Moke Flicked His Thumb Lightly

Moke's lips curled into a faint smile. He flicked the sapphire with his thumb, and as if it had been given life, it flew straight toward the boss like a shooting star across the sky at an astonishing speed.

The shop owner was startled at the sight, but his years of business experience allowed him to react quickly. He instinctively reached out to catch the rapidly approaching sapphire. His hand moved with Inazuma speed, accurately grasping the sapphire and holding it firmly in his hand.

The shopkeeper's gaze fell upon the sapphire in his hand, and his eyes instantly lit up. As a businessman, although he mainly dealt in knives, his ability to appraise gemstones was quite good. He could tell at a glance that this sapphire was no ordinary object, but rather the finest of the finest.

He couldn't help but swallow hard, secretly estimating the value of the sapphire. Such a high-quality sapphire, if sold to those noble families, would fetch an exorbitant price, probably tens of millions! In comparison, Yubashiri's price was only ten million.

Of course, Meito is indeed a luxury item for a swordsman, often priceless and unavailable. However, no matter how high the price of Meito is, it is far less than that of this top-grade sapphire. Even if you add the Sandai Kitetsu to the deal, this transaction will definitely make him a fortune.

The boss took a deep breath, trying to calm his excitement. When he looked at Moke again, his eyes were completely different. This seemingly ordinary person was so generous, offering such a precious sapphire with just a few words; it was truly astonishing.

With a smile, Moke cautiously inquired, "Are you really planning to use this sapphire to exchange for Yubashiri and Sandai Kitetsu?" His voice revealed a hint of anticipation and uncertainty.

Moke nodded, answering firmly, "Yes, the price of Yubashiri is around ten million. Even if you find a swordsman who really likes it and has enough money, it will only cost twenty or thirty million at most. The same goes for the Sandai Kitetsu. This sapphire is worth enough to exchange for both of these swords."

Upon hearing Moke's words, both the shopkeeper and Tashigi's eyes lit up. To be able to accurately state the market price of a knife meant that this person was definitely a knife expert. This made them feel somewhat favorably disposed towards Moke.

The shopkeeper gave Moke a deep look, then gave him a friendly smile and said, "Please wait a moment." Before he finished speaking, he turned and went into a room behind the counter.

Not long after, the shopkeeper came out of Moke room carrying Moke bundle of Yubashiri- Yubashiri...

Moke happily accepted Yubashiri's knife, examining it closely. The blade gleamed with a cold light, its sharp edge sending chills down his spine. He felt a secret delight; after all, a knife possessed an irresistible allure for almost every man. Who hadn't dreamed of being a knight-errant or a swordsman as a child?

Now that his objective had been achieved, Moke naturally wouldn't linger here. After all, his goal was the Grand Line, the New World —that was his true stage!

Moke hung the twin swords at his waist with a graceful and swift movement, as if the swords had become one with him. He strode confidently out of the weapons shop without hesitation.

However, just as he was about to step out of the shop, a clear voice suddenly rang out. "Could you wait a moment?"

Moke stopped and turned around, only to see a woman in a naval uniform walking briskly towards him. She held a longsword in her hand, looking dashing and her eyes revealed a determination and curiosity.

This woman was Tashigi. Seeing Moke about to leave, she felt a little anxious. She hadn't had a chance to examine the two knives closely yet! Of course, it would be even better if she could hold them in her hands.

Unfortunately, Moke seemed to ignore Tashigi's request; he didn't even turn his head and continued to quicken his pace as he left.

Seeing this, Tashigi did not give up. She also quickened her pace and followed closely behind Moke.

Moke sensed the movement behind him. He frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure in his eyes. This woman was truly annoying! He was focused solely on improving his strength; he had no time to waste on her.

However, Tashigi did not back down; she continued to follow Moke closely, unwilling to let go of this opportunity.

Moke glanced back helplessly, sighing inwardly. Women... for him, that was something he would only consider after he had sufficient strength. Besides, with his current power, what kind of woman couldn't he have?

"Collapse..."

Just then, a figure suddenly darted out from around the corner like Inazuma. With a loud bang, the person slammed into Moke like a cannonball.

"Ah!" With a shrill scream, the other person was clearly badly hit, their body flying backward like a kite with a broken string before crashing heavily to the ground.

"Are you made of iron? You're so hard!!! It hurts like hell!" the man cursed loudly, his voice filled with pain and anger.

Moke's face twitched slightly. He muttered to himself, "After absorbing the Sandai Kitetsu and assimilating my body, I really am made of iron now." However, he didn't say this aloud. Instead, he turned his gaze to the person lying on the ground.

When he saw the other person's face clearly, his eyelids twitched in surprise. This fellow was none other than Bartolomeo, a famous figure from the original story!

Bartolomeo's features were so striking that it was impossible not to notice him. He had a grass-green rooster-like comb, an eye tattoo under his right eye, a nose ring, and a ferocious face, like a demon. He had a black wing-shaped semi-circular tattoo on his chest, and a short knife at his waist. He looked both arrogant and domineering.

Oh right! It suddenly occurred to me, this guy was born in Loguetown. Wait... something seems off! Oh, right, according to the original storyline, Bartolomeo shouldn't have eaten the Barrier-Barrier Fruit yet at this point!

If everything proceeds according to the original plot, then is it possible that he could... steal the Barrier-Barrier Fruit as well? After all, in the entire world of One Piece, these are the only two Devil Fruits that are most easily intercepted.

However, to successfully intercept this fruit, there's a prerequisite: everything must return to the original storyline. But that's where the problem lies. In the original story, this guy only decided to set sail after witnessing Luffy's execution by Buggy and Alvida. And it was from that moment that he began to idolize Luffy.

But now, Alvida has been killed by him, and Buggy is terrified, even losing Alvida as an ally. Will Buggy still cause trouble in Loguetown like he did in the original story? That's a real headache!

Is that really the case? If not, would Bartolomeo still choose to set sail? Let's wait a little longer... But why choose Buggy and Alvida? He's perfectly capable of it! After all, as long as Luffy is kept at Roger's Execution Platform, the goal would be achieved. However, to confront Luffy head-on just for a Barrier-Barrier Fruit... Thinking about it carefully, it doesn't seem entirely impossible!

Moke's eyes suddenly lit up, for he realized this was a Barrier-Barrier Fruit! With this fruit, he could cultivate an extremely powerful subordinate. Just then, Bartolomeo slowly stood up, glaring fiercely at Moke, and muttered menacingly, "Kid, you're in for a world of trouble today..."

However, before Bartolomeo could finish speaking, a furious shout rang out, "It's you again, Bartolomeo!" It was Tashigi, who had caught up with him like a whirlwind. Her gaze fell on Bartolomeo, filled with hostility and ill intent. After all, as a Marine from Loguetown, she was all too familiar with scoundrels like Bartolomeo. These guys had always been a destabilizing factor in Loguetown, so Tashigi often went to "keep an eye on" them.

"Tashigi!!!"

Bartolomeo's face suddenly stiffened, and his body involuntarily took a step back. At this moment, he was far from Might-Shaker the Supernova who would one day shake the Four Seas; he was merely an ordinary thug. And the Navy was practically his nemesis.

"Gulp..." Bartolomeo made a soft swallowing sound, as if one could hear the fear and unease in his heart. However, he did not hesitate for long. Almost instantly, he decisively turned around and ran away.

"It's a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding..." Bartolomeo shouted as he ran, his voice echoing in the air, tinged with obvious panic.

Tashigi, witnessing this, couldn't help but roll her eyes. She felt somewhat helpless about Bartolomeo's behavior, but even more so, she was concerned for Moke. So, she immediately turned around and asked Moke with a concerned expression, "Are you alright?"

Moke's gaze remained fixed on Bartolomeo's receding figure until he completely disappeared from sight. Then, he slowly shifted his gaze back to Tashigi, his eyes lingering briefly on the Shigure in her hand before finally settling on the Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri at his waist.

Moke's eyes narrowed slightly, a barely perceptible glint flashing within them. A thought suddenly occurred to him: it would still be some time before Luffy in Loguetown. He couldn't just wait around like this, could he? Perhaps he could use this time to do something.

For example, he could improve his swordsmanship. After all, he doesn't want to be completely defenseless except for his Devil Fruit abilities. The original work has already shown us that only by improving oneself in all aspects can one achieve flawless combat. Among the many ways to improve, swordsmanship is undoubtedly a very good choice. Although Tashigi's strength is only average among the group, she is still capable of teaching some basic swordsmanship techniques to a complete novice like Moke.

However, the problem was how to get Tashigi to agree to teach him swordsmanship. Moke racked his brains, when suddenly an idea struck him, and a smile crept onto his lips. He quickly drew the Yubashiri from his waist and carefully handed it to Tashigi.

"What are you doing...?" Tashigi was clearly taken aback by Moke's sudden action, looking at him with suspicion.

"Although this may be a bit presumptuous, I really hope you can teach me swordsmanship," Moke said sincerely, pushing the Yubashiri forward slightly. "Consider this Yubashiri my payment to you..."

"Huh?!?" Tashigi's eyes widened instantly, her face filled with disbelief. She had never expected Moke to ask her for a favor in this way, and for a moment she was speechless.

Seeing this, Moke quickly patted the Sandai Kitetsu at his waist and said with a smile, "Look, this Sandai Kitetsu is also a rare and fine sword. If you hadn't taught me swordsmanship, I'm afraid it would have just gathered dust in my hands!"

Hmm, something about that sounds a bit off, Tashigi thought to herself. She pondered the words carefully, feeling that there was some hidden meaning, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. This feeling made her uneasy, as if something was quietly happening and she was completely unaware of it.

Tashigi pondered to herself that this was not the situation she wanted to see. However, despite her doubts, she understood that the current situation was not optimistic. After all, Moke was not yet a pirate, nor had he committed any illegal or harmful acts. Taking action against him based solely on a vague feeling without solid evidence was clearly against principles.

Smoker's principles prevented him from easily eliminating this potential future threat under these circumstances. He knew that as a naval captain, he had to uphold the bottom line of justice and the law, and could not arbitrarily convict someone based solely on personal speculation and conjecture. Despite some inner conflict, Smoker ultimately decided to temporarily set aside his doubts about Moke and give him a chance to prove his innocence.

Smoker couldn't help but sigh, silently praying, "I hope this kid, for the sake of his friendship with Tashigi, won't go astray!" He sincerely hoped that Moke could remain upright and not be corrupted by evil.

Just then, a naval soldier rushed towards them, breaking Smoker's reverie. His brow furrowed involuntarily, a sense of foreboding washing over him. "What's wrong?" Smoker's voice betrayed a hint of anxiety.

A naval soldier suddenly shouted, "The Straw Hat Crew spotted!"

Smoker showed a hint of surprise upon hearing this, but in an instant, his eyes sharpened considerably.

In his eyes, the Straw Hat Pirates were an existence that could not be ignored. He knew that if such a pirate crew were allowed to develop freely in the East Blue, it would surely become a powerful force that would make even the Navy feel very troubled.

After all, just a month ago, Luffy defeated Arlong, and his bounty soared to 30 million Beli, making him the highest-bounty pirate in the East Blue. And this was only Luffy's first bounty!

Such astonishing strength and potential naturally made the Straw Hat Pirates a key target of the Navy in Loguetown.

"Brush..."

With that soft sound, not only Smoker, but also Tashigi and Moke simultaneously turned their gazes in the same direction.

Tashigi was so attentive because she knew the Straw Hat Pirates had a particularly skilled swordsman. Moke, on the other hand, seemed unusually excited, muttering to himself, "Finally... Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, Nami, Usopp... Today is definitely going to be a very interesting day!"

It was clear that Moke was filled with eagerness and anticipation about meeting the Straw Hat Pirates. He seemed unable to contain his urge to see them immediately.

Just then, Smoker suddenly turned around and shouted to Tashigi, "Tashigi, let's go!"

"Yes, Captain Smoker!" Tashigi replied quickly, then followed Smoker away without hesitation.

However, as Tashigi passed by Moke, her gaze involuntarily fell on Moke, her eyes revealing a complex emotion.

Moke, however, seemed completely oblivious to Tashigi's gaze. He simply stood there quietly, watching Tashigi leave, as if everything around him was irrelevant.

After Tashigi's figure disappeared from sight, Moke slowly raised his hand, pointing his palm towards the sun in the sky. The sunlight shone on his hand, bringing a slight warmth.

Instantly, as if drawn by some force, the light elements gathered continuously into Moke's hands. His body also gradually became transparent under the influence of this light element.

Immediately afterwards, Moke's body was completely enveloped in light, and he was eventually transformed into a light-based body.

This is because he absorbed the Sandai Kitetsu, gaining permanent abilities. Moreover, after activating the Absorb-Absorb Fruit's power, he can still continue to absorb other substances and convert them into part of his body.

Surprisingly, when Moke stopped using this special ability, his body instantly reverted to his original Kitetsu Swordman form. This change was astonishing, as if his body possessed some kind of magical self-repair mechanism.

Immediately afterward, Moke's figure flashed like Inazuma, instantly transforming into a dazzling beam of light, hurtling towards the center of Loguetown at an astonishing speed. This beam of light was so dazzling that neither Smoker nor Tashigi could ignore its presence.

"What is that?" Smoker and Tashigi exclaimed in unison, their pupils contracting sharply, their hearts filled with doubt and confusion. Smoker, in particular, keenly sensed that the beam of light bore a certain resemblance to his Logia ability.

However, Moke made no attempt to conceal his whereabouts. He crossed the streets without hesitation and headed straight for his destination. This attracted even more attention, with people stopping to watch, filled with curiosity about the mysterious beam of light.

Before long, Moke arrived in town like a shooting star. His speed was astonishing. And his destination was the familiar weapons shop.

Because Moke knew perfectly well that Roronoa Zoro would definitely go to this weapons shop again. Sure enough, when he stepped into the shop again, his prediction was confirmed— Roronoa Zoro had been waiting inside for quite some time.

However, to Moke's slight disappointment, Roronoa Zoro had already snatched both the Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri, two Meito. Therefore, the weapon shop had no other noteworthy Meito left.

So, in the end, he only bought two knives, each costing 50,000 Beli. Of course, there was another important reason: he was short of money. Otherwise, why would he have chosen the lowest quality knives in the shop?

When the weapons shop owner caught sight of Moke stepping into the shop, his eyes lit up instantly, as if he had seen a rare treasure. "Honorable guest, what brings you to our humble shop?" Clearly, the owner was full of anticipation for Moke's arrival, as if in his eyes Moke was a glittering piece of gold that could bring him substantial profits.

Moke's lips curled into a slight smile as he said slowly, "I'm not here to buy knives this time..." He then raised his arm slightly, pointing to Roronoa Zoro standing to the side, and continued, "I've come specifically for him."

"Huh?" Roronoa Zoro looked surprised. He stared at Moke, examining him closely, but no matter how hard he racked his brains, he couldn't recall ever having crossed paths with Moke. However, just as he was Sandai Kitetsu hanging at Moke's waist.

In an instant, Roronoa Zoro's pupils contracted sharply. Although he didn't know the specific origin of the sword, as an experienced swordsman, his intuition told him that it was definitely a rare and famous Meito. At the same time, he sensed a similar aura from Moke —a dedication and love for the way of the sword.

It was a unique aura belonging only to swordsmen, as if he were one with the sword in his hand. When the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, it was as if he had already seen through the other party's intentions. This confidence made people take notice. His hand, as if by instinct, naturally fell on the hilt of the Wado Ichimonji sword, as if the sword could be drawn immediately if needed.

At the same time, a hint of excitement crept into his voice. "If you want to fight, then fight..." Though brief, the determination and courage he conveyed were undeniable.

The shopkeeper was clearly surprised by this sudden turn of events. His gaze swept back and forth between Roronoa Zoro and Moke, seemingly assessing their strength. However, he quickly recovered and hurriedly said, "There's a small Sword Testing Grounds behind my shop, how about..." He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was already very clear.