life trajectory had completely deviated from the right path; former honors and status had turned to bubbles, leaving only endless confusion.

Gambling became his only solace and the only way to escape reality.

Yisheng rose and left the gambling table to continue his main job: casino bodyguard, and when he sensed a group of people gathered together, he instinctively tilted his ear.

"Good heavens, a bounty of one billion Berries."

"Indeed, he was a crew member of the Pirate King Roger, went to Laugh Tale, and saw the Great Treasure; he is a great pirate."

"The West Blue has never produced such a figure."

Creak~ The casino door was pushed open.

Upon seeing those sharp yellow eyes, exclamations immediately rang out throughout the casino.

"The Marine Hunter, Dracule Mihawk."

Sharp swords, sharp eyes; between swordsmen, one can sense each other's sword intent.

In Mihawk's eyes: a blind swordsman holding a cane, his sword intent shrouded in a mist.

And in Yisheng's perception: the person ahead, his entire body surrounded by an unstoppable sword intent.

The two merely stood there, yet their invisible sword intents clashed, making the gamblers in the casino feel breathless, the bone-chilling cold prickling their scalps.

Yisheng spoke, making a request: "Change the place."

Mihawk nodded: "Good."

In fact, the moment he saw the other was blind, Mihawk had already abandoned the idea; he truly had no interest in fighting someone who was blind in both eyes.

This was precisely where Mihawk's pride lay: he would never choose a disabled person as an opponent, except for the brain-dead.

However, thinking of the captain's instructions.

Mihawk thought that this blind swordsman before him actually quite fit Saint Saint Saiwen's requirements for crew members, and having a ship full of great swordsmen was quite exciting to imagine.

If it could truly be realized, looking across the entire sea, such a pirate crew configuration had never appeared before.

Therefore, Mihawk agreed to spar.

Learning there was a show to watch, the gamblers followed closely behind the two, maintaining a reasonable safe distance.

Mihawk dares to fight even the Marines; what about a bunch of small-time gamblers like them? Watching the show was important, but their lives were undoubtedly more important.

Twin Serpent Island, West Side.

"Dracule Mihawk."

"Yisheng."

Brief introductions, very fitting for both their personalities.

Mihawk's personality was steady and calm; even in battle, he showed almost no obvious emotional fluctuation.

Yisheng, having not fought anyone for a long time, felt his long-silent heart gradually grow hot.

The difference was that when Mihawk dueled others, he never shouted technique names, while Yisheng would shout, seemingly to make it look more imposing.

"Gravity Blade: Fierce Tiger."

This was a skill combining the Control Weight ability and swordsmanship, concentrating gravity on the blade's edge to release a horizontal gravity wave for attack.

While manipulating gravity, the pressure generated by the gravity would also compress space, forming secondary damage.

Gravity Blade: Fierce Tiger, when Saint Saint Saiwen unleashed his Flying Slash, had a similar effect to the thunder dragon following the slash wave and the electromagnetic storm mixed within.

However, the next second.

A deep shock flashed across Yisheng's face: his Gravity Blade, which had been invincible in past fights, had failed against Mihawk.

The opponent hadn't even used Armament Haki.

Mihawk was equally surprised; he had chosen to tank the hit just to even the gap caused by the other's blindness, but who could have expected the gravity wave to fail.

After a moment of thought, Mihawk removed his hat and took the flying bamboo dragonfly from his hair.

"Apologies, a little trinket from the captain."

He originally thought it was just a simple flying device; he never expected a small bamboo dragonfly to be an anti-gravity device, somewhat... beyond reason.

Even in a world like the Pirates, long-term flight remains an exclusive ability of only a few Devil Fruit users or special races.

Anti-gravity is even rarer.

This little gadget can not only fly, but is also the natural counter to users of the Heavy-Heavy Fruit.

Placing his hat and satchel on the beach, Mihawk drew the black blade Yoru from behind his back: "I am the First Mate of the Morning Star Pirates. I wish to invite you to join our crew."

A smile rippled across Yisheng's lips.

"To be valued by a swordsman like you is my honor. Unfortunately... I still owe the casino a billion in gambling debts."

Having witnessed too much evil, Yisheng blinded himself, unwilling to see those filthy and vulgar scoundrels, and wasted many years on Twin Shedao.

Yet a man possessing such sword intent was merely a First Mate; suddenly, Yisheng felt a strong desire to meet the captain... and wonder what sort of person he would be.

"Please."

"Please."

Clang~ Clang~ Clang~

The instant the two Supreme Grade Great Blades collided, a booming sound reverberated across the coast; the flying slash they unleashed spread outward in all directions, cleaving countless rocks and massive waves.

In the gap where the blades met, sparks flew as gravity and sword intent clashed against one another.

Moments later, both men exerted force simultaneously; the blades suddenly separated, and each stepped back several meters.

Master Tenghu's surrounding gravity field suddenly intensified; all the gravel floated upward, and with the motion of his sword swing, transformed into countless sharp blades that, along with the gravity waves, surged toward Mihawk.

Mihawk wielded the black blade Yoru, delivering a single flying slash that precisely shattered every attack.

The aftershocks of the flying slash colliding with gravity forcibly plowed furrows several meters wide into the ground.

In the distance, the onlooking gamblers' eyeballs seemed to pop out of their sockets.

"These two guys... are terrifying."

"I never thought... that fat bodyguard was actually this strong. I even beat him up a few times before."

"Then you're done for."

The gambler who had once relied on his own strength to beat up Yisheng turned deathly pale. "Brother, I'm going out to hide for a couple of days. Take care of your sister-in-law for me."

"Big brother, go in peace."

Boom~

An even more violent collision sound rang out; sword intent wove together into an invisible storm, causing large sections of the coastal reefs to shatter, while seawater flooded into the cracked furrows.

The instant the blades met, both sides felt the power contained within the other's blade—

Mihawk's blade was unstoppable, embodying ultimate speed and sharpness, hiding an absolute obsession with the strongest.

Yisheng's blade was steady and heavy, a fusion of gravity and conviction, carrying the firmness tempered by the passage of years.

The sea breeze blew softly, lifting the hems of their robes.

The sunset stretched their shadows very long; the massive waves on the sea gradually calmed, leaving only two upright figures on the shore and the sword intent that had not yet fully dissipated in the air.

Mihawk sheathed the black blade Yoru: "I will help you settle the gambling debt."

"Thank you." Yisheng's sword intent faded, and he once again assumed the appearance of a blind, fat bodyguard: "Please, Mr. Mihawk, do not harm them."

Hearing this, Mihawk paused for a few seconds, had to abandon the thought of destroying the casino, and took a Den Den Mushi from his satchel.

"Captain."

"Bring a billion Berries and come to Twin Shedao in the West Blue."