"Six hundred points, really?"
Shanu was a little surprised.
It seemed that even though Stainless was only a minor character in the manga, appearing just a few times on the sidelines, his status as an elite Vice Admiral at HQ and the weight of his strength made this beloved scabbard extremely valuable.
His eyes lingered on the last line of the appraisal:
"Regrettable, unfortunate…"
A beloved scabbard lost to the sea—of course Streis would feel regret and sorrow.
But what about when, under the Celestial Dragons' orders, he raised his blade against the kind woman who had indirectly saved his life? How would he feel then?
"Vice Admiral of the Navy HQ…"
Shanu shook his head slightly.
He wasn't an extreme radical; he disliked generalizing. Whether Navy or Pirate, he had met plenty of people on either side who left a good impression.
But… there was no doubt.
As long as the Celestial Dragon hierarchy existed, the justice claimed by the Navy would always remain a joke.
Of course, debates about factions were far from his concern. His current goal was simple: money.
[Remaining points: 7325]
Glancing at the number of points, Shanu's mood lifted, and he closed the system panel.
…
Morning dawned, faint light spreading over the city.
After running errands all night, the two finally finished their work and rested on a high hill, overlooking the red-tinged sea at sunrise.
"What's the plan next?" Shanu asked.
"I thought I was ready to graduate," Junichi said, resting his chin in his hands, wearing a sour expression. "But seeing you, Boss Shanu, I realize I still have a long way to go. I'm not ready. I'll go back to Ichinokami Dojo and continue training for a few more years."
Shanu silently turned to look at him.
In the dim morning light, the frail boy hugged his tattered bamboo sword and stared at the horizon. There was a clear, determined light in his eyes.
Does he really think he's not ready to graduate?
By the standards of the open sea, his swordsmanship might indeed be lacking.
But confined to the small corner of the East Sea that was Asakura Island, officially graduating, opening a dojo, and taking disciples… he had more than enough skill.
Perhaps his obsession had changed.
In the past, what drove Junichi to grow stronger was the dream of restoring the Sakuraba Dojo's reputation.
Now that obsession seemed to have shattered along with that mad figure. In its place… those high, distant figures?
The Celestials and a Navy Vice Admiral—terrifying positions, enough to make most people despair and bury their hatred deep within.
But Junichi did not seem easily intimidated.
"I say… do you still really think I'm skilled in swordsmanship?" Shanu teased.
"Huh? Isn't that true?"
"You're really clueless, Junichi. No wonder you were fooled by that fake beggar."
"…I've started to become immune to your hurtful words, Boss."
Shanu laughed heartily, stood up, and stretched under the morning sun. "Come on! Let's go! Take me to Shimotsuki Village!"
"Huh?" Junichi looked up in surprise.
"What's with that expression? Didn't I tell you before? I've admired Mr. Koushirou for a long time. Thanks to you, I finally have a chance to visit him. I can't miss it."
"Yay!"
The frail boy leaped up with joy. He had thought Shanu standing up meant it was time to part ways, feeling a bit sad—but this was an unexpected surprise.
Hmph, Boss Shanu really is a man of contradictions.
He says it's to visit Master Koushirou, but actually… he just couldn't let go, wanting to escort me all the way to Shimotsuki Village to be at ease, right?
…
Half an hour later.
After buying food and fresh water, Shanu followed Junichi to the most secluded pier, where a small boat—seven or eight meters long, quite simple—was moored.
"You mean you came here in this thing?"
Shanu touched the worn canvas skeptically. "This is too primitive. That sail… really works? You didn't row all the way here, did you?"
No reply.
He turned and saw Junichi prying open a wooden panel under the rear seat, heaving out two large barrels of cola.
Click!
Junichi closed the panel and pressed a hidden button next to it.
Suddenly, four exhaust pipes extended from the rear of the boat, with two grooves next to the button, perfectly fitting the cola barrels.
"See? This solves everything. If one barrel is used gradually, it's normal cruising mode, about the speed of an ordinary sailboat."
"If you press the button again, both barrels are consumed simultaneously—this is high-speed jet mode. Speed is amazing, but consumption is huge, so don't use it unless necessary."
Junichi explained casually, while Shanu stared, dumbfounded.
Oh no… now I look like a country bumpkin! "Shimotsuki Village has this kind of tech?"
Shanu couldn't resist his curiosity and pressed the button. The cola barrels began bubbling vigorously. Clear jets of air shot from the stern, propelling the boat toward the outer pier.
"Hehe, my teacher lent it to me. This is the only one in Shimotsuki Village. Pretty special."
Junichi adjusted the sail, grinning. "Amazing, right? I reacted the same way when I first saw it."
"A few years ago, Grandpa Kouzaburou … ah, Master Koushirou's father, mentioned that when their family came to the East Blue from isolated Wano, they passed a place called Water 7. They met a skilled shipwright who saw their boat falling apart and offered to upgrade it. That's where this device came from."
"Water Flow City? The City of Water?"
"Something like that, I don't remember clearly."
Shanu stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Kouzaburou's group traveled from isolationist Wano, through the Grand Line, eventually reaching the East Blue . The shipwright they met could well have been the famous Tom, Franky's teacher, who once built a vessel for Pirate King Roger.
Huh… so this is basically a low-spec version of the Thousand Sunny.
While Junichi wasn't paying attention, Shanu quickly pressed the button again.
The two cola barrels boiled violently. Shanu laughed, arms raised, letting the sea breeze fill his open shirt.
"Time to feel the power of jet mode! Full speed ahead, Sunny! Let's go!"
"Eh! Boss, didn't you say we shouldn't…"
The boy's urgent shout was lost in the wind, scattered into foam on the waves.
Whoosh!
Seagulls skimmed past the mast. The jet-induced wake sparkled in the morning light, turning the cherry-blossom island into a pale pink silhouette fading into the horizon.
————
Two days later.
In a certain sea, clouds hung low, light rain falling.
On a lonely reef island, jagged rocks without vegetation.
A blond boy with curly brows built a makeshift shelter from broken planks. He huddled inside, staring blankly at the sea.
"Day 50…"
He whispered, frail, hugging his knees. "Food ran out last month… so hungry… really hungry… Today… today, there must be a ship, right?"
But it was still raining.
He listlessly checked the wood and fire supplies stored in the corner.
The last time a ship passed, heavy rain prevented a signal fire from igniting. His desperate cries were useless, and he could only watch it pass.
"Just a bit more, Junichi… three more minutes of jet mode, that's enough!"
A faint voice drifted in the wind and rain.
"No! Boss Shanu! Remember how much cola you wasted the day before yesterday? If you do it again, what if it runs out?"
"Heh, what's there to fear? I'll row if needed. You know how strong I am…"
The voices grew clearer.
Somewhere in the distance, sounds like roaring motorcycle engines, reminiscent of the Jemal 66 squad, could be heard.
Was it a hallucination…?
The blond boy turned slightly, and saw a speedboat jetting toward him, rapidly enlarging in his view—
Bang!
"Damn it, where did this reef come from?! You distracted me, now we're stuck!"
That was the last thing he heard before losing consciousness.
…
"Phew, nothing broken."
Shanu stepped off the boat, quickly checked, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Lucky this time. Next time? Boss Shanu, from now on, I'm steering. No more random button pressing!"
"Got it, got it."
Shanu, knowing he was in the wrong, pouted and prepared to carry the boat onto the sea, when Junichi shouted from behind:
"Eh? Boss Shanu, look! Someone over there?"
Shanu turned and saw a tall figure sitting on the far end of the reef, cloaked in white, motionless like a statue.
"That outfit… could it be the Navy?"
"No."
Shanu stared at the figure, feeling increasingly familiar. What a blessing! He grinned suddenly.
"Don't be so stereotypical, Junichi. Just because someone wears white doesn't mean they're Navy—they could also be a cook."
Just like riding a white horse doesn't always mean you're a prince—it could be a general.