Loguetown.
"So that's where you two disappeared to?"
"What, back to your old corruption-investigation routine again?"
Ain walked over with a smile and wrapped herself around Karl's arm.
Beside her, Tashigi stared fixedly at Karl, looking like she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Karl sighed dramatically.
"What can I do? I was born with the fate of hard labor."
"I finally get a chance to relax, and I still end up working."
"The human heart truly isn't what it used to be…"
Smoker rolled his eyes before turning toward Morgan.
"Throw him into a cell."
"Yes, sir!"
Karl lightly pinched Ain's shoulder.
"So? How was it while I was gone?"
"You enjoyed yourselves?"
"Of course!"
Ain nodded excitedly.
"Tashigi and I walked all over Loguetown!"
"I even bought lots of local specialties!"
"Hahaha, as long as you're happy."
Ain nodded again before suddenly remembering something.
"Oh right!"
"Yesterday I heard there's a sea restaurant in East Blue called the Baratie."
"It's somewhere in the Sambas Region."
"They say the chefs there are amazing."
"Karl~ I want you to go there with me… pleaaase~"
To maximize the effectiveness of her acting cute, Ain deliberately transformed into her sparkling crystal-clear little girl form.
She wasn't even as tall as Karl's thigh.
Tiny Ain tugged adorably at Karl's Justice Coat as though refusing her would be a terrible crime.
"Alright, alright, I promise."
"But let's wait a couple days first."
"At least let me properly explore Loguetown before that."
"Okay! Deal!"
Then Ain suddenly remembered something else.
"Oh right, Tashigi."
"Didn't you have something you wanted to ask Karl?"
Tashigi's face immediately turned red.
She stepped nervously in front of Karl.
"Vice Admiral Karl…"
"Yesterday I found a sword shop here."
"I heard they have a famous blade…"
"But I… I can't find it."
Karl rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"You want me to help you find the sword?"
"Yes!"
"Please, Vice Admiral Karl."
Good grief.
Was Tashigi planning to steal both Zoro's Yubashiri and Sandai Kitetsu before he even got them?
If so…
Karl liked this very much.
"Fine."
"Ain, you come too."
"Oh right—"
Karl looked at Tashigi curiously.
"Don't you already have Shigure?"
"And besides, you use One-Sword Style, don't you?"
Tashigi nodded seriously.
"I just don't want famous blades to sit forgotten on shelves…"
Ah.
Karl remembered now.
Tashigi's dream was to collect all the famous swords that had fallen into the hands of evil men.
Buying blades purely for collection purposes was perfectly normal for her.
"Alright then."
"Let's go."
"Smoker, go handle your work first."
"We'll come find you later."
"Fine, go ahead."
Weapon Shop
The shop owner, who carried himself with the bearing of a seasoned officer, had been lazily resting his chin in his hand.
The moment he heard movement at the entrance, he immediately perked up.
Sigh…
Thinking about it really brought tears to his eyes.
Before Smoker arrived, Loguetown's security had been mediocre.
Pirates frequently came and went despite the Marine base.
Back then, business had been booming.
But after Smoker took over—
every pirate who dared land in Loguetown shared the same fate:
They got utterly destroyed by Vice Admiral Smoker.
No exceptions.
As a result, his business had plummeted.
Which meant whenever a fat sheep—ahem, customer—appeared, he had to fleece them for all they were worth.
And now, wasn't one walking right through the door?
"Welcome, welcome!"
"Whatever weapon you need, just say the word!"
"My shop has been around for over a hundred years!"
"Absolutely no defective products here!"
The first person to enter was Ain.
She wore casual clothes and expensive jewelry Karl had given her.
At first glance, she practically screamed wealthy young lady.
No wonder the owner looked so enthusiastic.
But when he saw Tashigi entering behind her—
his expression immediately collapsed.
Oh no.
It's that confused girl who only looks around without buying anything.
What a headache.
Just as he was about to ask Tashigi to leave—
his eyes suddenly landed on Karl.
More specifically—
on the black blades hanging at Karl's waist:
Shusui and Raiu.
The owner's eyes widened instantly.
"My heavens!"
"T-That's… the national treasure of Wano Country… Shusui?!"
"How could it possibly be in—"
"Ah!"
"Y-You're Marine Hero Karl?!"
Ipponmatsu stared in shock.
Although rumors had spread yesterday that the new Marine Hero had arrived in Loguetown, very few people had actually seen him.
He'd assumed it was just gossip.
Never in his wildest dreams did he expect the Marine Hero to walk into his tiny shop.
And to him, Karl wasn't merely a Marine Hero.
He was a swordsman standing at the peak of swordsmanship alongside the World's Greatest Swordsman, Mihawk.
Karl slowly walked up to him and looked down calmly.
"You're from Wano?"
"I— no, not exactly."
"My father was from Wano Country."
"I was born here in Loguetown."
"Because we specialized in swords, my father often told me stories about Wano's lost national treasure, Shusui…"
"And he always regretted its disappearance."
"That's why I got so emotional."
Karl smiled faintly.
"No need to be nervous."
"I only came to pick out a few good swords for my subordinates."
"Do you have any?"
"Subordinates?"
Ipponmatsu looked toward Tashigi.
"This confused little lady— ah no, this beautiful young miss?"
Tashigi immediately exploded in embarrassment.
"I-I'm not confused!"
"I just… have trouble making decisions!"
"Sorry, sorry! My mistake!"
Karl waved dismissively.
"Forget it."
"Just bring out your best blades."
Hearing this, Ipponmatsu revealed a conflicted expression.
He did possess good swords.
But compared to Karl's Shusui and Raiu—
none of them could truly be considered exceptional.
Still, he sighed and nodded.
"Vice Admiral Karl…"
"Since you insist, I won't hide it anymore."
"Please wait a moment."
He hurried into the back room.
A few moments later, he returned carrying a beautifully crafted sword.
"Vice Admiral Karl…"
"This is my family heirloom."
"Grade Skillful Sword — Yubashiri."
"Black lacquered sheath, midare-komon temper pattern…"
"It's extraordinarily sharp."
"Cutting hair and steel alike is effortless."
Beside him, Tashigi stared with wide eyes.
A famous blade?!
Even though it was only one of the Fifty Skillful Grade swords—
that was already extremely impressive.
Not every swordsman could wield three top-tier blades like Vice Admiral Karl.
No—
aside from Shusui, both Raven and Raiu only reached Supreme Grade and Great Grade status because Karl wielded them.
"Yubashiri…"
Tashigi carefully examined every detail of the blade like she'd discovered treasure itself.
"The name…"
"It evokes the image of quietly walking through falling snow…"
"Or snowflakes drifting gently through the air…"
"Cold. Elegant. Sharp."
"What a wonderful sword…"
Karl raised an eyebrow.
He hadn't expected Tashigi to be this professional when it came to appreciating famous blades.
Then he suddenly remembered:
Besides Yubashiri, this shop also had Sandai Kitetsu.
…Forget it.
Better leave that one for Zoro.
It was useless in Karl's hands anyway.
And Tashigi probably couldn't control it.
"If you like it, then buy it."
Karl turned toward the owner.
"Boss."
"Name your price."
After all—
a man casually carrying around tens of billions of Berries naturally spoke with confidence.
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