The voyage over the next few days passed in unloading and taking on cargo at several islands. After breakfast, Vic sat cross-legged on the deck with his eyes closed, cultivating as usual. He had never stayed in the room Captain Buck had arranged for him; he spent his time either in the dining room or on deck.
He had not been sitting long when Buck called him out of his cultivation, saying the ship would reach Loguetown that afternoon.
After hearing that, Vic stopped cultivating. A few hours made no difference to him, and he wanted a good look at the famous town-the last island at the East Blue entrance to the Grand Line, the town of beginnings and endings, where the Pirate King had been born and executed.
Ships had begun to pass through these waters now and then, and pirate ships were an occasional sight. They were not attacking other vessels, though. Perhaps, so close to the Grand Line, they wanted to keep a low profile. Loguetown did have a Marine Base.
After lunch, Loguetown's coastline came into view. Ships grew increasingly numerous, with pirate vessels passing by now and then. Finally, the freighter pulled up to the dock. Vic told Buck he was going to look around Loguetown. Buck had no objection, only telling him to be careful because there were plenty of pirates in town. Then he went to arrange for men to unload the cargo.
Vic disembarked and looked around the docks. There really were quite a few ships, including several pirate vessels. He found it funny. These pirates had some nerve, docking so brazenly with such a large Marine Base in Loguetown. Weren't they defying the Marines' authority? Did they not want their ships anymore?
But then he remembered that Smoker had not yet been stationed here. The place was not much of a deterrent at the moment. Smoker should be about his age now. Vic had been ten when the Pirate King was executed, and Smoker had looked about eleven or twelve when he appeared at the execution ground. Vic wondered whether Smoker had eaten his Devil Fruit yet, or joined the Marines.
Lost in thought, he reached the entrance to Loguetown. An archway bearing the town's name came into view. The town was crowded and lively, with the cries of vendors, shouts, and arguments ringing out incessantly. People jostled shoulder to shoulder in the streets.
Such prosperity was probably rare throughout the East Blue. As expected of the entrance to the Grand Line, where trade flourished. Vic had a sword at his waist and a muscular build, so nobody was blind enough to come looking for trouble. He had come to buy that sword, Zoro's blade, Yubashiri. Vic knew that if he did not take it, it would be ruined, so he would be saving its life. He had not come across a good sword yet, so he could make do with it for now; at least it would not be destroyed.
As he asked passersby for directions to a weapon shop, many women blushed at the sight of him, and some bold ones even approached him. Vic sent them all away and ended up asking men for directions instead. He searched several weapon shops before finding the owner with the unusual hairstyle. The crossed swords above the shop door gave it plenty of style.
He had not expected the owner to be running the shop already. Vic had worried he had come too early and made the trip for nothing. He did the math and realized Zoro was still a baby barely over a year old, and could not help chuckling.
When the balding owner saw a man with a sword at his waist enter, he knew he had a customer. He immediately came out from behind the counter to greet him with a smile.
Once out from behind the counter, the owner looked up and met the man's eyes. His heart tightened at once. Being stared at by those eyes made him uncomfortable all over.
Fortunately, the feeling vanished immediately. Vic had only glanced at the owner unconsciously, and when he saw the man trembling, he realized his gaze had been a little too imposing. He immediately reined it in.
"Looking to buy a sword, sir? I have a full selection here. Have a look and see if anything suits you," the owner said with a broad smile.
"All right, I'll take a look first," Vic said with a smile.
With that, he began browsing the shop. Vic knew Yubashiri was not on display. He wanted to see Sandai Kitetsu and get a feel for the blade, to find out what was so magical about it.
He certainly would not take that sword. He would not want a blade that tried to control its owner, even if he could suppress it.
He looked over everything in the shop, not even skipping the cheapest swords, which stood in a barrel at fifty thousand Beli apiece. He examined them carefully, but Sandai Kitetsu was nowhere to be found. Looks like Sandai Kitetsu hasn't fallen into this owner's hands yet. That makes sense. If he had it now, there's no way it would still be here waiting for Zoro more than a decade later. Someone would have bought it long ago. He probably only got it shortly before the Straw Hat Pirates reached Loguetown, Vic thought to himself.
Seeing no other Famous Swords, Vic went straight to the counter and got to the point. "I've looked at all these swords, and none of them are much good. Do you have any Famous Swords or anything like that hidden away instead of on display?"
The owner was somewhat surprised. He did have a Famous Sword he had not brought out. How did this man know? "There is one, but... hehe." The owner rubbed his hands together, his meaning clear.
"Money's not a problem. Bring it out." Vic had understood.
At Vic's words, the owner immediately beamed. He went upstairs in the back of the shop and soon returned with a sword stand covered by a long purple cloth, which he set on the counter.
"It has a black-lacquered tachi mounting and an irregular clove-patterned edge. The Fine Grade Sword Yubashiri is the best blade I have. I didn't intend to sell it, but I can tell from your eyes that you'll become a famous swordsman one day. Take Yubashiri and make a name for yourselves together," the owner said seriously, his nose red.
Vic had come for it in the first place, so he saw no reason to stand on ceremony. "Just tell me how much."
The owner rubbed his hands a little awkwardly and held up one finger. "One million Beli will do. I can't help it. I borrowed quite a lot to open the shop, and running a shop in Loguetown is very risky."
Without a word, Vic took one million Beli from his backpack and placed it on the counter. He picked up Yubashiri, drew the blade, and examined it.
Vic did not begrudge the owner for giving Zoro the sword but charging him a million. After all, that was more than a decade ago. Vic did not want to owe him a favor, and it was not much money; he could easily afford it.
While Vic was examining the sword, three men entered from outside. The man in front wore a pirate captain's hat and headed for the counter.
"Kid, I've got my eye on that sword. The light reflecting off its blade dazzled me all the way from the street. That sword and I were meant to meet! Hahaha!"
Vic turned and looked the short, fat, dark, ugly pirate up and down. He did not recognize him. "Can't you see I've already paid? When you buy something, it's first come, first served," he said flatly.
"Hahaha! I never said I was buying anything. I'm a pirate. Can't I just steal what I want?" the fat, dark man laughed smugly.
The shop owner was a little frightened and trembled slightly, unsure whether he should take the money on the counter.
The corner of Vic's mouth curled up. With a hint of amusement, he said, "Oh? Never heard of you. Are you sure you can take it? There's a Marine Base in town. Aren't you afraid?"
"Hehehe! Our captain has a bounty of two million Beli! He's not afraid of the Marines or anyone else. Hand over the sword, and we'll spare your life!" a lackey beside him shouted.
The shop owner grew even more frightened, while Vic grew more amused. He could not seem to spend this money. It could not be helped when someone was offering him money.
He flashed to the side of the three men and swung the still-sheathed Yubashiri straight across. All three faces struck the scabbard. If the scabbard could feel, it would probably have found that painful too.
The owner stared in surprise at the three men on the floor. Seeing the red marks on their faces and the blood running from their noses, he felt an ache in his own face and unconsciously rubbed it.
"All right, there's a man worth two million Beli here now. Take him to the Marine Base and collect the bounty. I won't pay you for the sword, then." With that, Vic turned and headed out.
The shop owner was astonished by Vic's strength. He looked young, and his face had not yet fully matured.
Seeing Vic about to leave, the owner hurriedly called out, "Sir, this man is worth two million Beli, and Yubashiri only costs one million. I still owe you a million! Don't leave; I'll get you your change."
Vic waved without looking back. "Consider it a delivery fee."
"Sir, may I ask your name?" the owner asked carefully.
"My name is Vic, Orens Vic."
By the time the words faded, he had already walked out of the shop. The owner stood dazed for a moment, then murmured, "Vic, Orens Vic. A name I've never heard before. Will you become an unrivaled powerhouse?"
Once the owner came to his senses, he immediately called for people to haul away this cargo worth two million Beli.
Having bought his sword, Vic had only one thing left to do in Loguetown: visit the Pirate King's Execution Platform. He had to see such a famous place.