After donating two hundred million Belly to the Loguetown Marines, Bane received extremely favorable treatment from them in Loguetown.
Over the next few days, whenever Smoker had time, Bane would go to him for guidance on the difficult aspects of training Haki and Rokushiki.
To be fair, Smoker's later displays of strength might have been somewhat awkward, but he was still the disciple of a famous master. His theoretical knowledge was solid, and he helped Bane resolve quite a few problems.
However, Smoker's Haki training notes only recorded the basics of Haki cultivation. There was nothing at all about things like Ryuo or seeing the future.
Bane did not ask Smoker about those matters either. Whether Smoker simply did not know them or had some other reason, the fact that he had not provided them already carried its own meaning. There was no need to make things awkward for himself.
Figuring that Koushiro should have more advanced materials, Bane finally boarded a merchant vessel bound for Shimotsuki Village after lingering in Loguetown for several days.
At Loguetown's harbor, Smoker stood on the pier with a cigar clenched between his teeth, watching the merchant vessel carrying Bane gradually disappear into the distance.
Tashigi, who had come to see him off, asked curiously, "Mr. Smoker, what are you spacing out about?"
"Tashigi, do you think that guy will really join the Marines someday?" Smoker asked softly.
"I think so? He seems to like the Marines quite a bit. Why?" Tashigi asked after giving it some thought.
"I was thinking, if he joins the Marines, he'll definitely have a brighter future than me." Smoker suddenly laughed.
"Why? Because he's stronger than you?" Tashigi asked curiously.
"No..." Smoker opened his mouth, but in the end, he merely shook his head. "Figure it out yourself. Come on, it's time to head back."
Half a month later, a merchant vessel slowly docked at the small harbor of Shimotsuki Village.
Inside a cabin, a young waitress who should have been working in the dining hall knocked on the door before her.
Her eyes held both anticipation and regret, along with reluctance to part.
Before long, Bane opened the door, a white towel draped around his neck, his upper body bare and his breathing slightly heavy.
Clearly, Bane had been training before opening the door. Through the doorway, several stone training weights could be seen lying on the floor of his room.
"Meia, good afternoon. Is it lunchtime already? Thanks for coming to call me every day," Bane said with a cheerful smile as he greeted the young waitress.
Looking at Bane's muscular chest and abs, the sweat running down his body, and the scent spreading through the air, Meia could not help swallowing. To get the job of calling Bane to meals, she had nearly gotten into a fight with the other waitresses in the dining hall!
It was not merely because of Bane's powerful physique. It was also because he was generous, always leaving large tips.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Bane, but I didn't come to call you for lunch this time. We've arrived at your destination, Shimotsuki Village," Meia said quietly.
Bane froze for a moment, then smiled. "We've arrived already? Thinking about parting ways with all of you does make me a little reluctant."
Meia's eyes lit up at once, and she could not help saying, "The captain thinks very highly of you. If you're willing to join us as a guard—"
"I'm sorry, but I have other important matters to handle. I can't continue traveling with you," Bane said, shaking his head.
Soon, after bidding farewell to the ship, Bane stepped onto the harbor of Shimotsuki Village.
After asking around at the harbor, he quickly learned the location of Isshin Dojo. It was simply too famous in Shimotsuki Village.
It could be said that Koushiro's family was the largest landowner in all of Shimotsuki Village. Ninety percent of the village's residents relied on them for their livelihoods.
This could be seen from the village's name itself. It was called Shimotsuki Village, and Koushiro's family was the Shimotsuki Clan.
It was said that before their clan settled here, the village had apparently been called Shimotsuki Village.
Isshin Dojo was not located within the town, but outside the village. It was not particularly large either, and nothing about it suggested that its owner was the local biggest tycoon. It was remarkably simple.
Just as Bane was about to knock on the door and pay a visit to the owner of the place—
The dojo's door opened from within, and a Mosshead with three swords at his waist and an empty sake flask in hand stepped out.
Bane recognized him at a glance. Roronoa Zoro, the man determined to become the World's Greatest Swordsman!
Zoro also spotted Bane, this massive man, at once. He looked Bane up and down, interest appearing in his eyes as he immediately asked, "Who are you? Here to challenge the dojo?"
He could sense that Bane was strong, far stronger than his fellow disciples in the dojo. Perhaps he could make a good opponent. Ever since Kuina's accidental death, Zoro had not encountered an opponent he found satisfactory in a long time.
Even if all the fellow disciples in the dojo attacked together, they could not defeat him. His master never fought either, so Zoro had recently begun considering leaving this place and going out to sea in search of more interesting opponents.
In fact, Zoro had indeed gone to sea before Luffy. By the time Luffy set sail, Roronoa Zoro had already become a fairly well-known pirate hunter in the East Blue.
"No, I'm here to visit the owner of this place, Mr. Koushiro," Bane replied to Zoro with a smile.
Hearing that Bane was not here to cause trouble, Zoro immediately looked bored and casually said, "A friend of Master's? He's inside. I'll take you in."
Originally, he had been planning to go out and buy some sake. But now, he noticed that Bane was carrying several gifts, including a few bottles of liquor that looked quite expensive.
So Zoro figured that if he brought Bane inside himself, he might get to sneak a few drinks later.
After entering the dojo, Bane soon saw many swordsmen training. Some were practicing sword swings, while others were sparring with one another. When they noticed Bane, an unfamiliar face, they all cast curious and puzzled looks his way. But upon seeing Zoro leading him, they quickly stopped paying attention.
After crossing the courtyard, the two soon arrived before a reception room.
Bane could not help marveling inwardly. He hadn't expected this Mosshead not to get lost!?
What a shame. I was actually looking forward to it!
"This guest... uh..." Zoro turned back toward Bane, seeming to want to say something.
Bane helpfully said, "My name is Bane."
"Alright, Bane. Please wait here for a moment. I'll inform Master," Zoro said.
After only five or six minutes, Bane heard a set of footsteps approaching from outside.
Then Koushiro, wearing a pair of glasses and exuding a gentle, kindly air, entered together with Zoro.
Koushiro first studied Bane, then asked somewhat doubtfully, "Mr. Bane, have we met before?"
"No, this is our first meeting, Mr. Koushiro." Bane greeted him politely before getting straight to the point. "I've come to learn some skills from you and strengthen myself!"
Koushiro paused, then suddenly understood. "So you've come to take me as your master and learn martial arts?"
"You could say that." Bane nodded, then pushed the gifts he had prepared toward him. "I hope you will be willing to teach me."
Koushiro smiled. "There's no need to be so formal. As long as you wish to learn, I can teach you."
Clearly, he thought Bane was like everyone else who came here to learn Sword Arts from him.
After a brief pause, Koushiro continued, "The Sword Arts of our Isshin Style can be further divided into several different branches. Zoro, for example, is a Three Sword Style swordsman. I wonder whether you have any prior understanding of Sword Arts, and what skills you wish to learn?"
"Ahem. To be honest, Mr. Koushiro, my main purpose in coming here is to learn the power of Haki from you. Sword Arts are only secondary," Bane explained with a light cough.
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