Three Months Passed in the Blink of an Eye

Time flies like an arrow, and three months have passed in the blink of an eye. Smoker stared at Tashigi, his gaze revealing a hint of scrutiny. He noticed that Tashigi had been frequently taking leave during these three months. Especially in the last two weeks, even when she was at work, she was often absent-minded, as if she had completely lost her usual focus and efficiency.

Smoker finally couldn't contain his curiosity and asked, "Tashigi, what's wrong with you?" Normally, as long as it didn't affect work, he wouldn't interfere too much in his subordinates' personal lives. However, Tashigi's current state was clearly having a negative impact on her work.

Upon hearing Smoker's question, Tashigi gently shook her head and replied, "It's nothing, Captain Smoker." Her voice was somewhat low, as if she didn't want to discuss the topic further.

"Nothing?" Smoker's eyelids twitched slightly; he was clearly dissatisfied with Tashigi's answer. His eyes weren't blind, so he could naturally see Tashigi's unusual behavior. Therefore, he immediately pressed on, "What happened? What's making you so distracted?"

However, the moment those words left his lips, Smoker suddenly realized something. Recently, rumors had been circulating in the base about Tashigi, saying she had been dating a man. Could these rumors not be unfounded?

Dating? This completely surprised Smoker, leaving him momentarily stunned. However, before he could recover, Tashigi suddenly posed a seemingly unrelated question, "Captain Smoker, do you think women are inherently inferior to men in kendo?"

This question caught Smoker off guard, abruptly interrupting his train of thought. He hesitated for a moment, trying to understand Tashigi's leap of thought, but still couldn't quite keep up. However, he quickly realized that Tashigi might be using this question to express some kind of inner turmoil.

Smoker composed himself and comforted her, "Women are only slightly weaker than men in terms of physical strength. But that's only one aspect... After all, strength is just one factor in swordsmanship. So don't be discouraged. You can make up for your lack of strength in other ways. As long as you keep working hard, your name, Tashigi, will definitely be on the list of Swordmaster in the future."

Tashigi's eyes lit up at Smoker's words, as if she had seen a glimmer of hope. However, this hope was fleeting, and her eyes quickly dimmed again. She muttered to herself, "But how does that guy explain it? Only three months..."

Smoker didn't hear what Tashigi said next and asked with a puzzled look, "What?"

However, Tashigi did not answer him, but turned and walked away silently. Her steps seemed heavy, as if she were carrying a heavy burden. Smoker watched her receding figure and a nameless worry welled up in his heart.

Smoker: "..."

"Could this girl really be in love?" Smoker muttered to himself, looking at Tashigi's distraught appearance. In any case, Tashigi really did look like a woman who had just broken up with her boyfriend, making her look quite pitiful.

However, Smoker was quite surprised that a heartbroken woman would suddenly ask about kendo. After all, Tashigi knew absolutely nothing about kendo! This was really strange.

Smoker shook his head inwardly, thinking, "I've been single for decades, and I've always relied on my own two hands to get by. How could I possibly understand women's minds!" He felt like his head was about to explode from all these questions.

Finally, Smoker stood up. He felt he couldn't just sit idly by any longer and had to find out what was going on with Tashigi. After all, he didn't want to see his trusted subordinate continue to wallow in despair.

So Smoker resolutely followed, wanting to find out what was going on.

Meanwhile, Tashigi was walking alone to a small grove of trees on the edge of Loguetown. There, Moke was standing under a tree, carefully wiping the Sandai Kitetsu in his hand. Yubashiri quietly against another tree nearby, as if waiting for something.

It turns out that Moke and Tashigi had an agreement. Tashigi agreed to teach Moke swordsmanship for three months, and in return, Yubashiri would belong to her after the three months were over.

And today happens to be the last day of these three months.

If before this, Moke learned swordsmanship merely to make up for his shortcomings, then after three months of training, he can now be considered a qualified swordsman.

He was completely immersed in this world, as if he had become one with it. He not only possessed the courage of a hero and the strength of a warrior, but also the skill and mindset of Swordmaster. Now, he had completely bid farewell to the image of the college student who used to eat instant noodles and watch movies in his dormitory.

"Huh?" Moke's ears suddenly twitched, as if he had heard something. He quickly turned his head, his gaze falling to the side. When he saw who it was, a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips, "Tashigi, you've come!"

Tashigi stood there, clutching Shigure tightly in her hand, her gaze on Moke filled with complex emotions. They had spent a great deal of time together over the past three months. The first month, Tashigi focused on teaching Moke basic swordsmanship, helping him build a solid foundation. The following two months were dedicated to their constant sparring practice.

It was through this high-intensity combat training that Moke's combat experience improved rapidly, like a rocket. He accumulated a wealth of experience in a short period of time, and his understanding of swordsmanship became increasingly profound.

Tashigi pursed her lips slightly and said softly, "Moke, you are the most talented swordsman I have ever seen. In just three months, you have achieved what I took six years to accomplish. No... you could even say that you have surpassed me. You have forged your own path in swordsmanship, while I am still confined to the sword techniques I have learned. So, without a doubt, you have surpassed me... Today is the last day, and it is time to end this."

After speaking, Tashigi walked gracefully to Yubashiri with a smile, as if it were a priceless treasure in her life. She gently reached out and carefully picked up Yubashiri, feeling its weight and texture. The hilt of Yubashiri trembled slightly in her hand, as if it too was excited to find a new master.

Tashigi gripped Yubashiri tightly, a surge of indescribable joy welling up within her. As Meito fanatic, her love for knives transcended ordinary comprehension. And this Yubashiri was undoubtedly the weapon of her dreams. From this day forward, it would become her exclusive weapon, accompanying her on her journey of swordsmanship.

Thinking of this, Tashigi's face blossomed into an even brighter smile. This was a reward she deserved; after all, she had imparted her swordsmanship to Moke without reservation over the past three months. Now, she had finally obtained the Yubashiri she had longed for, which was a kind of return.

However, Tashigi's gaze did not linger on Yubashiri for long; she quickly turned her attention to Moke. She knew that this young man possessed amazing talent and potential, and she had always looked forward to seeing his true strength.

"I know you've been holding back for the past two weeks." Tashigi gazed at Moke, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Before you leave, could you show me some of your own techniques?"

Upon hearing this, Moke nodded slightly in agreement. He took a deep breath, adjusted his posture, and then bent his knees slightly, assuming a standard sword-drawing stance. His movements were fluid and natural, without the slightest hesitation, as if it were an innate instinct.

The next second, Moke and the Sandai Kitetsu in his hand simultaneously emitted a powerful Ghost Aura. This Ghost Aura burned fiercely like black flames, enveloping his entire body. Even his eyes instantly turned dark green, revealing an eerie and mysterious aura.

"One Sword Style - Demon Flame Flash!" With a low roar, Moke's figure vanished from Tashigi's sight like Inazuma. His speed was astonishing.

When Moke reappeared, he was already silently standing three or four meters behind Tashigi. His movements were elegant and swift, like the completion of a magnificent dance. He slowly sheathed the Sandai Kitetsu, the whole process flowing smoothly without the slightest pause.

"Boom..."

At that very moment, a three-meter-tall tree beside Tashigi suddenly cracked with a loud "crack," its trunk snapping and crashing to the ground. Surprisingly, a strange flame ignited on the severed tree. The flame was a purplish-green color, appearing eerie and mysterious.

The flames seemed to have a life of their own; once ignited, they spread rapidly like wildfire, engulfing the entire tree in the blink of an eye. The raging flames distorted and warped the surrounding air, and the intense heat made it impossible to approach.

Tashigi was stunned by this sudden scene. Her eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief. Her gaze was fixed on the burning flames, her heart filled with shock.

Just three months ago, Moke hadn't even mastered the correct sword-wielding technique. Yet now, he's able to unleash such powerful swordplay—it's truly unbelievable.

Tashigi couldn't help but marvel at how fast Moke was progressing, like a rocket, it was astonishing. At this rate, it probably wouldn't be long before he reached the level of Swordmaster.

Not to mention Tashigi, even Moke himself was sometimes quite puzzled by his own talent in swordsmanship. He often wondered why his comprehension of swordsmanship was so strong and his progress so rapid.

After much thought, Moke came up with a possibility, but it sounded somewhat absurd. He suspected that the reason he had such an outrageous talent for swordsmanship was because he had absorbed the power of the Sandai Kitetsu, thus forming some kind of strange connection with this Cursed Sword and making him a "Kitetsu Swordman".

Of course, this is just Moke's speculation, and there is no solid evidence to prove it. But in any case, his talent in swordsmanship is indeed extraordinary, that much is undeniable.

Of course, there is another possibility. Perhaps he was naturally gifted in swordsmanship, but in his previous life, he simply didn't have the opportunity to cultivate it... However, compared to this explanation, he was more inclined to believe the former.

Just then, a light footstep sound came from behind, "Tap tap tap..." Although the sound was not loud, it was particularly clear in the quiet environment. Moke and Tashigi looked in the direction of the sound at the same time, and when they saw who it was, they were both taken aback.

Because the visitor was none other than Captain Smoker!

Moke pondered to himself. He had long expected to run into Smoker sooner or later, but he never imagined that they would meet at this time and in this unexpected way. Tashigi, on the other hand, seemed a little guilty, after all, her relationship with Moke was not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

However, what happened next left both of them speechless.

Smoker first turned his gaze to Tashigi, then asked with a half-smile, "This is your boyfriend?" He then looked Moke up and down, before saying in a cold tone, "You, now that you're with Moke Tashigi, you should be more considerate of her. How can a grown man be so petty with his woman?"

"Ah???"

Moke stood there blankly, completely unaware of what had happened. His mind was a blank, as if he had been suddenly hit with a stick, leaving him utterly stunned.

Tashigi's reaction was exactly the same as Moke's —she was completely bewildered. However, her face quickly flushed red, like a ripe apple. She glanced at Moke somewhat embarrassedly, then, like a startled rabbit, ran swiftly to Smoker, urgently explaining, "Captain Smoker, it's not what you think! I just came to teach him swordsmanship!"

Smoker looked at Tashigi with obvious doubt on his face. He muttered to himself, "Could she really teach such amazing swordsmanship?" He had personally witnessed Moke's sword strike just now. That swordsmanship was simply exquisite. Even in the Marine Headquarters, it would be enough for Moke to easily get the rank of major.

Although Tashigi did possess some talent in swordsmanship, her current skill level was far from sufficient to teach others. Smoker secretly thought to himself, "This kid's swordsmanship is so superb; he could probably teach Tashigi himself." The expression on Smoker's face was like a sharp knife, piercing straight into Tashigi's heart. She felt a sharp pain in her heart, as if a thousand ants were gnawing at her, but she still gritted her teeth, suppressing her inner grievances, and told Smoker the whole story.

"What?" Smoker exclaimed in surprise after hearing Tashigi's story. His eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. However, when his gaze turned to Moke again, his eyes underwent a subtle change, revealing not only surprise but also curiosity about Moke.

Smoker, his face full of suspicion, said to Tashigi incredulously, "So, this guy is actually a Devil Fruit User? And this guy went from knowing absolutely nothing about swordsmanship to being so skilled in just three months?"

All right!

Moke's swordsmanship talent was truly astonishing, even surprising him. After all, he was Zephyr's disciple, and his understanding and mastery of swordsmanship were naturally quite profound. However, even within his own realm and both the upper and lower realms, he had never encountered such a monstrous talent.

Even among all of Zephyr's students, only Kizaru, Akainu, and Aokiji possessed such monstrous talent! Smoker took a deep drag on his cigarette and slowly exhaled. For a moment, the smoke filled the air, swirling around him like a veil, which calmed him down somewhat.

At this moment, when he gazed at Moke again, it was as if he were examining a rare treasure, his eyes revealing undisguised admiration and amazement.

After a long while, Smoker finally came to his senses and said, "Are you interested in joining the Navy? If you're willing, I can personally recommend you for Marine Headquarters."

With your talent and ability, while I can't say I can guarantee much, a position as a major at headquarters shouldn't be a problem. Of course, this is just your starting point...

However, faced with Smoker's tempting offer, Moke simply shook his head, as if the generous terms held no appeal for him whatsoever.

While joining the Navy certainly has its advantages, for Moke, it offers far too little freedom. Just like Smoker before him, the Marine Headquarters has ordered him to be stationed in Loguetown, meaning he can only obediently stay here and cannot freely explore the wider world.

Moreover, Moke valued freedom above all else; he didn't want to be tied down, much less become Celestial Dragons's lackey. To him, being subservient to someone was absolutely unacceptable. Therefore, when Smoker made the suggestion, Moke shook his head decisively almost without hesitation, saying, "Thank you for your consideration, but I have little interest in becoming a Marine."

Upon hearing this, Smoker's expression changed slightly. He had initially thought Moke would be interested in the suggestion, as joining the Navy was a good option for many. However, Moke's refusal surprised him.

Smoker stared at Moke, his gaze sharpening. In this world, people usually only have two choices: either become a Marine and uphold justice, or become a pirate and pursue freedom. Other possibilities are extremely rare. So, when Moke so firmly rejected his offer, Smoker immediately realized that this young man had very likely already made up his mind to set sail and become a pirate.

With Moke's talent and strength, if he really became a pirate, he would definitely become a huge threat in the future. Smoker couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He had originally hoped to recruit Moke into the Navy, but he didn't expect the kid to be so stubborn and unmoved.

Upon hearing Smoker's words, Moke showed no hesitation whatsoever. He gently shook his head, indicating that he had little interest in joining the Navy.

While becoming a Marine is a decent career choice, for Moke, this lifestyle was far too restrictive and lacked freedom. Just like Smoker standing before Moke, his strength and status were undoubtedly remarkable. However, even with such immense power, he was still bound to Loguetown by Marine Headquarters, unable to freely travel elsewhere. This was undoubtedly a restriction, a constraint on his personal freedom.

For Moke, this kind of restricted life was by no means what he sought. Deep down, he harbored his own pride and ambition; he longed for unbridled freedom, not being bound by others. He was absolutely unwilling to be subservient to anyone, to become someone else's vassal. In particular, becoming a lackey of the Celestial Dragons, being ordered around by those self-important, high-ranking nobles, was something he could not accept.

Therefore, when Smoker sincerely invited him to join the Navy, Moke did not hesitate at all, decisively shaking his head and replying, "Thank you for your high regard, but my ambitions lie elsewhere." His answer was concise and straightforward, without the slightest hesitation or doubt. Although brief, this sentence fully expressed his true thoughts and attitude.

However, Moke's words caused Smoker's expression to change slightly. His previously gentle gaze suddenly sharpened, as if it could pierce through Moke's heart and see through his true thoughts. Smoker stared intently at Moke, seemingly trying to find a flaw or hesitation in his eyes.

In this world, people face a black-and-white choice: either become a navy officer, uphold justice, and protect world peace; or become a pirate, pursue freedom, and enjoy an unrestrained life. Other paths are virtually nonexistent, or rather, the possibility of other choices is extremely slim.

Against this backdrop, when Moke so decisively rejected the offer to join the Navy, Smoker's alarm bells immediately went off. He keenly realized that this young man had likely already made up his mind to set sail and embark on the path of becoming a pirate.

After all, given the talent and potential that Moke has shown, if he were to truly embark on the path of piracy, he would undoubtedly become an extremely terrifying existence in the future, posing a huge threat to the entire world. This is definitely not the situation that Smoker wants to see.

However, at this moment, Moke had not yet truly become a pirate; he hadn't even committed any illegal acts or harmed anyone. Smoker's principles told him that under these circumstances, he couldn't easily eliminate this potential threat. Although he was well aware of the danger Moke might pose in the future, his moral bottom line and professional ethics wouldn't allow him to do so.