Finally Found You

"We've finally arrived." Seeing the bustling port and the pirate ships that nearly filled the entire harbor, Ryan couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

Because of the Eternal Pose, their voyage across the sea had lasted far longer than Ryan had expected. If they hadn't encountered the kind-hearted Siegel, they might still be out at sea.

"Then let's part ways here, Ryan." Hawkeye tossed Ace, which he had been carrying, to Ryan.

"I'm giving it to you. I have a sword now." As he spoke, he lifted Mubanniu, which hung at his waist.

"No. I'll find a Supreme Grade Sword of my own."

Ryan held "Ace" and sighed.

Before this, Ryan had actually tried inviting Hawkeye aboard, but Hawkeye had refused. His reason was simple, and Ryan had been unable to argue against it.

Hawkeye had said at the time, "If I stay with you, I'll never become the world's greatest Swordmaster. So I need my own adventure."

After that conversation, Ryan never brought up the subject again. Now, the time for them to say goodbye had finally arrived.

Watching Hawkeye walk down from the ship, Ryan called out, "Hawkeye, are we friends?"

Hawkeye turned around and glanced at Ryan twice before answering, "I suppose so." Then he walked away without looking back, soon disappearing into the surging crowd.

Ryan didn't notice the faint smile that appeared at the corners of Hawkeye's mouth when he heard those words. By the time Hawkeye turned around, he had already restored his usual aloof demeanor.

"What a tsundere. Let's go. We need our own adventures too." Ryan was the first to leave the ship.

The others followed one after another, arriving at their first stop on the Grand Line—the Alabasta Kingdom.

Alabasta was one of the World Government's affiliated countries. As one of the victors from eight hundred years ago, the Nefertari family had ultimately chosen not to remain in Holy Land Mary Geoise as lofty Celestial Dragons. Instead, they had returned to their own country to continue serving the people of Alabasta.

But Alabasta's history didn't end there. In Alabasta, one could even find traces of human life from thousands of years ago.

Ancient ruins could be found everywhere in Alabasta, making it a place every archaeologist had to visit.

"Captain, when are we going to make a new pirate flag?" Kid asked.

Ryan was also puzzled by Kid's obsession with the pirate flag. For the previous flag, Ryan had designed it with his sword, "Ace."

Now that Ryan had Mubanniu, he no longer used "Ace." So Kid had suggested redesigning the pirate flag. After all, the Ryan Pirates were no nameless outfit.

Ryan glanced at the sky. It was still early, so he said to everyone, "Let's do it now."

The group entered a shop that specialized in designing pirate flags. Although the arrival of the Great Age of Pirates had made many countries along the Grand Line even more chaotic, with wars breaking out frequently and many people dying violent deaths,

one thing had to be acknowledged: the Great Age of Pirates had indirectly stimulated the economy of the Grand Line. Pirates from the Four Seas were constantly pouring into the Grand Line with people and wealth.

This was especially true of the coastal cities. Though chaotic, their people's living conditions had actually improved by an entire level compared with the past. After all, the countless pirates arriving on the Grand Line had to eat and spend money.

If no one was willing to pay, no one would do business with pirates. Some poorer cities even welcomed the pirates' arrival. Unfortunately, this only made life harder for the people of the Four Seas.

Most of the countries where the Revolutionary Army would launch revolutions in the future were also in the Four Seas for precisely this reason. It wasn't only because the World Government's control over the Four Seas was weaker; the people there also lived in worse conditions, and more of them were struggling to survive.

Barren soil was more likely to nurture the sparks of revolution. Who among the sane would think about resisting or starting a revolution when they were living comfortably?

When the shop assistant saw Ryan and the others enter, he was just about to come over and serve them when the plump shop owner personally hurried over to greet them.

The shop owner smiled and said, "Lord Bloody Swordsman, please come this way."

Ryan asked curiously, "You know me?"

"How could anyone in our line of work not know a major figure like you?" the shop owner said with an ingratiating smile.

He then led Ryan and the others into a room, leaving the bewildered shop assistant behind.

Ryan looked around and discovered that the room was decorated far more exquisitely than the outside. Looks like this is the VIP room. Privileges really do exist everywhere.

"Sir, you came for those two things as well, didn't you?" the shop owner asked with a smile.

As soon as he said this, Ryan and the others were stunned. From the way he put it, he clearly wasn't talking about a pirate flag.

Ryan asked, "What are those two things you're talking about?"

Now it was the shop owner's turn to be stunned. You mean you don't know? The news has spread throughout the Grand Line.

He could only patiently explain, "One is the Supreme Grade Sword 'Yoru,' and the other is some Ancient Weapon. A lot of pirates have come these past few days. I even heard that some great pirates returned from the New World."

"Be more specific."

"The Supreme Grade Sword 'Yoru' was dug out from underground by a group of archaeologists. A few days ago, I heard it was in the hands of some pirates from the West Blue, but I don't know where it is now. As for the Ancient Weapon, I don't know where that rumor came from either."

One of the Twelve Supreme Grade Swords, "Yoru," had actually appeared in Alabasta. On top of that, Hawkeye was also in Alabasta now.

Could this really be fate? Is the power of destiny truly so strong that it can't be changed? At that thought, Ryan decided to test whether fate truly was unchangeable.

In fact, ever since Ryan had arrived in the world of pirates, he had already changed many things. He simply hadn't realized it himself.

The shop owner didn't understand which Ancient Weapon was meant, but Ryan of course knew. It was Pluton, one of the three Ancient Weapons. No wonder there had been so many pirate crews at the port. Ryan had thought it was normal, but it turned out they had been drawn there by those two things.

"Since you just asked whether I came for this, you must have some information, right?" Ryan glanced at the shop owner and spoke indifferently.

"Of course, sir. I do have information, but..." The shop owner rubbed his hands together.

Ryan instantly understood the gesture.

"Don't worry. You won't be shortchanged." After speaking, Ryan gestured toward Beli.

Beli then brought out a large chest and opened it. It was filled entirely with Beli.

The shop owner's eyes immediately went wide. He stared at the money inside the chest without blinking.

"Go on, tell me," Ryan urged.

The shop owner took out a piece of paper and handed it to Ryan. Ryan looked closely and saw that it contained only four large characters: "Alubarna."

Ryan crumpled the paper into dust with one hand and said, "We also need a pirate flag. How much?"

"100,000 Beli. I'll consider the pirate flag a gift for you." Looking at the paper dust scattered across the floor, the shop owner spoke in a trembling voice.

Ryan then told the shop owner his design, and it was completed very quickly.

Kid eagerly unfurled the newly made pirate flag. A bone stretched across the center of the skull, with a simple double-edged sword piercing straight through the skull from top to bottom. Naturally, the sword had been designed after Mubanniu.

"Wow, that's awesome!"

"Of course. You should see who designed it." Ryan smiled.

Once everything was settled, Ryan and the others went to find a place to stay and rest. After living at sea for so long, everyone was somewhat exhausted—not only physically, but mentally as well.

After Ryan left, the shop owner said to the assistant, "Report the news about Bloody Swordsman Ryan to Lord Crocodile."

In a castle in Rainbase, Alabasta, a man with a cigar between his lips looked at the information in his hand and said, "An interesting fellow has arrived."

"Who?" a woman's voice asked from the darkness.

"Bloody Swordsman Ryan!"

"Will he affect our plan?" another voice came from the darkness.

"No. He's just a newcomer." After hesitating for a moment, the man continued, "Spread the news that Bloody Swordsman Ryan is preparing to seize the Supreme Grade Sword Yoru."

Before long, the castle fell silent once again.

The next day, news appeared throughout the Grand Line that Bloody Swordsman Ryan had arrived in Alabasta and was preparing to seize the Supreme Grade Sword "Yoru."

Far away, Pofitas and Kuzan saw the news and smiled. "We've finally found you!"