"Generating flying slashes without a weapon, I do know a few who can do that, but from your description it shouldn't be any of them." Dragon shook his head. "Iva, Kuma, Inazuma, have you heard of someone like that?"
"No," Bartholomew Kuma rumbled, then fell silent.
"I've heard of it," Emporio Ivankov fluttered his lashes, delighted. "Hahaha, no I haven't. Fooled you."
Everyone: ...
Dragon rubbed his temples, helpless before his mischievous subordinate. Ivankov was fine in every way except his love of pranks.
"I haven't heard of it either," Inazuma said evenly. "But if he calls himself a merchant, he probably won't leave at once. We can just go take a look."
"Good idea." Eyes brightened all around.
They had Kuina and Zoro lead the way to find Amon.
...
While the group searched, Amon had already set up a stall on a Shimotsuki Village street.
"Selling jars, come take a look."
"Guaranteed no blanks."
"Step right up, spend money to make money."
His calls drew curious villagers, but when they heard that a simple jar cost one hundred thousand berries, their faces turned pitying.
"Such a handsome young man, shame he's money-mad."
"Truly a pity."
"Heavens, what is the world coming to. A jar like that for a hundred thousand berries."
Passersby pointed and muttered that Amon must be crazy for cash. It gave him a headache. At this rate, selling ten jars could take ages. No, he needed to crank up the pitch, sell ten quickly, and claim his next exclusive jar. After seeing what these jars could do, he was hooked. He wanted to open another. First, though, he had to sell ten to trigger the system's reward.
…
"Johnny, we've only got three hundred thousand berries. Not enough to buy gear for going to sea. How are we supposed to be bounty hunters?"
As Amon pondered how to reel people in, a voice reached his ear. Three hundred thousand berries made his eyes light up. He turned toward the speakers.
The one talking wore green and had short red hair. He tugged at his companion, the one with "Johnny" on his sleeve, and glanced around at shop wares.
"Yosaku, should we borrow from Zoro? I just saw him today, he was incredible, he cut the dojo's dueling platform into pieces with one strike. When will we ever be that awesome," Johnny blurted.
"Zoro is strong, but borrow? He's poorer than we are. If nothing else, we work another year and sail next year."
"Ugh, but if we wait, the boat we built will be ruined by the sea."
"Ugh..."
They looked from their finished boat to their skinny wallets and sighed in unison.
"You two boys, what's with the sighing?"
Amon decided it was time to step in.
"None of your business."
Yosaku shot him a glare.
"How is it none of my business. I thought I heard you mention Zoro. Are you his friends?" Amon's eyes turned. Time to pitch.
"Hey, you know Zoro too?" At Zoro's name, both perked up. His performance today had blown them away.
"Of course I do. I've actually helped Zoro. You know why he's so strong now? He opened a jar from me. Did you notice his blade? Came straight out of one of my jars."
He wasn't lying. People almost never lost out with these jars.
"Really? You're not scamming us, are you? Zoro's weapon really came from here?"
Wary, these two. Amon took in their guarded faces.
"Why would I scam you? With your level of smarts, could I even pull it off?"
"Well, that's true." The flattery landed, and both boys looked pleased.
"Exactly. Not only Zoro's weapon, Kuina's gear came from here too. I'm only telling you because you know Zoro. I don't bother with just anyone. So, want to try a jar? Not expensive. Only one hundred thousand berries. Worth every berry."
Seeing them soften, Amon pressed the advantage. Under the rhythm of compliments, the two began to float and, almost without realizing it, started pulling out their money.