Loguetown, town center.
The women chattered excitedly as they shopped, while Moya asked around for Ippon-Matsu's sword shop.
He soon found out where the shop was. Hopefully, Zoro and the others hadn't arrived yet.
Meanwhile, aboard the Straw Hat Pirates' Going Merry.
"Do you two even know how to navigate? You idiots!"
Sanji yelled at the Sword God Yosaku and the Sword Saint Johnny, baring his sharp teeth.
"I'm so hungry! I'm so hungry!"
Luffy was practically starving to death.
Could directionally challenged Zoro navigate? Obviously not.
Could Usopp, a cowardly liar who'd never left his island, navigate? Obviously, he couldn't either.
So the chef Sanji had no choice but to pin his hopes on Yosaku and Johnny, who'd been Pirate Hunters in the East Blue.
But who could've seen this coming?!
They'd gone in circles around the East Blue, and now they were behind the Moya Adventure Group.
And Luffy, the bottomless pit, had already eaten all their food.
"An island! I see an island!"
Usopp peered through his little goggles, which worked like binoculars.
Yosaku and Johnny hurried over to the railing, too.
"It's Loguetown! We're saved! But it looks like we're wanted now. Aaaah!"
Thanks to the Pirate Hunters' instincts of those two, the six of them really had taken down a few pirate crews. The Marines had thoroughly investigated the report that Luffy had defeated Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates, too.
But since they'd raised a pirate flag, the Marines had classified them as pirates. They couldn't turn in the pirates' heads for bounties anymore, either. Yosaku and Johnny wailed that they'd fallen into a huge trap.
Luffy's first bounty had reached two million Beli, the highest in the East Blue. It hadn't reached the original story's level, where he'd earned thirty million on his first bounty.
Since they'd taken down several weak pirate crews, the Marines had learned something about the crew's strength, and the rest of them had received bounties, too.
Zoro's bounty was fifteen million Beli, Sanji's was ten million, Yosaku and Johnny had eight million each, and even Usopp had a bounty of one million.
The whole crew was thrilled. Sanji's wanted poster even had a proper photograph instead of a sketch. What a happy occasion!
"Men, we're going to Loguetown!"
Luffy wasn't one to worry about danger. If there was food, he was charging in.
Inside Ippon-Matsu's weapon shop, Moya searched for Sandai Kitetsu among the swords in the cheapest barrel. Before long, he sensed its ominous aura.
He drew Sandai Kitetsu. Faint black patterns marked the blade. Were they the result of its previous owner tempering it with Haki?
"Hey, kid, don't touch that sword," Ippon-Matsu warned. "It's cursed."
"It's just a Sandai Kitetsu. How much?"
"You know about Kitetsu?"
"It's a cursed sword. They say it's the incarnation of an evil god, with power to rival the righteous sword, Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi.
"Legend says an evil sword spirit dwells within it and can corrupt a person's mind.
"Only a swordsman stronger than the spirit can wield it. Otherwise, it'll consume them, and they'll die a terrible death.
"But unfortunately, no one in the generations of Kitetsu wielders has been strong enough to control it."
"I was thinking of getting rid of it, anyway. Put it down. An ordinary person can't wield it."
"I said I want it. How much? And bring out your shop's prized Skillful Grade Sword, Yubashiri, too."
As Moya spoke, he raised Sandai Kitetsu and brought it down on his hand, which was clad in Armament Haki.
Sandai Kitetsu struck Moya's hand with a clear metallic clang.
Moya gripped Sandai Kitetsu with both hands. Armament Haki surged through his body, and black patterns spread across the sword.
"It's almost halfway tempered. Another half, and it'll become a true Black Blade."
He casually slashed at the test stone in the corner. It split in two. Terrifying.
"You've earned Sandai Kitetsu's recognition? No, you've forced it into submission. You're truly powerful, but sooner or later, it'll bring you trouble."
"Trouble? This Sandai Kitetsu is just a temporary sword. There's an evil sword of the Supreme Grade waiting for me down the road!"
"I never expected you to know where to find a Supreme Grade Sword. You can have Sandai Kitetsu, but you're bound to replace it eventually, so I don't want to sell you my beloved Yubashiri, sir."
"I'm not a Two-Sword Style swordsman. I'm buying it to do someone a favor—a young man who's earned the recognition of the World's Greatest Swordsman. How about it?"
"Then I'd be unreasonable to refuse you again. Five million Beli. I hope you'll find Yubashiri a good owner."
Seeing the profound look on Moya's face, Ippon-Matsu didn't refuse a second time.
That was right. Moya's seemingly faint aura had put him under pressure, and his heart was still trembling a little.
"Haha, Nami, pay him."
Moya laughed and walked out with the two swords in hand.
Tashigi had witnessed the whole thing as she passed by.
Nami reluctantly handed Ippon-Matsu five million Beli, then hurried after Moya.
"Whew... What a terrifying young man."
Ippon-Matsu let out a shaky breath.
"Captain, why are you giving that sword away as a favor? Couldn't you give it to Golass?" Buggy asked, confused.
"I want to achieve a certain result, and I need more bargaining chips. Hopefully, it'll come in handy."
He wasn't sure if he'd meet Dragon. By giving the sword to Zoro, he hoped to show Dragon how sincere he was.
He was also planning to use information or strategy to see if he could win Dragon over.
"Captain, Gin found out where Bartolomeo is in the west of town. He's already made contact. Should we head over now?"
Buggy hung up the Den Den Mushi, caught up to Moya, and reported.
"Good. Let's go right away!"
The women stopped shopping, too. Moya's business came first, so they hurried toward the west of town.
A little while later, as they passed a certain place, Moya suddenly stopped.
Roger's Execution Platform.
A landmark of the town where everything began and ended.
The faint pressure he sensed moved Moya deeply.
"What an incredible presence!!!"
"Is this the Breath of All Things? Roger's Conqueror's Haki and Observation Haki are still echoing after more than twenty years. Or is it the effect of people's faith?"
"The buildings around here seem to remember Roger. They're shouting his name. The moment I stepped into this place, my Conqueror's Haki began to tremble faintly."
Moya was truly astonished.
The ice path Aokiji had created to let Robin escape had lasted a week without melting;
the battle between Aokiji and Akainu had changed an island's climate with ice and lava. Two years had passed, and the effects hadn't weakened. They would continue to linger.
Yet Roger's Observation Haki, the Breath of All Things, and his Conqueror's Haki had not completely faded after more than twenty years. Were they all close to becoming gods?
At that moment, Moya was utterly shaken. Only someone with Conqueror's Haki could truly feel that kind of presence. Ordinary people felt nothing.
"Captain Moya, what's wrong?"
Buggy watched Moya stand there in a daze. When he saw the Execution Platform, he'd felt as if he might cry, overcome by a sudden sadness he couldn't explain.
Nami shook Moya by the shoulder.
"What's wrong, Moya?"
Moya didn't answer them. He slowly walked up the Execution Platform, one step at a time, all alone.
With every step he took, his presence changed.
The people below, along with passing tourists and locals, found themselves drawn to Moya's figure for no apparent reason.
It was as if they were waiting to witness the birth of something.
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