"Come on! Let's make a promise! We'll charge toward the title of World's Greatest Swordsman together!"
Zoro was completely swept up in a state of fanaticism, looking so excited that he might pass out at any moment. However, no one matched his intensity. A cold wind blew through the woods, causing the trees to rustle loudly.
Even Zoro started to feel a bit awkward.
"I never said I wanted to become the World's Greatest Swordsman," Dunn said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"You're studying the sword—don't you want to be the strongest?" Zoro's eyes widened, his fists clenched tightly as if he couldn't believe Dunn's words. Kuina looked on with curiosity as well.
"I'm not like you two. You both have firm ideals, but I don't. Maybe after you guys become world-renowned swordsmen, I'll still just be an insignificant little nobody.
That way, when I go out, and someone tries to bully me, I can just say my junior brother or sister is the World's Greatest Swordsman. I'll be able to eat and drink for free wherever I go!" Dunn said with a grin.
Zoro and Kuina looked at him with pure disdain.
"How degenerate!" Zoro said, sounding disappointed, but then he frowned. "Wait, I'm the senior brother here."
"I was the one teaching you swordsmanship, so you should call me 'Senior Sister,'" Kuina added, nodding repeatedly.
"Look at you two—you're going to be the greatest in the world, yet you're so stingy over a title? I'm older than you, so it's only logical for me to call you junior brother and sister, right?" Dunn said with an air of helplessness.
"Is it logical?" Zoro scratched his short green hair and looked at Kuina.
"Uh..." Kuina rubbed her cheek, unable to answer.
"And since we're so close, it's only natural that I'd use your famous names to skip out on a few restaurant bills later, right?" Dunn added.
Zoro and Kuina looked at each other, stumped. They felt there was something inherently wrong with Dunn's logic, but they didn't know how to refute it.
"Hee-haw! You sure have a silver tongue, kid. You've got them completely confused."
Suddenly, a voice rang out, causing Dunn to snap his head around. Behind a tree in the direction of the dojo, a person whose head was larger than their entire body was peeking out.
"A monster!" Zoro's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Don't talk nonsense!" Dunn slapped the jumping Zoro back down to the ground. "This person belongs to a special race on the sea: the Big-Head Tribe," Dunn explained with a straight face.
Zoro looked shocked, while Kuina looked intrigued.
"So this is one of those strange races you mentioned? How peculiar," Kuina remarked. The sea truly was a mysterious place.
Ivankov, who had been eavesdropping, was utterly speechless. While Dragon and Koshiro were discussing business, Ivankov had wandered off and overheard the children talking.
Their ambition was impressive—wanting to be the strongest on the sea. But then he had heard the oldest one bluffing the two younger ones. And now, the kid had invented a whole race for him.
"Hee-haw! Listen, kid, I'm not from any 'Big-Head Tribe.' I'm a human!" Ivankov walked out under the curious gazes of Zoro and Kuina.
"How do you know you aren't?" Dunn turned to face the approaching Ivankov, his tone calm. "What if your ancestors were, but the tribe died out over the long ages, leaving only you?"
Zoro and Kuina nodded in agreement; Dunn's words sounded very plausible.
"My parents were both humans!" Ivankov instinctively retorted, stunned.
"That's possible too. As I said, over the ages, the Big-Head Tribe nearly vanished. The survivors married humans, and the bloodline became hidden. It just so happens that in your generation, the bloodline has resurfaced," Dunn said with absolute conviction.
"So that's how it is!" Zoro said, a look of realization dawning on his face.
"Don't believe him! He's clearly making this up!" Ivankov was exasperated seeing Zoro actually falling for it. This older kid was so articulate that he was starting to make Ivankov doubt himself.
"You say I'm making it up? Then show me the evidence," Dunn said casually, the corners of his mouth curling up.
Kuina and Zoro turned to Ivankov with expectant faces, waiting for his proof.
"I... I don't have any evidence," Ivankov hesitated before shaking his head. How was he supposed to prove something like that?
"See? Since you have no evidence, it proves it's entirely possible you belong to the Big-Head Tribe, right?" Dunn spread his hands.
Ivankov hesitated, then slowly nodded.
"Isn't it more likely that you just invented this race? I know quite a bit about history, and I've never heard of such a tribe."
Another voice joined the conversation. A tall figure wearing a hooded cloak walked toward them, his voice sharp and resonant like clashing metal. Three blood-red question marks hovered over his head.
Dragon.
Dragon studied Dunn as he approached. After finishing his discussion about provisions with Koshiro, the master had mentioned a highly talented young man who had recently joined the dojo. Naturally curious, Dragon had come to see for himself.
Everything that had transpired was caught by his Observation Haki; he had watched the entire scene of Dunn bluffing the children and making Ivankov lose his confidence.
"Just because you haven't heard of it doesn't mean it doesn't exist."
Dunn looked Dragon over, his gaze lingering slightly longer on the tattoo—which looked like a shoe print—on the man's face.
"When you put it that way, it makes sense," Dragon nodded slightly.
"Leader!" Ivankov felt a bit embarrassed. He knew Dunn was wrong, but he had no way to argue back.
"Have you ever thought about heading out to sea?" Dragon asked Dunn, waving a hand at Ivankov to dismiss the topic.
"Heading out? No, I can't do that." Dunn shook his head immediately. Whether it was going out on his own or joining Dragon, he had no intention of doing so yet.
"So your dream really is just to wait for them to become powerhouses so you can use their names to eat for free?" Dragon was amused.
He didn't believe it for a second. After all, Koshiro had managed to gather much more food than usual this time, and the reason was the money this boy, Dunn, had provided.
"Is there something wrong with that? Zoro, wouldn't you let me?" Dunn turned to ask Zoro.
Zoro scratched his head. He felt like it was wrong, but then again, if he was the Greatest Swordsman, letting his senior brother eat for free shouldn't be a big deal.
"I... I guess it's fine!" Zoro nodded.
Dragon looked at Zoro and realized the green-haired kid had been completely led astray.
"I heard from Koshiro that you are learning how to guide Armament Haki?"
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