"LAND! LAND! I CAN SEE AN ISLAND!" Luffy's voice carried across the deck from his perch on Going Merry's figurehead, his rubber arms stretching as he pointed excitedly toward the horizon.
I squinted at the growing silhouette of Loguetown, feeling that familiar knot of anticipation in my stomach.
The town where Gold Roger was executed. How fitting that we'd make our final stop in East Blue at a place synonymous with both beginnings and endings.
"What should we do now?" Usopp asked, looking with a scope as he peered at the approaching island.
Nami stepped forward, her orange hair catching the sea breeze. "We should get Merry to the dry docks first. The ship needs to be checked and modified as fast as possible, so we don't have to stay on this island too long."
"I agree," I said, crossing my arms. "The sooner we get the modifications done, the sooner we can leave for the Grand Line."
"Ah, Nami-san is so wise and beautiful!" Sanji swooned, literally spinning in place with hearts in his eyes. "Of course, we should follow her brilliant suggestion!"
Roronoa nodded curtly. "Makes sense. No point wasting time."
Even Usopp seemed on board. "Yeah, let's get Merry fixed up properly!"
Luffy jumped down from the figurehead, landing with a thump on the deck.
"Alright! We take Going Merry to maintenance first!"
Without hesitation, I drew the Barbossa sword from its sheath. The sword's blade gleamed under the sunlight as I thrust it forward and used its ability.
WHOOOOSH!
The wind responded instantly, filling our sails with supernatural force. The ship's whip staff began turning on its own, guided by the sword's mystical connection to the sea itself. Going Merry gracefully curved around the island's coastline, moving with an elegance that no normal sailing could achieve.
"Whoa! That sword is really amazing!" Luffy exclaimed, his eyes literally sparkling with childish wonder.
"No matter how much I see it, it's still incredible," Nami murmured, watching the sails adjust themselves perfectly to catch every favorable breeze.
Zoro grunted approvingly. "Useful ability."
"Hey, hey! Can I try using it?" Luffy bounced toward me with his arms outstretched like a kid reaching for candy.
"No," I replied without hesitation.
"Come on! Just once!" He was already reaching for the sword with those stretchy arms of his.
I pulled the blade away from his grasping fingers.
"Absolutely not."
"But I'm the captain!" he whined, puffing out his cheeks like a sulking child.
"Which is exactly why I'm not letting you touch it."
"What? That's not fair! I promise I'll be careful!"
"Still no."
"Pretty please?"
"Not happening."
"But—"
"Hey! I can see the dry dock!" Usopp interrupted, pointing toward a cluster of wooden structures jutting out into the harbor.
'Thank whatever deity watches over loners everywhere.'
The Going Merry glided smoothly toward the docking area, guided by the sword's power until we were positioned perfectly alongside the wooden pier.
I released my control over the vessel, as I sheathed the Barbossa sword.
"Nice work," Roronoa commented as we prepared to disembark.
'At least someone appreciates efficiency when they see it.'
We filed off the ship one by one, our boots clacking against the weathered dock planks. The smell of sawdust, tar, and sea salt hung heavy in the air – the distinctive aroma of a working shipyard.
A middle-aged man with calloused hands and a tool belt approached us. His eyes immediately went to our Jolly Roger flapping in the breeze, and I caught the subtle shift in his posture.
'Wary. Calculating. He's trying to figure out if we're the type of pirates who cause trouble or the type who just want to conduct business.'
"Gentlemen, and lady, can I ask you what brings you here?" he asked, his tone professional but cautious. "I would like to remind you that this is a place for building and maintaining ships, not regular docking." His eyes keep darting back to our flag.
'Smart man – in this line of work, you learn to read your customers quickly or you don't survive long.'
"We need some maintenance and upgrades for our ship," Nami explained, stepping forward with her most diplomatic smile. "We're preparing to head to the Grand Line."
The man's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "The Grand Line? With just the six of you?"
He looked around at our small crew as if counting us again to make sure he hadn't missed anyone.
'Yeah, I know how it looks. A tiny ship, a handful of crew members, and we're talking about sailing into what's essentially a marine graveyard. But then again, this crew has a habit of making the impossible look routine.'
"That's right," Luffy said cheerfully, apparently having recovered from his sword-related disappointment. "I am going to be the Pirate King!"
Luffy, your definition of 'subtle' continues to astound me.
He whistled low. "That's... ambitious. Wait here a moment – let me get some of our shipwrights for your order."
He hurried off, leaving us standing on the dock. I could practically see the gears turning in his head.
'Probably trying to figure out if we're insane, suicidal, or both. The correct answer is "yes."'
"He seemed nice," Luffy commented.
"He seemed terrified," I corrected.
"Same thing!"
'''''No, Luffy. No, it is not the same thing.'''''
Less than three minutes later, he returned with four craftsmen in tow, each carrying notebooks and measuring tools.
"So you're the ones wanting maintenance and upgrades?" the lead shipwright asked, already pulling out a pencil. "What exactly do you need done?"
All four shipwrights began taking positions around the Going Merry like vultures examining a prey, though in this case it was more like expert surgeons evaluating their patient.
Nami and I exchanged a glance. We'd discussed this beforehand, but seeing all these professionals with their notebooks ready somehow made our shopping list seem more real.
"Well," Nami began, slipping into her business mode, "We need modifications to the sails," Nami began, counting off on her fingers. "Better maneuverability in unpredictable weather."
"Change the whip staff to a proper helm," I added. "The current steering system won't cut it where we're going."
"Some kind of armoring," Nami continued. "Whatever you can manage without compromising the ship's speed."
"And cannons," I finished. "As many as the ship can handle without becoming unstable."
"I see," the lead shipwright said, "for the cannons, are you going with the power or the numbers? Although, seeing the crew, I think you should go for the power."
"No, we will go for the numbers if possible," I replied before they recorded this down.
At my words, they all stopped collectively. One of the shipwrights asked slowly. "But, young man, with so little of you, it wouldn't be feasible to have that many cannons."
'So he is taking the size of the crew as an element.'
"Don't worry, we have Devil Fruit users to take care of that." I used the answer that will get them to speed without needing to give them any unnecessary information.
"I see, that explains many things…" The shipwrights were scribbling furiously now, their pencils flying across their notebooks. "Anything else?"
"Oh! Oh!" Usopp jumped in excitedly. "Can we get a side lifter? For boats, supplies, and Surface-supplied diving! And a side ladder for easier boarding!"
'Actually, those aren't bad suggestions. He really thinks practically when it comes to equipment.'
Sanji raised his hand. "Could you modify the kitchen a bit? Maybe expand the pantry space?"
Roronoa remained silent, arms crossed. When one of the shipwrights looked at him expectantly, he just shrugged. "I'm fine with whatever."
"What about you, Captain?" the lead shipwright asked Luffy.
Luffy's face lit up like a Christmas tree.
"I want a bronze statue of myself on the front of the ship!"
'What…?'
A bronze statue. Of course. Because what every pirate ship needs is a giant monument to the captain's ego. Although knowing Luffy, he probably just thinks it would look cool.
"Uh..." the shipwright looked genuinely confused. "That's... not really possible with your current setup. And we are shipwrights, not sculptors."
"Aww, really?" Luffy's shoulders slumped in disappointment.
'Thank God for the laws of physics. The last thing we need is a giant metal Luffy head throwing off our center of balance.'
I looked around at my crewmates, then back at the growing list in the shipwrights' notebooks.
Did we really just ask for that much work? This is starting to sound more like a complete overhaul than simple maintenance.
"Is this... too much?" I asked hesitantly.
The lead shipwright chuckled, showing the first genuine smile since we'd arrived.
"Not at all! Everything you've requested is fairly standard – just finishing work, really. Your ship is small and, well, 'cute', so the scale won't be too big."
'Cute. He called Going Merry cute. I'm not sure if that's reassuring or insulting.'
"The only thing that'll take some time is the decorative work on the armoring," another shipwright added. "But we're talking maybe five hours total for everything."
"Five hours?" Nami blinked in surprise. "That seems... fast."
'Too fast. In my experience, when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.'
"Like we said, it's all basic work," the first shipwright explained. "Now, for the cost... you're looking at about seven million Berri."
The number hit us like a physical blow. Seven million Berri is enough money to buy a decent-sized house in most towns. Hell, that's more than some people see in their entire lifetime.
"Seven million?" Usopp's voice cracked. "That's... a lot."
"Most of that is for the armor and cannons," the shipwright explained apologetically. "Quality materials don't come cheap, especially the kind that can withstand Grand Line conditions."
Nothing worthwhile ever comes cheap, especially when your life depends on it.
I sighed and reached into my cloak. "We'll pay half up front."
Sanji immediately started digging through his pockets as well. Between the two of us, we managed to scrape together 3.5 million Berri – most of my remaining personal funds and whatever Sanji had left from his Baratie savings.
'I was really reckless with my spending lately. I just hope this investment pays off when we're facing Sea Kings and unpredictable weather in the Grand Line.'
"Excellent!" the lead shipwright beamed, accepting our payment. "We'll get started right away. Your ship will be ready in five hours, good as new and then some."
With the business concluded, we found ourselves standing at the entrance to Loguetown proper.
The city sprawled before us, larger and more impressive than most towns I'd seen since arriving in this world. Multi-story buildings lined cobblestone streets, merchant stalls filled busy squares, and the general atmosphere buzzed with commerce and activity.
'This is what prosperity looks like in the pirate world. No wonder it's called the gateway to the Grand Line – it's probably the last chance for most crews to stock up on quality supplies.'
"Wow..." Usopp breathed, his eyes widening. "This place is huge!"
"It's beautiful," Nami added, already eyeing the various shops and merchant stands with the calculating gaze of someone planning significant purchases.
Luffy's head swiveled around like he was trying to take in everything at once. "There's so much to see! I want to go to the execution plaza right now!"
Before anyone could respond, he took a step forward, clearly preparing to bolt into the city like an excited puppy.
I grabbed the back of his vest, stopping him mid-stride. "Wait. You need to come with us to the exchange center first."
"Exchange center?" Luffy tilted his head, looking genuinely confused.
'Sometimes I forget that our captain has the business sense of a particularly naive child.'
"To exchange our gold for actual money," I explained patiently. "You know, so we can buy food and supplies?"
"Can't you guys just handle that?" Luffy asked, already trying to twist out of my grip.
'Of course, he'd want to dump all the responsibility on us. But there are some things a captain needs to be present for, whether he likes it or not.'
"You're the captain," I reminded him firmly. "This kind of transaction requires your presence, or at least your authorization. Besides," I added, playing my trump card, "if you want to taste the meat in this town, you're going to need money."
The change in Luffy was instantaneous. His eyes went wide, and he started practically vibrating with excitement.
"Meat!" he chanted, suddenly fully cooperative. "Yosh! Let's go exchange the gold right now!"
And there it is. Mention food, and suddenly our fearless leader becomes the most motivated person alive.
The rest of the crew just sighed in unison, clearly as accustomed to Luffy's simple motivations as I was becoming.
As we walked through the city streets, Usopp fell into step beside me. "Have you been to this town before, Hachiman?"
"Yes," I replied, taking in the familiar sights and sounds. "Tobias, the accountant I brought to Cocoyasi Village, is from here. His business headquarters are located somewhere in the merchant district."
'It feels strange, having connections in this world now. When I first arrived, I was completely alone, but gradually I've built a network of contacts and relationships.' Not that I particularly wanted to, mind you – it just happened naturally as I tried to survive.
The exchange center wasn't hard to find – buildings that deal with large sums of money tend to be both prominent and heavily secured. This one was no exception, with thick stone walls and guards posted at regular intervals.
Smart precautions. In a world where pirates regularly carry around treasure chests worth millions, you need serious security to stay in business.
Inside, the exchange process went surprisingly smoothly. It helped that three of us were familiar with the procedure – myself from my treasure hunting days, Nami from her years as a thief, and Roronoa from his bounty hunting days.
It's funny how you can tell who's handled money before and who hasn't. Luffy kept trying to touch the scales, Usopp was amazed by the whole process, and Sanji was more interested in flirting with the female clerks than paying attention to the actual business.
When all was said and done, our gold had been converted to roughly sixty million Berri in cash and credit notes.
'Sixty million Berri. That's more money than most people in East Blue will see in their entire lives. It's also probably not nearly enough for what we're planning to do in the Grand Line.'
The crew's excitement was palpable as we divided up the funds. Everyone got a personal allowance for shopping, plus we established a shared fund for the crew expenses.
"Wait," Nami interjected as I was finishing the calculations. "I should get a bigger share since I got us the best price with my haggling skills."
'And there it is. I was wondering when Nami's greedy side would make an appearance.'
"You weren't the only one involved in the negotiations," I pointed out calmly. "I helped with that too, so by your logic, I should also get a bigger share."
'If I let this woman have her way, she'd find a reason to claim ownership of the entire ship. Better to shut down this line of thinking now before it becomes a pattern.'
"That's right!" Roronoa chimed in, looking relieved. "Hachiman's got a point."
"Yeah, we all contributed somehow," Usopp added, though he looked nervous about contradicting Nami.
Even Luffy nodded enthusiastically. "I want to keep my meat money!"
'The fact that even our scatterbrained captain recognizes the danger of Nami's money-grubbing tendencies says something about how obvious it is.'
Nami's expression shifted from annoyed to calculating in the space of a heartbeat. That sly smirk that appeared on her face sent warning bells ringing in my head.
'Oh no. I know that look. That's the expression of someone who just thought of a new angle of attack.'
The smirk transformed into a sweet, charming smile that would have been convincing if I hadn't seen the predatory gleam in her eyes just seconds before.
"Well, if that's what you want, then I'll do as you say, darling~" she said in a voice like honey, adding that last word with just enough emphasis to make me recall all the embarrassment I was living through in the earlier fiasco.
'What…The…Hell…?!'
The silence that followed was deafening. Luffy, Roronoa, and Usopp stood there looking like they'd been hit by a cannon blast.
Sanji looked like he'd been hit by a meteorite, his cigarette falling from his lips to bounce off the floor. He was on his knees just a moment later, pounding the floor while muttering, 'It should have been me! It should have been me!' repeatedly.
I felt heat rising in my cheeks and cursed my body's involuntary reactions.
'Get it together, Hachiman. She's just trying to throw you off balance. Don't give her the satisfaction of seeing that it's working.'
This is exactly what I was afraid of. My social awkwardness is like blood in the water to someone like Nami – she can sense weakness and exploit it without even trying.
'I am so screwed.'
"Anyway," I said, forcing my voice to remain steady, "now that we have the money, we should move on to the next phase."
Before anyone could respond to my obvious attempt to change the subject, Luffy disappeared in a blur of motion.
"I'm going to the execution plaza!" his voice called back to us as he vanished into the crowd.
"He didn't even wait to hear where we're supposed to meet," Usopp sighed.
"Or when," Roronoa added, looking mildly annoyed.
"No choice now," I said, accepting the inevitable. "We'll meet at the execution plaza later. First, we need to handle our individual errands."
I began assigning tasks based on what we'd discussed earlier. "Sanji, provisions for the journey. Make sure we have enough food to last several weeks at sea."
"Of course!" Sanji straightened up, apparently recovered from his Nami-induced stupor. "I'll get only the finest ingredients for Nami-san!"
"Nami, navigational equipment for the Grand Line. Remember to get as many charts and Eternal Poses as you can."
"Already planning my shopping route," she confirmed with a nod.
"Usopp, …Zoro, and I will handle weapons and ammunition."
'Pretty straightforward division of labor. Everyone gets to focus on their area of expertise, and we should be able to cover everything we need in a few hours.'
But before we could disperse, I found myself hesitating. There was one more thing I needed to do, and it required Nami's particular skill set.
'I really don't want to ask for this. But if I'm going to pull off what I'm planning at the Marine base, I'll need someone who is good at infiltration and thievery.'
"Nami," I called out as she started to leave. "Wait."
She turned back, raising an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"
'Here goes nothing. And probably my dignity.'
"Could you... Meet me in about an hour? I need your help with something."
The confusion on her face was genuine for maybe half a second before that familiar sly expression returned.
"Oh, are you asking me on a date, Hachiman?"
'Of course she'd say that. Why did I expect anything else? And of course Sanji would...'
ZOOM!
Sanji materialized in front of me so fast it looked like teleportation, his hands gripping my collar as he shook me back and forth with surprising strength.
"SHITIMAN!! WHAT KIND OF PERVERTED THING ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO WITH MY NAMI-SAN?!" he shouted, his face cycling through various shades of red and purple. "I WON'T LET YOU CORRUPT HER INNOCENT HEART WITH YOUR DARK SCHEMES!!!"
'Innocent heart? "My" dark schemes? Has he met the same Nami I have? The woman who was trying to charge us interest for borrowing our own money?'
"The only one with perverted thoughts here is you," I replied in my flattest tone using DeadpanHiki to the extreme, trying to maintain some dignity while being physically rattled. "I just need her help with something important."
Nami pushed Sanji aside with practiced ease, clearly accustomed to his dramatic outbursts.
"I'll help," she said, then added with that calculating smile, "but I expect to be compensated fairly."
'And there's the catch. With Nami, there's always money.'
"Fine," I sighed, knowing I had no choice. "There should be some kind of reward for your assistance."
I gave her directions to where we should meet, then turned to Roronoa…Zoro and Usopp. "Come on, let's get going."
As we walked away from the exchange center, Usopp couldn't contain his curiosity. "What do you need Nami to help with?"
"Yeah," Zoro added, glancing back at where Nami was still manhandling Sanji's dramatic protests. "What's this all about?"
"Better not to talk about it in the open," I said quietly.
'I can't exactly explain that I'm planning to infiltrate the Marine base. That's the kind of information that could get us all in serious trouble if the wrong people overheard.'
Both of them seemed to accept this, though I could tell they were still curious. We continued walking through the city streets, taking in the sights and sounds of Loguetown's busy commercial district.
'It's strange how normal this feels now. A few months ago, the idea of casually shopping for weapons with a group of pirates would have seemed insane. Now it's just another Tuesday.'
We were making good progress toward the weapons district when a commotion erupted nearby. Shouting voices and the clash of metal on metal drew our attention to a side street where a crowd was forming.
Through the gathered onlookers, I could see two massive figures – easily seven feet tall each – surrounding a lone woman. They had weapons drawn and were clearly the aggressors in whatever conflict was unfolding.
'Two against one, and they're twice her size. Doesn't look like a fair fight.'
Instinctively, my hand moved toward my flintlock pistol. Beside me, Roronoa's hand went to his sword hilt, and Usopp was already loading his slingshot with practiced efficiency.
But before any of us could make a move, the woman in the center of the conflict drew her own weapon – a sword that she held with obvious skill and confidence.
FLASH!
Her blade moved so fast it was almost invisible, cutting through the air with lethal precision. Both attackers crumpled to the ground before they could even react, their weapons clattering uselessly on the cobblestones.
'Now that was impressive. Clean, efficient, no wasted motion. This woman clearly knows her way around a blade.'
The crowd began to disperse, murmuring appreciatively about the display of swordsmanship. The woman sheathed her weapon with a fluid motion, looking justifiably proud of her victory.
And then she tripped over her own feet and crashed face-first into the street, her glasses flying off to land several feet away.
"Ow..." came her muffled voice from where she lay sprawled on the ground.
'Well. That was unexpected.'
"That's some serious bad luck," Usopp commented, wincing sympathetically. "Amazing sword work, then immediately face-plants on level ground."
'You have to admire the consistency, at least. It takes real skill to be that competent and that clumsy at the same time.'
By coincidence – or maybe fate – her glasses had landed right at Zoro's feet. Without hesitation, he picked them up and walked over to help her.
"Here," he said, extending the glasses toward her. "You dropped these."
The woman looked up as she accepted the glasses, and I saw Roronoa's expression change completely. His eyes went wide, his face went pale, and for a moment, he looked like he'd seen a ghost.
'That's not a normal reaction. Zoro doesn't get surprised by much, and he certainly doesn't get rattled by random encounters with strangers.'
"Thank you so much!" the woman said gratefully, slipping her glasses back on. "I don't know what I would have done if—"
But Zoro was already walking away, moving with the kind of purposeful stride that suggested he wanted to be anywhere else as quickly as possible.
Usopp and I had to jog to catch up with him.
"Hey, what's gotten into you?" Usopp asked, slightly out of breath. "Do you know that woman?"
"She looked like someone I knew," Zoro replied curtly, not breaking his stride.
'"Looked like someone I knew." Past tense. So most likely this is the woman who looks like his childhood friend, huh?'
"It's okay," I told him, noting the tension in his shoulders. "Just... could you slow down a bit? You're going in the wrong direction."
Zoro stopped immediately, his face flushing with embarrassment and anger. "I knew I was going the wrong way! I just... the streets in this town are confusing!"
'Right. Sure they are. Your legendary directional problems have nothing to do with being distracted by mysterious swordswomen. But I'm not going to press the issue. Everyone's entitled to their navigation difficulties.'
"Right," I said diplomatically. "Of course you do."
We eventually found the weapons district – several streets lined with shops specializing in everything from basic knives to military-grade artillery. The variety was impressive, even by East Blue standards.
'Loguetown really is a major hub. The selection here is better than what I found in most other towns combined.'
"R…Zoro, why don't you check out that blade shop?" I suggested, pointing to the largest and most well-stocked sword merchant.
"Fine," he grunted, still clearly preoccupied with whatever memories the encounter with the woman had stirred up.
"Usopp, you're with me," I continued. "Let's see what the gun shops have to offer."
The firearms dealer we entered was a treasure trove of weaponry. Pistols, rifles, muskets, blunderbusses, net guns, harpoon rifles – if it used gunpowder and fired projectiles, they had it in stock.
'This is more like it. A proper selection of quality weapons from competent craftsmen.'
Usopp's eyes went wide as he took in the displays. "Look at all of this! They've got everything!"
We methodically went through the inventory, selecting pistols for close combat, rifles for medium range, and even a few more specialized weapons. The bazookas caught Usopp's attention immediately, and we decided to add a couple to our arsenal.
What really caught our attention were the underwater variants of several weapons and one massive machine gun mounted on a rotating tripod.
'The underwater gear could be useful. Never know when we might need to fight while partially submerged. But that machine gun...'
"That's a lot of firepower," Usopp said, eyeing the massive weapon with a mixture of awe and concern.
"Too much," I decided after a moment's consideration. "It's bulky, it would require someone to specialize in operating it, and honestly, we don't have a use for something that indiscriminate."
'Plus, knowing our luck, Luffy would want to try it out and probably end up sinking half a harbor and our ship with it.'
We settled on the underwater models along with a substantial amount of ammunition and gunpowder. When I started pulling items into my dimensional bag, the shop owner's jaw dropped.
With our purchases complete, Usopp and I headed back to the blade shop to check on Zoro's progress. When we entered, we found him at the counter, apparently in the process of changing weapons.
He's swapping out the two swords I gave him for different ones.
The new swords he'd selected were certainly distinctive. One had a guard shaped like a rounded cross; the hilt is wrapped reddish-brown, with a golden clasp around its middle and a golden pommel. The other was darker. It had a cross-shaped guard and a black lacquered sheath.
'I recognize those designs. If I'm not mistaken, those are Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri – both famous blades with their own histories and reputations.'
"I see you changed your swords," I observed, watching him test the balance of his new weapons.
'It's probably fate or destiny or whatever force governs these things in this world. Somehow, Zoro always ends up with the weapons he's meant to have.'
"Got lucky," Zoro replied, though there was satisfaction in his voice. "Found exactly what I was looking for."
He gestured toward two large barrels near the counter, both filled to the brim with various weapons – swords, spears, axes, maces, hammers, and several items I couldn't immediately identify.
'He's been busy. That's enough weaponry to arm a small militia.'
"Are they good quality?" I asked, examining some of the visible items.
"I checked them myself," Zoro confirmed, sounding slightly insulted by the question.
"Did you pay for all this?" Usopp added, eyeing the substantial collection with obvious concern about the cost.
"Of course I paid!" Zoro looked genuinely offended by the question.
'Touchy subject, apparently. Though given that we're pirates, the distinction between 'thief' and 'legitimate customer' might be more blurred than he'd like to admit.'
As I began transferring the weapon barrels into my dimensional bag, a voice from across the shop called out in recognition.
"Dead-Eyes Hikigaya!"
'Oh, for the love of... not here, not now.'
I turned reluctantly to see the clumsy swordswoman from earlier striding toward us with obvious excitement in her eyes. She was staring directly at the Sword of Gryffindor on my hip, and her expression suggested she'd just spotted the Holy Grail.
'Can't go anywhere without someone recognizing that ridiculous reputation.'
"That questionable appearance, and that mysterious abilities, you're really Dead-Eyes Hikigaya, right?" she continued, practically vibrating with enthusiasm, "then that sword must be the famous 'Ginsei'!"
"…What?" The word came out sharper than I intended, but I was genuinely confused.
'Ginsei? What the hell is Ginsei?'
"Ah, you didn't know? People don't know what to call your sword," she explained eagerly, "but everyone agrees it must be of Meito rank, so they started calling it Ginsei—the Silver Star!"
'Oh no. Oh no no no no no. They named it. They collectively decided to give my sword a nickname, and they chose 'Ginsei'. This is worse than being called the Dead-Eyes or the Sorcerer. This is actively painful to hear.'
The wave of embarrassment and shame that crashed over me was so intense I thought I might actually pass out. My mind was overloaded with all the absurd titles and names that had been accumulating since I started my career as a treasure hunter.
'Dead-Eyes Hikigaya. The Sorcerer. And now my sword is called the Silver Star. At this rate, they'll start writing ballads about my adventures and selling them in taverns.'
But who am I kidding, they're properly doing that already somewhere.
'I need to get to the Grand Line immediately. Maybe there I can start over with a clean slate and people won't know about any of these mortifying titles.'
My internal crisis was interrupted by the woman practically throwing herself at my feet.
"Please, please let me see the sword!" she begged, her eyes shining with the fervor of a true weapons enthusiast. "I've never seen a weapon of that caliber!"
'This is going to be awkward, but refusing would probably cause more of a scene than just getting it over with.'
With great reluctance, I drew the Sword of Gryffindor and handed it to her.
The woman accepted the sword with the reverence of someone handling a religious artifact. She turned it over in her hands, examining every detail with the intensity of a scholar studying an ancient text.
"The craftsmanship is incredible," she whispered, running her finger along the flat of the blade. "The balance is perfect, the edge is flawless, and the metal... what kind of steel is this?"
'According to what I remember, it was forged from silver and rubies by goblins. But somehow, I don't think that explanation would satisfy a sword maniac.'
She continued her examination, commenting on every aspect of the weapon's construction with the enthusiasm of someone who'd found their life's passion made manifest.
'I have to admit, the Sword of Gryffindor is genuinely impressive to look at. Even Dracule Mihawk said it ranked on the level of the Twelve Supreme Grade swords, which puts it in the highest tier of weapons in this entire world.'
But her academic appreciation was starting to make me uncomfortable. There were actual tears forming in her eyes as she studied the intricate engravings along the blade's fuller.
'This level of obsession with weapons can't be healthy. Though I suppose everyone needs a hobby, even if that hobby involves sharp objects and an unhealthy fascination with metallurgy.'
Her examination came to an abrupt halt when she spotted the inscription etched along the blade – my name.
"Hiki…gaya…Hachi…man," she read aloud, then looked up at me with renewed intensity. "Who made this sword for you? What master craftsman created something this magnificent? Is the Smith still alive? Could you introduce me? What materials were used? How long did it take to forge?"
'Oh great. Now she wants the whole backstory. How exactly do I explain that I traded a Devil Fruit to a supernatural entity in exchange for a legendary weapon from a fictional universe?'
Before I could figure out how to answer without sounding completely insane, she launched into a rapid-fire barrage of questions.
"Was it commissioned specifically for you? How long did it take to forge? What techniques were used? Is the silver content purely decorative, or does it serve a functional purpose? Are those real rubies in the hilt? What's the significance of the lion motif?"
"You're asking a lot of questions," I said firmly, cutting through her enthusiastic interrogation.
The woman immediately stopped talking and bowed apologetically. "I'm so sorry! I got carried away. It's just... I've never seen craftsmanship like this before."
'At least she has some sense of social boundaries. That's more than I can say for most of the people who've recognized me lately.'
I took advantage of her momentary embarrassment to reclaim my sword, sliding it back into its sheath before she could protest.
"We're leaving," I announced, not giving anyone a chance to argue.
Zoro and Usopp followed me out of the shop without comment, though I could feel their curiosity radiating like heat from a forge.
Once we were safely away from the weapons district, Usopp finally spoke up. "Who was that woman?"
"Marine," Zoro answered curtly. "Heard her talking about it while she was examining the swords in the shop."
"A Marine?" Usopp's voice cracked slightly. "What's up with you and women lately, Hachiman?"
'What's up with me and women? I wish I knew. Ever since I joined this crew, I keep attracting the attention of females with complicated agendas and dangerous skill sets.'
"I have no idea, and don't talk about it like it is a good thing," I replied honestly.
It only took a moment for the two of them to understand what I meant, and for a moment, I could swear that I saw Nami's image flash in their mind, and their faces turned grim.
"My condolences, man…" Usopp said in a completely serious tone, as if he really meant it.
"Stay strong…" Zoro said as he put his hand on my other shoulder, his face having the same expression as Usopp.
'What is going on? Am I being pitied? Why are you looking at me like I am a tragedy waiting to happen, God damn!'
"Sigh, what are you two planning to do now?" I sighed and changed the topic—something I have been doing a lot lately—asking them how they are going to spend their remaining time on the island.
Zoro shrugged. "Going to find a restaurant. Get some food and maybe a drink."
"I want to pick up some gear for the Grand Line," Usopp added. "Specialized equipment for my Usopp tactics."
"Alright," I said, checking the position of the sun to estimate the time. "Remember – we meet at the execution plaza when you're done."
They both nodded and headed off in different directions, leaving me alone with my thoughts and my growing apprehension about what I was planning to do next.
'Time to meet Nami and head to the Marine base. This is either going to be the smartest thing I've ever done, or the mistake that gets us all captured before we even reach the Grand Line.'
…
A/N: Btw, I am having trouble with this account, can barely update through some kind of miracle. So, rest assured that I can see your comments just can't respond.
Anyway, That's it for now...
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