Chapter 541: The World's Strongest Strike
Nami blinked in surprise at the sight of Zoro standing in the doorway. Still, from her perspective, only a single day had passed since she last saw him. She was eating well, sleeping comfortably, and living a life of luxury here, so any tearful reunion was entirely off the table.
Perona, on the other hand, floated a few inches off the ground, her wide eyes scanning the warm, inviting interior of the restaurant. She took in the polished wood, the soft lighting, and the rich aroma of simmering broth. After a long moment of scrutiny, a bright smile broke across her face. "The environment here is a hundred times prettier than Hawk-Eyes' gloomy old castle!"
Ren smiled from behind the counter, wiping down the pristine surface with a towel. "Thank you for the compliment. So, what would the three of you like to eat today?"
Zoro opened his mouth to order, but a heavy, oppressive presence suddenly filled the room.
"I heard Roronoa mention that your strength is quite formidable," a deep, measured voice echoed from the doorway. Dracule Mihawk stepped into the light, his golden, hawk-like eyes fixed squarely on the shopkeeper. "I was unaware of this during my last visit, so..."
Ren let out a soft sigh, tossing the towel aside. "So you want to spar, right?"
Mihawk gave a single, slow nod.
"Alright," Ren said, his tone perfectly casual. "I'm actually quite curious to see just how strong the world's greatest swordsman really is. Just make sure you use your full strength."
Mihawk narrowed his piercing eyes, glancing around the dining area. "Here?"
"Don't worry. My shop won't suffer a scratch."
Accepting the terms, Mihawk reached over his shoulder, his fingers wrapping around the hilt of his massive black blade, Yoru.
At the surrounding tables, the atmosphere shifted from relaxed dining to eager anticipation. Yakumo Yukari leaned her chin on her hand, her eyes curving into amused crescents. Yakumo Ran and Reimu Hakurei completely abandoned their meals to watch. Ran absolutely adored this restaurant; not only was the food divine and reasonably priced, but there was a fascinating spectacle to witness almost every single day.
Reimu simply loved a good show. She could sense the spiritual signatures of both Ren and Mihawk—they were both entirely human. She was deeply curious to see what the absolute pinnacle of ordinary human combat looked like.
"Hey! Hawk-Eyes! You brute!" Perona shouted, crossing her arms and floating higher. "Show some manners in someone else's shop!"
Her outburst earned a few approving nods from the other patrons, including Nami, who had crossed paths with the ghost princess before. Mihawk merely cast a brief, sidelong glance at Perona before drawing Yoru completely. The massive, cross-shaped black blade gleamed with a cold, deadly luster under the tavern lights.
"What sharp eyes," Ran murmured, her fox ears twitching at the sheer killing intent radiating from the swordsman.
Reimu smirked, taking a sip of her tea. "How strong can a normal human really be... Wait, what?!"
Before the shrine maiden could even finish her sentence, Mihawk swung Yoru in a devastating, horizontal arc. A colossal, crescent-shaped wave of blue-green sword qi erupted from the blade, tearing through the air with a high-pitched shriek. The sheer pressure of the flying slash made Zoro's pupils shrink to pinpricks. The attack was absurdly heavy.
"Idiot Hawk-Eyes!" Perona screamed, covering her head. "That's too reckless!"
Ren barely spared the incoming wave of destruction a glance. He casually lifted his leg and kicked the center of the crescent.
With a sharp crack like shattering glass, the massive wave of sword qi disintegrated into harmless, glowing wisps of wind.
Mihawk's eyes widened a fraction. The cold detachment in his gaze vanished, instantly replaced by a burning, intense battle intent. He craved powerful opponents, and even if this shopkeeper wasn't a swordsman, the man was undeniably a monster.
Ren tilted his head, a faint, dry smile touching his lips. "Since you've taken your shot, it's my turn."
Mihawk braced himself. Ren stepped out from behind the counter and began to walk forward. His pace was slow, relaxed, as if he were strolling down a red carpet. Yet, with every step, the invisible pressure in the room multiplied. A bead of cold sweat rolled down Mihawk's temple. Every instinct honed over decades of lethal combat screamed at him to defend.
As Ren closed the distance, he vanished.
Mihawk's pupils constricted. He threw Yoru up in a desperate, two-handed block just as Ren materialized directly in front of him.
A foot slammed into the flat of the black blade. The impact sounded like a cannon firing indoors. Mihawk gritted his teeth as the kinetic force shattered his stance, sending him skidding violently backward across the floorboards. He finally dug his heels in to stop his momentum, clutching his chest and coughing twice to clear his bruised lungs.
Ren lowered his leg, his posture completely relaxed. "Your sword is of excellent quality. If you had blocked that with Zoro's blades, they would have shattered into iron dust."
Mihawk slowly stood up to his full height, rolling his aching shoulders. He sheathed Yoru with a heavy metallic click. "Your strength is indeed monstrous. I will return to challenge you again. It is a deep pity that you are not a swordsman."
"Swordsmanship? You guys can play around with that all you want. I'm not interested." Ren turned back toward the kitchen. "Now, what do you want to eat?"
Silence hung in the room for a brief second before Boa Hancock slammed her hands on her table, her cheeks flushed with absolute adoration. "As expected of my darling Ren! That Hawk-Eyes brute was no match for him at all! Ah, he's too strong!"
Nami exhaled a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "Wow. Shopkeeper Ren really is in a league of his own."
Zoro clenched his fists, a fierce grin spreading across his face. "Of course he is! Shopkeeper Ren is just another peak I have to surpass!"
Reimu, however, was clutching her head in sheer disbelief. "Are all the humans in your world that absurd?! That was totally outrageous! And Mr. Shopkeeper, were you always that strong?!"
Ren sighed, picking up his towel again. "It's nothing special. I guess it's barely enough for self-defense."
A collective, deadpan stare swept across the room.
'You call swatting away the world's greatest swordsman barely enough for self-defense?'Reimu thought, her eye twitching.'Just how dangerous is the outside world?!'
Perona twirled her parasol, her eyes sparkling. "The Shopkeeper is way too cool! Making Hawk-Eyes look like a total amateur!"
Ren paused, glancing around the dining room. "It's not just me. Everyone sitting in this room right now, with the exception of Nami and Zoro, could easily defeat Hawk-Eyes."
Mihawk raised a single, elegant eyebrow. Was he truly that outclassed here? But looking at the strange, otherworldly patrons—and considering the man who had just effortlessly overpowered him had said it—he found he couldn't argue. He accepted the reality in silence.
"So," Ren asked gently, shifting back to his role as a host. "What will you be having?"
Mihawk crossed his arms. "Anything is fine."
Zoro nodded in agreement. Instantly, both swordsmen turned their gazes to Perona, waiting for her to make the decision.
Perona blinked, pointing a gloved finger at herself. "Hey! You guys are dumping all the responsibility on me again!...But I kind of like being in charge! So, Shopkeeper! What do you have?"
"As long as I have the ingredients, I can make anything you desire."
Perona groaned, her shoulders slumping. That made it even harder. How was she supposed to know what to order when the menu was infinite? She tapped her chin, floating in a slow circle. "I don't know what I want either..."
"Then hotpot it is," Mihawk stated flatly. "Just bring us that."
Ren nodded. "You really do save me time. Please, take your seats. Oh, and Miss, can you handle spicy food?"
Perona tilted her head. "How spicy?"
"Very spicy."
"I can handle some heat, but not that much," Perona muttered, playing with a lock of her pink hair. "If I had to pick, I really like sweet and sour flavors..."
"Understood," Ren said smoothly. "In that case, I'll prepare a Yuanyang hotpot for your table. Do you prefer a clear broth or a tomato base for the non-spicy half?"
"Tomato!"
Ren smiled. "You really are a girl who loves sweet and sour. Please wait a moment. And what will you all be drinking?"
"A beer to start," Mihawk said, taking a seat at an empty booth. "Roronoa, you had best have a beer as well."
"Fine by me! Bring on the beer!" Zoro grinned, pulling out a chair.
Perona huffed, crossing her arms. "I want fresh juice!"
Zoro shot her a sideways, mocking glance. Perona caught the look instantly, her eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. The temperature around her dropped as a faint, ghostly chill began to manifest in the air. "What?! You got a problem with that?!"
"Per—" Zoro started to snap back, but he immediately clamped his mouth shut, a drop of sweat forming on his brow. Damn it, why did she have to have such a humiliating Devil Fruit ability? He wasn't about to risk getting hit by a Negative Hollow in front of everyone.
Satisfied with his silence, Perona gave a haughty snort and turned her nose up. Mihawk didn't say a word, simply resting his arms on the table and waiting for the food. Zoro, equally eager to avoid further conversation with the ghost girl, stared intently at the wooden grain of the table.
Perona looked around the bustling shop, admiring the decor once more, before she finally glanced down and realized both men were already seated and ignoring her.
"Hey!" she shrieked, stomping her foot in mid-air. "You two didn't even pull out a chair for me!"
[Akarin's Note: A Yuanyang Hotpot (Double-boiled hotpot) is a traditional Chinese hotpot served in a large metal basin divided directly down the middle by a curved barrier, resembling the Yin-Yang symbol. This allows diners to enjoy two completely different boiling broths at the same time—typically one side is a fiery, numbing Sichuan mala broth, while the other is a mild, soothing base like mushroom, clear bone broth, or tomato.]
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