"Alright, guest, rest assured — I'll have your purchased items delivered to your ship immediately."
The refrigerator shopkeeper's face lit up with a satisfied smile.
He bowed respectfully as he watched Shirogai Yamikuro leave the store.
After seeing him off, the owner quickly returned to his shop, instructing the staff to carefully pack the large, lockable refrigerator that Shirogai had bought and send it to the pier without delay.
Soon after, the kitchenware store owner was also seeing Shirogai out with a beaming expression.
"Generous guest, we'll deliver it to the pier right away."
Having left the shop, Shirogai Yamikuro hadn't walked far before spotting Usopp by the roadside, lugging a large bag but looking rather downcast.
With a casual wave, Shirogai called out, "Yo, Usopp! Where you headed?"
Usopp, who had been wearing a gloomy expression, brightened immediately upon hearing the voice.
"Shirogai! Out shopping too? Man, that outfit's something else — you look sharp!"
The sorrow faded from Usopp's face the moment he saw Shirogai dressed in his crisp, new white attire.
Grinning, Shirogai glanced at the bulging backpack behind him. "Looks like you cleaned up pretty well."
Usopp puffed up his chest, speaking proudly, "Of course! All this gear's gonna help me become a true brave Warrior of the Sea!"
But his confidence quickly deflated, and he slumped his shoulders with a sigh. "Too bad my wallet got swiped. I couldn't afford those goggles I had my eye on."
Seeing his disheartened expression, Shirogai casually tossed a small pouch toward him.
"Consider it a loan. Go grab those goggles."
"Huh?"
Usopp blinked in surprise as he caught the pouch.
Opening it, he saw it stuffed with Berries. His eyes widened.
"This much!?"
But before Usopp could say another word, Shirogai had already disappeared into the crowd.
After a stunned moment, Usopp gritted his teeth, spun on his heel, and bolted back toward the shop.
"Damn it, a sniper without good goggles is no sniper at all! I'll pay Shirogai back later!"
---
Shirogai wandered along the bustling main street of Loguetown. By now, Dragon should've arrived in town, though with his abilities, slipping through unnoticed was practically effortless.
For now, Shirogai needed to stay close to Luffy and see if he could track down Dragon's whereabouts.
At this moment, Luffy was probably still roaming the town, looking for the execution platform.
A small group of suspicious figures in black clothing moved through the crowd nearby, clearly searching for someone.
Shirogai's eyes narrowed slightly.
Buggy Pirates, huh? He recognized their clumsy attempts at stealth.
Buggy's Chop-Chop Fruit ability had its uses. If Shirogai happened to cross paths with him, it wouldn't hurt to get a firsthand look at his techniques.
"Heh, somehow I ended up here."
Looking up, he found himself standing outside a familiar weapons shop — the one where Zoro would soon acquire both Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri.
Shirogai pushed open the door.
"Welcome!"
The shopkeeper, Ippon-Matsu, immediately sized him up.
An extraordinary air, finely tailored clothes… clearly a wealthy patron.
Perfect mark.
Forcing on a polite smile, Ippon-Matsu approached.
"Honored guest, feel free to browse. Whether it's old swords, new ones, or exceptional blades, we've got them all. A proud 200-year establishment."
Shirogai's gaze fell upon a particular sword behind the counter.
It was Kogarasu Maru, the weapon belonging to Tashigi. Apparently, Zoro and the others hadn't arrived yet.
"You've got good eyes," Ippon-Matsu said awkwardly. "That one's here for maintenance, unfortunately not for sale. But I've got plenty of fine blades you can take a look at."
"No worries. I'll just browse around."
Shirogai nodded with a faint smile and made his way toward the barrels filled with swords in a corner.
Ippon-Matsu quickly followed. "Ah, those are lower-grade weapons, sir. The swords mounted on the wall are of far better quality — might suit a gentleman like yourself."
But Shirogai's attention had already locked onto a single sword resting among the others, radiating a cold, oppressive aura.
He picked it up.
A cursed blade — Sandai Kitetsu.
"This one," he murmured.
Ippon-Matsu's face tightened. He hadn't expected the guest to pick out the most troublesome blade in the shop on his first try.
"Honored guest, that sword… it's not very good. Please, allow me to recommend something more suitable."
Shirogai smoothly drew the sword from its sheath.
A silver arc flashed through the air, sharp and lethal, the air itself seeming to chill.
As expected — a sword worthy of its fearsome reputation.
Ippon-Matsu hurriedly tried to divert him.
"Please, have a look at this one — Kurohyo, forged by a renowned master from the South Blue. Its craftsmanship is unparalleled. Truly fitting for someone of your stature."
Though eager to be rid of Sandai Kitetsu, Ippon-Matsu remained an honest merchant at heart.
He refused to offload a cursed sword onto an unwitting customer.
Shirogai caught the concern and smirked.
"Legend says the Sandai Kitetsu is cursed, doesn't it?"
"You… you recognize it?"
Ippon-Matsu gaped, stunned by the man's calmness.
"I'll take it," Shirogai declared, still smiling. "How much?"
"I'm sorry," Ippon-Matsu refused, steel in his voice. "I can't sell it."
"Why not?"
"Because every swordsman who's ever wielded a Kitetsu has met an untimely end. Not a single one has escaped its curse. Even though I want it gone, I won't pass this burden onto someone ignorant of its history. That's my principle."
The shopkeeper's wife stormed by and punched him in the shoulder. "You idiot! Just sell the damn thing!"
But Ippon-Matsu stayed firm.
"This guest… I won't risk having your blood on my hands because of that sword."
Shirogai chuckled. "In that case, how about a little wager? Let's see if it's the sword's curse or my luck that wins."
Before Ippon-Matsu could react, Shirogai casually tossed the blade into the air.
"If it kills me, then I wasn't worthy. Simple as that."
"Fool! Are you insane? That thing'll split your skull!"
Ippon-Matsu froze in horror as the blade spun down toward Shirogai's head.
It's over. He's dead for sure.
But just then, the door swung open, and a gust of wind swept through the shop.
The sword's trajectory shifted, narrowly missing Shirogai and embedding itself into the floor with a heavy thunk.
Shirogai glanced at the blade at his feet and grinned.
"No wonder Zoro enjoys this kind of thing — pretty exhilarating."
---
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