"May I ask what brings you here?"
"You're the blacksmith in this village, aren't you?"
"Yes, that's me."
Vice Admiral Tsuru smiled. "I've heard that the craftsmanship here is excellent. My younger sister is learning swordsmanship but lacks a proper blade, so we've come to commission one."
"I see. Please, come in."
Tsuru entered the smithy with the girl in tow.
"Gion, give the down payment to this young craftsman."
"Understood."
The girl looked to be about fifteen or sixteen, tall and slender, with a pair of long, stunning legs. Upon hearing Tsuru's instruction, she took the bundle from her back, placed it on the table, and opened it.
"What? These are..."
Tsuru walked up with a smile. "Ryuuzaki, these are the forging manuals you requested."
"Uh... these aren't exactly valid as Beli."
"Don't play dumb, Ryuuzaki. I know who you are. Your handler is Buck, correct?"
Damn it. What the hell was going on? Ryuuzaki cursed silently. Why is my identity blown all of a sudden?
And those forging books were supposed to be delivered by Buck, through Kacak. How did they end up in Tsuru's hands?
He was completely thrown off.
But if there was one thing now certain, it was that this woman was no ordinary Marine. She was, after all, the famed strategist of Marine Headquarters.
"Heh heh... So you're Vice Admiral Tsuru. My apologies."
"Hmph. Curious, aren't you?"
"I'll admit, I am. How did you uncover my identity?"
"You've done a good job hiding, Ryuuzaki. You're an exceptional undercover agent. Had it not been for the Dragon incident, I wouldn't have looked your way. Even then, I only had my suspicions."
"Oh?"
"I told you, your cover is tight. But you don't always need to start with the target to find the truth."
"So, top-down intel gathering?"
"I have connections up high. I poked around, and soon your name came up."
"The World Government really is rotten to the core, huh? So what now?"
"Gion."
"Yes."
Shing! Gion swiftly drew the sword at her waist.
Clang!
Sparks flew as her blade met the edge of Ryuuzaki's kitchen knife.
"Drawing your sword without a word? Old lady, that temper of yours could use some work."
"You've got time to talk mid-fight?" Gion growled, slashing again with sharp intensity.
The clash of steel rang out again and again.
Tsuru's brow furrowed as she watched the duel unfold.
This kid... he's strong?
She hadn't expected it, Ryuuzaki was actually overpowering Gion in swordplay, and with nothing but a kitchen knife.
Yet despite his upper hand, Ryuuzaki was struggling.
Fighting consumed stamina, and he still had two Mark Doors active.
Even though he was technically superior in technique, his stamina was rapidly depleting. At this rate, not only might he lose the fight, but both of his Mark Doors would collapse.
I need to end this quickly.
He intentionally exposed an opening, baiting Gion into lunging. The moment she did, he leapt upward.
"Blade Flow: Mountain Collapse!"
Descending from above, his knife crashed down. Gion barely raised her sword to block, but it shattered on impact.
The force of the attack kept going, and for a split second, Gion froze. The sensation of death crept up her spine.
But at the last second, Ryuuzaki pulled his blade back.
She wasn't injured, but her top's buttons and sash had been sliced cleanly.
In an instant, her snowy-white assets bounced free, enjoying the fresh air like a pair of liberated rabbits.
The room fell deathly silent. The atmosphere, utterly awkward.
Gion flushed crimson. She tossed the broken sword hilt aside and covered herself with both arms, eyes seething with murder.
Tsuru's expression grew stormy.
Ryuuzaki was beyond embarrassed. Honestly, it wasn't intentional. He hadn't meant to cut Gion's clothes, pure coincidence. A total accident!
So awkward. So very awkward.
"Um..."
"Don't even try to explain, you pervy little freak!" Gion snapped.
"Hmph." Tsuru's voice turned cold. "No wonder you're a World Government agent. You're only six or seven, and already at near-master swordsman level."
"Heh heh... you flatter me."
"I'm here to warn you. I won't interfere with the Dragon matter, but you're to leave Ace alone. You understand the consequences, don't you?"
"Oh come on, why tell me? Go talk to my superiors."
"You're smart, Ryuuzaki. So understand this, if you die in some 'accident' out here, the World Government won't bat an eye."
"Your life means nothing to them."
Ryuuzaki understood. Tsuru couldn't stop the World Government's decisions, but she could threaten the field agents.
She was protecting Ace, for Garp, no doubt.
Ace was Gol D. Roger's son. Sengoku and Tsuru must've known. But because of their bond with Garp, they kept the secret.
And Tsuru was right, if Ryuuzaki died in Foosha Village, even if the higher-ups knew it was her doing, no one would lay a finger on her.
Just the fact she had exposed Ryuuzaki's identity and delivered those forging manuals proved how powerful her network was, both in the Marines and among the World Government elite.
He wasn't stupid. He knew how this worked: when giants fight, ants get trampled.
"All right, since you've come personally, let's just say... I've found nothing on Ace."
"Good. That's wise." Tsuru's tone softened a bit. "Also, if Buck tries sending more agents to investigate Ace, tell him one is enough. Anyone else will just get in the way."
"Yes ma'am."
"Good. Gion, we're leaving."
"Wait!"
"What is it?"
"Nothing, really. It's just... Gion's shirt is ruined. Maybe... she could take it off? I could sew it up for her?"
"You bastard! Take off your own damn shirt!"
"I'll turn around. I swear I won't peek."
Tsuru hesitated, then sighed. "Take it off, Gion. It's improper to walk around like that."
Gion's face turned beet red with fury. But she thought about it, Tsuru had a point.
She couldn't exactly hold her shirt together the whole time. If it slipped while walking through the village and the twins bounced into public view, she'd die of shame.
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200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter