A True Sense of Direction

"Swing!"

"Chop!"

"Slash!"

"Thrust!"

"Again!"

Andrew's commands and the disciples' shouts echoed from inside the dojo.

Most of the disciples had been sent here from nearby villages. Their parents all hoped their sons would make something of themselves, wishing for them to learn useful skills so that when they grew up and had the chance to join the Marines, they could rise through the ranks faster than others.

Of course, the most important reason was that One-Heart Dojo's tuition was cheap—only ten thousand Beli a year—so everyone was happy to leave their children here.

Duen sat in the outer corridor, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight on his body.

Unlike the others, his mediocre talent had limited his growth. He spent less and less time practicing swordsmanship and simply began serving as half of One-Heart Dojo's logistics staff.

Koushirou had suggested long ago that Duen venture outside when he had the chance. Perhaps he might comprehend a more profound sword intent.

But Duen had firmly refused. He did not think this world was particularly safe. Rather than chase after some elusive sword intent, he preferred to stay by Koushirou's side and live out this life in peace.

Koushirou never tried to persuade him again. He had begun to understand Duen's thoughts. Not everyone was talented, and even if they were... some still could not overcome the barrier of gender and reach the summit.

For someone like Duen, who worked hard but lacked talent in swordsmanship, giving up early was actually a good thing.

"Huff..."

Soft panting came from outside the courtyard as Roronoa Zoro dragged in a black-skinned wild boar twice his size.

"It's Senior Brother Zoro!"

"Senior Brother Zoro is back!"

Having received Andrew's permission to take a short break, the disciples lay sprawled or crouched on the ground, looking at Zoro by the entrance with envy in their eyes.

Zoro was several years older than them. He had already moved beyond basic sword swings and entered the stage of practical combat—fighting wild beasts in the forest.

The disciples envied him immensely. They had also fantasized about when they would be capable of hunting in the forest. If they sold their prey in town, they could not only earn plenty of pocket money but also ease their families' financial burdens.

But... a wild boar that large could probably break every bone in their bodies with a single charge. Envy was envy, but they did not have that kind of courage yet.

"Huh? Why did Senior Brother Zoro come back so early today?"

One disciple suddenly shouted.

Hearing that, everyone immediately realized it too and began whispering among themselves. Didn't Senior Brother Zoro usually leave early to hunt and return at dusk, or even close to midnight? It was not even noon yet... so why was he back already?

Zoro slowly walked in while dragging the boar's corpse. He did not answer, nor did he even raise his eyes, as if deliberately avoiding the subject. But Duen spoke up. "He left yesterday morning."

"Shut up, Duen!"

With the truth exposed, Zoro shouted furiously, his face darkening.

Negative Emotion Points from Roronoa Zoro: +88...

Duen's eyes lit up slightly. He did not quite understand how much eighty-eight Emotion Points were, but if Dick's Negative Emotion Points were the reference, Zoro's anger should not have been three times greater than Dick's, right?

Duen said nothing more, but the other junior disciples covered their mouths and snickered. So that was it—they had thought Senior Brother Zoro had returned so early... but he had gotten lost for an entire night.

"You're back."

Koushirou sat in the outer corridor, looking at Zoro and the prey he had brought back. He could sense that Zoro's strength had improved significantly, even faster than before. Was the boy's potential finally about to erupt?

"Mm."

Zoro nodded at Koushirou without any extra words.

"Everyone, get back inside and continue training!"

Andrew's voice came from within the dojo. The disciples stopped looking at Zoro and hurried back inside amid rustling footsteps.

Zoro dragged the boar into the cold storage room in the back courtyard, then returned to the front courtyard to continue his training.

"Zoro," Duen said, "let's play a game."

"A game?" Zoro put down his sword. A flicker of confusion crossed his eyes before a confident smile rose at the corner of his mouth. "Let's hear it."

He did not know what kind of game Duen wanted to play, but after living together for so many years and knowing each other so well, he figured it should be interesting. Besides, if he refused, he would be looked down on...

Duen casually picked up a branch from the ground and drew a circle roughly three meters wide in the dirt, then continued sketching out complicated lines.

"What is this?" Zoro could not help leaning closer.

"A maze." Duen tossed aside the branch and pushed Zoro into the center of the circle. "Try to see if you can get out."

"Are you messing with me?" The corner of Zoro's mouth twitched.

"Try it." Duen's smile was exceptionally kind.

"Hmph."

Zoro still began studying the simple route on the ground and sneered. "Even an idiot could get out of such a boring maze."

Half an hour later...

Duen smiled cheerfully yet politely as he looked at Zoro standing in the circle in utter disarray.

Negative Emotion Points from Roronoa Zoro: +1, +4, +4, +1...

He was practically a humanoid cash machine! Duen could barely hold back his smile.

"Tch!"

Zoro made a disdainful sound, took a large step, and finally crossed the lines drawn on the ground, leaving the circle. He sneered in an extremely contemptuous tone, "This is simply a waste of my time. I actually played such a boring game with you..."

"HAHAHAHA!"

Duen could no longer hold it in and burst out laughing.

The cheerful sound was especially grating in the air.

Negative Emotion Points from Roronoa Zoro: +6...

Zoro's face darkened, and his forehead was shrouded in deep gloom.

He felt that he would never forget the humiliation of being trapped by a few lines today. Especially Duen's laughter—he would probably remember it for the rest of his life.

Although he had no talent for swordsmanship, Duen still habitually repeated the most basic sword-swinging movements in the courtyard.

By evening, aside from a few disciples who boarded there, everyone else gradually went home.

After dinner, Duen provoked Zoro a little more before returning to his room to quietly think things over.

He could clearly feel that Zoro's Negative Emotion Points differed greatly from those of ordinary people. Zoro could casually provide over a hundred points, while someone like Fat Dick only provided a little over a hundred points even at most.

Duen came to a preliminary conclusion: the main characters in the world of One Piece should be able to provide far more Negative Emotion Points than ordinary people.

In other words, under the same emotions, the more influence someone had on the World Will, the more Negative Emotion Points they would contribute.

Then, he entered the main interface and tapped into [Lottery Center]. The button beside the roulette wheel had turned red, with several lines of clear, bold text written on it.

Lottery: Spend 200 Negative Emotion Points for one draw.

Note: Press this brand-new switch, and you'll fall in love with this roulette wheel just like I did.

Balance: 1605

Could he draw eight times?

Duen thought for a moment, then pressed the red button. The balance instantly changed from 1605 to 1405, and the roulette wheel began to spin.

After rapidly spinning more than a dozen times, the wheel's pointer stopped.

It landed on the icon of a pair of white gloves.

What was it?

Duen felt a little expectant.