Chapter 31

But in the end, he decided against it.

The execution in Loguetown would mark the end of a legend and the beginning of a new era. It would inspire generations of pirates and carry the dreams of countless fans. It ought to be pure and unspoiled. It deserved to be.

Most importantly!

This book was Pirates: I Loaded the Game Panel!

Not Starting as the Black Hand Behind the Scenes in Pirates!

And definitely not Pirates: Signing In at Roger's Execution!

Readers hoping to claim the kill on Roger could forget about it and go to bed.

A triangular arch rose above Loguetown's harbor, with "LOGUE TOWN" written across it. Shops of every kind lined the surrounding streets, broad arcades stretched before their storefronts, and crowds packed the roads.

After leaving the harbor and entering Loguetown, Adrian saw soldiers from the Marine Base patrolling the streets in neat uniforms.

At their head was a familiar-looking red-haired female officer. She wore a variation of the mohawk rarely seen on women, and her crisp white Marine uniform gave her a wild, capable air.

"She looks like..." Adrian searched his memory, then glanced uncertainly at the Marine woman loudly berating her subordinates. "Bellemere? Nami's adoptive mother?"

Adrian had not expected to encounter the first person he recognized from the original story so soon after entering Loguetown.

Bellemere had not left much of an impression. Most of the time, she appeared only in flashbacks, and she was far better known as Nami's adoptive mother than as a retired Marine.

"Was Bellemere stationed in Loguetown? I don't remember... And Nami probably hasn't even been born yet..."

Adrian shook his head slightly. He had no intention of striking up a conversation with Bellemere.

A hot-tempered Marine woman like her was not his type at all. She would only mistake flirting for being in heat. Where was the fun in that?

Following the crowd, Adrian left the patrolling Marines behind and slowly reached a large building resembling City Hall. Before it lay Loguetown's largest square, also the busiest place in town.

Several middle-aged men dressed as craftsmen were busy building a rather crude-looking Execution Platform. In a few days, the Pirate King who had conquered the Grand Line would be put to death there.

After leaving the square, Adrian wandered through Loguetown without any particular destination.

"One double-scoop chocolate and almond ice cream!"

Adrian bought an ice cream from a roadside shop, intending to eat as he walked.

He had barely taken two bites when he spotted a weapons shop nearby.

"How did I forget about that..."

With the two scoops balanced in a crisp cone, Adrian walked into the shop called Ippon Sword Shop.

"Ah! A customer! Welcome!"

Behind the counter, the young shopkeeper, whose hairline had already receded noticeably, greeted him with great enthusiasm.

"I'm Ipponmatsu, the owner of this shop. What can I help you with?"

Another familiar face from the original story, Adrian thought as he sized up the owner.

But Ipponmatsu... What kind of name is that? Does he have a younger brother called Ippon-tight? A father called Righteous to the Core?

Ipponmatsu knew nothing of Adrian's private mockery. He kept talking enthusiastically, mixing his introduction with plenty of self-praise. "I guarantee the weapons at Ippon Sword Shop are the best in Loguetown! No other shop would dare make that promise! Whatever kind of weapon you want, I have it!"

Adrian named a weapon that was quite a mouthful. "I'd like to buy, uh, an Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon."

"A what?"

"You don't have one?" Adrian thought for a moment. "Do you sell Jedi lightsabers?"

"Huh?"

"Not those either? What about a ship-cleaving sword?"

"What?"

"What kind of weapons shop are you running if you don't have anything?"

"Name a weapon that actually exists, you rude customer!"

Any more teasing, and this young shopkeeper with his rapidly expanding bald spot might draw a sword and attack. Adrian cleared his throat and put on a serious face. "All right, I really am here to buy a sword. A Supreme Grade Sword..."

Ipponmatsu's eyes bulged. His nostrils flared, his teeth clenched, and he began breathing heavily through them.

"I know a little shop like yours wouldn't have one. A Great Grade Sword..."

Ipponmatsu's shoulders had only just relaxed when he sat bolt upright again, his anger returning.

"Would be too much to hope for."

Adrian had deliberately drawn out every word.

Ipponmatsu was nearly in tears. What had he done to deserve this customer?

"Do you have any of the Skillful Grade Swords?" Adrian finally got to the point. "This is Loguetown in the East Blue, Pirate King Roger's hometown, and yours is its finest weapons shop. Don't tell me you don't even have one Skillful Grade Sword to sell."

Adrian's targets, of course, were the two Skillful Grade Swords that were still fairly rare on the seas.

The Cursed Sword Sandai Kitetsu, and Yubashiri, one of the Skillful Grade Swords!

As for what Zoro would do in the future if Adrian took both swords first...

Come on. Would the second-in-command of the main crew ever lack the luck or resources to find replacements?

At Adrian's words, Ipponmatsu's eyes darted about. His nose reddened, and he put on a pitiful expression. "Customer, how would a little shop like mine in the East Blue have one of the legendary Skillful Grade Swords?"

Adrian folded his arms and exposed him without mercy. "But I heard somewhere that besides the Cursed Sword Sandai Kitetsu, you have another shop treasure called Yubashiri. Two Skillful Grade Swords in all!"

"Sandai Kitetsu?" Ipponmatsu froze, looking genuinely surprised. "Since when?"

Hmm?

Adrian raised an eyebrow. The owner did not sound as though he was lying. Had Sandai Kitetsu only ended up in Loguetown later?

It hardly mattered. Adrian did not practice Three-Sword Style or Two-Sword Style. One Skillful Grade Sword would meet his needs.

"You mean you really don't have Sandai Kitetsu?"

"Absolutely not! I know every sword in my shop. How could I overlook one so legendary?" Ipponmatsu declared. "There is absolutely no Sandai Kitetsu here. If there is, I'll eat it on the spot!"

Adrian said calmly, "If you don't have Sandai Kitetsu, Yubashiri is real, isn't it?"

Ipponmatsu's face fell. He had finally spotted the flaw in what he had said.

By insisting only that he did not have Sandai Kitetsu, had he not all but confirmed that he did have Yubashiri?

Ipponmatsu sighed, then turned solemn. "Customer, Yubashiri is the treasure of Ippon Sword Shop!"

"One million Beli."

Since the owner was willing to talk, Adrian promptly named a price.

One million Beli was the usual market price for a Skillful Grade Sword. Only at auctions and similar bidding venues did such swords sell for somewhat more.

Great Grade Swords started at ten million Beli on the market.

As for the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades, some had been lost for ages, while the rest were largely in the hands of legendary figures at the pinnacle of the world.

Want one?

Better go to bed. You could have anything in your dreams.

The offer of one million Beli did not move Ipponmatsu at all. He spoke slowly and distinctly. "Customer, you may not know this, but when my father passed Yubashiri down to me, he made a point of telling me that this Famous Sword had been handed down through the Ippon family for generations."

Adrian was amused. "Does a weapons shop owner really care about that sort of tradition?"

"You misunderstand, customer. My family has treasured this sword for generations. To humble me, it means more than I can say...

"So...

"You'll have to pay more!"

After a round of friendly negotiations, Ipponmatsu sold Adrian Yubashiri, one of the Skillful Grade Swords, for 1.43 million Beli.

Why such an oddly specific amount?

Because Adrian had also sold the long sword formerly hanging at his waist to Ipponmatsu for seventy thousand Beli—with a little force.

After receiving a substantial sum of Beli, Ipponmatsu muttered, "...Any tip?"

Ahem. Ipponmatsu said nothing.

He simply turned and went into the room behind the shop. A moment later, he returned carrying a wooden case wrapped in black cloth. He opened it to reveal a long sword resting quietly inside.

Adrian gripped Yubashiri's exquisite black lacquered scabbard. With a slight push of his thumb, he loosened the guard, then drew the blade with his other hand.

It was a long sword of simple design. The black-lacquered tachi-style blade was nearly straight, with only a slight curve, and its edge bore a small irregular T-shaped pattern.

"A fine sword!"

Adrian could not help praising it.

"Naturally! Yubashiri is... Hey, customer! Customer! You can at least listen to Yubashiri's story before you leave! You rude man!"

On a street in Loguetown.

Adrian examined Yubashiri in his hands from every angle, thoroughly pleased. It was the first Skillful Grade Sword he had ever owned. How could he not be?

"Oh? Tao Ya, what are you doing in Loguetown?"

Gleaming pink high heels adorned her feet. Sheer black stockings hugged her long legs, showing a hint of fair skin beneath. Black denim shorts traced a captivating curve. And above that...

"Tao Ya, your gaze is as bold as ever~"

A somewhat helpless expression appeared on Gion's poised yet alluring face.

"Ah, ah, ah..." Adrian blinked and stammered, "I-I feel like my b-brain is t-trembling..."

Gion blinked twice herself. "Tao Ya, what are you talking about?"

Adrian dropped the exaggerated expression. He gazed deeply into Gion's eyes and said with complete sincerity, "I'm simply expressing how happy I am to see Miss Tao Zhi again."

"How happy?"

"My oo moved."

"?"

"Ahem. I mean, I want to show you the short sword hidden at my waist!"

An inexplicable note of delight entered Gion's voice. An unreadable light flickered in her captivating red eyes. "It's been so long, Tao Ya, yet your personality is as awful as ever~"

With only a few joking words, all the distance between them vanished.

Adrian smiled slightly. "I'm sorry, but even now, my thoughts about Miss Tao Zhi remain quite indecent."

Gion turned, and Adrian quickened his steps to walk shoulder to shoulder with her.

"By the way, what brings Miss Tao Zhi to Loguetown?"

Gion seemed surprised. "Wasn't that what I just asked you, Mr. Tao Ya?"

"Sorry. My eyes were treated to a sight of such overwhelming beauty that my ears temporarily stopped working."

"And now?"

"With my mind full of oo, I can't give you an accurate answer."

"I wouldn't concern myself over a little thing like becoming the object of a younger man's fantasies."

Though Gion answered at once with all the composure of an older woman, a closer look would have shown the tips of her ears gradually turning a delicate pink.

Huh. I thought Momousagi Gion was the mature, elegant sort of older woman, but she has an unexpectedly innocent side...

And once Adrian saw her that way...

He grew even more excited!

Just as he was about to press further, Gion hurriedly changed the subject, seizing on the first thing that came to mind.

"Tao Ya, I've heard rumors about you lately~"

"Rumors?"

"What you did on... Oatfee Island... You destroyed the Capone Gang, which had dominated the West Blue underworld for years, and uprooted its entire operation."