25 The Festival Starts I

"This is your den den mushi, We will stay in contact at all times in case anything arises or we get the signal but we expect the event to take place before the festival of stars starts" Shanks handed a common den den mushi to Mihawk as she said she'd be walking around the city and 'patrolling' with Dark Mantle. In truth, she had other plans.

"The festival is in two days. We'll just wait until then. Come, we have things to do".

"Uhm?"

Just like that Veyron was pulled into what could only be called the nightmare of men. Shopping.

...

"This isn't quite how I recalled it".

Dark Mantle had it more difficult than the average men, he didn't have the privilege to carry clothes for tens of hours straight. At least three giant barrels of wine floated around him, leaving the rest of the customers awed while the boy was visually anxious within his dark cloak.

Mihawk was walking along the passages of a luxurious wine shop in the 45th Grove, followed by her irritated son who had been tasked to carry everything as a punishment for his disobedience.

"Your power is quite convenient, son".

"It is not supposed to be used like this!" The boy cried in authentic tears, hours that could have been spent on anything more productive... were spent choosing a wine that he wasn't even going to drink, all of this was just to replenish Mihawk's stash.

"With great power comes great responsibility, so hurry up and take these three barrels, you disobedient brat. Be thankful I'm not giving you a physical punishment".

"Yes, mom"

There was no other choice, Veyron looked at how his mother chose at least twenty barrels for personal consumption and purchased another two hundred to be left in storage for him to pick up later after the operation was finished.

It didn't matter... whenever the boy saw that swaying butt, he knew that he was bound to make his move soon.

...

She took him through many shops for the last day and they eventually stayed in a hotel since all of Shanks' crew was staying at Rayleigh and Shakky's place.

One of those shops was a clothing shop where she personality picked some items for him.

"You have grown up and can't be wearing those raws anymore..."

He happily hugged the garments she took for him which much resembled the shirts trousers and boots she was using albeit shorter in size, Aside from that there was also plenty of comfortable wear. After that, she took him to the newspaper agency where she subscribed Rusukaina for the news coo to start delivering newspapers as they did in Kuraigana. It was a whole day filled with diligence. He managed to see another facette of her when dealing with people in common terms, she was polite yet haughty... it didn't help that everyone she interacted with knew who she was and they were instinctively afraid.

And yet she didn't use that to step over their bodies but negotiated with them as equals.

When they reached the hotel room, most of the space was taken by the stuff she bought.

"Once everything finishes here, I want you to pick up all the wine from the storage and fly to Rusukaina with it" She removed her coat and placed it away, Veyron removed his cloak and put Youbi in the same place where Yoru was.

The room was big and refurbished with colourful reds and pinks. The usage intended for it was very clear, Mihawk didn't seem to notice but Veyron was fidgeting.

"You're not coming back with me?" He asked her, wondering if this mission wasn't the reason she was leaving in the first place.

"I promised Shanks I would sail with him. We're in search of a treasure that's more than likely highly guarded, although I don't understand why. It is a devil fruit called the gomu gomu no mi".

!!!

Myriad thoughts flashed across his mind, 'Luffy's fruit? but why would they be looking expressively for it...? and why would it be heavily guarded? it is just an average paramecia'.

"Why are you telling me this?" He asked her, it was the most she had shared about her objectives so far.

She turned around and brushed her hair, sitting on the bed and taking out a bottle of wine she had just bought, "Why wouldn't I tell you? You're my son and I trust you".

Mihawk closed her eyes and started to drink while Veyron sat in the corner, too awkward to say anything else.

"Kizaru is a light light man, his devil fruit is extremely powerful but don't let that fool you. His haki is also strong. His teacher is the navy admiral Zephyr... while you're fighting him, fight with everything you have got, Veyron. Don't underestimate your enemy".

He nodded, indicating her to continue.

"Momonga is a vice admiral who has been in the spot for a long time, he hasn't been appointed as a candidate for admiral but that doesn't make him any weaker, he's a remarkable swordsman and a powerful rokushiki user. Likewise, as you're facing him, use everything you've got".

"You taught me to not use all my strength to hunt a rabbit" He didn't hold Momonga in any regard, at least he wasn't someone that could be compared to the likes of Kizaru.

"That only counts if you know how to distinguish a rabbit from a lion" She smirked and took a sip from the bottle, indicating him to sit next to her on the bed, he did so... it was very comfortable and soft.

"The other vice admiral is unknown but know this... if they're either Garp the fist or Tsuru... just fly away, don't bother trying to fight them".

"Tsuru?" Although he wanted to pretend not to know the old woman, he was struck to know that Mihawk held her in high regard, little was known of the old woman except that she belonged to the same generation as Roger, Garp and some other legends.

"That woman may be old, but her power is frightening... although she can be defeated, she can render her foes helpless before they even know what happened. Avoid her and Monkey D. Garp at all costs. Aside from them, you should also be wary of Aokiji Kuzan and Akainu Sakazuki".