【Eagle Red】Lifetime

In the photo, the red-haired pirate who hadn't heard from him for two years still had a bright smile. A beam of sunlight that was neither strong nor weak caused a slight reflection of the lens, which perfectly blurred the three scars on his left eye, so the photo The profile looks even more perfect than his own.

The redhead was still wearing the simple white shirt and black cloak, and his right hand rested lightly on his head, as if he was habitually pressing a straw hat that didn't exist.

But none of this is the point.Mihawk clenched his fists tightly, allowing the fragments of the goblet to pierce deeper into his palm, his gaze fell on Shanks' cloak in a daze - the photo freezes the wind blowing his clothes at a certain moment, that The right half of the black cloak flutters and flutters, while the left half tightly fits on Shanks' body, clearly outlining the shocking half of his left arm.

Mihawk struggled to move his eyes to the text on the side. It was probably the most confusing reading in his life. He clearly knew every word in it, but he couldn't understand the meaning they expressed at all——Red Hair came back?The redhead... with a broken left arm?

In a trance, he handed his bloody right hand to his eyes. The pain shouldn't be so slight. Mihawk pressed his chest hard. He thought calmly, is it a dream?

……

In the next few days, the news that the armless red-haired Shanks returned to the great route spread throughout the ocean.People dug up their old memories and suddenly recalled the glorious achievements of this long-lost pirate.

That year, after his duel with Hawkeye, one of the king's seven martial arts, he set sail in the eyes of the world, left all the territory in the new world gracefully, left the great sailing route without hesitation, and sailed to The calm and peaceful East China Sea.

No one knew what happened to such a top young strong man. He was injured and disabled alone, but the other members of the red-haired pirates were safe and sound.In the photos of the red-haired pirates that have been transmitted one after another, those happy smiling faces undoubtedly show that the red-haired men have accepted the fact that their leader lost his left arm, which reflects Shanks' injury from the side. The time will not be too short, and all of this is suspicious and puzzling.

The sights of the military and the media coincidentally followed the route of the Red-haired pirates. In the process of the red-haired pirates going straight to the Chambord Islands, there were endless data integration to guessing and analysis-the red-haired captain was originally left-handed, so Losing his left hand also naturally means that his strength is greatly reduced.Thanks to the great pirate Whitebeard, the sphere of influence created by the Red Hair Pirates two years ago has not been encroached by other pirates.However, at this time, they are bound to become the most difficult thing for Shanks to return to the new world.

Will Whitebeard return the territory that still bears the flag of the Red Hair Pirates?Will the redhead, who is not as strong as before, take the initiative to regain the former territory?How will Shanks deal with the pirates who will inevitably step in and try to replace them?

The return of the red-haired pirates is like a whirlwind blowing across the calm water out of thin air, rolling up thousands of waves at once.

Mihawk let go of the stack of newspapers that coincided with each other as the front page, calmly drew the black knife on his back, and turned over a pirate ship that passed by him.The great swordsman turned his head slightly, and on the small island not far away, the skeleton flag with three scars was faintly fluttering.

He took off his feather hat, and drew a small card from it.The swordsman exerted a little force with his fingertips and squeezed the white paper that was moving in a certain direction.I don't know how long ago, he missed the moment when it burned and shrunk.Now this complete card undoubtedly shows the owner's good physical condition at the moment, but that hand... the one that used to rest on his body presumptuously, the one that gently interlocked his fingers, and that once held the Western sword firmly and powerfully... hand, but it is impossible to grow back like a life card.

Mihawk stretched out his index finger, gently pressed the center of his brow, and smoothed out the vertical lines that were about to frown.He stood up from his seat, silently raised the black sail of the boat, and headed towards the opposite direction of the life card.

The term "New World Four Emperors" first appeared in the Navy's official publication "Justice Weekly" on September 1513, 9 in the lunar calendar. It has been three years since Shanks returned to the Great Route.

Three years is neither long nor short. For a pirate captain who has reached the pinnacle of world power at the age of 30, there are obviously three years left for him to make great achievements in the future.

In the past few years, under the attention of the world, the Red Hair Pirates have gone from being in a difficult situation to rising again.From the beginning to the end, they never gave up the protection of any island with the flag of the Red-haired Pirates, and they never gave in. In the end, they took back all the spheres of influence that once belonged to them, and stood firmer and firmer than before. In a dangerous and changeable new world.In the eyes of the whole world, Shanks, who lacked an arm, used practical actions to prove to all those who paid attention to him that he and his partners were stronger than before.

This also includes an absolute strong man who is regarded as "the world's number one swordsman" by the entire Great Airline, but the man who has won such a reputation has never admitted this fact.

Mihawk is still floating in the new world full of powerful people. With a small piece of white paper, he perfectly avoids all the possibility of encountering the Reid, and also bypasses all those who belong to the Red Hair Sea. The sphere of influence of the bandit group.It has been a long time since he has encountered an opponent worthy of a serious duel, and he can only chop down those unfortunate pirate ships passing by boredly.

After the era of great pirates came, there were so many pirate groups who came to the new world to take risks and plunder.Mihawk doesn't think that his wielding a knife can help Shanks share a real powerful enemy.Besides, since Red Hair decided to come back to take on that responsibility, he has no position to intervene in the adventure he chose.

Until the "Justice Weekly" with the words "Four Emperors" printed in a text message was sent to Mihawk by the mail bird, he read all the contents of the newspaper, and naturally he didn't miss the one that was stuffed in the corner. , but still a significant message.

The well-deserved great swordsman dropped the newspaper in hand, took off his feather hat, raised his head and silently looked at the blue sky in the distance, and then gently took out the intact life card.

Three years... His silent sigh dissipated in his chest before he could speak.

When the boss of the red-haired pirates was unhappy because the wild monkeys on the resident island could not make wine, he saw the crew in charge of looking out nervously running over.Shanks smiled and handed the wine glass to the brother who had just joined the Pirates, beckoning him to relax and speak slowly.

"There is a, a small boat coming this way!" The pirate suppressed his shock, "That shape..."

Shanks raised his head abruptly, and heard the report from his partner in a sudden heartbeat: "It seems to be the legendary Qi Wuhai... the great swordsman Hawkeye!"

The red-haired captain immediately showed a big smile, and in a blink of an eye he forgot all his reverie and resentment about Monkey Wine.

When the long-lost tall figure came into Shanks' eyes against the sun, he sat on the boulder in a daze for a moment, and then broke out into a burst of loud laughter uncontrollably.

With a black knife on his back, Mihawk stood a few steps away from the red hair, under the watchful eyes of a group of familiar or unfamiliar pirates, looking expressionlessly at the one who was punching with his only hand. Knees down, out of breath laughing guy.

"Hawkeye, your...cough," Shanks stretched out his hand to touch his chest with a choked laugh, "It's fine if you want to grow a beard, how did you get this shape?! Isn't it too funny?!"

Mihawk just watched the exaggerated Shanks silently. As the other party's laughter gradually stopped, he suddenly thought that it had been eight years since he first met the redhead.The iconic old scar on Shanks' left eye has not changed, but the lines of his face are obviously much stronger than when they met, and his beard is no longer green and fluffy.

He moved his gaze down slightly, and saw Shanks stretched his right hand between the still large open collarbone, and skillfully tore off the black cloak that covered half of his body—the flesh and bones that stopped abruptly on the upper arm were wrapped in it. In the white sleeves, most of the empty sleeves were sloppily tied into an unattractive knot, which fell lightly there.

Shanks showed the mutilated left arm in front of his eyes without any concealment.

Mihawk couldn't control his gradually frowning brows, he stood there straight, and looked at Shanks' calm eyes with eyes that he didn't know the meaning of.

He couldn't describe the feeling in his heart, as if his whole body was being tightened by that soft sleeve, and an existence called fate held the two ends of the knot, exerting force slowly and firmly, his body The soul is torn in two.

Suddenly there was a self standing there, staring blankly at the person who lost an arm in front of him, the loss and sadness pierced into the bone marrow like icicles, and the pain pierced his heart; at the same time, there was another self, silently facing Looking at the half of the lost soul, he indifferently examined the red hair who was no longer enough to be called an opponent, without sadness or joy.

"Yo, Mr. the world's number one swordsman," Shanks finally gave up on exploring the emotions in those unpredictable eyes. The uninvited guest, "Are you finally willing to forgive me, an old friend who missed the appointment?"

"...No. [-] in the world?" Mihawk gently closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he was calm and cold. He raised his eyebrows and locked the red-haired sea with his sharp golden eyes. With a smirk on his face, "The opponent I couldn't defeat was severely injured in other battlefields. There are still such powerful masters in this world. How can I be qualified to be called the number one in the world?"

After a long silence, Shanks stood up slowly, took two easy steps, approached Mihawk, who was surrounded by low pressure, stretched out his only hand, and generously held the momentarily stiff Arm, showing a cheerful smile again: "Long time no see, let's have a drink together? I think you might be interested in hearing what I saw and heard when I was in Donghai."

Mihawk sat beside Shanks, silently watching Shanks raise his upper body to pour wine for him.Shanks took two wooden barrel wine glasses and placed them in front of them respectively. He picked up an unopened bottle of wine, pinched the neck of the bottle with four fingers, pressed and pried his thumb on the bottle mouth, and the bottle cap popped open. .He filled two glasses of wine without hesitation, and the whole set of movements was smooth and smooth, which was not inferior to the most proficient left-handed sword technique back then.

The long-lost smell of rum wafted in the air, and Mihawk lifted his own cup and took a swig happily.

Shanks smiled and raised his glass in response. Mihawk held down the hand of the other party who was about to put down the glass to refill the wine himself, and silently helped Shanks refill the glass.

The red-haired pirate laughed because of this subtle movement. He suddenly remembered the cave in a rainstorm one year. Hawkeye didn't want to disturb his sleeping self, so he did so many trivial tasks silently.It's been so many ages in a flash, it's been so long that that guy has grown such a ridiculous beard, but even though they haven't had any contact for several years, even if he is so irresponsible and unilaterally broke the duel agreement, Mi Hawke was still so meticulous and considerate.

Shanks took a deep breath, and secretly drove away more memories. He said with a happy smile: "After the duel that year, with your help, Red left the great route smoothly. Later we Came to a certain small village in the East China Sea..."

Mihawk quietly looked at Shanks, who was beaming with delight, and silently listened to the other party talking about the kid who loved to cry and was easy to lie—the kid who cut his cheek and vowed to become a pirate, and the kid who ate rubber by mistake After the fruit, he was still optimistic and cheerful and did not change his dream. That child was bullied because he wanted to protect the glory of the red-haired pirates...

When the swordsman refilled a glass of wine for the red-haired pirate beside him who was talking more and more happily, he heard Shanks talk about the accident at sea in a relaxed tone.

"Fortunately, I arrived in time," Shanks drank the wine in his glass, heaved a long sigh of relief, and smiled happily, "It's great that Luffy was not injured!"

Mihawk was still expressionless, he deliberately ignored the other party's gaze, and poured another glass of wine for Shanks without saying a word.However, this time, the hand holding the wine bottle was a little weak, and the violent pouring made the red-haired pirate's five fingers holding the glass wet with the splashed spirits.

"Probably that's what happened." Shanks paused for a long time, until the coldness of the alcohol on his fingertips was blown away by the wind, but he still didn't get any comments from Mihawk, and finally he had to take the initiative to ask, " Are you… going to be angry about this?"

"That's your own choice," Mihawk's voice was calm and indifferent, "I have no position to be angry."

Shanks took his eyes away from the still unfamiliar mustache, put down his wine glass, raised his head with a smile, and looked at the blue sky in the distance.

"Did you know, Hawkeye..." The red-haired pirate stretched out his only hand with a little reminiscence, and gently brushed his mutilated left arm, "I made a vow once."

Mihawk turned to look at him.

"No matter when, I will never let anyone hurt my friends and partners again." Shanks smiled, repeating in a low voice what he had said to the person in front of him, "I am facing my straw hat I promised it, and now I have finally kept this promise with my own strength, I am really happy."

"So, where is your hat?" Mihawk was also curious about this detail that had been analyzed by the media for a long time.

"Give it to Luffy." Shanks said with high spirits, "I think that kid can do it, and I believe that one day he will become an excellent pirate. Come here and return that hat to me with your own hands. !"

Mihawk raised his eyebrows, poured himself a glass of wine, and did not make any comments.

"I think you're still a bit of a disappointment." Shanks patted his old friend's shoulder sadly.

"I was just thinking," Mihawk took a deep look at the red-haired man who hadn't seen him for many years with his calm eyes, "Fortunately, you only know one such brat. If you add a few more, I'm afraid there will be no limbs left. gone."

Hawkeye still loves to tell bad jokes as always, Shanks smiled lightly and shook his head, "It's very rare to meet a child like that."

Mihawk didn't doubt Shanks' eyes, but he really couldn't imagine what kind of kid deserved such a high evaluation. His heart moved, and he asked, "...you are determined to come back, too. For that child?"

"That's not true." Shanks spread his right hand, "A person's mind will always change with knowledge, now that I think about it, it doesn't matter whether I have to see the oceans of this world or return to this new world. , all because I have been longing for the most beautiful sea, and I long for it to usher in a new era and become more beautiful."

"The longer I stay in the East China Sea, the more I understand my own thoughts - I always wanted to come back, but I was not so reconciled because of the loss of freedom in the past." "However, as you said, there is no need to be too entangled. The truth will be figured out sooner or later. It is my own decision to return to the new world. The battle here is exciting enough. I followed my will freely, I have chosen the adventure I am most yearning for, what is there to be unwilling about?"

Mihawk patiently listened to Shanks' long mental journey, was silent for a while, and finally raised his hand to drink the last sip of the remaining wine in the glass, "Boring. It's good that these principles can convince you, I'm not interested."

Shanks, who was already a little drunk, didn't take such vague accusations seriously. In any case, he still wanted to share his feelings with the other party, and this seemingly indifferent friend was still willing to sit down and listen to him carefully. Talk, that's fine.

Shanks smiled and watched his thoughtful friend refill his wine again, then stood up, put the huge black knife back on his back, and turned to leave.He scratched his head apologetically, raised his voice seriously, and said to Mihawk's back: "I'm sorry for losing an arm, but please wait a little longer, Hawkeye!"

Mihawk turned his head slightly in surprise, waiting for the next sentence.

"I have recovered well in the past few years, but I am afraid that I am not as good as you who have been improving for the time being." Shanks smiled confidently, "However, since I have not lost the reason to become stronger, I will definitely catch up again. Yours! At that time, let us be rivals again!"

Mihawk stood there silently, as if he was thinking about something. After a while, he pressed down the brim of his wide hat and walked away.

"I won't fight you without your left hand again." The swordsman's calm words reached the red-haired pirate's ears.

Shanks squeezed the wine glass tightly in his hand, he took a deep breath to make his voice sound a little more relaxed, "Then, come to the bar often!"

"I don't like drinking rum that much." Mihawk finally left a factual statement, and left the red-haired pirates' residence without any regrets.

Shanks silently watched the other party's back with blurred vision, and suddenly blamed Hawkeye for this visit - he always knew that Mihawk would come to ask him about his arm sooner or later, but he didn't Thinking of it, I had organized my speech for a long time in anxiety, but I never waited for the arrival of the other party.

In the blink of an eye, three years have passed, enough challenging adventures and new friends to make Shanks have gradually forgotten the little secret entanglements. He no longer often thinks of an old friend, but that guy does not. Came to the door to say hello.

It's better not to come, Shanks sighed silently, so that at least one or two points of expectation can be retained.

A certain dream many years ago suddenly appeared in Shanks' mind. He still remembered that he held a straw hat in his hand and watched Mihawk leave countless times in the dream. , he raised his empty right hand, and the disappearing straw hat reminded him that the scene in front of him was not the illusory illusion of reincarnation in the dream.The red-haired man lowered his head in a daze, looking at the glass of clear wine in front of him.He pulled the corners of his mouth and smiled lightly, raised his glass, and drank the last of the spirit in one gulp.

It turns out that so many little things are still clearly remembered in my heart... Shanks felt that he might have drunk too much, and he began to recall those memories of his youth irresistibly, the hazy sea, the deserted The peaceful island, the peaceful voyage; the dull Mihawk, the wholesome Mihawk, the considerate Mihawk...these images gradually faded with time, and finally attributed to the fading away in front of him. Mihawk, who has never been able to keep.

"Beckman..." The red-haired pirate hiccupped, and another old detail involuntarily flashed through his mind. He turned his head and showed a somewhat silly look at the deputy who had just sat next to him. smile.

"Tell me, how did the hedgehog eat the food on its back?"