Capítulo 65: Chapter 65
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Dak wavered for a long time between the paradise of the seas and the vast expanse of the four blues.
There were myriad factors to mull over.
For instance, the composition of power and the quality of clientele.
The wealthy in the Grand Line were undoubtedly numerous, with every sort of individual present due to the dark underworld thriving across the length of the Grand Line, the leaders of which conducted their illicit dealings here.
However, the client quality on the Grand Line was undeniably poor, as the area teemed with pirates, nobles, merchants, and slave traders in abundance, essentially a collection of scoundrels undeserving of Pokémon.
It was probable that the marines stationed near the new outlet would prevent pirates from entering the shop to acquire the power of Pokémon.
The primary clientele for the Mystery Hatchery House remained the overwhelmingly numerous civilians, followed by the navy and the revolutionary army, a fact that Dak had thoroughly considered.
And these individuals were primarily concentrated in the four blues.
But, the four blues were impoverished.
Forget about a Pokémon with a blue talent worth ten million Belly, even purchasing a green-talent Pokémon egg was a struggle, while civilians on the Grand Line could easily produce a million.
This was a significant consideration in Dak's decision-making process.
He deliberated over this with Bon Clay and Robin, even seeking insights from Newgate and Tsuru.
A decision was finally made.
Paradise, Water 7!
Indeed, it was the place where he had previously rendezvoused with Morgans, and also the place that thus far had shown the utmost reverence for the power of Pokémon.
Both the Whitebeard Pirates and the navy had recommended Water 7, convincing Dak with their reasons.
Water 7, situated along the central route of the Grand Line, was among the cities with the highest customer traffic in paradise, second only to the Sabaody Archipelago.
As Newgate had mentioned,
This locale was a hub for the world's freest shipwrights, in a world where one was essentially immobilized without a ship.
Hence, numerous individuals made their way to Water 7 monthly to commission ships, a key reason for the city's high traffic. The erstwhile Rocks Pirates, and the Roger Pirates as well, had ordered their vessels here.
As Tsuru put it,
The sea train connecting several islands was nearing completion, which would further boost Water 7's customer traffic.
Moreover, to the northeast of Water 7 lay the formidable Enies Lobby, causing dread among countless criminals. Due to this island, Water 7's law and order was exemplary. Virtually anyone visiting Water 7 would behave, not daring to stir trouble.
Setting up a Mystery Hatchery House there virtually eliminated worries about minor thieves causing disturbances.
But Dak also contemplated a point not raised by Tsuru.
Water 7's proximity to Marineford was relatively close, not as close as the Sabaody Archipelago, but the sea train journey via Enies Lobby was not slow. For the navy, this undoubtedly placed the Mystery Hatchery House under their watchful eyes.
Neither party mentioned the Bubble Island.
There, despite the significant customer flow and abundance of wealthy individuals, the prevalence of riffraff made it a no-go. Should a Celestial Dragon cause trouble one day, the navy wouldn't dare counteract.
Conducting business there was sheer folly.
Then, the views of Bon Clay and Robin further persuaded Dak.
The spectacle last week of Sceptile battling the god of water had been witnessed by too many in Water 7. For them, what had been akin to a calamity, "Aqua Laguna," being subdued by Pokémon, how could they not revere Pokémon?
Whether it was the civilians or the affluent shipwrights, they were now highly interested in Pokémon, with many eager to acquire one.
Given all these reasons,
Dak decided to open the first branch in Water 7.
And he immediately notified Mihawk.
Snap.
The shop door opened from outside.
Mihawk arrived at the Mystery Hatchery House at ten o'clock in the morning, as agreed, not a minute late.
However, before Dak and Mihawk could exchange greetings, Dak sensed something amiss.
For the moment Mihawk entered, his gaze locked with Sceptile's.
"Wait-"
*Whoosh!*
Just as Dak uttered a syllable,
Sceptile leaped from the tree, slashing towards Mihawk with its leaf blade, but ultimately stopping a meter from Mihawk's neck.
And Mihawk,
Even if his prowess was reduced to that of a Totodile, he drew a knife in defense in front of his chest, seemingly just blocking Sceptile's leaf blade.
Sceptile withdrew its arm, intrigue evident in its eyes.
"Interesting."
Mihawk, too, sheathed his knife, his lips curling up uncontrollably.
Had they not been fully aware of the Mystery Hatchery House's situation, a fierce battle would undoubtedly have ensued right then.
At this moment, Mihawk felt every cell in his body seeming to leap, the first time in years he had felt such elevated battle spirit.
The joy of discovering a stronger opponent was truly too pleasurable for him.
"Wait, let's find a place to fight later, we have business to handle first."
Dak hurriedly gestured with his hands, signaling the two combat enthusiasts to halt.
"Scept."
"Fight first."
However, Sceptile and Mihawk seemed too impatient to wait any longer. They must fight first, other matters could wait.
Dak, speechless, sighed, "Follow me."
At that moment, the Psyduck brought by Mihawk seemed to come to its senses, toddling beside Mihawk's leg.
Thus, under Dak's leadership, Mihawk and Sceptile arrived at a small uninhabited island.
This was the very spot where Dak had previously practiced his Conqueror's Haki.
"Hey, hey, why have you all followed?"
However, when Dak looked back, he discovered, not just Bon Clay and Robin, but all the Pokémon had followed them out.
This wasn't a playful fight; Dak worried whether the island could withstand it.
"This level of battle is certainly worth learning from."
Bon Clay's eyes shone; it was a level of combat he hadn't been exposed to before.
But now things were different; he aspired to grow stronger.
They couldn't always remain within the hatchery; conducting business outside required strength.
"I want to see as well."
Robin expressed a similar sentiment.
And the Pokémon incessantly acted cute and cuddly, simply wanting to stay.
"Darkrai, protect them."
Left with no alternative, Dak could only entrust them to Darkrai.
Most attacks, Darkrai's Dark Void should be able to absorb, ensuring the little ones' safety wasn't an issue.
Just right.
Letting the little ones witness the combat style of this sea might inspire them to become more ambitious.
Dak cautiously had everyone retreat to a distance of at least a hundred meters, then turned back to face the combatants, Sceptile and Mihawk.
Considering everyone's safety, Dak imposed certain restrictions.
"Listen well, both of you. Mihawk, no using moves like Flying Slashs, and Sceptile, no long-range attacks allowed. Just honestly spar within this small area, signal when a hit lands, avoid a fight to the death."
Dak stood like a referee in the middle, addressing them both.
Neither had objections.
Essentially, Dak was mainly limiting Sceptile's ability to fully exploit its combat prowess. Allowing Sceptile to utilize long-range attacks, he feared Mihawk would be too easily overpowered, which probably wasn't the 'duel of swordsmen' Mihawk wished for.
Instructions given,
Dak glanced at Sceptile, who also met his gaze.
Dak's eyes conveyed: Go easy if needed.
Sceptile understood: Defeat him thoroughly, become the goal he must pursue, let him feel the gap with the world's strongest.
Approximately right.
Once Dak retreated to the safe zone, the duel commenced.
Neither Mihawk nor Sceptile was the type to idle away in chatter.
Whoosh.
Standing a hundred meters away, onlookers could only catch a piercing sound as the two vanished from their spots.
They couldn't even discern the afterimages!
Only Darkrai keenly observed their duel, allowing Dak to catch a glimpse of the action.
When they reappeared, merely half a meter separated them.
Clang!
Blade met blade.
Mihawk's black sword radiated a dark, chilly hue, while Sceptile's leaf blade glimmered with a vibrant green brilliance.
This equilibrium lasted barely a second before Mihawk, unable to resist, slid backward, his boots carving deep furrows in the earth, Dak noting Mihawk's arms quivering.
Was Sceptile's strength overwhelming?
Dak speculated the cause. The present Mihawk was far from his peak nine years later. Even with Sceptile's power curtailed, he wasn't a match for a 'fully-leveled' opponent.
"Such formidable strength."
So, I still have such a vast journey ahead.
Mihawk, observing the nearby green blade, deeply embedded it into his memory.
He felt not a hint of discouragement; on the contrary, his excitement surged, his face brimming with joy.
Withdrawing his sword and slashing again, easily intercepted by Sceptile.
Double Slash, Slash, Cross Cut, Leaf Blade, Pursuit, Iron Tail, Slash...
Sceptile spared no effort in battle, utilizing even its tail as a 'third blade.'
Mihawk found himself relentlessly driven back, unable to even initiate an attack, merely managing to fend off attacks.
Dak witnessed this scene, reminiscent of Mihawk's duel with Zoro at the Baratie in the original story.
Zoro launched a frenzied assault on Mihawk like a tempest.
However, then, Mihawk defended effortlessly, utterly disregarding Zoro, whereas now, the tables were turned.
Any slight oversight by Mihawk could spell defeat.
This was a clash with a vast disparity in strength.
Had Sceptile employed moves like Quick Attack, Double Team, Sand Attack, Dig, Swords Dance, Mihawk might not have lasted minutes.
Mihawk.
To claim the title of the world's greatest swordsman, he still had a considerable gap to bridge.
(End of Chapter)
Capítulo 66: Chapter 66
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Under Sceptile's fierce and swift attacks, Mihawk soon struggled to keep up.
The tremendous force transmitted through the sword continuously reverberated through his arms, causing damage and strain, gradually sapping his strength.
At one moment,
His sword was swept away by a tail swipe from Sceptile.
And Sceptile's leaf blade also slashed towards Mihawk's chest.
Swish.
The bright green leaf blade neatly sliced a large cut across Mihawk's chest, even as Sceptile had held back its strength.
"Scept?"
Why didn't you dodge?
Sceptile's gaze remained sharp, like a cold, killing machine.
And at that moment, Mihawk also understood what Sceptile was saying. He didn't know why he could understand Pokémon's language at this moment, when he couldn't even understand Psyduck's "quack".
"Well, I don't know either."
"If I were to take a step back here."
"Then all the persistence and effort up till now would be destroyed."
Mihawk stood firm, his pupils trembling slightly, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
This was the first time Dak saw Mihawk in such a dire state, even in the original story, he had never seen this man defeated.
"Scept."
So, this is defeat.
"Is that so. In that case, I cannot back down even more."
"Scept?"
Even in death?
"Then I'd rather die."
Mihawk stepped back, picked up his sword from the ground, and swung it at Sceptile again with both hands.
Sceptile also raised its arm, transforming into a green streak of light, sweeping from in front of Mihawk to behind him.
Swish.
In an instant, another shallow scar appeared on Mihawk's abdomen.
Sceptile had kept Dak's "point to stop" in mind very well.
It wasn't over yet.
Sceptile turned around to approach Mihawk again, planning to deliver the 'fatal blow' to end the fight.
Mihawk withdrew his sword to his back, turned around to face Sceptile, and spread his arms wide.
"Scept?"
What are you doing?
Sceptile's eyes widened, its sternness dissipating somewhat, obviously shocked by Mihawk's actions.
"A scar on the back is a swordsman's shame!"
Mihawk's face broke into a wild smile, blood dripping from his mouth.
"Scept!"
That's the spirit!
Sceptile grinned, fully acknowledging Mihawk in that moment, and the final leaf blade was released.
"Quack, quack!"
At the crucial moment, Psyduck's anxious voice sounded.
The dazed little guy had only now reacted, clumsily running over with its head in its hands, seemingly trying to stop Sceptile.
Psyduck's intervention also made Sceptile halt its next attack.
"Sceptile, that's enough, there's no need to continue."
At this time, Dak also came to his senses, declaring the end of the battle.
He had been stunned.
What, role reversal?
You're Roronoa Mihawk, and he's Dracule Sceptile, right?
Mihawk collapsed backwards, lying on the ground and gasping for breath, his eyes slightly unfocused.
Until a duck's head entered his field of vision did he gather a bit more focus.
No choice.
Psyduck got too close, poking its bill into Mihawk's face.
But if it didn't get this close, its short arms couldn't reach Mihawk, making Psyduck anxious. Tears had already started forming in Psyduck's large eyes.
"."
Are you crying for me? That's a first.
Mihawk didn't speak, just let Psyduck hug his head.
For the first time, he clearly felt emotions like 'care' and 'worry', coming from a little duckling that usually seemed to do nothing but hold its head in confusion.
When Dak approached and saw the wounds on Mihawk, he shook his head helplessly.
Mihawk in this state obviously didn't need to protect them; they might even need to protect him.
The plan to have Mihawk accompany them to Water 7 was scrapped.
"Sorry, Dak."
Mihawk also realized this and sincerely apologized to Dak.
Failure didn't trouble Mihawk much; instead, it became a motivation for him to move forward.
He was quite frank about it.
Dak shook his head and then said, "Don't worry, just rest up. If you feel sorry, remember to spend more at my shop next time."
Dak planned to let Mihawk continue to guard them while taking the kids out for fun.
Because-
[Main Quest: Breeding Lesson 5 - Taking Care of Kids, Completed]
[Reward: Pocket Token Upgrade—Added Saving Function (Belly can be stored in the pocket token, with expenses directly deducted from the token)]
Dak turned to look at the Pokémon.
The little ones, with their eyes shining, were incredibly excited after witnessing the scene, completely enamored with Sceptile.
Since they were at a quest location, the main quest was successfully completed, and there was no need to have Mihawk accompany them anymore. It might be better to coax him into spending more at the shop.
"No problem."
Mihawk agreed without hesitation.
To him, this was hardly an inconvenience; even for Psyduck's sake, he would frequent the Mystery Hatchery House.
He didn't realize how important Psyduck had become to him; it's just that this man wouldn't express it openly.
"Sceptile."
Keep getting stronger.
After leaving these words, Sceptile turned and left, looking very cool.
But Dak thought, where could you possibly go?
In the end, it was Bon Clay who took Mihawk back to his place.
These injuries weren't too severe for Mihawk; a period of rest would suffice for recovery, while Dak returned to the shop with the others.
The little ones were now extremely excited.
Scraggy and Poochyena were even imitating the scene of the battle between Mihawk and Sceptile.
Scraggy spread his arms wide, mumbling, and then Poochyena bit into a stick and poked forward.
'These kids...'
Dak shook his head, withdrawing his gaze.
[Quest System]
A new main quest has been issued.
[Main Quest: Breeding Lesson 6 - Growth]
[Objective: As a breeder, only when a Pokémon truly grows can you demonstrate your success. Please ensure at least one Pokémon truly grows.]
[Reward: Pokémon Pokédex (Mechanical) Fabricator]
The quest was somewhat abstract, leaving Dak puzzled for a moment.
How exactly is growth defined? For Pokémon, what constitutes growth?
Physical development counts as growth, as does learning lessons.
The timing for the reward was impeccable.
It's a mechanical version of the Pokémon Pokédex, like the one Ash carries, not the book-style Pokédex Dak showed to Robin.
With the navy planning to buy Pokémon eggs in bulk, there's no need to confirm with Dak what Pokémon hatched; they can directly use the Pokédex for identification and get a brief introduction.
As for how much to sell the Pokédex for, that would depend on the cost price to be determined later.
Marking it up five or ten times isn't too excessive, right?
There should also be a scarcity marketing strategy, limited sales, and a VIP membership system.
Of course, Dak decided to put these ideas on hold for now, focusing on more pressing matters.
That being, Sceptile was injured.
Not exactly injured, but a notch appeared on its leaf blade, likely from clashing with Mihawk's sword.
Sceptile hasn't mastered Armament Haki, and with Mihawk's sword being one of the supreme grade swords, close to becoming a black blade, it's not too surprising the leaf blade was damaged.
"Let's go."
Dak led Sceptile to the lab, making it the first to experience the recovery device.
The effect was good.
Sceptile's leaf blade quickly returned to its original condition, sparking curiosity in Sceptile.
Previously, injuries were healed by eating certain special berries or waiting for natural healing, but now they could recover instantly.
Doesn't that mean...
He can fight endlessly without any concerns?
Such thoughts crossed Sceptile's mind, sparking a gleam in its eyes.
However, Dak didn't notice what Sceptile was thinking.
He was already considering what to do next.
Although a new main quest had appeared, the priority was to get the Water 7 branch up and running, which was a hassle.
"Bon Clay."
"Hm?"
"Go to Water 7 and buy a shop in the outer city, near the north shore. No, wait."
Dak suddenly paused while assigning tasks to Bon Clay.
Opening a shop on the commercial street didn't seem like a good choice because it was too inconspicuous. It might be better to do something unique.
"What's up?"
"Find some shipwrights in Water 7, not for building ships, but to help us construct a shop on the north shore. Right, go to the scrapyard and find a fish-man named Tom to take on this job."
Dak thought it over and rearranged his plans.
Building a house could be done by anyone; it wasn't necessary to seek out Tom, the world's number one shipwright.
Dak had plans for Tom, intending to recruit him to the Mystery Hatchery House for future development projects.
Even if not Tom, Franky and Iceburg could also work, having been with Tom for so long they surely had experience. However, they were too young now, with limited skills, and Dak wasn't willing to wait ten years.
Having Tom build the storefront was just a gimmick to start this relationship.
"Tom, the fat guy building the sea train? He's swamped right now, how could he take on this job?"
Bon Clay wasn't just idly standing by.
In his free time, he and Robin would leave the shop to gather information to help Dak analyze the situation in the sea and keep an eye on major events.
The sea train project had been in the newspapers, so Bon Clay was naturally aware of it.
"That's true."
Dak frowned, stroking his chin.
Tom was once taken to court under the pretext of 'building a ship for the Pirate King', eventually sentenced to 'offsetting his crimes with the completion of the sea train'.
Isn't that just nonsense?
Doesn't the World Government know about Rayleigh in Sabaody? Or Crocus in Twin Cape?
They ignore the Pirate King's crew members there, but arrest a shipbuilder? It's nothing but bullying the weak.
As the sea train's completion neared, the World Government's true intention was revealed—the blueprint for the "Pluton".
They aimed to mass-produce that ship, gaining the power to utterly dominate the world.
As for Tom, he might be spared if he handed over the blueprint, because the World Government didn't care about his life. Releasing him wouldn't matter since the verdict had been publicly announced. Killing Tom would be a slap in their own face, requiring another excuse.
But Tom was destined not to hand it over.
He was a kind-hearted man.
When Water 7 faced rising water levels due to Aqua Laguna, inconveniences between islands, shipyards fighting over customers leading to deaths, and residents slowly dying, he was the only one to stand up.
A fish-man.
To save an island, to save a group of humans, to make trade between islands on the Grand Line more convenient, to improve people's lives.
If the folks in Fish-Man Island knew about this, Tom would be branded and possibly targeted by extremists seeking to kill him.
Such was Tom, which is why he wouldn't allow a power that posed a significant threat to the world to reemerge. The Pluton blueprint, a heritage passed down by his ancestors, couldn't be easily given away.
But Tom didn't know this, or rather, the somewhat naïve fish-man hadn't yet guessed the World Government's true intentions. He was still dedicated to building the sea train.
Even if not for his own life, but to prevent the residents of Water 7 from worrying about drowning.
Tom was fully committed to the sea train project, with no time for other jobs. How could he help Dak build a breeding house?
They had to approach others to convince Tom.
Franky, too impulsive, wouldn't work.
Iceburg, now he was a possibility.
(End of Chapter)
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