"Hey, your tavern's famous now!" a regular exclaimed.
"Huh? How so?" Zhang Da Ye was already prepared.
"Word is you caught three bounty hunters the other day, all Devil Fruit users! Is it true?"
"Yeah… it happened. Everyone knows now?" Zhang Da Ye asked.
"Of course. Many on the island know. Never thought our daily drinking spot would be so formidable!"
When they dragged the three out from the illegal area, several people witnessed it, and even some Navy soldiers had relatives on the island. Gossip spread quickly.
It wasn't bad—knowing their reputation might scare off troublemakers.
Zhang Da Ye decided to play along: "It's troublesome… I wanted to blend in as an ordinary person, but since you all know, I might as well admit I'm actually a master…"
Others teased him:
"Eh? That's none of your doing; it's all Artoria's credit!"
"Exactly! We know, Da Ye is the weakest here!"
Tom chuckled and quickly covered his mouth.
Zhang Da Ye ruffled Tom's head, pretending to be angry:
"Mengmeng! Remember these people. When it's time to pay, charge double!"
"Understood, boss," Rui Meng Meng smiled, holding a tray.
"Nooo, boss!" The tavern erupted in screams.
---
The fame didn't change much; Zhang Da Ye just avoided going out alone, wary of sudden ambushes, though with magic, he could cut through steel.
Days passed quietly. Zhang Da Ye waited to see news of Crocodile's fall from the Warlord position—but nothing came.
Meanwhile, he gathered intel on shady areas, noting the locations and sizes of illicit shops and criminal strongholds, planning to clean them up later.
One day, something truly remarkable happened.
The sky was overcast, though not enough to rain. A coffin-shaped boat docked quietly. A man in a black top hat and coat, exuding elegance, strolled onto the Sabaody Archipelago.
Pedestrians either recognized him or stepped aside cautiously; a few bold ones scrutinized the rare figure.
The man paused outside a small tavern, then pushed the door open.
Zhang Da Ye had been telling customers about interesting news, just finishing a story about the Red-Haired Pirates clashing in the New World with crews under the Pirate King and emerging victorious.
Rumors suggested the Red-Haired Pirates tried docking on an island controlled by a subordinate of the Pirate King, demanding surrender—leading to a large-scale battle.
Some dismissed it as nonsense. Zhang Da Ye, however, knew it was plausible.
Just then, the tavern bell jingled.
The room went silent. The customers were shocked, some contorting their faces in surprise.
"That… no way?"
"No mistake—that eagle-like gaze…"
"Dracule Mihawk, world's greatest swordsman!"
"Why is a Warlord here?!"
Mihawk strode to the bar, scanning Zhang Da Ye, Rui Meng Meng, and Tom, finally resting his gaze on Artoria.
Artoria met his eyes, right hand poised, noting Mihawk hadn't drawn his sword.
Rui Meng Meng sensed tension and stood by Artoria, her sword within reach behind the bar.
Tom stared at the cross-shaped greatsword on Mihawk's back, or perhaps the gem on its hilt, deep in thought.
Zhang Da Ye hugged Tom for comfort, interrupting him: "Something to drink?"
Mihawk finally looked away: "Red wine."
"Coming right up." Zhang Da Ye relaxed—it wasn't a confrontation—and poured a glass in a stemmed cup.
Mihawk swirled the wine elegantly. Zhang Da Ye thought the pose oddly vampiric.
"May I ask why a Warlord comes to my small tavern?" Zhang Da Ye inquired, noting Mihawk's mature and stylish aura.
"I'm looking for someone," Mihawk replied.
Zhang Da Ye glanced at Artoria: "Who?"
Mihawk countered: "Don't you already know?"
"But… why? Our reputation shouldn't reach overseas yet," Zhang Da Ye speculated about potential threats.
Mihawk didn't seem like someone Crocodile or Biznis could manipulate.
"I heard there's a strong swordsman here," Mihawk's gaze briefly rested on Tom. His intuition sensed that beyond the three, even the pet cat might wield a sword—a fascinating tavern indeed.
"…Wait, are you talking about a red-haired, one-armed man?" Zhang Da Ye asked.
Mihawk nodded slightly.
The onlookers were stunned. The tavern owner conversed casually with a Warlord—and apparently knew Red-Haired Shanks! Their expressions seemed to say: We thought you were ordinary, yet you know so many big names!
"So you came all the way from the New World… for a spar?" Zhang Da Ye sighed.
"Just bored, killing time," Mihawk replied.
Yes, Zhang Da Ye finally realized: this was the Warlord who leisurely chased a weakling across the Grand Line from the New World to East Blue, yet never killed him—a truly idle man, perhaps the most relaxed on this sea.
*Trivia: Mihawk's ship has sails.*
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