Tashigi of Justice

Wuli arrived on the town's streets, taking in the dazzling array of goods and the crowds flowing past.

The town's prosperity and bustle, its rich sense of human life, gave Wuli the illusion that he had been transported to another world.

Before long, Wuli came back to himself and began his search for a sword.

Wuli casually entered a weapons shop.

The owner, who had been lying listlessly across the counter, suddenly lit up at the sight of him.

He immediately hurried over to Wuli, full of energy, and said ingratiatingly, "Welcome, honored guest."

Wuli nodded without speaking and began inspecting the katanas.

Seeing Wuli's actions, the owner smiled again. "Our shop has been in business for a hundred years. Every sword here is top quality."

Wuli paid no attention to the owner's boasting. He was somewhat disappointed.

Most of the swords here were not even as good as standard Marine-issued swords. Only one or two were slightly better.

After casually picking one of the better katanas in the shop, Wuli asked, "How much is this sword?"

"Two hundred thousand Beli."

A girl passing by happened to hear the owner's price and could not help stopping in her tracks.

Wuli was stunned when he heard the price. That expensive?

Seeing Wuli's reaction, the owner put on an expression as though he were suffering a huge loss. "Fine, I'll sell it to you for one hundred and fifty thousand Beli."

Wuli touched his pocket and said helplessly, "But I only have one hundred thousand Beli."

"Then I'll sell it to you for one hundred thousand Beli."

The owner's immediate response made Wuli feel that something was off, though he could not put his finger on it.

The katana he had chosen could be considered the best sword in the store. Perhaps that was why it cost so much, maybe it was even the shop's prized treasure.

The swords he had used in South Blue had all been taken directly from pirates, so he knew nothing about market prices.

"Fine, I'll take this sword."

As Wuli took out his money, the owner rejoiced inwardly. This was practically a big catch.

Just then, a crisp female voice came from the entrance. "Wait!"

Wuli stopped taking out his money. The owner's face darkened as he turned to look outside.

The speaker was a girl with glasses, wearing a pink coat and carrying two swords at her waist.

Wuli looked at her. Tashigi.

Remembering that Hina had said Smoker had arrived, it was no surprise that Tashigi was in this town.

"Even merchants need a conscience." Tashigi walked up to the weapons shop owner and said, "This sword is worth fifty thousand Beli at most. How can you deliberately jack up the price and sell it for one hundred thousand Beli?"

Then she turned to Wuli. "This sword isn't worth that price."

The weapons shop owner had been furious, but when he saw the two large characters for "Justice" on Tashigi's back, cold sweat immediately broke out across his forehead.

"Um... I..." The owner stammered, about to say something.

But Tashigi pulled Wuli out of the weapons shop.

Then Tashigi said, "There's a weapons shop in this town with better swords than this one. I'll take you there."

Suddenly, the ground trembled, and a thunderous rumble erupted from a nearby street.

At the same time, angry curses and screams rang out, startling all the pedestrians on the road.

Tashigi, beside Wuli, ran toward the source of the loud noise. After giving it some thought, Wuli followed her.

A cart was moving down the middle of the street, carrying an enormous statue.

Pulling the cart was a gigantic hippopotamus.

For some unknown reason, the hippopotamus had been provoked. It dragged the cart as it charged and crashed wildly forward, sending pedestrians who could not dodge in time flying in terror.

A woman carrying a child watched the hippopotamus charge toward her, her face drained of all color.

The little girl in her arms began to cry as well.

The people who saw this scene were all extremely anxious.

Several people atop the hippopotamus looked frantic. Clearly, they could not control it either.

The hippopotamus raised its foot and stomped down toward the mother and child.

The woman looked up at the massive foot that seemed to blot out the sky, her heart filled with despair.

Whoosh!

A pink figure suddenly appeared in front of the woman.

Tashigi crouched halfway down, gripping her swords with both hands as she struggled to block the hippopotamus's descending foot.

As if sensing that someone was obstructing its path, the hippopotamus's eyes flashed with human-like contempt.

The hippopotamus roared and stomped down harder, causing the ground to cave in.

The immense force pressed Tashigi down until she could not straighten her back.

She gritted her teeth and suddenly erupted with tremendous strength, lifting the giant hippopotamus slightly.

At the instant the giant hippopotamus's foot left the ground.

Sword light flashed.

The blade in Tashigi's hand slashed at the giant hippopotamus at incredible speed.

A bottomless gash instantly appeared on the giant hippopotamus's foot, blood pouring from it.

Then she immediately took the mother and daughter away from beneath the giant hippopotamus's foot.

The giant hippopotamus roared in pain. Its injured foot could no longer support its body, and it swayed unsteadily.

The people on the giant hippopotamus's back were also terrified.

Boom!

The giant hippopotamus collapsed onto the street, making the entire ground seem to tremble as dust filled the air.

"Thank you, thank you for saving us," the little girl's mother said.

The little girl in the woman's arms had stopped crying.

She blinked her large eyes, their rims still red, as she looked at Tashigi.

Tashigi smiled faintly, stroked the little girl's head, and said gently, "It's all right now."

Cough, cough! The people atop the hippopotamus were not seriously injured, only suffering a few scrapes.

"Pah!" One of them spat out the sand in his mouth. "She actually injured the hippopotamus. What if Lord Morgan blames us?"

"Kill her." As he spoke, several of them aimed their guns at Tashigi.

Soru!

Tashigi appeared before them. They froze, and before they could react, they were sent flying.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out farther down the street.

"What's going on?"

The people on the street instinctively moved aside when they saw the newcomer.

Those among the onlookers who did not react in time were struck down by someone.

"Ah!"

"You're blocking my way." A tall man with a steel jaw and a huge axe for an arm walked over.

The crowd of spectators instantly scattered in terror.

Wuli was slightly stunned. He had not expected it to be him.

Tashigi said in surprise, "Fugitive Morgan!"

"It's over. Morgan has appeared. That female swordsman injured his pet and his men."

Morgan looked at the several subordinates lying on the ground, then at the giant hippopotamus that had already fallen.

Anger flickered in his eyes, but when he saw that the enormous statue on the cart was unharmed, he felt slightly better.