The Boss and Tashigi

The fact that the person standing before them could so accurately state the market price of a knife meant that he was undoubtedly an expert with a deep understanding and knowledge of knives. This discovery fostered a sense of mutual respect between the two men.

The shopkeeper stared at Moke, seemingly trying to see beyond his outward appearance to understand his inner self. After a moment, a slight smile appeared on his lips, and he said softly, "Please wait a moment." Before he finished speaking, he turned and strode quickly towards a room behind the counter.

Not long after, the shopkeeper reappeared before everyone, but this time he held something else in his hands—the sword known as "Yubashiri." The shopkeeper carefully cradled Yubashiri in his hands, as if it were an incomparably precious treasure. Then, he walked up to Moke and solemnly handed Yubashiri to him, saying, "From now on, it belongs to you!"

Moke gazed at the Yubashiri before him, a secret delight creeping into his heart. The knife was exquisitely crafted, its blade sharp, radiating a unique chilling aura that captivated all who beheld it. Almost every man would feel a longing for such a knife; after all, who hasn't dreamt of becoming a knight-errant or swordsman in their childhood?

Now that Moke has achieved his goal, he naturally won't linger here any longer. His ambitions extend far beyond this; his stage lies in the vast Grand Line and the New World. There, he finds the unknown and challenges, and only there can he truly demonstrate his strength and worth.

Upon hearing Moke's words, both the boss and Tashigi's eyes lit up almost simultaneously, as if they had suddenly discovered a huge treasure hidden in the shadows, a treasure radiating an alluring light that beckoned them to explore and excavate it.

Moke slung his twin swords at his waist with swift and decisive movements, then turned and walked out of the weapon shop without hesitation. His steps were firm and rapid, as if he had no lingering attachment to this place.

"Could you wait a moment?" Tashigi called out hastily as she saw Moke about to leave, and quickly followed after him. Her heart was filled with curiosity and anticipation, because she hadn't had a chance to examine the two knives closely yet! If she could touch them and feel their weight and texture, it would definitely be a very special experience.

However, Moke did not stop, nor did he even look back. Instead, he quickened his pace, as if trying to shake off Tashigi's entanglement as soon as possible.

Seeing this, Tashigi felt a little anxious, but she didn't give up. She gritted her teeth, quickened her pace, and followed closely behind Moke.

Moke sensed Tashigi's pursuit and couldn't help but glance back. When he saw Tashigi's relentless figure, he frowned slightly. This woman was truly persistent! However, he had no time to pay attention to her right now.

For Moke, improving his strength is currently his most important task. Women... that's something he'll consider after he has enough power. After all, in this world full of competition and challenges, only strength is the most reliable guarantee.

Moreover, once he has enough power, what kind of woman can't he get? Therefore, he has no time to care about anything else now, and only wants to focus on improving his strength.

"Collapse..."

Just then, a figure sped out from around the corner like a gust of wind, slamming into Moke like a cannonball.

"Ah!" With a shrill scream, the force of the impact sent the other person flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground.

"Are you made of iron? You're so hard!!! It hurts like hell!" The man lying on the ground rubbed his aching body and cursed angrily.

Moke's face twitched slightly as he thought to himself: Since absorbing the Sandai Kitetsu and assimilating his body, his physical strength has indeed improved dramatically; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he's made of iron.

However, when he looked closely at the person lying on the ground, his eyelids twitched involuntarily a few times.

The reason is simple: this guy is just too easy to recognize—a grass-green rooster-like comb, an eye tattoo under his right eye, a nose ring, a face like a demon, a black wing-shaped semi-circular tattoo on his chest, and a short knife at his waist.

That face... isn't that Bartolomeo, Luffy's biggest fan? Look at that exaggerated hairstyle and that iconic tattoo on his face, it's practically Bartolomeo himself! Wait... something seems off! Right, according to the original story, Bartolomeo was born in Loguetown, right?

Hmm... let me think about it some more. Right, at this point, Bartolomeo shouldn't have eaten the magical Barrier-Barrier Fruit yet, right? If everything unfolds according to the original plot, then is it possible that he... could steal the Barrier-Barrier Fruit as well?

"Wow... I've got it!" I suddenly exclaimed excitedly, "In the entire world of One Piece, it seems that only these two Devil Fruits are the easiest to steal!"

However, to successfully seize this Barrier-Barrier Fruit, there is a very important prerequisite: everything must return to the original plot development trajectory.

However, this is where the problem lies. In the original work, Bartolomeo's decision to set sail was entirely due to witnessing Luffy being killed by Buggy and Alvida. It was from that moment that he began to idolize Luffy and aspire to become like Luffy.

He was nothing more than a nobody thug in Loguetown. However, unexpectedly, he easily killed Alvida! This incident not only shocked Buggy, but also cost him an important ally.

So here's the question: without Alvida, will Buggy still cause a huge uproar in Loguetown as he did in the original story? Will he? If not, will Bartolomeo still resolutely embark on his voyage? All of this is uncertain.

Wait... why does it have to be Buggy and Alvida? Actually, they are perfectly capable of this role too! After all, as long as they can keep Luffy pinned down on the Execution Platform where Roger was once tortured, the mission will be accomplished.

Thinking of this, Moke's eyes suddenly lit up. That's it, the Barrier-Barrier Fruit! If he could get this fruit, he could train a powerful subordinate. Moreover, for the sake of this fruit, even a direct confrontation with Luffy didn't seem entirely impossible.

Just as Moke was secretly calculating in his mind, Bartolomeo slowly stood up. He glared fiercely at Moke and said through gritted teeth, "Kid, you're in for a world of trouble today..."

"It's you again, Bartolomeo!" With an angry shout, Tashigi rushed over like a whirlwind, her speed as fast as Inazuma, and in the blink of an eye she had caught up with Bartolomeo.

Upon hearing the shout, Bartolomeo trembled violently, as if struck by a bolt of lightning. He slowly turned his head and met Tashigi's hostile gaze, a chill creeping into his heart.

As a Marine in Loguetown, Tashigi was all too familiar with petty thugs like Bartolomeo. These guys were idle and troublemakers, one of the destabilizing factors in Loguetown. Tashigi had often "taken care" of them, so Bartolomeo feared her like the plague.

"Tashigi!!!" Bartolomeo's face instantly turned extremely ugly, his voice trembled slightly, and he involuntarily took a step back, as if trying to keep a certain distance from Tashigi.

At this time, Bartolomeo was far from becoming the Supernova he would later become; he was merely an insignificant thug. The Navy, to him, was a nightmare, a force he could never contend with.

Bartolomeo's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, a fine layer of sweat beading on his forehead. He inwardly groaned; how could he have run into Tashigi here?

However, faced with Tashigi's aggressive demeanor, Bartolomeo dared not hesitate for a moment. He made a decisive move, turned around abruptly, and ran away like a startled rabbit.

As he ran, he kept turning back and shouting, "Misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding!" as if this could cover up his inner fear and unease.

Seeing this, Tashigi's lips twitched slightly, revealing a helpless smile. She watched Bartolomeo's disheveled retreating figure, and couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing.

However, she quickly shifted her attention to Moke beside her, her face showing obvious concern, and asked softly, "Are you alright?"

Moke stared at Bartolomeo's receding figure until he completely disappeared from sight, then slowly turned his gaze to Tashigi.

His gaze, like a scanner, first swept quickly over Shigure, which Tashigi was clutching tightly in her hand, and finally settled steadily on Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri, which were hanging from his waist.

At that moment, a glint of light flashed in his eyes, as if he had a brilliant idea.

He pondered to himself, "It'll probably be a while before Luffy in Loguetown. I can't just sit here and wait, can I? I definitely need to find something to do to pass the time. Hmm... how about swordsmanship? After all, I can't rely solely on my Devil Fruit abilities while being completely ignorant of other combat skills. The original work clearly states that only by improving one's strength in all aspects can one achieve flawless combat. And swordsmanship seems to be a pretty good choice."

Although Tashigi's strength was only average in Moke's eyes, he believed that she would be more than capable of teaching him, a complete novice in swordsmanship, some basic sword techniques.

However, the problem is, how can he get Tashigi to willingly agree to teach him swordsmanship?

Just as Moke was pondering this question, the corners of his mouth suddenly turned up slightly, revealing a sly smile.

Without hesitation, he reached down and untied the Yubashiri belt from his waist, then carefully handed it to Tashigi.

"What are you doing?" Tashigi looked at Moke with a face full of suspicion, completely unable to understand why he would suddenly do such a thing.

Moke seemed unconcerned by Tashigi's reaction, continuing, "While it may be presumptuous, I truly hope you can teach me swordsmanship. In return, this Yubashiri is yours..."

Upon hearing Moke's words, Tashigi's eyes widened even further, and her mouth gaped open wide enough to fit an egg. She never expected Moke to exchange Yubashiri for swordsmanship instruction; it was truly unexpected!

However, before Tashigi could recover from her shock, Moke patted the Sandai Kitetsu at his waist, a sly smile on his face, "You don't want this Sandai Kitetsu to gather dust in my hands, do you?"

This made Tashigi frown deeply; she felt there was something off about Moke's words. Just as she was pondering this, something surprising happened.

Moke's hand, which had been stroking the Sandai Kitetsu, suddenly seemed to be controlled by a mysterious force, and underwent a rapid transformation. In the blink of an eye, his hand turned into a blade, and it emitted the same eerie ghostly Ghost Aura as the Sandai Kitetsu.

This bizarre scene left Tashigi and the boss speechless, almost simultaneously exclaiming, "Devil Fruit User?!?"

"Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea, is one of the captains of the Wano Country the Moke Pirates! Moreover, he was a former Shichibukai! His strength is considerable, and his bounty is a whopping 1.38 billion Beli!"

Wow! Ashura Doji is actually one of the Nine Red Scabbards of Wano Country, and a super powerful Swordmaster at that! His bounty is a staggering 1.378 billion Beli! That's an astonishing number!

Let's look at Inuarashi. He's also one of the Nine Red Scabbards of Wano Country and a master swordsman. His bounty is 1.245 billion Beli, so his strength is definitely not to be underestimated.

Besides the characters mentioned above, there's also Nekomamushi, one of the Nine Red Scabbards of Wano Country, and a Swordmaster of exceptional skill. His bounty is a staggering 1.236 billion Beli!

Denjiro is no ordinary person either. He is not only one of the Nine Red Scabbards of Wano Country, but also an outstanding Swordmaster. His bounty is as high as 1.13 billion Beli, which shows how powerful he is!

Sugar, on the other hand, is a very special individual. She is a special member of the Moke Pirates and possesses the Paramecia Hobby-Hobby Devil Fruit Ability. Just hearing the name of this Devil Fruit Ability is enough to make one feel its strength! Her bounty is also a staggering 1.143 billion Beli, which undoubtedly proves that she is an exceptionally powerful character.

In addition, Kawamatsu is also one of the Nine Red Scabbards of Wano Country, and is also a Swordmaster. His bounty is 1.12 billion Beli, which is slightly less than the others, but he should not be underestimated.

Finally, we can't forget Ape King Burns, a member of the Moke Pirates who possesses the Zoan Baboon Devil Fruit Ability. This Devil Fruit Ability grants him immense strength and agility, making him a force to be reckoned with. His bounty is 960 million Beli, which, while not as high as the previous few, is still enough to demonstrate his strength.

Catarina Demi, a member of the Moke Pirates, possesses the Paramecia Bouncy-Bouncy Fruit ability, which allows her to stretch and contract like rubber, and transform various parts of her body into highly elastic weapons. Her bounty of 830 million Beli undoubtedly demonstrates her strength and dangerousness.

Kikunojo, one of the Nine Red Scabbards from Wano Country, is a highly skilled Swordmaster. His bounty is 734 million Beli, which shows that he is a formidable figure in the world of One Piece.

Abaro Pizarro, also a member of the Moke Pirates, possesses the Qiongqi Form Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit Ability of the Qiongqi form. This form grants him immense strength and speed, making him a terrifying presence on the battlefield. His bounty is 712 million Beli.

Kin'emon, one of the Nine Red Scabbards of Wano Country, is also a Swordmaster. His bounty is 710 million Beli, slightly lower than Kikunojo's, but his swordsmanship is not to be underestimated.

Kanjuro, one of the Nine Red Scabbards of Wano Country, possesses the Paramecia Pen-Pen Devil Fruit Ability. This ability allows him to draw various objects with a pen and imbue them with life and the ability to move. His bounty is 702 million Beli.

Who's Devil Fruit Ability, a member of the Moke Pirates, possesses the Zoan Cat-Cat Fruit, Ancient Zoan Cat-Cat Fruit, Saber-Toothed Tiger Form. This form grants him the strength and agility of a saber-toothed tiger, making him extremely threatening in battle. His bounty is 666 million Beli.

Raizo, one of the Nine Red Scabbards of Wano Country, is a ninja. He is skilled in various ninjutsu and assassination techniques, and his bounty is 660 million Beli.

Finally, Izo, the former 16th division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, whose bounty is 640 million Beli. Although he has left the Whitebeard Pirates, his strength should not be underestimated.

"Black Maria, a member of the Moke Pirates, possesses the Zoan Spider-Spider Fruit, Ancient Zoan, and the form of the Rosamygale Grauvogeli Tarantula, with a value of 566 million Beli."

"Ata, the dual-sword cook of the Moke Pirates, Paramecia Devil Fruit User, Swordmaster, bounty 412 million Beli." Her twin swords gleamed coldly in the sunlight, each swing as swift and deadly as Inazuma. Ata's Smooth-Smooth Devil Fruit Ability made her body exceptionally smooth; neither enemy attacks nor terrain obstacles could affect her. She was like a slippery eel, always easily avoiding danger.

Kozuki Hiyori, also known as Komurasaki, was formerly the princess of Wano Country and is now Wano Country queen. Swordmaster with a bounty of 300 million Beli, her swordsmanship is as graceful and deadly as a dancing fairy. Each strike contains boundless power and skill, captivating all who behold her. Her beauty and strength are intertwined, making her a striking figure within the Moke Pirates.

"Brook, musician and Swordmaster of the Moke Pirates, Paramecia -type Yomi Yomi no Mi (Revive-Revive Fruit Devil Fruit User, bounty 230 million Beli." His music is like heavenly music, capable of soothing people's hearts while also inspiring his teammates' fighting spirit. Brook's Yomi Yomi Devil Fruit Ability grants him immortality; even if his body is destroyed, his soul continues to exist. His swordsmanship, while not as flamboyant as Ata's or Kozuki Hiyori's, is simple and unadorned, each strike containing his reverence for life and his unwavering dedication to swordsmanship.

"Rebecca, a member of the Moke Pirates, possesses the Zoan Dragon- Flood Dragon Form Fruit, with a bounty of 220 million Beli." When she transforms into a dragon, her body becomes enormous and powerful, her scales shimmering with a metallic sheen, and her sharp claws and teeth sending chills down one's spine. Rebecca's Flood Dragon Form not only possesses immense strength and speed but also allows her to move freely through the water, making her a valuable asset to the Moke Pirates in naval battles.

"Perona, this mysterious woman is a member of the Moke Pirates. She possesses the Paramecia Hollow-Hollow Fruit ability. This ability allows her to create and manipulate ghosts, which can not only harm enemies but also plunge them into fear and confusion. Her bounty of 210 million Beli is enough to prove her strength and level of threat." Perona's ghosts are like her clones, omnipresent and impossible to guard against. Her laughter is as clear as a silver bell, yet it sends chills down one's spine.

"Monet, also from the Moke Pirates, is a Logia Snow Snow Fruit user. This ability allows her to freely manipulate snow, creating various ice and snow attacks and defenses. Her bounty is 195 million Beli, demonstrating her status and strength in the pirate world."

"Sugar, this cute little girl is also a member of the Moke Pirates. Her Devil Fruit ability is extremely difficult to defend against. She can turn any object she touches into a toy, and those turned into toys will lose their memories of their original identities and completely obey Sugar's commands. Her bounty is 156 million Beli. Although she appears harmless, her ability is extremely dangerous."

"Baby-5, a member of the Moke Pirates, possesses the Paramecia Weapon-Weapon Devil Fruit Ability. This ability allows her to transform any part of her body into various weapons, whether swords, guns, or other weapons, at will. Her bounty is 130 million Beli, making her a formidable opponent."

"Ms. Miss Goldenweek, this unique woman also belongs to the Moke Pirates. She is Paramecia Fruit user with the Art-Art Fruit. She can achieve various effects through painting, such as bringing objects in her paintings to life, or changing the shape and properties of objects. Her bounty is 125 million Beli, and her artistic abilities often have unexpected effects in battle."

"Carina, a member of the Moke Pirates, is Logia Cloud-Cloud Fruit user. She can freely manipulate clouds to create various cloud-based attacks and defenses. Her bounty is 110 million Beli, which is slightly lower than other members, but her abilities should not be underestimated."

Finally, there's Cavendish, the second member to possess Devil Fruit Ability. He not only has the Paramecia Bouncy-Bouncy Fruit but also the Zoan Bullet Ant Fruit. This dual ability grants him extremely high mobility and offensive power in battle. His bounty of 1.5 billion Beli is the highest among the Moke Pirates, making him an extremely formidable opponent.