"Brother! You're back! It's been three or four years since I last saw you, and you haven't changed much!" Kozaburo stopped what he was doing when he heard the voice, looked up, and saw a familiar face. He immediately became excited, and almost dropped the hammer in his hand and hit his foot.
"Yes, I'm in the Navy now. I just happened to be passing by and came back to visit you guys. I don't know when I'll have time again. The Navy has a lot of missions, and you're not getting any younger, brother. You should enjoy your retirement!"
Vic felt that Kozaburo been working in the sword-forging business for too long and was overworking himself, which might affect his lifespan, so he advised against him continuing to do so.
"Fortunately, it was Saburo's idea to provide each disciple who leaves the dojo with a real sword, so that they will have some self-defense capabilities when they venture out on their own in the future."
Even if you don't go out to explore, you can stay at home to defend against pirate attacks. The weapons are all very ordinary, and it's not very troublesome. It won't cost much in a year.
I'm just killing time anyway, I won't tire myself out. Let's have a drink tonight. I'm so happy you're back today. What's that knife on your waist?
Kozaburo didn't really have much to do if he wasn't forging swords. If it was just forging swords out of boredom, that wouldn't be a problem. But Kozaburo was genuinely happy about Vic's arrival. The two had a teacher-student relationship and were also friends. This was a reunion, and he was even happier than seeing his son whom he saw often. Finally, he noticed the Haki Blood Wither and Allen on Vic's waist.
"Drink! We have to drink! I'll go hunt some game later to go with the drinks. These two swords were forged at Marine Headquarters myself using materials I collected. It's a bit of a shame they weren't made into Supreme Great Grade Sword still a little short!"
With great regret, Vic drew his twin swords from his waist and handed them to Kozaburo for his appraisal. Although Vic could feel that the twin swords were slightly improving in quality under the Void Lightning, he didn't know when they would reach the level of Supreme Great Grade Sword.
Moreover, even reaching the level of Supreme Great Grade Sword would only be considered a beginner's level. Given Vic's obsessive-compulsive tendencies, he would certainly not allow it. He would only feel safer with top-tier strength and top-tier equipment.
"The quality of your two swords is even slightly higher than that of the Wado Ichimonji. You found the special metal, right? Your forging skills are already quite mature, it's just that the type and quantity of the special metal weren't quite there yet, otherwise they would definitely reach the level of Supreme Great Grade Sword."
The design is also incredibly Haki. These two swords are destined to be famous for all time; their design alone is enough to make them legendary. Are you going to the Sword Appreciation Tournament this year?
Kozaburo drew two swords and stroked them repeatedly, seemingly reluctant to part with them. He had taught Vic the craft, and he was naturally very satisfied with his achievements. Moreover, the swords were novel in design, reflecting his own ideas and breaking through the traditional sword-forging tradition of Wano Country. He had also fulfilled what Vic had told him.
"Yes, I was lucky enough to find Cast Blue Gold and Nagayama Black Gold, but the quantities were small, barely enough to forge four swords."
These two swords were designed based on the design of the dragon I fought last time. I suffered a crushing defeat in that battle, so I forged them into a pair of swords in his likeness, to look at them every day and remember them for the rest of my life!
Vic remarked with some emotion that it was truly the most dangerous time he had ever been since his transmigration, and he would naturally remember it and constantly remind himself of it. Kaido a capricious man, and although the old man was already on his way, it was hard to say what Kaido would do.
"I won't go to the Sword Appreciation Tournament. My swords don't need their approval. I'll make their name for themselves!" Vic continued.
"You're right, you're not just a blacksmith, you're a swordsman too. Your swords can indeed make a name for themselves through your skill."
The special metal that can forge four Great Grade Sword should be enough to forge two Supreme Great Grade Sword, right? Why choose to forge four?
Nagayama Black Gold is the rarest of all special metals. You're incredibly lucky to have found it in just a few years. Some swordsmiths might only find two or three kinds in their entire lives, and even then, they can't be weak. It's a real shame you didn't forge Supreme Great Grade Sword!
Kozaburo's greatest achievement in his life was the swords Enma and Wado Ichimonji, both of which were Great Grade Sword. It is the regret of every swordsmith that cannot forge Supreme Great Grade Sword.
Kozaburo hadn't managed to forge it by this age, and it would be even more difficult for him in the rest of his life. It wasn't that his skills were lacking, but rather that the materials were hard to find. And Vic, who had the materials, didn't use them to forge the Supreme Great Grade Sword, but instead scattered them and made them into Great Grade Sword. He truly felt sorry for Vic.
But Vic wasn't disappointed. Firstly, he had helped Rebecca forge a weapon, and secondly, he didn't think he would be unable to find special metals in the future. He was still young and strong, and would have plenty of opportunities in the future. He would definitely have a place among the Supreme Great Grade Sword.
"I forged a weapon for a friend, no major issues. For now, Great Grade Sword is enough for me, and I can still forge Black Blade."
"By the way, brother, how long does it usually take to forge Black Blade? Do you know?" Vic suddenly thought of the Black Blade. Kozaburo's ancestor was Shimotsuki Ryuma, the forger of the Black Blade Shusui, so there might be some records about it.
"Refining Black Blade? So you've already Awakening Armament Haki! That's fast! Your talent is truly exceptional."
Historically, Black Blade were few in number and appeared over a wide period of time; no one has specifically recorded how long it took to forge Black Blade.
Although there was a Black Blade wielder in their ancestry, it was a long time ago, and no useful records have been left behind.
However, judging from the number of Black Blade required, it will take a considerable amount of time, and it's also highly dependent on the user's Haki strength. Take your time, you're still young!
Kozaburo didn't have a definite answer either. Black Blade were just too rare. Some people lacked the necessary Haki, so no matter how much they forged them, it was useless. Others had such strong Haki that they didn't need the enhancement of a Black Blade Black Blade, nor would they bother to forge one.
Vic wasn't disappointed by the lack of an answer. He wouldn't stop nurturing the Black Blade anyway. What Hawk-Eye could do, Vic would do as well. You have one Black Blade, I have two. I won't be at a disadvantage in a fight. It'll just come down to who has the greater Haki and swordsmanship.
After chatting with Kozaburo for a while, Vic went into the forest to prepare snacks to go with the drinks. He had plenty of wine in his storage space, but he was missing some small animal bones and meat.
He decided not to go to the Isshin Dojo today, but to stay in the forest and have a drink and chat with Kozaburo. The old man was not young, and he didn't know how much longer he could live, so he should cherish the time they spent together.
Kozaburo was in a great mood today. The wines that Vic brought out were also very special, including sweet fruit wines and mellow grain wines, and there were plenty of snacks to go with them.
The two drank and chatted until very late before Kozaburo finally succumbed to the alcohol and fell asleep. Vic had the Life Return, so it was difficult for him to get drunk if he wanted to, but Vic didn't use this ability today and fell asleep on the ground with a slightly tipsy feeling.