Roronoa Zoro took a deep breath, stood up from the ground, and closed his eyes.
He spread his arms.
"Go ahead."
"I lost."
"Take my life."
Karl smiled faintly.
He walked over and lightly patted Zoro's cheek.
"Good resolve."
"But you shouldn't die here."
"This life you owe me…"
"Keep it for now."
"When you become stronger, come take it back yourself."
Zoro's eyes snapped open.
They seemed to shine.
"Why?"
Karl shrugged.
"Why?"
"Not everything needs a reason."
"Maybe one day you'll stand where I stand."
"And meet a young swordsman just like you."
"When that day comes… you'll understand."
Tears streamed from Zoro's eyes.
Like an oath, he shouted:
"My name is Roronoa Zoro!"
"From today onward—"
"I will never lose again!"
"And the life I owe you…"
"I will personally come reclaim it!"
Karl patted his shoulder.
"I'll be waiting."
Then he turned and walked away.
An Unexpected Return
Not long after…
Karl came back.
It was getting dark.
He didn't feel like traveling back to Marine HQ without dinner.
So—
He decided to stay the night.
And maybe investigate the legendary staircase that somehow killed Kuina.
He looked at Zoro.
"Hey… Zoro, right?"
"Is there somewhere to stay around here?"
Zoro blinked.
"Yes."
"At Isshin Dojo."
"You want to come?"
"Lead the way."
The Worst Decision
Thirty minutes later—
Karl had only two thoughts.
Regret.
Deep regret.
Why did he let Zoro lead?
The dojo was barely 1 km away.
Yet Zoro somehow managed to wander through the forest in circles.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Karl sighed.
"The title King of Getting Lost is well deserved…"
Finally he lost patience.
He grabbed Zoro by the collar and dragged him straight toward the dojo.
Eight minutes later—
They arrived.
Karl shook his head.
"You really are hopeless with directions."
Zoro blushed.
"T-that's not true!"
"I was just… not in the right condition!"
Karl rolled his eyes.
Isshin Dojo
"This is Isshin Dojo?"
"It reminds me of Wano Country architecture."
Zoro tilted his head.
"Wano?"
"What's that?"
Karl didn't answer.
Instead he asked:
"This is where you train?"
Zoro nodded.
The dojo door slid open.
Several little kids ran out.
"Zoro big brother is back!"
"Whoa! Who's that?"
Another kid shouted excitedly.
"I know!"
"He's a Marine!"
"Look at his cloak!"
"Only Marines can wear the Justice coat!"
"So cool!"
Karl pretended to search his pockets.
In reality, he pulled candy from his system storage.
"Here."
"Candy for you."
"Thank you, big brother!"
Zoro grumbled.
"Take it and leave already."
"You're blocking the way."
One kid stuck out his tongue.
"Shut up, you lost-direction idiot senior brother!"
Zoro raised his fist.
"What did you say?!"
The children scattered instantly.
Meeting Koshiro
A man with glasses walked out.
He smiled calmly.
"Zoro, you're back."
Then he looked at Karl.
"…And this gentleman?"
He studied Karl carefully.
Then suddenly—
His eyes opened.
"White Raven Vice Admiral…?"
Shimotsuki Koshiro recognized him.
Karl nodded.
"Correct."
"It's late."
"I was hoping to stay here for one night."
Koshiro bowed politely.
"Of course."
"We would be honored."
"As long as you don't mind our humble dojo."
He glanced at Zoro and quickly confirmed he wasn't injured.
Good.
If Zoro had challenged Karl seriously…
The outcome would have been obvious.
Koshiro silently thanked Karl for holding back.
Conversation About Wano
Karl looked around the dojo.
"The decorations here…"
"You're from Wano, aren't you?"
Koshiro sighed.
"Yes."
"About fifty years ago…"
"My father escaped from the closed country of Wano."
"And settled here."
"At that time, I was only about one year old."
Karl nodded.
Then he removed his sword and placed it on the table.
Shusui.
"You recognize this blade?"
Koshiro glanced at it.
His expression remained calm.
"The national treasure of Wano."
"The sword of the dragon-slaying samurai Shimotsuki Ryuma."
"The Black Blade Shusui."
He spoke as if it meant nothing.
Almost deliberately casual.
Karl smiled slightly and returned the sword to his waist.
Zoro Returns
Suddenly—
The door slammed open.
Zoro stepped inside.
This time—
He carried three real swords.
His eyes burned with determination.
"Master."
"I want to ask Vice Admiral Karl to teach me swordsmanship."
Koshiro frowned.
"Zoro, that's enough."
"You're far too weak."
But Zoro shook his head.
"I know."
"That's exactly why I need to fight."
Karl laughed.
"And here I thought dinner would come first."
"Well… the training ground is empty."
Zoro said immediately.
Koshiro sighed helplessly.
Then he looked at Karl with an apologetic smile.
Training Ground
The dojo training field.
Zoro took his stance.
Two swords in his hands.
One in his mouth.
Karl glanced at the raven on his shoulder.
It cawed.
Then transformed into a sword in his hand.
Raven.
Koshiro watched from the side.
"That weapon…"
"The famous Raven that recently entered the Supreme Grade rank."
"Remarkable."
Karl pointed the blade at Zoro.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Still daydreaming?"
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