Lin Mo asked flatly, "You're not open at night?"
The Tavern Owner paused, then said, "You're from out of town, aren't you? My tavern's only open during the day. If you're buying wine for your family, come back after sunrise."
With that, the Tavern Owner left.
Lin Mo said nothing more and prepared to return to Isshin Dojo.
He stopped at a stall that sold wine flasks.
After a moment's thought, he picked one out. He had just paid and hung his new Wine Gourd at his waist when—
Several people concealed beneath dark green cloaks passed behind him.
That presence...
Lin Mo turned to look at them.
At the same time, the person leading the group glanced back at him.
Their eyes met.
Lin Mo's expression did not change in the slightest.
A flicker of surprise crossed the other man's eyes.
The lanterns set out by nearby vendors cast enough light to reveal part of the face hidden beneath the hood.
The red square Tattoo on the man's left cheek confirmed his identity for Lin Mo.
It was Monkey D. Dragon!
The leader of the Revolutionary Army, son of Garp the Hero, and father of the future Pirate King, Luffy.
"Hey, Dragon, what are you doing? We can't stay here long. It'll be trouble if we draw attention. Hurry up." The man walking beside Dragon, whose face was enormous, tried his best to keep his voice down.
A companion behind him muttered just as quietly, "Ivankov, that terrifying giant face of yours already drew attention..."
"Hee-haw! What was that? Say it again!" Ivankov spun around and delivered a headbutt.
The man he hit could only stare with tear-filled eyes, furious but too afraid to speak.
Dragon looked forward and kept walking, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Interesting."
A few minutes later.
In the tea room behind Isshin Dojo.
Koshiro was not surprised by the sudden visitors.
"I thought you wouldn't arrive for another couple of days." Koshiro took a sip of tea and smiled. "It seems the plan went smoothly."
"More or less." Dragon looked at the steaming cup before him, picked it up, and took a sip. "This tea's good."
"Come on, Koshiro! I want wine!" Ivankov complained. "You always had fine wine ready when we visited before. Why are you so stingy today?"
Koshiro smiled and shook his head. "It's not that I didn't want to prepare any. I gave away all the wine I'd been saving."
"Huh? You're kidding! All of it?" Ivankov stared at him. "I begged you before, and you wouldn't even give me one extra jar. Who's important enough for you to give it all away?"
"That kid, I assume." Dragon continued sipping his tea, sounding almost casual.
Ivankov blinked. "Huh? Kid? What kid? Which kid?"
Koshiro asked in surprise, "You've met Lin Mo?"
Ivankov said, "Lin Mo? Who's that? The kid you were just talking about?"
"We passed him on the street," Dragon said. "He had Wado Ichimonji and a wine flask at his waist. He wasn't the least bit afraid when he saw me. I could also tell he's at least as strong as Kuina. Looks like you've taken on a promising student."
Ivankov said, "We saw him on the street? How did I miss him?"
"If only he were my student." Koshiro smiled ruefully.
"What?" Dragon set down his cup and looked at Koshiro in surprise. "He isn't your student?"
Koshiro nodded. "I'd like him to stay at the dojo, but he doesn't want to."
Ivankov said, "Hey, you two! Can't you hear me? Stop ignoring me!"
After a moment's silence, Dragon ignored Ivankov and said to Koshiro, "You gave him the fine wine you'd saved for so long and Wado Ichimonji, yet even that couldn't persuade him to stay. He must have something he needs to do."
"Perhaps." Koshiro took another sip of tea. "Actually, he won Wado Ichimonji and the wine when he beat Kuina. I can't really say I gave them to him."
"You knew he would win, and you offered wine and a Famous Sword as the prize. That's no different from giving them away."
Dragon had barely finished speaking when—
Footsteps approached along the corridor.
Everyone in the tea room turned toward the open sliding door.
A small figure with two swords and a Wine Gourd at his waist walked past without a glance.
Shimotsuki Village: An Annoying Kid
After seeing Dragon and his group in town, Lin Mo knew they were headed to Koshiro.
Dragon was the leader of the Revolutionary Army.
The Revolutionary Army sought to overthrow the unequal rule of the Celestial Dragons, who controlled the World Government. The World Government even considered it the greatest threat to global stability.
At this point, the Revolutionary Army was probably still preparing and had not yet begun large-scale operations.
As for why Dragon had come to Shimotsuki Village to see Koshiro, Lin Mo did not care. It had nothing to do with him.
He simply had to pass the tea room to reach the guest room Koshiro had prepared for him.
Koshiro greeted him first. "Lin Mo, were you out?"
Lin Mo turned to him and nodded calmly. "Yeah."
Dragon studied him with interest.
Ivankov could not resist rushing out of the tea room. He leaned in close and scrutinized Lin Mo from every angle. "So you're the kid Dragon and Koshiro were talking about? You don't look like much. Hey, are you two sure you haven't made a mistake? Did this kid really beat Kuina?"
Lin Mo pushed him away in disgust. "Stay away from me."
"Huh?" Ivankov staggered back a few steps, looking deeply wounded. He clutched his chest, doubled over, and trembled. "Ah, my heart... My heart... I can't take it. I'm dying, dying..."
A few seconds later, Ivankov sprang upright again and threw both hands into the air, laughing. "Hee-haw! I'm not dying!"
Koshiro smiled and dealt the final blow. "Ivan, Lin Mo's already gone."
"Ah!" Ivankov froze and looked after Lin Mo. Sure enough, he was already far away.
Struck as if by lightning, Ivankov hugged his knees and sat against the wall, sinking into a cloud of gloom. "That brat... He really just walked away..."
"Heh." Koshiro smiled. "Ivan's as energetic as ever."
"He is." Dragon took a sip of tea and set down his cup. Then he asked, "That kid, Lin Mo. Is he really a child?"
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"His eyes and the way he carries himself. He looks like an adult who's been through a great deal."
"I sensed that too. But he really is just a child, and a remarkably gifted one." Koshiro smiled, then his eyes stirred. "Dragon, do you believe in miracles?"
Dragon paused, puzzled. "Miracles? What do you mean?"
"If you'd arrived a few hours earlier, you'd understand." Koshiro took another sip of tea. The memory of Lin Mo's sudden surge in strength a few hours ago rose unbidden in his mind—along with the faint pressure he had felt from him.
The next day.
Dawn had barely broken.
Lin Mo was up early.
He had just stepped outside his room when—
A figure brimming with murderous intent lunged from the side.
Lin Mo sidestepped, unimpressed. He had sensed the person waiting outside long before the attack.
A single knife-hand strike knocked his overconfident attacker to the ground.
"Ah!" Zoro fell flat on his face.
Lin Mo walked past without even giving him a second glance.
Zoro scrambled up and followed with two bamboo swords in hand. Far from being upset by his defeat, he sounded excited. "Lin Mo, I remember what you told me yesterday. I thought about it all night, and there's still a lot I don't understand, but I won't give up. One day, I'll understand everything you said, surpass you, and beat you!"
"Oh," Lin Mo said without interest.
Zoro pressed on. "I mean it! You might not think much of me now, but that's fine. I'll prove myself. I'll work twice as hard and show you I can do it!"
Lin Mo said nothing.
This kid's so annoying...
Lin Mo kept walking.
As they passed the tea room, Koshiro's voice came from inside. "Zoro, it's time for morning practice."
Zoro stopped following Lin Mo at once and bowed respectfully toward Koshiro. "Yes, sir!"
Then he ran off toward the dojo, full of energy.
Lin Mo looked into the tea room at Koshiro, who sat drinking tea, and nodded. "Thanks."
Koshiro smiled. "You're welcome. Heading out?"
"Yeah."
Without another word, Lin Mo left Isshin Dojo and entered the hills around Shimotsuki Village for his daily hunt.
He did it every day. Fighting powerful animals sharpened his combat skills, strengthened his body, and improved his mastery of Haki. He could also sell what he hunted for Beli to buy food and wine.
Two hours later.
Lin Mo returned with a plentiful haul.
He gave part of the meat he had hunted to Isshin Dojo.
Then he made his way to the tavern in Shimotsuki Village.
It was much like the first time he had entered Makino's tavern in Foosha Village.
The moment he stepped inside, the drinkers burst out laughing.
"Am I seeing things? A kid just walked into the tavern."
"Hey, kid, this is a tavern. If you want juice, buy it somewhere else! Hahaha."
"Look, he's got two swords. Is he a student at Isshin Dojo? Shouldn't he be practicing? Or did he come here to put on a sword show for us? Ahahaha."
"Kid, you don't belong here. Go back to the dojo and practice your cuts! Hahaha."
Lin Mo ignored them and went to the bar.
He climbed onto a tall stool with ease.
He dropped a handful of Beli onto the counter and said lightly, "A cup of your best wine."
"Of course." The Tavern Owner turned around with a smile, polishing a glass. As soon as he saw Lin Mo, he recognized him. "Oh? You're the child from last night. So you did come back. Where's your family? Didn't anyone come with you?"
Lin Mo had no interest in chatting.
He tapped the counter.
The Tavern Owner looked down, smiled, and took the Beli in front of Lin Mo. "You can drink at your age? Impressive."
As he spoke, the Tavern Owner poured Lin Mo a cup of the house's specialty sorghum wine.
Lin Mo picked up the cup and took a sip.
A rich, mellow flavor spread across his tongue.
It fell a little short of the wine Koshiro had given him, but it still tasted good overall.
Satisfied enough, Lin Mo took the Wine Gourd from his waist and set it on the counter with some more Beli. "Fill it."
The Tavern Owner nodded, took the money and the Wine Gourd, filled it, and handed it back.
In that short time, Lin Mo had finished his cup of sorghum wine.
Seeing that Lin Mo's face had not reddened and his breathing was steady, as if he had drunk nothing at all, the Tavern Owner gave him a thumbs-up. "Who would've guessed you could hold your liquor so well at your age?"
Before you continue