Pirate: Starting with a Rejected Invitation from Red-Hair

He was utterly stunned.

Did that kid just use Armament Haki?

Lin Mo, still hanging from the iron frame, had become the center of attention in the square.

There was no point keeping up the act now.

He let go, dropped from the ten-meter-high frame, and landed steadily on the ground.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a boy with a rooster-like hairstyle in the distant crowd, staring at him in excitement.

Huh?

Bartolomeo?

What's he doing here too?

Lin Mo paused.

A bad feeling came over him.

Without another thought, he headed quickly toward a less crowded area.

Smoker saw Lin Mo leave.

He ordered his still-stunned men to take the pirates away.

Then he hurried after Lin Mo.

That kid is no ordinary person. I have to find out who he is!

Lin Mo knew Smoker was following him, so he deliberately took the narrow alleys that branched in every direction.

Just as he expected,

he soon lost Smoker.

He had drawn too much attention just now. He needed to keep a lower profile.

Lin Mo had no desire to be watched wherever he went.

As he wondered where to go next, a shop selling swords and other weapons caught his eye.

Isn't that the weapon shop where Zoro buys his swords in Loguetown ten years from now?

I ended up here...

If I remember right, the Demon Sword Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri, one of the Skillful Grade 50, are both in this shop.

Since I'm here, I might as well take a look.

With that, Lin Mo stepped into the weapon shop.

"What? It's just a kid."

The shopkeeper, Sell-One-Sword, had been about to greet his customer with a smile. When he saw a child walk in, his face fell, and he muttered in annoyance.

Lin Mo glanced over the swords and weapons hanging on the walls. His gaze settled on three barrels full of swords in the corner.

Seeing Lin Mo take an interest in the cheap stock, Sell-One-Sword said impatiently:

"The swords in those barrels are the cheapest ones. Fifty thousand Beli each. If you've got the money, pick one. If you don't, get out."

Lin Mo ignored him and walked straight to the barrels to look for Sandai Kitetsu.

He had barely reached them when a tall, thin figure passing the shop entrance caught his attention.

As if sensing someone watching him, the man outside stopped and looked in.

Their eyes met.

Long, wavy silver-white hair, a matching beard on his chin, glasses, and a long vertical scar over his right eye.

There was no mistaking him.

It was Dark King Rayleigh!

Loguetown: Dark King Rayleigh's Drinking Challenge

Silvers Rayleigh, known as the Dark King, had been the Vice Captain of the Roger Pirates and was called the Pirate King's right hand.

After the Roger Pirates disbanded, hadn't he stayed on the Sabaody Archipelago and become a coating craftsman?

Why was he in Loguetown now?

Before Lin Mo could think further, Rayleigh turned back and entered the weapon shop.

Sell-One-Sword brightened at the sight of another customer, but only for a moment.

Rayleigh wore plain clothes, and his white hooded cloak had several holes in it. He looked like a man without a penny to his name.

Sell-One-Sword's face fell again. "What is it with today? All I've had since opening are paupers... Hey, old man, can you even afford anything?"

Rayleigh smiled. "Can't I look around if I don't have money?"

With that, Rayleigh walked toward Lin Mo, still smiling.

Lin Mo: "..."

He isn't coming over because of me, is he?

Forget it. I'll ignore him.

Lin Mo turned back and continued searching through the barrels.

Found it!

He drew out a plain-looking sword with a short strip of white cloth on its hilt, a cross-shaped guard, and hilt fittings and wrapping.

The moment Lin Mo took Sandai Kitetsu out, Sell-One-Sword, who had been grumbling about his bad luck, grew tense.

Even Rayleigh, who had just reached Lin Mo's side, looked surprised. "Is that... Sandai Kitetsu?"

Without a word, Lin Mo drew Sandai Kitetsu from its sheath and gave it a couple of casual swings.

A cold, sinister sensation traveled through the hilt and into his body.

Though nothing had happened, Lin Mo thought he caught a faint smell of blood.

He could even feel the sword trying to erode his mind.

Worthy of a Demon Sword.

Interesting.

A slight smile touched Lin Mo's lips as he sheathed the sword.

Then he tossed Sandai Kitetsu back into the barrel.

Seeing him put it back, Rayleigh noticed the Wooden Sword at Lin Mo's waist and smiled.

"If I'm not mistaken, that sword you picked up was Sandai Kitetsu. It may be a Demon Sword, but if you can subdue it, it's an excellent blade. Aren't you going to buy it?"

"I don't have any money," Lin Mo said.

The three bottles of Wine he had bought at the tavern had used up everything he had.

"Hahaha!" Rayleigh laughed. "What a shame. I don't have any money either. Otherwise, I'd buy a sword that fine, even if it were only to keep it at home."

"Shopkeeper." Rayleigh turned to Sell-One-Sword. "How much are the swords in those barrels?"

Sell-One-Sword swallowed, his expression grim. "Fifty thousand Beli each... But the sword you two were looking at isn't for sale!"

"Oh? It isn't?" Rayleigh said with a show of regret. "What a pity. If a sword that good cost only fifty thousand Beli, I'd come back for it once I had the money."

Lin Mo gave him a speechless glance.

This is a man who sells himself when he's broke, then gambles and buys Wine whenever he gets a little money. Is he really going to save up for a sword he won't even use?

Of course not!

Lin Mo didn't believe a word of it.

But Sell-One-Sword went pale at Rayleigh's words.

"That's a Demon Sword! Plenty of people have died tragically after carrying a Kitetsu. There isn't a single Swordsman in the world using one now. Even people who don't know what it is vanish after using one, as if they've been cursed. Anyway, even if you have the money, I won't sell it. If you died, wouldn't that mean I'd killed you indirectly?"

"Oh? Then why did you put Sandai Kitetsu in a barrel of swords for sale?" Rayleigh asked curiously.

Sell-One-Sword clutched at his hair. "I wanted to get rid of a cursed sword as soon as possible, but... now I'm afraid whoever buys it will die young. No, I can't be responsible for someone's death. This sword isn't for sale! I'd rather leave it buried in storage for the rest of my life than sell it and harm someone."

As he spoke, Sell-One-Sword hurried to the barrel, pulled Sandai Kitetsu out from among the other swords, and hugged it to his chest.

Lin Mo and Rayleigh stared at him, speechless.

Rayleigh suddenly laughed. "Haha, what an interesting shopkeeper."

Lin Mo left the weapon shop without a word.

Seeing him go, Rayleigh followed him out.

"Kid, wait. You know who I am, don't you?"

Lin Mo shook his head. "No."

Rayleigh didn't believe him. "The way you looked at me in the shop said otherwise."

Lin Mo: "..."

Rayleigh went on, "I haven't been to Loguetown in five years. It brings back memories. The town hasn't changed much."

Lin Mo kept walking, saying nothing.

When Lin Mo ignored him, Rayleigh continued, "The way you ignore people reminds me of a kid someone told me about. Your name is Lin Mo, isn't it?"

Lin Mo: "!"

He stopped and looked at Rayleigh.

How does he know my name?

Did someone tell him on his way to Loguetown?

Seeing Lin Mo's surprise, Rayleigh smiled faintly. "No need to guess. I ran into Shanks on the way here. He told me about you. He also said that if I met you, I should pay attention, because you were bound to surprise me."

Lin Mo sighed inwardly.

It made sense. Shanks had once been an apprentice aboard Pirate King Roger's ship, and Rayleigh had been its Vice Captain.

It was only natural for Red-Hair to tell his former Vice Captain about Lin Mo when they met.

"Kid." Rayleigh's gaze fell on Lin Mo's Wine Gourd. "Do you have any Wine left?"

Lin Mo: "..."

"Hahaha, don't look so wary. I'm not after your Wine. I know the owner of a tavern nearby. How about coming with me to get a few free drinks?"

Hm?

Free drinks?

That sounds good.

Lin Mo wavered a little.

Rayleigh saw it at once.

He gave Lin Mo a light pat on the back and guided him forward. "Shanks told me you can hold your drink. Perfect. Let's see which of us can drink more. Hahaha!"

Lin Mo found himself going along with Rayleigh.

Not long after they left the alley,

Bartolomeo, the boy with the green rooster-like hairstyle, appeared in Sell-One-Sword's weapon shop.

"Eh? Aren't you Bartolomeo from the next street over?" Sell-One-Sword jumped at the sight of him.

Bartolomeo grinned, holding a Spiked Club. "Hand over the sword that kid was looking at."

"Huh? Sword? What sword? I don't know what you're talking about..." Sell-One-Sword tried to play dumb.