Uchiha Puppet Master, Starting from One Piece.

Bai Yu walked over and hugged him.

Shanks' arm was strong, and he patted Shiraha's back hard, making a "thump thump" sound.

"You've grown taller, kid."

"It's been a long time since we last met."

"Yes, a lot has happened during this time."

Shanks released Shiraha, took a step back, looked him up and down, and then nodded in satisfaction: "Hmm, you've become more muscular, your face is more angular, and your eyes are fiercer. No wonder you've made a name for yourself."

Bai Yu smiled.

"Yes, yes, you're right."

Shanks laughed, then his gaze went over Shiraha's shoulder and landed on the others on the deck.

His gaze lingered on Rangiku for a moment, then a nostalgic expression appeared on his face.

"The last time we met, you were still drinking with me, but you were the one who passed out first."

Rangiku stood with her hands on her hips and her chin held high: "That's because I drank three cups first before competing with you!"

"A loss is a loss; making excuses is not a good look."

"I didn't make excuses!"

"Then will you compete with me again now?"

"Let's compete!"

Shanks laughed, then his gaze fell on Robin, his smile fading slightly, but it was still warm.

"Nicole Robin, I'll talk to you about the historical texts and Laugh Tale later."

Robin raised her eyebrows slightly, then bowed slightly, her tone polite and sincere: "Thank you."

Shanks waved his hand, indicating it was nothing to worry about, and then his gaze continued to move.

Violet stood half a step behind Bai Yu, her posture elegant and quiet, her eyes calmly fixed on Shanks. Shanks glanced at her, then his eyes lit up.

"And this is—"

“Violet, my partner.”

Bai Yu said.

Shanks nodded without asking any further questions, but his gaze lingered on Violet's eyes for a moment longer, as if he saw through something, but he said nothing.

Then Artoria came out of the cabin.

She had already changed her clothes, wearing a light blue dress, and her hair was down, draped over her shoulders, making it look like she was going to a dinner party.

Shanks glanced at Artoria, then turned to look at Shiraha.

"Why is your ship full of beautiful women?"

"..."

Bai Yu didn't know how to answer this question.

Shanks glanced at Artoria again, and then his expression changed.

The change was subtle, like a lazy cat suddenly turning into an alert wolf.

His gaze sharpened, his pupils contracted slightly, and the smile on his lips still lingered, but it had lost its warmth.

"this……"

Shanks' voice remained relaxed, but there was a hint of probing in his tone: "Doesn't seem like a pirate."

Artoria looked Shanks in the eyes, neither backing away nor flinching.

“My name is Artoria Pendragon.”

She gave her full name in a calm and solemn tone, like a knight announcing his name to his opponent on the battlefield.

Shanks remained silent for a second.

Then he laughed.

The warmth in that smile returned, even warmer than before.

“Pendragon…a good name.”

He said his tone was so sincere that it didn't seem like he was just being polite.

Then his gaze finally fell on the shadows at the cabin door.

Retsu Unohana had already wiped Kanna's mouth and was putting Kanna down from her arms, letting her stand on the deck by herself.

After Kanna regained her footing, she looked up and saw Shanks, then tilted her head and stared at him for a while.

"A red-haired uncle!"

"Kanna said."

Shanks paused for a moment, then crouched down to be at eye level with Kanna.

"Not an uncle, but a brother."

"But your beard—"

"This is fashion."

What is fashion?

"It's...it's something that looks really cool."

"But you look very old."

Shanks' smile froze on his face.

Chapter 193 The Banquet

When Hawkeye's ship approached, there was no sound.

The pitch-black coffin ship seemed to be pushed by the waves, silently brushing against the side of the red-haired man's ship without even the slightest collision.

The hulls were only a fist's width apart, and they were so stable that it seemed as if someone was holding them up with their hands.

Mihawk stood up from the boat.

His movements were very slow, as if he were doing something that required immense patience.

He walked from the bow to the ship's side, each step firm and steady. His black robe swayed slightly in the wind, and the Black Blade Night hung motionless on his back like a silent tombstone.

He stepped over the ship's railing and onto the deck of the red-haired vessel.

The sound of the boots hitting the wooden planks was so soft it was almost inaudible, but everyone on the deck heard it.

It was a very strange feeling.

It was like someone suddenly pressing the pause button at a noisy banquet; all the sounds disappeared, leaving only the sound of footsteps echoing in the air.

Shanks stopped halfway through raising his flask.

He turned his head, looked at Mihawk, and then smiled.

"Hey, Mihawk, you're here too."

Mihawk glanced at Shanks but said nothing.

His gaze shifted from Shanks, swept across the deck, and then settled once more on the woman.

Retsu Unohana has already stood up.

She stood behind Kanna, one hand gently placed on Kanna's head, her posture as casual as if she were sunbathing in her own yard.

She had a gentle smile on her face, her eyes slightly narrowed, looking like a tender mother watching her child play.

But her eyes were not on Kanna.

She was looking at Mihawk.

Their eyes met in the air.

There were no sparks, no murderous intent, and no violent reaction.

They simply looked at each other calmly.

Like two mirrors reflecting each other, the calmness was unsettling.

Bai Yu noticed this detail, but he didn't say anything.

He walked to the gunwale, looked down at the small black boat, and then turned to look at Mihawk.

"Hawkeye, want to come over for a drink? Shanks said he's still drinking today."

Mihawk withdrew his gaze from Retsu Unohana and fixed it on Shiraha's face.

His eyes were cold, as cold as the water of the deep sea, but that coldness was not hostile; rather, it was an innate, bone-deep arrogance.

"I don't drink cheap liquor."

"Don't worry, there's no way there'll be any bad wine on Red-Haired's ship. That man is picky about wine more than anything else."

Mihawk was silent for two seconds.

Then the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, so slightly that Bai Yu wouldn't have noticed it if he hadn't been observing closely.

That was laughter.

Hawkeye Mihawk smiled.

"Then let's have a drink."

Shanks' face lit up with a bright smile upon hearing this.

"Come, come, back to my ship! I'll have the finest wine brought out!"

After he finished speaking, he turned around and jumped back into his boat, his movements as swift and decisive as a cheetah hunting its prey.

Bai Yu watched his retreating figure and shook her head.

"This person is always in such a hurry."