"Huh?"

"Why isn't the Whitebeard Pirates making any moves?"

"Are they just letting us pass like that?"

Looking down from above at the patrol boat stopped on the sea nearby, Perona watched as Thatch and Teach on the boat let the warship sail toward the Moby Dick without interference, her eyes full of curiosity.

Are the Whitebeard Pirates this well-behaved now?

A Navy warship is approaching, and not a single person is stepping up to stop it?

'Indeed, Orion-sama is mighty and domineering—even the pirate crew of the World's Strongest Man must steer clear of his brilliance!'

Perona's curiosity quickly turned into pride, further solidifying her determination to become Orion's bride when she grows up.

Soon, the warship arrived in the waters where the Red Force was located.

The members of the Red-Haired Pirates watched from afar as the Navy warship approached, stepping forward cautiously as it drew near, their expressions turning grave as they focused on the figure standing on the deck.

When they recognized the person on the warship's deck as Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, the core members of the Red-Haired Pirates—led by Benn Beckman, Yasopp, and Lucky Roux—were caught completely off guard, their eyes widening in disbelief.

Without hesitation, Yasopp hoisted his sniper rifle onto his shoulder and leaped to the bow of their ship, waving toward the rapidly approaching warship.

"Mihawk, have you had a change of heart and come to challenge our captain to a duel? But this is Whitebeard's territory—you won't be able to fight without distractions here!"

"Silence!"

Mihawk raised his gaze slightly, his sharp eyes sweeping over Yasopp.

"Though I don't know what brings you to Whitebeard's domain, I have no time to waste on idle chatter with you. Moreover, allow me to reintroduce myself: I am now the Head Swordsmanship Instructor of the Navy Headquarters. As pirates, you'd do well not to act so familiar. Before long, we may cross blades—either you perish, or you meet your end!"

By now, the warship was only two to three hundred meters from the Moby Dick and had begun to slow down.

Perhaps out of consideration for Mihawk's past friendship with Shanks, or perhaps because the Navy soldiers on board deliberately allowed it, the warship slowed to the pace of a gently rowed boat during Mihawk's speech.

His words carried clearly to Yasopp's ears, stunning every member of the Red-Haired Pirates on the deck of the Red Force.

"????? Either we perish or we meet our end? Is there any difference?"

"What's going on? Is Mihawk really that arrogant now? He wasn't like this when he came to challenge our captain before!"

"Pfft—hahaha! Yasopp just got his friendly gesture thrown back in his face!"

"Go on, Yasopp! If Mihawk's talking like that, you can't just stand there without drawing your gun! Shoot him!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't act recklessly—this is Whitebeard's turf!"

"Head Swordsmanship Instructor of the Navy Headquarters? So even a powerhouse like Mihawk has chosen to serve the Navy?"

"How is that possible? Before becoming a Warlord, he was the Navy Hunter, someone the Navy despised. I bet he's not having an easy time at Navy Headquarters! Otherwise, why would he be sent out alone on a mission with a warship?"

"True. Out here on the Grand Line, he's the world-renowned greatest swordsman, but at Navy Headquarters, he's just another face in the crowd. Never mind his past as a Navy Hunter—the current Navy Headquarters is packed with elites. There's not much room for him to shine, hahaha!"

Most of the Red-Haired Pirates reveled in Yasopp's embarrassment, while only a few wore expressions of anger or hurled sarcastic remarks at Mihawk.

Ignoring the noise, Mihawk stood tall and straight at the bow.

As the warship passed by the Red Force, he resolutely turned his gaze toward the Moby Dick, now clearly visible to the naked eye in the distance.

As the warship approached the Moby Dick, Perona, Robin, Yamato, and the others on the deck could feel the overwhelming battle intent emanating from the pirate ships surrounding the legendary vessel.

They dared not let their guard down, focusing intently as if facing a formidable enemy.

Denjiro and Jinbei also adopted defensive stances, knowing they were about to meet Whitebeard, a living legend.

Denjiro even rested his right hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to react if any member of the Whitebeard Pirates suddenly attacked.

"Well, well, if it isn't Mihawk!"

Suddenly, a provocative voice rang out from the deck of a ship blocking their path.

"I never thought the lone wolf Hawkeye would one day become a Navy dog!"

As the taunting voice faded, the obstructing ship promptly turned aside to clear a path for the warship.

Then, a man clad in a cloak, wearing a dark blue top hat, and carrying two swords at his waist strode to the edge of the ship.

It was Vista, commander of the Fifth Division of the Whitebeard Pirates, also known as "Flower Sword."

As fellow master swordsmen, Vista and Mihawk had crossed blades several times.

Though Mihawk held the title of the world's greatest swordsman, Vista accepted it grudgingly and always sought an opportunity to settle the score definitively.

Now that Mihawk had come to their doorstep, Vista naturally didn't want to miss this chance.

Of course, he could only entertain the thought.

Their father, Whitebeard, had already ordered the warship to approach, and none dared to obstruct it recklessly.

The warship continued forward at a reduced speed without stopping.

After Vista's ship moved aside, the other vessels of the Whitebeard Pirates also turned, lining up in two rows along the sides of the passage.

Then, the Whitebeard Pirates on these ships crowded to the edges, their intense gazes fixed on the warship as it slowly advanced toward the Moby Dick.

An invisible pressure surged like a raging sea, causing Perona and the others on the deck to tense up.

Had any other pirate force mistakenly entered these waters, the sheer oppressive aura from the Whitebeard Pirates' fleet alone would have been enough to overwhelm them.

After all, these were the sons of Whitebeard, the man hailed as the world's strongest.

Having long followed him, their presence and deep-seated confidence were unmatched by any other pirate crew.

Of course, the Red-Haired Pirates under Shanks, another Emperor of the Sea, were the exception.

However, the intruders this time were not a pirate group but Mihawk and his companions, acting under the authority of Fleet Admiral Orion.

As the warship entered the passage leading to the Moby Dick and moved forward steadily, the Navy soldiers and officers on deck stood tall.

Facing the hostile stares from all directions, they showed no fear.

Instead, as they passed the pirate ships on either side, the soldiers ignited with unprecedented fighting spirit.

Several officers and soldiers even provocatively made a gesture of cutting their throats.