Everyone settled down on the deck.
Marie quietly poured cups of tea for everyone and placed a plate of biscuits in the center.
Zoro knelt beside Tashigi, a look of apprehension on his face. This was a novel experience for Tashigi; it was likely the first time she realized Zoro was actually afraid of someone.
Koshiro took a sip of his tea and said with a touch of emotion, "Looking at the two of you sitting together, it feels like just yesterday. Tashigi, I must apologize; you are yourself, not my daughter Kuina."
Tashigi shook her head. "It's alright, Uncle."
Koshiro continued, "If you don't mind, I'd be happy to guide you in swordsmanship. Kuina was my student from a young age." He added, "Back then, Zoro couldn't defeat Kuina even once."
Zoro immediately looked embarrassed. "Master Koushirou, could you please not bring that up?"
Koshiro chuckled. "Hehehe, alright, I won't say another word."
Tashigi eagerly agreed. "Okay! If Master Koushirou is willing to teach me, I'll learn diligently, and one day, I'll definitely defeat that green-haired three-sword style user and take all three of his famous swords!"
"Hmph! You think you can? You're still a long way off!"
"Effort conquers all! Just because someone lost to Kuina when they were young doesn't mean they won't lose to me someday!"
Watching the two bickering, Koshiro maintained a smile, but his gaze seemed to drift back to the past. The scene before him was so similar to his days at the dojo.
Knowing that the Straw Hats wouldn't be staying long, Koshiro began his instruction right there on the deck.
Zoro sat quietly, just as he had as a child in the dojo.
Carl, Robin, and Marie moved to the second floor deck, silently observing Koshiro's lesson.
It was also a good opportunity for Carl to learn.
Although he might be stronger than Koshiro now, as he himself had acknowledged, his swordsmanship was self-taught, leaving plenty of room for improvement.
Meanwhile, back in the city...
Luffy, Nami, Usopp, and Mr. 3 arrived at the bank, the massive wax ball directly blocking the entrance.
The bank manager emerged with a group of staff, a forced, flattering smile on his face.
The straw-hatted boy before him was one of the current Five Emperors, a super pirate with a 1.5 billion Berry bounty—not someone their small bank could afford to provoke.
"Hello, Captain Straw Hat, what service do you require?" the bank manager asked, nervously wringing his hands.
"Oh, we have some gold here. We want to exchange it all for Berry," Nami answered, winking at Mr. 3, who immediately understood and subtly removed some of the wax, revealing the sheer quantity of gold. The bank staff's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Thank you, Fifth Emperor, for your trust in our bank. We will certainly exchange this gold at the best possible rate and ensure your complete satisfaction!"
Five Emperors? Luffy?
Nami, Usopp, and Mr. 3 exchanged amused glances.
That's right, Luffy was now one of the Five Emperors. With that title, the banks wouldn't dare to cheat them, and no one would even think of trying to steal from them!
The entire bank sprang into action. After a thorough evaluation of the gold's worth, they concluded it was nearly 10 billion Berry. Considering it was the vast majority of the gold from the Golden Town, this value was no exaggeration.
Nami was practically glowing with happiness.
Luffy, Usopp, and Mr. 3 stared wide-eyed, looking like country bumpkins.
In fact, not only them but even the bank employees were shocked. It was the first time in their lives they had seen so much gold.
The final arrangement was that part of the gold was exchanged for the bank's entire 2 billion Berry, and the remaining gold would have to be taken back with them. But Nami wasn't at all disappointed; as long as the gold was still in their possession, they could exchange it elsewhere at any time.
However, the Straw Hats had completely escaped their status as poor pirates and had become rich overnight.
Soon, Luffy and the others returned the way they came, carrying the gold and Berry. Despite the heavy load, they felt like they were walking on air.
"Hahahaha! Nami, we're rich!" Luffy grinned.
"We got rich! Of course, I can share some with you; after all, you contributed to this," Nami said with a smile.
Nami's words left Luffy and the others speechless.
But everyone was used to Nami's money-grubbing nature, so they didn't say anything.
And almost at the exact moment Luffy and the others left the bank, the news that the Five Emperors were swaggering through the market with gold worth tens of billions spread throughout the City of Seven Waters, reaching the ears of powerful forces far away.
For a time, many people were tempted.
However, very few dared to make a move...
Enies Lobby and Spandam also received the news and were instantly stunned by the sheer value. Then, undisguised greed filled his eyes.
The gold worth tens of billions of Berry belonged to him, Spandam!
As for the opponent being the so-called Five Emperors, Spandam dismissed it as an exaggeration. Moreover, even if it were true, it didn't matter, because behind him stood the World Government!
"By the way, about the Pluton blueprints, let Rob Lucci and the others handle that as well.
And that Nico Robin.
She happens to be with the Straw Hats, so they can just grab her when they seize the gold.
Hahahaha! I've hit the jackpot twice in one go! Thanks to them, I've also acquired so much gold at the same time, so I won't have to worry about officialdom or finances from now on!"
Spandam immediately issued orders via Den Den Mushi and also instructed the other CP9 members still at Enies Lobby to head to the City of Seven Waters.
One reason was to be safe; so much gold needed more people to escort it.
Thinking of his bright future, the smile on Spandam's face never faded. It's just that he lacked self-awareness, and his smile was truly ugly.
Not only Spandam, but more people were converging on the City of Seven Waters.
No one had anticipated that the arrival of the Straw Hats would make the City of Seven Waters so lively, turning it into a potential battlefield.
Back at the ship, Luffy and the others returned with the money and saw a strange uncle teaching Tashigi swordsmanship, so they asked curiously. Zoro stood up and made the introductions.
Luffy and the others learned Koshiro's identity and were amazed.
Especially when they found out that Tashigi and Zoro's childhood friend Kuina looked alike, Zoro and Tashigi exchanged awkward glances.
Not to mention, these two used three swords, and they looked quite similar.
Zoro also asked about the gold, and everyone was shocked by the answer.
"Ten billion? We've been carrying tens of billions of Berry's worth of gold?!"
Tashigi was stunned; she had only heard of such high bounties but had never seen such a vast amount of money. Yet, for days, tens of billions of gold had been following right behind the ship, so close to her.
Even Carl was very surprised. He hadn't expected this batch of gold to be worth so much.
Well, that settled it; the Straw Hats would never have to worry about money again.
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