Andy stepped into the town of Wano Country, a place so similar to Black Anvil Country that it gave him a sense of déjà vu. The streets were just as busy and the shops lined the roads, but the goods for sale were completely different.
Where Black Anvil had been a cacophony of firearms and munitions, Wano was a quiet symphony of blades. Every storefront proudly displayed a vast collection of swords, with double-edged swords being the most popular choice.
It made perfect sense. In West Blue, swordsmanship was the most popular and respected combat style, so it was only natural that most people preferred the feel of a double-edged blade. The streets were filled with people carrying swords, their presence creating a distinct martial arts atmosphere that was unique to this land. The air felt charged with the passion of steel and skill.
Andy knew that this was the right place to find what he was looking for. He had come to Wano Country to find the man who could forge a blade worthy of his reputation. The legendary swordsmith Vulcan Ignatius had two direct descendants, and both had inherited their ancestor's incredible skills.
The older brother, Eberhart, was a man of new ideas who wanted to reform the traditional methods of their craft. The younger brother, Rex, on the other hand, was an uncompromising traditionalist who insisted on only forging high-end, perfect blades.
It was widely believed that if anyone could inherit Ignatius's supreme forging techniques, it would be one of these two brothers. And the person Andy had traveled to find was none other than Rex.
As he walked down the street, lost in his thoughts, Andy's steps suddenly halted. A voice, trembling with a mix of surprise and disbelief, cut through the noise of the crowd.
"Isn't that… West Sea's Ultimate Evil, Red Hawk Andy!?"
The whisper spread like wildfire. A ripple of recognition swept through the crowd, and a second voice immediately confirmed it. "It… it really is him…"
A collective hush fell over the street as people stopped what they were doing and stared. One person in the crowd couldn't help but ask, "Why would a pirate like him come to Wano Country?"
A more informed voice quickly answered, "Are you crazy? Have you forgotten that besides being a sniper, he's also a sword master? He's only 15 years old!"
The realization was followed by a sharp intake of breath from many in the crowd. "Fifteen years old? A sword master?" another person exclaimed, unable to believe what they were hearing.
"Haven't you read the papers in the last two days? It's all anyone can talk about," a person whispered loudly.
"Oh my god… a 15-year-old sword master…" the whispers continued, growing louder with each passing moment.
The crowd's discussions swelled into a loud murmur, their eyes glued to Andy. There was a complex mix of fear and curiosity in their gazes, all of them wanting a good look at this legendary figure who had burst onto the scene in West Blue.
Andy noticed the stares and raised an eyebrow, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips. He sighed inwardly, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. It was just as he suspected. In this world, snipers were still a niche, but swordsmen were the top trend, commanding an almost universal respect and awe.
He took a moment to bask in their complex gazes, his hands sinking deeper into his pockets. With his head held high and his chest puffed out, he started walking again, his gait even more arrogant than before.
With each step, he moved slowly toward a nearby bar, a clear destination in mind. To find Rex in Wano Country, a bar was the perfect place to start. A good bar was a hub of information, and he was confident he could find the intelligence he needed hidden within its lively atmosphere.
As soon as he pushed open the bar's door, a wave of noise and energy washed over him. The air was thick with the clamor of clinking glasses, boisterous laughter, and cheerful shouts. Drinkers, having lost their sober inhibitions, were engaged in loud conversations.
It was the kind of place where any topic could be discussed and no secret seemed to be safe. Andy strode directly to the bar counter and called out to the Bar Owner, who was busy mixing drinks.
"Hey, Bar Owner! Give me a glass of rum!" he said, his voice cutting through the noise.
The Bar Owner didn't even look up, his hands moving with practiced skill as he prepared a drink for another customer. "All right, customer. Just a moment," he replied, his voice calm and professional.
Andy wasn't in a hurry. He took a seat at the bar, his gaze sweeping over the scene. He quietly listened to the lively chatter around him, soaking in the unique atmosphere of the place. After the Bar Owner handed the prepared drink to his previous customer, he finally turned his attention to Andy.
"So, what kind of rum… do you… uh…?"
The Bar Owner's voice trailed off, his eyes widening in recognition. It was as if he had been struck by a paralysis spell. His face instantly turned pale, and his hands, which had been so steady a moment ago, began to tremble.
His gaze was fixed on Andy, but he didn't quite believe his own eyes. He quickly turned his head, his eyes darting to the wanted posters tacked to the wall, then back to Andy, and then back to the posters again.
After a few panicked, back-and-forth glances, he finally confirmed what he had suspected. The person sitting calmly in front of him was indeed West Sea's Ultimate Evil, Red Hawk Andy, the man who had become an overnight sensation in West Blue.
"Are there that many kinds of rum?" Andy asked, completely oblivious to the man's terrified reaction.
The Bar Owner finally regained some composure, forcing a stiff smile onto his face as he replied, his voice still shaking. "L-Lord Red Hawk… why have you come to Wano Country?"
"I want to find a good sword, of course," Andy said, shrugging. He wasn't surprised by the man's reaction. With his growing fame, he knew he would have to get used to people reacting like this. "But never mind that for now. First, get me that drink and some delicious food."
Unexpectedly, the Bar Owner's expression became very troubled. "Lord Red Hawk, delicious food is no problem at all, but… if I remember correctly, you're not of age yet, so you can't drink alcohol."
"What?! Bar Owner, are you serious right now?" Andy's pleasant mood vanished, instantly replaced with annoyance. He couldn't believe it. He was a man with a bounty of 110 million Berries. How could he not be allowed to drink? And to be lectured and refused by a Bar Owner, of all people?
Even though the man was visibly shaking, he gritted his teeth and replied, his voice firm. "Lord Red Hawk, this is a matter of principle. Minors cannot drink alcohol here."
Andy was so frustrated by the Bar Owner's rigid insistence that he wanted to yell. Instead, he sighed in defeat. "Fine! Then just give me a glass of juice. And hurry up with the food! Don't worry, I'm eating beef right now!"
He ultimately didn't make things difficult for the principled Bar Owner, but he couldn't help but think to himself that he really wanted to grow up quickly. Once he was an adult, he could do many things that minors couldn't, like drinking alcohol.
"All right, all right, Lord Red Hawk! Please wait a moment!" The Bar Owner was relieved that Andy had backed down. He nodded repeatedly, grabbing a glass and filling it with juice before rushing to the back kitchen to get someone to prepare the food.
A few moments later, the Bar Owner came out carrying several plates. Andy looked at the spread and his mouth couldn't help but twitch. Every single dish was made of beef. He regretted saying he was eating beef just now. Now, every single dish in front of him was beef. The amount of protein was ridiculous.
He didn't complain, however. He could only blame himself for speaking too quickly. During his meal, Andy began to chat with the Bar Owner, casually inquiring about Rex. Just as he had expected, the most well-informed places were always bars.
After a few minutes of conversation, Andy got the information he wanted. It turned out that Rex was currently living in poverty due to a lack of resources. To forge a peerless sword, he went to the south side of Reverse Mountain every single day to search for rare ores. Sometimes, to find a specific ore, he would even venture into the dangerous underground world.
For hundreds of years, the rare ores erupting from Reverse Mountain had become increasingly scarce, making it more difficult to obtain them from the mountain's surface.
Because of this, the people of Wano Country had turned their attention to the underground magma world. Down there, rare ores were relatively more abundant, but danger followed close behind. Every year, several countries on Reverse Mountain lost many lives trying to acquire these ores.
Wano Country, in particular, suffered the most losses. Forging swords required a massive amount of rare ores, and success wasn't guaranteed, which was also the reason why Eberhart had been advocating for a complete reform of their craft.
None of this concerned Andy. His most important task was to find Rex. He had a strong feeling that only Rex could forge a satisfactory sword for him.
After getting the information he wanted, Andy ate a little faster. Once he had eaten and drunk his fill, he patted his stomach in contentment and left the bar.
Just as he had expected, the Bar Owner didn't hesitate. The moment Andy left, he immediately sent a report about Andy's presence in Wano Country. After Andy had been recognized on the street, his whereabouts were no longer a secret.
It was only a matter of time before word got out. However, what was most important to report was that Andy's purpose for coming here was to find Rex and have him forge a good sword.
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