Arlong stared at Rowen, his eyes filled with pure terror.
As a former member of the Sun Pirates, who had even been captured by Kizaru and imprisoned in Impel Down, Arlong certainly knew what that power was—Armament Haki.
A power rarely seen even in the first half of the Grand Line.
And—it was terrifyingly strong!
Arlong felt the searing pain wracking his body, his eyes bloodshot.
A single blow—and Arlong knew he was severely injured. His head felt fuzzy, consciousness blurring from the impact.
Shaking his head violently to clear his vision, Arlong opened his mouth wide. The shark teeth shattered by Rowen's punch instantly regenerated.
As a Sawshark Fish-Man, even if his teeth were destroyed, they would endlessly grow back.
"Big Bro Arlong!" Several of Arlong's top officers rushed forward.
"Wait!" Arlong barked, stopping them.
From that single punch, Arlong knew. He had no chance of winning.
He had once been arrogant, believing in his own superiority. But ever since Kizaru easily inflicted grievous wounds on him with the Glint-Glint Fruit's power, leaving him feeling utterly helpless...
Arlong learned a harsh lesson: Never provoke the true powerhouses who sit atop the hierarchy of the seas.
That was suicide.
Facing a user of Conqueror's Haki who also possessed such formidable Armament Haki—Arlong knew he had zero chance.
"'Sky Sovereign' Rowen—No need to be so angry, right? Harmony brings wealth! As pirates, isn't money what we're really after? How about this? We can cooperate! The tribute from these territories—we can split it! And of course, Nami's hometown won't have to pay tribute anymore! How about it?" Arlong struggled to control his dislocated jaw, forcing a smile.
"..." Nami stared at Arlong, finding the scene surreal.
His brethren killed, Arlong himself brutally beaten by Rowen... yet here he was, practically groveling, trying to negotiate peace with Rowen.
Begging for terms from a human—a member of the race he constantly proclaimed as inferior to Fish-Men.
Nami looked at Rowen standing protectively before her, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Years of suffering and anguish—finally—release was at hand.
"Money?" Rowen's voice was laced with icy contempt.
"How about it? Isn't it a good proposal? With your Conqueror's Haki, we can definitely rule the entire East Blue!" Arlong pressed desperately.
WHAM!
CRUNCH!
Bloody spittle, mixed with shattered shark teeth, sprayed through the air.
"Urgh... Guh!" Arlong's head snapped back from another devastating Haki-infused blow, his consciousness threatening to fade entirely, his vision blurring.
"You... dare speak to me about what it means to be a pirate? I'll make your body remember—what a 'REAL' pirate is," Rowen snarled, glaring down at Arlong struggling weakly at his feet.
"Big Bro!" The remaining Fish-Man officers charged forward again.
"Stay out of this!" Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji instantly intercepted them, easily dispatching the lower-level Fish-Men and engaging Arlong's top officers.
Usopp, too, loaded his slingshot with special ammo, roaring defiantly as he attacked the remaining Fish-Men.
"Regenerate your teeth quickly, you half-fish trash," Rowen commanded coldly, grabbing Arlong's head and lifting him up. His chilling gaze sent a wave of terror through Arlong's muddled brain.
"D-Damn you!" Even a cornered rabbit will bite. Humiliated beyond endurance, Arlong instantly regrew his teeth and lunged, snapping his shark jaws at Rowen.
CRACK! His shark teeth shattered once more. Even his iconic serrated nose, the pride of his Sawshark heritage, was brutally twisted and broken by the force of Rowen's punch.
"Regenerate again," Rowen's voice was devoid of warmth, utterly chilling.
Arlong wanted to scream, but speaking required regenerating his teeth, and the moment he did—
CRUNCH! CRACK!
More blood and broken teeth flew.
"Keep going! Regenerate! This pain—is nothing compared to what Nami suffered!" Rowen's glare terrified Arlong to his core.
He was suddenly reminded of that feeling when facing Kizaru...
That sense of utter helplessness, like an infant unable to resist.
Arlong didn't dare regenerate his proud shark teeth anymore. The moment he did, another Haki-coated fist would smash into him.
WHAM!
But the next moment, the jet-black fist slammed into his jaw instead.
CRACK!
With a clear sound of bone shattering, Arlong's eyes rolled white. The force of the blow lifted him bodily into the air.
His jaw was broken.
His mind completely fogged over.
Slap!
Rowen's blackened hand caught Arlong's head, holding him up.
"Still not enough, trash. Don't tell me you're this fragile," Rowen sneered, his smile utterly devoid of warmth.
Arlong was a pitiful sight. Jaw shattered, teeth unable to regenerate, iconic nose broken and twisted—his entire face was a mask of blood.
"Open your eyes. Watch carefully," Rowen commanded, forcing Arlong's head down towards the remaining structures of Arlong Park.
Inside one of those buildings was the mapping room where Nami had been forced to draw maps for Arlong's crew—a place filled with her painful memories.
Something like that—has no right to exist!
A tyrannical crimson-black light flared in Rowen's eyes.
BOOM! Unleashing his Haki without reservation, Rowen poured it out. With a tremendous explosion, the mapping building collapsed into dust and rubble.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Rowen moved like a blur, his Haki-infused fists raining down relentlessly.
The base Arlong had painstakingly built, the entirety of Arlong Park, crumbled building by building, reduced to ruins.
Arlong tried to struggle, to rise, but it was useless.
The Haki-powered blows had left his consciousness reeling; he couldn't control his own body.
All Arlong could do was writhe helplessly on the ground, watching his life's work turn to dust.
"Rowen..." Nami whispered, covering her mouth as she watched.
Though Rowen hadn't said anything, she understood his intention.
Rowen was destroying every physical reminder of her suffering.
CRASH! With a final, deafening boom, the last standing structure of Arlong Park collapsed into rubble.
<><><><><><><><>
Luffy and the others' battles had also concluded.
Arlong's three top officers—Chew (the Kissing Fish-Man), Hachi (the Octopus Fish-Man), and Kuroobi (the Ray Fish-Man)—were all defeated.
The remaining Fish-Man grunts lay scattered and silent across the ground.
"Where do you think you're going?" Rowen asked coldly, grabbing the terrified Captain Nezumi and throwing him down in front of the broken Arlong. Rowen adopted his 'villain' expression.
"I-I'm a Marine Captain! W-What are you doing?! I represent the Marines! The Government!" Nezumi stammered, looking fearfully at Rowen.
Arlong, the monster—was like a helpless infant before this 'Sky Sovereign' Rowen!
Monster! This man—he was the real monster!
"Did you misunderstand something? I am a pirate," Rowen replied, his smile turning chillingly predatory.
CRACK! In Nezumi's terrified gaze, Rowen's Armament Haki-coated foot lashed out, striking him hard.
Accompanied by the sickening sound of multiple bone fractures, an overwhelming wave of agony washed over Nezumi.
Every bone in his body shattered under that single kick.
Then, his eyes rolled white, and he fell silent, lifeless.
Fueled by righteous fury, Rowen's kick had instantly killed the corrupt Marine captain through catastrophic internal injuries and shattered bones.
"Hah..." Rowen exhaled sharply, the burning rage finally beginning to subside.
He turned towards Nami, his expression softening into the warm, sun-like smile she recognized.
"It's okay now, Nami."
"!!!" Nami's nose stung. She rushed forward, throwing herself into Rowen's embrace.
"I-I'm not going to thank you," Nami choked out, her voice muffled against Rowen's chest.
"Mm," Rowen replied softly, gently stroking her hair.
"Because—you said... actions speak louder than words," Nami lifted her tear-streaked face, looking up at Rowen, remembering his words back in Orange Town.
Standing on her tiptoes, Nami pressed a warm kiss onto Rowen's cheek.
"Mnmnph"
Sanji watched, filled with immense envy. He lit a cigarette, but his eyes held only sincere blessings for Rowen and Nami.
"Shishishi! Now we can go to the Grand Line!" Luffy cheered, oblivious to the tender moment.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Just then, the sound of many running footsteps approached.
Nami turned towards the sound, seeing Nojiko and Genzo leading a group of armed villagers, all staring dumbfounded at the scene.
"!!!" Nami's face instantly flushed crimson. She scrambled out of Rowen's arms.
"N-Nojiko! Gen-san! Everyone! W-Why are you all here?" Nami stammered, looking at the villagers from Cocoyasi.
"We heard you came back with comrades to fight Arlong's crew! We rushed over immediately! Nami... what happened here?" Genzo started to ask about Rowen's group, but the devastation of Arlong Park left him speechless.
All the Fish-Men were down, silent.
Arlong, the unbeatable tyrant, lay on the ground like a broken dog, face bloody and completely disfigured.
"Y-you don't blame me?" Nami asked hesitantly, looking at Genzo and the concerned expressions of the villagers, biting her lip.
Nami had thought the villagers didn't know about her deal with Arlong.
"We've known all along, Nami," Genzo said, taking a deep breath as he looked at Nami's stunned face.
"We knew you were fighting for us. We knew about the promise to earn 100 million Beri."
"We just didn't want you to feel burdened by our expectations when you finally decided you wanted to escape Arlong's crew. That would have been too heavy for you. You deserve to live freely, Nami," Genzo finished, his eyes filled with paternal pain and love. He considered Nami and Nojiko his daughters. Seeing his daughter suffer so much... he blamed himself for being useless. But at the very least, he didn't want to be a burden to her.
Genzo's words, combined with the villagers' caring gazes, made Nami's eyes well up again.
"Nami... aren't you going to introduce us?" Nojiko asked, her gaze shifting towards Rowen. She had seen Nami in his arms earlier.
"Rowen," Rowen introduced himself with a smile.
"Luffy! Nami's comrade!" Luffy yelled cheerfully.
"Zoro."
"Sanji."
"Usopp."
The others introduced themselves in turn.
"T-They're my comrades! They're the the pirates who defeated Arlong's crew—" Nami announced, her smile radiant, utterly genuine.
"Pirates?!" Hearing that sensitive word, Nojiko, Genzo, and the villagers stared in shock.
Then, they looked at each other, and suddenly turned towards Rowen and the crew...
"Welcome! Thank you! Thank you so much!" Nojiko, Genzo, and the villagers burst out, their eyes filling with tears of gratitude.
To see Nami smile so happily while calling herself a pirate's comrade...
Nami's burden—had finally been lifted.
Nothing could make them happier than this.
Nami deserved to smile like that! To live freely!
<><><><><><>
"One last thing," Rowen turned, looking down at Arlong.
VMM! Rowen's eyes narrowed intensely. A terrifying wave of pressure washed over Arlong's broken body.
Arlong, who had been weakly stirring, instantly went limp, his eyes rolling white as he fell completely unconscious.
Conqueror's Haki! was the final terrified thought that echoed in Arlong's fading consciousness.
"Plunder."
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Several purple lights flew from the bodies of Arlong and his three main officers, absorbed by Rowen.
"Convert." Rowen commanded without even looking at the specific Fish-Man Traits. They were useless to him; better to convert them immediately.
Arlong's Traits converted into three base Deep Purple Upgrade Materials.
The other three officers combined yielded the equivalent of two base Deep Purple Upgrade Materials.
Even though Hachi had connections to Rayleigh, Rowen still took his power. While Hachi might not have directly participated in killing villagers, he was still complicit. Actions have consequences. Sparing his life was already a concession, considering Hachi's less evil nature and Rowen's future need for Rayleigh's favor. But showing 'face' didn't mean condoning wrongdoing! Rowen was a King too! Hachi being stripped of his power was unavoidable.
In total, Arlong and his three officers yielded five Deep Purple Upgrade Materials for Rowen.
The remaining Fish-Man grunts only had Blue Traits, useless to Rowen.
The Upgrade Materials needed to evolve Superhuman Demonic Physique (Deep Purple) to Apex Purple... were now sufficient.
"Gurgle!" Under the disbelieving eyes of the villagers.
Arlong and the other Fish-Men, known for their terrifying piscine strength, suddenly convulsed. All their muscles seemed to ripple and shrink, leaving them looking like deflated balloons, utterly powerless.
"Wake him up, Usopp," Rowen instructed, knowing Usopp excelled at this.
"Leave it to me!" Usopp declared confidently, puffing out his chest.
Under Usopp's 'gentle' ministrations, Arlong slowly regained consciousness.
"Ngh... Urgh!" Arlong looked fearfully at Rowen.
But then, Arlong froze. His pupils constricted violently. Absolute terror flooded his being.
H-His strength?!
His instincts as a proud Sawshark Fish-Man?!
Arlong tried to regenerate his teeth, but—he couldn't! The ability was GONE!
"I hear you believe Fish-Men, who can breathe underwater, are inherently superior to humans? A noble race, was it?" Rowen asked, looking down at Arlong with a chilling smile.
That smile... looked utterly terrifying to Arlong now.
KICK! Rowen kicked Arlong hard, sending him flying into the channel connecting Arlong Park to the open sea.
As the headquarters for Fish-Men, Arlong Park had a dedicated waterway linking it to the ocean.
SPLASH!
An unbelievable sight occurred. Arlong, a Fish-Man, upon entering the water... began to sink!
!!!
Cannot... Cannot breathe!
Kicked into the sea, Arlong felt an indescribable, primal terror grip him.
As a Fish-Man, breathing freely underwater, swimming effortlessly, these were the core tenets he used to justify Fish-Man superiority over humans!
But now—he couldn't breathe underwater!
What did that man do to him?!
Arlong didn't have time to figure it out. The agony of suffocation overwhelmed him. Amidst the absolute terror, his consciousness faded...
Then, plunged into darkness.
"Hmph." Rowen smirked faintly.
Drowning... A truly fitting end for scum like Arlong.
Stripped by Rowen of everything defining him as a Sawshark Fish-Man—not just his strength and physique, but even his gills shriveled and vanished. His ability to swim was also plundered.
Arlong could no longer breathe or swim in the sea.
He drowned—helpless—in the very ocean he claimed as his birthright.
Whoosh!
The clouds overhead suddenly parted.
Warm sunlight streamed down onto the ruins of Arlong Park. But this light, falling upon the devastated landscape, felt full of hope to the people of Cocoyasi Village.
The sky had cleared.
———
—[Nami equipable Trait list updated.]—
—[Selecting Climate Sense (Pale Gold) for equipping!]—
—[Equipping complete!]—
———
A notification screen, visible only to Rowen, appeared.
Rowen and Nami's bond was already at maximum.
Climate Sense (Pale Gold)—equipped—instantly.
Cocoyasi Village, once bleak under the oppressive rule of the Arlong Pirates, was now bursting with life and celebration.
The villagers brought out all the food and drink they could find, their faces radiating genuine joy as they threw a massive feast.
Because the pirates who had violently ruled over them—Arlong and his crew—had been utterly defeated.
All the Fish-Men who had followed Arlong in his tyranny were dealt with; those thrown into the sea, stripped of their Fish-Man traits by Rowen, could only drown helplessly.
These Fish-Men, who had believed Arlong's doctrine that their ability to breathe underwater made them inherently superior to humans—
—Ultimately suffocated to death in the very sea they claimed as their birthright.
A few, like Hachi, who hadn't directly participated in the killing and oppression of humans, and had sometimes even restrained Arlong's murderous rampages, were spared. After discussion among the Cocoyasi villagers, Rowen allowed them to retain their ability to breathe underwater and let them go.
Arlong's nature was extremely cruel; he viewed humans as inferior beings and wouldn't hesitate to massacre entire villages.
These few less culpable Fish-Men—whether motivated by preserving their source of tribute or by a sliver of inherent decency—had ultimately prevented many more deaths.
The villagers of Cocoyasi, having regained their freedom, wanted nothing more than for Nami—who had carried their hopes for so many years—to be happy and free.
They didn't want her kind heart tainted by excessive bloodshed.
Nami shouldn't have to carry any more burdens for their sake.
From now on, Nami should live for herself, freely upon the sea.
Rowen naturally respected this decision.
Nami just needed to live happily and freely from now on.
Watching Rowen and his crew enjoying the feast, the eyes of every Cocoyasi villager shone with gratitude.
"Shishishi! Parties are the best!" Luffy cheered, his mouth stuffed full, grinning widely.
"Rowen, Eat up! And tell me more about you and Nami~" Nojiko teased, sliding a glass of tangerine wine towards Rowen, eyeing him and Nami with a mischievous grin.
"Nojiko!" Nami's face flushed scarlet.
"Alright, alright! I won't ask!" Nojiko laughed, even more amused by Nami's reaction.
Some things didn't need to be said to be understood.
Nami, forced by her childhood experiences to shoulder everything herself, rarely showed such shy vulnerability.
Looks like Nami really likes this Rowen guy.
Nojiko smiled, reassured.
For Nami—who had endured such suffering and hated pirates to her core—to happily declare Rowen's crew her comrades...
Entrusting Nami to Rowen felt right.
"Here it comes! Sea King meat!" The highlight of today's feast arrived—Momoo, the Sea King kept by Arlong's crew, expertly prepared by Sanji.
This Sea King had often been used by Arlong's crew to 'plow' through villages that resisted their rule.
Rowen certainly wasn't going to let it go to waste. He had had it butchered immediately for the feast.
Sea King meat was a rare delicacy in the East Blue.
"Finally!" Rowen's interest was immediately piqued.
Sea Kings—unique and powerful creatures of the One Piece world.
The power of Poseidon, one of the Three Ancient Weapons, was the ability to command all Sea Kings, allegedly capable of destroying the world.
In the deep sea, there existed colossal Sea Kings exceeding 5,000 meters in length; a coordinated assault by such creatures could generate terrifying tsunamis.
The Sea Kings in the East Blue were much smaller, but still enormous compared to most other creatures.
"This tastes amazing! The freshness of the ingredients, the texture—both perfectly brought out! As expected of you, Sanji! You can make any ingredient taste delicious," Rowen exclaimed after tossing a large piece of sea beast meat into his mouth.
The flavor was wonderfully unique.
It had the texture of beef, yet the delicate freshness of fish.
Combined with Sanji's culinary skill, the inherent deliciousness and texture of the sea beast meat were elevated to their absolute peak.
With a cook like Sanji around, eating Sea King was truly the ultimate indulgence.
Of course, for Rowen, the abundant nutrients within the Sea King meat were even more crucial.
"Hmph. Naturally," Sanji smirked, pleased.
Finally, someone who speaks my language! Rowen's praise for his cooking was spot-on; it felt like talking to a kindred spirit.
Rowen, noticing a slight increase in the equipping progress for the Modified Exoskeleton Trait, smiled inwardly as well.
"As expected of a Sea King from the One Piece world. Incredibly nutritious."
Rowen focused, using his Superhuman Demonic Physique (Deep Purple) to rapidly digest the nutrients from the sea beast meat, feeling his physique strengthen, his lips curling upwards.
The reason humans in the One Piece world could achieve such incredible physical strength stemmed from the immense nutritional value found in the world's meat.
And the nutrients within Sea Kings were even more exaggerated. No wonder the top-tier powerhouses could train their bodies to such ridiculous levels, capable of fighting for days on end using their abilities and Haki.
"Enhance."
With such nutrient-rich sea beast meat available, Rowen didn't need to worry about insufficient fuel. He issued the command internally.
Enhance Superhuman Demonic Physique (Deep Purple)!
——
—[Enhancement successful! Trait tier advanced! Promoted to Apex Purple tier!]—
——
A notification screen, visible only to Rowen, appeared.
A wave of hunger, even greater than the last enhancement, washed over him. But with plenty of sea beast meat remaining, it wasn't an issue.
As Rowen resumed eating heartily, the depleted stamina reserves were quickly refilled.
Once sated, feeling the surge of power and stamina flooding his body, Rowen smirked again.
Of course, with his Superhuman Demonic Physique advancing to the Apex Purple tier, under the influence of Born of the Sea (Apex Gold), Rowen's Armament Haki grew stronger as well.
It remained at the Apex Purple tier for now, however. To advance Armament Haki to the Pale Gold tier (minimum Vice Admiral combat threshold), his physique also needed to reach the Pale Gold tier.
(Of course, for others, even reaching Pale Gold physique required diligent training to elevate their Armament Haki accordingly. But for Rowen, possessing both awakened Conqueror's Haki and the Born of the Sea cheat code, as soon as his physique reached Pale Gold, his Armament Haki would automatically advance.)
The Haki training cheat code truly lives up to its name.
Although it hadn't reached Pale Gold yet, Rowen's current Armament Haki intensity was more than sufficient.
Sufficient to take—Smoker's Logia-type Smoke-Smoke Fruit.
Rowen's lips curled slightly.
While the Smoke-Smoke Fruit wasn't strong among Logias, obtaining his first Devil Fruit ability—Rowen felt a surge of anticipation.
<><><><><><>
"Rowen, try this," Nami carefully offered Rowen a tangerine, her face filled with hopeful expectation, interrupting his thoughts.
'These must be from Bell-mère's tangerine grove.' Rowen took the fruit Nami offered, a flicker of understanding in his eyes.
He peeled the tangerine, carefully placed a segment in his mouth, and chewed slowly.
"Delicious. This is the best tangerine I've ever eaten," Rowen said, smiling genuinely, looking fondly at Nami.
This tangerine held Nami's longing for her adoptive mother, Bell-mère.
It held the strength of a young woman who, even after witnessing her mother's murder, shouldered the hope of her entire village, determined to buy back their home from Arlong.
It also held Nami's heart.
Rowen didn't need Nami to say anything; he understood her feelings.
And Nami, naturally, didn't need Rowen to elaborate; she understood the meaning behind his words, her eyes curving into smiling crescents.
Today—was the happiest day she had experienced since Bell-mère died.
"Rowen! Nami! Look!" Luffy suddenly yelled indistinctly through a mouthful of food.
Nami and Rowen turned towards the sound.
"How's this?! Yosaku taught us! The nostril-chopstick dance! Shishishi!" Luffy and Usopp had their arms slung around each other's shoulders, laughing indistinctly.
Two chopsticks were stuck firmly up their nostrils, the other ends dangling near their mouths.
"Pfft— HAHAHA! HAHAHAHA!" Seeing the utterly ridiculous sight, Nami couldn't hold back. Her lips quivered, then she burst into unrestrained laughter, tears streaming down her face.
"Hahaha! Hahaha!"
"That's great, pirate fellas!"
"Keep it going! Keep it going!"
<><><><><><>
The villagers of Cocoyasi, seeing Luffy and Usopp's performance, also erupted in laughter, tears of mirth streaming down their faces.
It wasn't just laughter at the comical dance; it was the joyous release after years of suffering finally coming to an end.
"How about this?!" Swept up in the festive atmosphere, Luffy and Usopp jumped onto a table, arms still around each other, performing a nonsensical dance that, combined with the nostril chopsticks, looked utterly hilarious.
"Hahaha! Hahahaha!" Joyful laughter filled the air.
"Hahaha! You two idiots! What are you doing?!" Zoro laughed heartily, holding his cup of sake.
"Hahaha!" Even Sanji couldn't help but laugh.
Rowen chuckled, clapping along, thoroughly amused.
This was a pirate victory feast!
Feasts were meant to be joyous!
<><><><><><>
After much revelry, Zoro's wounds started bleeding again from overexertion. Rowen unceremoniously dumped him at the village clinic for treatment.
"Honestly! Fighting with such severe injuries, then partying instead of getting treatment immediately! If your wounds hadn't reopened from messing around too much, were you planning on never seeing a doctor?! Don't you have a doctor on your ship?!" The village's best doctor, Nako, grumbled as he stitched up the wound Mihawk had inflicted on Zoro.
"It's just a scratch! Eating and drinking plenty fixes everything!" Zoro retorted stubbornly through gritted teeth, despite the cold sweat beading on his forehead.
"Ship's doctor? Sounds good! But we need to find a musician first!" Luffy poked his head through the doorway, holding several pieces of meat, grinning cheerfully.
"Why?!" Hearing his unreliable captain, Zoro, already enduring the pain of stitches, felt his eye twitch violently.
"Because pirates need to sing!" Luffy declared with unwavering conviction.
"I meant, why do we need a musician first, you idiot?!" Zoro roared.
A doctor is obviously more important than a musician!
"Shishishi! We'll just let Rowen decide the order later! According to Rowen, we need a doctor and a musician!" Luffy grinned happily.
<><><><><><>
The village feast continued, but on a quiet hillside nearby, Nami knelt before a grave marker, her hands clasped together.
"Do you think—Bell-mère would approve if she knew I decided to become a pirate?" Nami murmured, looking up at the blue sky, almost feeling Bell-mère watching over her.
Not far behind her, Genzo and Nojiko stood silently.
"Of course not! She'd never let her precious daughter become a pirate!" Genzo stated bluntly.
"No... she would," Nojiko countered, smiling softly.
"Besides, even if she didn't approve, would you actually listen?" Nojiko's smile widened.
Nami made a playful face, a mischievous grin appearing—just like when she was a little girl, misbehaving under Bell-mère's watchful eye.
"Hahahaha! You two really are Bell-mère's daughters!" Genzo suddenly burst out laughing.
"Go live life your own way. More than obedience, Bell-mère wanted you both to be happy," Genzo said, tears welling up in his eyes as he looked at Bell-mère's grave.
"Of course! Right now—I'm incredibly happy!" Nami declared, standing up and shouting towards the sea.
She then turned, looking towards the figure standing a short distance away.
Rowen stood there silently, giving her space, yet offering his unwavering presence.
Nami knew this was Rowen's way—allowing her time with her family.
"Rowen! Let's go!" Nami called out, her smile radiant.
"Wait. Can I have a word with you alone, Rowen?" Genzo suddenly asked.
"Of course," Rowen replied with a knowing smile, glancing at Genzo.
"We'll go on ahead then," Nami said, instinctively covering the Arlong Pirates tattoo on her left arm.
Rowen knew she was going to get it removed.
"Mm," Rowen simply nodded, watching warmly as Nami and Nojiko walked away, chatting happily.
After Nami was out of sight, Rowen and Genzo stood in silence for a long moment.
Genzo's lips moved, struggling to form the words.
"Please take care of Nami—" he finally managed, his voice raspy with emotion, revealing the deep paternal love and concern he held for her.
"I know you're strong! But if you ever make Nami lose that smile... I don't care where you are... I will find you... and i will kill you!!" Genzo declared fiercely, tears in his eyes as he glared at Rowen.
"..." Rowen said nothing in return.
He simply placed his right hand gently on the shoulder of this man—a man covered in scars, who, despite his own weakness, had done everything within his power, like a true father, to protect Nami.
Between men, sometimes no words were necessary.
A simple gesture was the strongest promise.
"....." Genzo wiped the tears from his eyes, a relieved smile finally appearing. He turned and walked back towards the village.
Rowen faced Bell-mère's grave marker, clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and bowed deeply three times.
He made a silent promise to the departed Bell-mère:
He would take care of Nami.
He would let Nami live freely—happily—upon the sea.
<><><><><><>
Inside Bell-mère's house.
Nami held a sea map, the Arlong tattoo on her left arm now replaced by a design of a pinwheel and a tangerine. Beside her lay a large bundle—nearly 100 million Beri saved over the years.
The mapping room in Arlong Park, filled with painful memories, had been destroyed by Rowen.
Now, only this single map remained in Nami's possession—the very first sea map she had ever drawn, the one Bell-mère had praised and approved.
"It's all over, Bell-mère. It took eight years, but... I finally got my freedom—Everyone else too... they're all laughing genuinely now—It's just like you always said... As long as you keep living, good things will definitely happen."
Nami clutched the map tightly, looking around the familiar room, seemingly speaking to Bell-mère.
"I'm leaving the island now. Don't worry, everyone is doing well. And... there's Rowen—This time... I'm going to draw maps for my own dream—I'm going to travel the world with them... with Rowen—That's my dream."
Tears welled up in Nami's eyes.
"So... I don't know when I'll be back on this island. I'm leaving now."
Nami wiped away her tears. Leaving the nearly 100 million Beri behind for the villagers, she slowly walked out the door.
Thump! Just as Nami was about to step outside, she felt a gentle push from behind.
Bell-mère.
Nami turned, looking back at the empty room, but her heart felt overflowing with love.
"I'm off!" Nami declared, her smile brilliant and full of hope.
Be careful out there—
Bell-mère's photograph seemed to watch Nami's retreating figure.
In the photo, Bell-mère's smile was radiant
At the harbor, the villagers were helping Rowen's crew load supplies onto the Going Merry, enough for their upcoming voyage.
They also carefully transplanted Bell-mère's tangerine trees onto the ship's deck.
"Everything should be ready now, right?" Rowen asked, looking towards Sanji.
"Yeah, nutritional needs are covered," Sanji confirmed. Ensuring his comrades were well-nourished during their journey was his duty.
With Rowen now onboard—a 'big eater' whose appetite surpassed even Luffy's—Sanji had prepared even more ingredients than usual.
But Sanji didn't find it troublesome at all; instead, he meticulously planned Rowen's nutritional balance.
Because having Rowen taste his cooking was truly a pleasure.
The moss-head, Zoro, needless to say, never offered compliments.
Luffy just stuffed his face, occasionally yelling "Delicious!"
Usopp would offer more words, but his ingrained habit of exaggeration made his praise often over-the-top and off-point.
Only Rowen could provide insightful, detailed critiques of his dishes, appreciating the nuances of appearance, aroma, and taste. Every comment hit precisely on the aspects Sanji was most proud of.
For a chef who considered cooking his life, that kind of feedback was incredibly gratifying.
"By the way, where's Nami?" Usopp asked curiously, looking around for her.
"She'll be here soon. Nami... has her own way of saying goodbye," Rowen replied with a knowing smile.
<><><><><><>
"What?! Nami's leaving without taking the money?" Down below, Genzo stared wide-eyed after hearing from Nojiko that Nami intended to leave her savings behind.
"That's not right! Nami worked desperately hard for that money!" Nako, the village doctor who had treated Zoro, exclaimed.
"She said she can always steal more... You know Nami; once she decides something, she doesn't change her mind," Nojiko sighed helplessly. Nami loved money because it represented hope for saving her hometown. But more than money, Nami loved her family.
"That fool girl... We're the ones who should be endlessly grateful to her," Genzo murmured, filled with guilt. They hadn't been able to help much, letting Nami shoulder everything... Trying to fight themselves would have only worried Nami and gone against her wishes. But this money... how could they possibly keep it?
Tap! Tap! Just then, footsteps approached.
"She's here," Rowen said, looking towards Nami.
"NAMI!" Hearing the footsteps, all the Cocoyasi villagers turned towards her.
"Set sail! Now!" Nami yelled, keeping her head down, avoiding looking directly at the villagers. She then suddenly broke into a sprint towards the Going Merry.
"W-What's going on? Why is Nami running?" Usopp asked, bewildered.
"The navigator gave the order! Of course, we set sail! On this ship, Nami calls the shots when it comes to navigation," Rowen chuckled.
"That's right!" Luffy yelled in agreement.
Zoro immediately raised the anchor. Usopp and Sanji quickly took their positions.
"That girl! Is she really leaving without letting us thank her or say goodbye properly?!" Genzo, who had watched Nami grow up, instantly understood her intention.
"How could she!" the villagers exclaimed, shocked. They had wanted to properly thank Nami, to give her a proper farewell.
"Hoist the main sail—!" Luffy yelled. The Merry's sail unfurled, and the ship began pulling away from the dock.
The villagers rushed forward, trying to stop Nami.
"Wait! At least let us thank you properly before you go!" one man pleaded, trying to block her path.
"Nami! I won't allow you to just leave us like this!" Genzo shouted towards her.
"Rowen... is it really okay for Nami to leave like this?" Sanji asked, looking towards Rowen.
"What does it matter? Nami is free now," Rowen replied, watching Nami run with a smile.
The next moment, Nami darted into the crowd of villagers. Utilizing her [Pirate Thief (Blue)] agility, she expertly weaved through them.
The villagers couldn't stop her.
Tap!
Nami burst through the crowd and leaped towards the Going Merry, already drifting away from the dock.
"Nami!" Nojiko cried out worriedly, watching Nami's risky jump.
But the next moment, Nojiko relaxed.
"Honestly, so reckless," Rowen sighed fondly, standing at the deck railing with open arms. He easily caught Nami as she landed.
"Well... you said I was free~" Nami grinned up at Rowen, then pulled away from his embrace, turning back to face the villagers on the dock.
Rustle!
Nami gave her clothes a little shake, and countless wallets tumbled out onto the deck.
"Everyone! Take care!" Nami called out, holding up a wad of Beri notes she'd 'lifted', turning back to the villagers with a mischievous grin.
"Ah! Our wallets!"
"What nerve, kid!"
"You little thief cat!"
The villagers exclaimed, discovering their missing wallets. But their shouts quickly turned into—
"Take care, Nami!"
"Be happy, Nami!"
"Thank you all so much!"
Nami smiled brightly. Yes, this was the perfect farewell for her.
"Everyone! Goodbye! I'm off—" Nami beamed, her eyes curving into happy crescents as she waved enthusiastically at the villagers.
"I swear—my sister really is something else... Be happy, okay?" Nojiko chuckled, completely endeared.
"Hahaha," Genzo laughed, sitting down heavily. Seeing Nami smile like that—truly happy... Genzo smiled too.
Be happy, Nami!
<><><><><><>
Marine Headquarters! Marineford!
Here gathered the most elite Marines in the world.
Marine Headquarters, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and the Four Emperors—these formed the Three Great Powers maintaining the current balance of the world.
Marine HQ, alongside the Seven Warlords (nominally under the World Government), stood against the pirate forces led primarily by the Four Emperors.
However, with the Emperors largely confined to their territories, Marine HQ undoubtedly represented the single strongest individual faction.
Inside a conference room.
Three wanted posters were pinned to a large bulletin board.
Lining both sides of the room sat rows of Marine HQ officers! Each bore the scars of countless battles against pirates. Unlike branch officers, HQ Marines faced the threats of the Grand Line, even the Emperors of the New World! These officers were on a completely different level. An aura of fierce determination filled the room.
"So, this group is now beyond the capabilities of a mere branch office, correct?" Vice Admiral Yamakaji stated gravely.
"Correct," Marine HQ Commodore Brannew confirmed, pointing at the board.
"Ever since they formed their crew, starting with the defeat of Branch Captain Morgan, their momentum has been unstoppable. Clown Buggy, 15 million Beri bounty. Pirate Fleet Admiral, Don Krieg, 17 million Beri bounty. Fish-Man Pirates, Saw-Tooth Arlong, 20 million Beri." Brannew indicated the posters.
"In the East Blue, where the average bounty is only 3 million Beri, these were all major pirates exceeding 10 million. Yet, this crew defeated them all," Brannew declared loudly.
"And especially!"
Thwack!
A new wanted poster was slapped onto the board.
"Previously reported by the World Economic News Agency—already gaining immense notoriety... The user of Conqueror's Haki! Before defeating Don Krieg, this man even clashed his Conqueror's Haki against the Warlord of the Sea—Hawk-Eyes Mihawk! This man's power can no longer be ignored!!!" Brannew stated grimly.
"Conqueror's Haki—!!" The Marine officers present tensed, their expressions turning incredibly serious. Sweat beaded on the foreheads of some.
That was the disposition of a King—a power not even their three strongest fighters, the Marine Admirals, possessed!
Anyone who awakened it inevitably became a major power player on the Grand Line.
"There was previous debate regarding this man's bounty. But this time—considering his 'Powers' demonstrated by clashing Haki with Hawk-Eyes Mihawk, and his heinous act of killing Marine Captain Nezumi of the East Blue 16th Branch—we have decided on this bounty amount. For an initial bounty to reach this figure is unprecedented. However, based on our assessment, this number is absolutely not inflated. Such a terrifyingly evil sprout must be extinguished as quickly as possible," Brannew concluded, pointing at the bounty figure.
"Absolutely correct," Vice Admiral Yamakaji, who had come specifically for this meeting, affirmed.
"Vice Admiral Onigumo? Your thoughts?" Yamakaji looked across at Onigumo.
Yamakaji represented the 'dove' faction within the Marines, while Onigumo represented the 'hawk' faction. A decision regarding the bounty of a super rookie possessing Conqueror's Haki required consensus from Vice Admirals of both factions.
"No objections. This dangerous individual... must be extinguished swiftly," Onigumo, his face grim, nodded slowly. If not for certain considerations, he would have personally hunted down this 'evil seed' himself.
"Then, the bounty amount is confirmed! Announce it to the world!"
"'Sky Sovereign' Rowen! DEAD OR ALIVE! Bounty: 100,000,000 Beri!" Brannew declared loudly.
"Furthermore! The captain acknowledged by this man, Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, user of the Gomu-Gomu Fruit, 'Straw Hat' Monkey D. Luffy! Bounty: 45,000,000 Beri!"
"Inform the world! Let this evil flame be extinguished quickly!"
Syrup Village.
"M-Miss Kaya!" Merry burst frantically into Kaya's study.
"What is it, Merry? Why are you so panicked?" Kaya looked up from the sea map she was studying, wearing her reading glasses.
Kaya was waiting for Rowen's return. Once her health recovered, she wanted to travel with Rowen to many places. Just looking at these maps filled her mind with images...
Of course, having never been to sea, Kaya couldn't truly picture the sights beyond her island yet. But where they went wasn't important; who she went with was. Rowen's face was vividly clear in her mind.
"P-Please look at this!" Merry held out two wanted posters.
"Rowen!" Seeing Rowen's poster, Kaya immediately stood up and took it.
Because Captain Nezumi had been killed by Rowen, the photo used on Rowen's poster was still the one taken by the World Economic News Agency. Luffy's poster also now featured the WE News photo.
Click.
Kaya walked to the window, opened it, and looked out at the distant sea.
She held Rowen's wanted poster close to her heart.
"Rowen—I'll Wait for you to take me to sea." Kaya hugged the poster tightly, gazing at the distant ocean, her eyes curving into a smile.
<><><><><><>
Baratie.
Rowen's and Luffy's wanted posters were pinned up in the most prominent spot.
After arranging the kitchen duties, Zeff stepped out onto the deck, looking out at the sea.
"A bounty like that—As expected of that man, Sanji... Fulfill your dream," Zeff smiled faintly.
<><><><><><>
An unnamed remote island.
"Hey! Th-That guy is—!" Two pirates, observing the distant sea through a spyglass, suddenly exclaimed.
"H-He's..." The other pirate quickly ran over. Recognizing the man's figure, cold sweat drenched his forehead.
"Hawk-Eyes! What are you doing here?!" A group of pirates quickly surrounded Mihawk.
"Quiet. I'm not here for you. Where are your officers?" Mihawk asked calmly.
"B-Boss!" One pirate scrambled away, running deeper into the island.
"Boss! It's Hawk-Eyes! He—" the pirate yelled towards a man with distinctive red hair and only one arm, who currently had his head bowed.
Emperor Red-Haired Shanks!
"Yo, Hawk-Eyes. Rare to see you here," Shanks murmured, his head still bowed, his expression dark.
Mihawk had appeared before Shanks seemingly out of nowhere.
"I'm not feeling great right now. Did you come for a duel?" Shanks asked without looking up.
"I have no interest in dueling a one-armed man. Besides, you're hungover, aren't you?" Mihawk replied, pulling out two wanted posters.
"I encountered that interesting brat you mentioned—back in the East Blue."
"Hahaha! Luffy! He already got a bounty?" Hearing this, Shanks finally looked up, laughing heartily as he saw Luffy's poster. Thanks to the WE News report, Shanks already knew Luffy had set sail.
"However... there was another pirate who interested me more," Mihawk stated, unfolding the second poster.
"100 million Beri?" Shanks recognized Rowen's face; he'd seen it in the WE News report earlier. But the bounty amount still surprised him greatly.
100 million Beri—that figure held special significance.
Rookie pirates emerging from the Four Blues, after journeying through the first half of the Grand Line, converged at the Sabaody Archipelago.
Those rookies who rose rapidly upon first entering the Grand Line and reaching Sabaody, acquiring bounties exceeding 100 million Beri, were dubbed 'Supernovas'.
Reaching that bounty level required surviving the entire first half of the Grand Line and distinguishing oneself among the top rookies of their generation.
Yet Rowen... received a 100 million Beri bounty—before even entering the Grand Line—This was unprecedented in history.
Calling it explosive news was no exaggeration.
"I clashed my Conqueror's Haki against that young man's," Mihawk stated, looking intently at Shanks. "His future potential... might even surpass yours in terms of Haki, Red-Hair."
Mihawk recalled the clash with Rowen. He had seen in that young man the nascent form of the same overwhelming Haki that the late Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, possessed—the power to conquer all.
Just like when Mihawk witnessed Roger's execution. Just standing there, Rowen seemed to radiate light.
"Oh?" Hearing Mihawk's assessment, the grogginess from Shanks's hangover vanished, replaced by an astonishingly powerful flicker of Haki in his eyes.
"Well then... I'll certainly look forward to meeting him. But before that..." Shanks looked at Mihawk, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"Hm?" Mihawk raised an eyebrow.
"DRINK! DRINK! DRINK IT ALL! We're celebrating today! Drink up! Hahahaha!" Shanks grabbed Mihawk, pulling him into an impromptu celebration.
"'Sky Sovereign' Rowen, hmm?" While urging Mihawk not to hold back on the drinks, a flicker of crimson-black light flashed deep within Shanks's own eyes. 'To receive such praise from Hawk-Eyes... I eagerly anticipate meeting him myself. And Luffy too!'
<><><><><><>
Rowen's and Luffy's wanted posters spread rapidly across the globe.
Rowen's bounty, in particular, sent massive shockwaves through the seas.
Following the initial World Economic News Agency report, coupled with this explosive bounty issued by the Marines, Rowen's name became legendary overnight.
The WE News Agency further emphasized Rowen's clash with the Warlord Hawk-Eyes Mihawk, solidifying his unparalleled reputation.
Achieving a 'Supernova'-level bounty and clashing with a Warlord before even entering the Grand Line!
From this day forward, across all the seas... who wouldn't know the name of 'Sky Sovereign' Rowen?!
<><><><><><>
At that moment, having resolved the Cocoyasi Village incident and finalized the core crew lineup, Rowen and the others were sailing on the Going Merry.
Their destination: Loguetown—the 'Town of the Beginning and the End', birthplace and execution site of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger—located near the entrance to the Grand Line.
Aboard the Going Merry.
"Thwip!" Nami, having just bought a newspaper from a News Coo and grumbled about the price increase, stared wide-eyed at the two wanted posters that fell out.
"Rowen! Luffy! You have bounties!" Nami yelled in alarm.
"What?! I got a bounty?!" Luffy, previously lounging on his special seat at the bow, instantly dashed over, thrilled.
"Look! Look, everyone! I got a bounty! 45 million Beri!" Luffy excitedly showed his wanted poster to his comrades.
For a pirate, nothing showcased strength and fame better than a high bounty. Luffy had dreamed of getting a massive bounty.
Zoro and Sanji also felt a surge of competitive spirit. Bounties were acknowledgments of a pirate's strength. Since they had chosen the path of piracy, of course, they aimed for incredibly high bounties too.
"Shishishi! Rowen's bounty is only 10 million Beri? Too bad!" Luffy then picked up Rowen's poster, grinning cheerfully, his poor math skills evident.
"10 million? Rowen? No way," Sanji, Usopp, and Zoro chorused in disbelief. They had all witnessed Rowen's strength; he was clearly far stronger than Luffy. How could Rowen's bounty be so much lower?
"Let me see," Sanji took Rowen's poster from Luffy and examined it closely.
"Ones... tens... hundreds... thousands... millions... tens of millions..." As Sanji counted the zeroes on Rowen's bounty, cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.
"IDIOT! This isn't ten million Beri!" Sanji exclaimed, utterly shocked.
"This is... ONE HUNDRED MILLION BERI!!!"
"EH?! O-One hundred million Beri?!!!" Hearing the staggering number, Usopp's eyes nearly bulged out of his head in terror.
"O-One hundred... million Beri?!" Nami covered her mouth, her face pale with disbelief, fine beads of sweat forming on her brow.
One hundred million Beri?! What did that even mean?!
Arlong's bounty was only 20 million—the highest in the East Blue! In these waters, anyone exceeding 10 million was considered a major pirate! Nami had never even heard of a pirate in the East Blue with a bounty reaching one hundred million!
Looking at Rowen, Nami's eyes filled with worry. With a bounty like this, Rowen would surely become a target for powerful Marines and pirates...
"One hundred million Beri?!" Luffy stared wide-eyed, yelling in surprise.
Rowen's bounty was that much higher than his?! Luffy looked enviously at Rowen's poster, then clenched his fists, renewed determination filling him.
Luffy wasn't jealous of his comrade; instead, he saw it as motivation. He too would get a super high bounty! He'd catch up to Rowen!
"Finally arrived, huh? One hundred million Beri?" Rowen took his wanted poster from Sanji, a slight curve playing on his lips. For a first bounty, Rowen was quite satisfied.
——
—[Kingly Disposition increased. Conqueror's Haki intensity increased.]—
——
A notification appeared.
Just as expected. A pirate's bounty amount can enhance 'Disposition', thereby strengthening Haki.
Seeing the exaggerated reactions of Sanji, Usopp, and Luffy, Rowen smirked faintly. This feeling... was quite enjoyable.
The process of increasing one's bounty, gaining 'Disposition', and strengthening Haki fit perfectly with the brutal, 'survival of the fittest' nature of the Haki system.
A higher bounty attracted stronger Marines and other pirates seeking fame by defeating high-value targets. Those who survived this culling process naturally forged stronger Haki.
"One hundred million Beri," Zoro murmured, his expression turning serious upon hearing the astonishing figure.
As a former bounty hunter, Zoro understood the significance of such a number better than anyone. Forget the East Blue; even on the Grand Line, a bounty like that marked someone as a major pirate!
With bounties like these, the enemies they would face in the future wouldn't be mere branch Marines or small-time crooks. They would be facing Marine Headquarters itself! And other powerful pirate crews!
Zoro assessed his physical condition post-training. Though still sore, he felt recovered enough to continue training.
"Zoro? Where are you going?" Luffy asked curiously, seeing Zoro stand up and head towards the cabin.
"To train," Zoro replied, his eyes filled with steely determination.
He had promised Rowen and Luffy. He would never lose again!
Facing enemies far stronger than before meant he had to cherish every second, dedicating it to getting stronger.
"I'll join you," Rowen said with a smile, understanding Zoro's thoughts.
"Me too! I'm gonna learn Haki!" Luffy yelled, jumping up, eyes burning with fighting spirit. Rowen's 100 million Beri bounty had ignited a fierce competitive fire within him.
"Today's meal prep is mostly done. Guess I'll go train a bit too," Sanji said seriously, taking a deep breath. Rowen and the others had set him on the path to chase his dream. Though he was the cook, he also needed to contribute his strength for his comrades.
"Yosh! Brothers! Let's learn Haki together with Rowen!" Luffy exclaimed, grabbing Zoro and Sanji's arms.
Zoro and Sanji's eyes twitched, but seeing Luffy's infectious enthusiasm—and knowing he wouldn't let them off the hook if they didn't comply—they reluctantly raised their fists alongside him.
"Oh! Oh!" But despite their reluctance, a determined light shone in both Zoro's and Sanji's eyes.
Haki—they absolutely had to learn it!
For their dreams and ambitions!
And for their comrades!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
With three loud crashes, Luffy, Sanji, and Zoro were once again slammed into the training room wall, stuck and groaning.
"Ow ow ow! Zoro! Help me quick!" Luffy yelled, his head embedded in the wall. Being rubber made him too stretchy; he couldn't easily pull himself out.
"...." Zoro sighed, panting heavily as he managed to extract Luffy's head from the wall.
"Owwwww! SUGEEE! Rowen! How'd you get even stronger again?!" Luffy whined, rubbing his sore head while looking at Rowen with amazement.
"Definitely stronger than before," Zoro agreed, his expression incredibly grim. His injuries were mostly healed, and now they had Curly-Brows fighting alongside them, yet they were still completely powerless against Rowen.
"Getting hit with Haki—is seriously no joke," Sanji muttered, rubbing his bruised shin, his face pale with pain.
"You three—remember well the feeling of being hit by Haki," Rowen instructed, looking at the exhausted trio. Ultimately, learning Haki depended on them.
But Rowen's own training wasn't over.
He strapped on terrifyingly heavy weights and began his own physical conditioning.
His physique, under the effect of Superhuman Demonic Physique, grew continuously stronger.
Superhuman Demonic Physique, born from the fusion of Luffy's Superhuman Physique and Zoro's Demonic Physique—
In terms of raw muscle and bone repair speed, Rowen was now roughly twice as fast as Zoro.
Furthermore, as Rowen's physique strengthened, this gap continued to widen.
This was because Superhuman Demonic Physique also possessed absorption capabilities exceeding even Luffy's base Superhuman Physique.
The stronger Rowen's physique became, the more efficient his absorption, which in turn accelerated his muscle and bone repair, allowing him to handle even greater training intensity—a perfect positive feedback loop!
Superhuman Demonic Physique... the speed at which it enhanced his physique wasn't slowing down as he got stronger; it was actually accelerating!
And, throughout his physical training, Rowen could simultaneously activate Born of the Sea to continuously strengthen his Haki.
This tangible feeling of constantly getting stronger... was incredibly addictive.
Back on Earth, hard work didn't always guarantee results.
But here? As long as he trained diligently, he could physically feel himself becoming stronger.
The sensation was captivating.
Rowen became completely immersed in his training.
<><><><><><><><>
Watching Rowen—already so strong, yet still training so relentlessly—Zoro grit his teeth against the pain, picked up a massive barbell, and began practicing sword-slashing motions. As he trained, he recalled the feeling of Rowen's Haki striking his body, trying desperately to grasp that sensation, to awaken Haki himself.
"How can I get stronger?" Luffy pondered intently. His comrades were working so hard; as captain, he absolutely had to become stronger too!
Regarding Haki, Luffy knew he wouldn't learn it quickly. Luffy might be simple-minded, but he wasn't stupid; he understood his own limitations.
Among the three sworn brothers—himself, Ace, and Sabo—he had always been the least talented in combat during their childhood.
Even after eating the Devil Fruit, he often lost fights against Ace, who hadn't eaten one.
And initially, his use of the Gomu-Gomu Fruit was abysmal; forget hitting others, he often ended up tying himself in knots.
So Luffy knew clearly: he wasn't a genius. If Zoro and the others couldn't learn Haki quickly, neither could he.
Therefore, the quickest way for him to get stronger right now was through his Devil Fruit—his unique advantage over Rowen and Zoro.
Luffy stretched his arm, then his leg, experimenting, thinking hard...
"Hm?" Rowen, still training, sensed Luffy's actions with his Observation Haki.
'Starting to experiment with Gear Second and Third already?' Rowen thought.
Rowen deliberately hadn't given Luffy any hints about those techniques.
Using the rubber body for those Gears placed immense strain on the user's physique.
In the original story's timeline around Enies Lobby—well past the halfway point of Paradise, nearing Sabaody—Luffy's body could barely handle Gear Second and Third.
Right now, before even entering the Grand Line, Luffy's current physique was nowhere near strong enough to support those techniques safely.
So Rowen offered no guidance regarding Luffy's Devil Fruit development. Frankly, none was needed.
The notion of 'developing' Devil Fruit abilities was largely discarded later in the story by the original author. Devil Fruit powers were essentially fixed. As the user's physique strengthened, they naturally unlocked stronger applications of their fruit. The only major bottleneck was 'Awakening', after which the fruit's power reached its peak potential.
Let Luffy experiment on his own. Let him gradually master the power of Gear Second and Third.
This process of exploring his Devil Fruit abilities would also naturally strengthen Luffy's physique.
Eating a Devil Fruit inherently changed the user's body. Luffy, even before awakening Nika, was rubber. Constantly utilizing his rubber abilities naturally enhanced his physical strength and resilience.
This was why Devil Fruit users, especially those with combat-oriented fruits, generally possessed far superior physiques and stamina compared to non-users.
It was also why Rowen, despite the Haki-centric power ceiling of the world, was determined to acquire powerful Devil Fruits.
Powerful Devil Fruits, particularly Mythical Zoans, granted users incredibly vast stamina reserves.
Based on the later combat endurance of top-tier Logia users like Aokiji and Akainu, awakened Logias likely also provided immense stamina.
Furthermore, the inherent powers of strong Devil Fruits were formidable. Combined with Haki, their ultimate combat potential ceiling definitely surpassed that of fighters relying solely on Haki!
Consider Garp during the Hachinosu incident. Despite possessing superior offensive power with his Infused Conqueror's Haki and completely dominating Aokiji in terms of attack power (Aokiji's Ice Fruit couldn't fully negate Garp's infused blows)... Garp was still at a disadvantage in terms of stamina and durability.
Garp landed numerous devastating Infused Conqueror's attacks on Aokiji. Yet Aokiji, through his superior physique and stamina (likely enhanced by his awakened Logia), kept getting back up, continuing the fight.
Meanwhile, Garp took just one sneak attack from Shiryu, and his combat effectiveness plummeted rapidly.
In the One Piece world, those with superhuman stamina and durability were almost always powerful Devil Fruit users.
And for Rowen, possessing the Born of the Sea Trait, greater physical strength directly translated to stronger Armament Haki.
Even Infused Conqueror's Haki, while not requiring physique to strengthen, still consumed stamina as fuel.
Therefore, acquiring powerful Devil Fruits was crucial for maximizing Rowen's ultimate combat potential.
Haki and Devil Fruits weren't mutually exclusive counters like Seastone against Devil Fruits; they were simply different forms of power.
Haki merely provided the means to hit Devil Fruit users.
Strong Haki could overwhelm weaker Devil Fruit abilities.
But powerful Devil Fruit abilities could likewise overwhelm weaker Haki!
Supreme Haki plus supreme Devil Fruit abilities—that combination yielded the absolute highest combat potential ceiling in the One Piece world!
Even non-Devil Fruit users at the absolute peak, like Shanks and Roger, possessed terrifying swordsmanship to supplement their Haki and elevate their combat ceiling.
A fighter relying solely on Haki would inevitably fall short compared to someone who mastered both Haki and a powerful Devil Fruit.
This gap would widen even further past their prime physical years. Zephyr 'Black Arm' was the prime example.
And the Smoke-Smoke Fruit... was merely the first stepping stone for Rowen towards acquiring truly powerful Devil Fruits!
Rowen continued his physical training while simultaneously enhancing his Haki through Born of the Sea, a slight smile playing on his lips.
<><><><><><><><>
Sanji watched Rowen and the others training intensely. He didn't join them this time. Instead, he quietly closed the training room door, slowly rolled up his sleeves... and headed towards the kitchen, enduring the lingering pain in his own body.
His primary role was cook. While his comrades pushed themselves, his duty was to provide the nutritional support they needed.
However, even while preparing the food, ensuring both taste and nutrition, Sanji constantly replayed the feeling of Rowen's Haki strikes in his mind. He too... had to get stronger!
Nami, meanwhile, diligently monitored the sea conditions from the upper deck, occasionally glancing towards the training room window to watch Rowen. The rest of the time, her focus was entirely on ensuring the Going Merry sailed smoothly and safely.
Rowen was working so hard to get stronger; as the navigator, she had to ensure their journey was flawless.
Usopp followed Nami's commands, adjusting the Merry's rudder and sails as needed, currently acting as both shipwright and helmsman.
The Going Merry sailed smoothly onward.
During these days filled with rigorous training and steady progress...
Under Nami's near-perfect navigation...
Loguetown—came into view!
Click!
The door to Rowen's cabin opened quietly.
A beautiful figure tiptoed inside.
"Rowen," Nami whispered, her eyes curving into smiling crescents as she looked at Rowen, fast asleep on the bed.
The day before reaching Loguetown, Rowen had stopped his intense training and had been sleeping ever since.
Through his training, Rowen had discovered a hidden effect of his [Superhuman Demonic Physique (Apex Purple)]: after accumulating extreme fatigue through intense training or battle, an extended period of deep sleep allowed his body to recover optimally, becoming even stronger in the process.
It was similar to how people on Earth built physique—strengthening happened during rest and sleep.
Although Rowen had Superhuman Demonic Physique, Zoro had Demonic Physique, and Luffy had Superhuman Physique—they still needed sleep to recover from accumulated fatigue and maximize the efficiency of their training and growth.
This explained why, in the original story, Luffy and Zoro often slept for extended periods, sometimes days on end, after major battles.
Nami carefully sat on the edge of Rowen's bed, quietly watching him sleep.
Looking at Rowen, memories flooded Nami's mind—their first meeting, all the way to him saving her and her village.
From acquaintanceship, to understanding, to—
Nami thought back to Arlong Park, to the kiss she had given Rowen, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
"Thank you, Rowen," Nami murmured, gently touching Rowen's cheek—the exact spot she had kissed.
But the next moment, Nami's face turned beet red.
"R-Rowen?!" Nami stammered, staring at Rowen, who had opened his eyes and was now looking directly at her.
"G-Good morning! Lovely weather, isn't it? Well, I should get going!" Nami blurted out a clumsy excuse, trying to make a quick escape.
The next second—
"Kyaaa!" Nami gasped as she was suddenly lifted into the air.
Staring at Rowen's face, now incredibly close, Nami could even feel his breath. Her face turned impossibly red.
"Were you trying to steal something, little thief cat?" Rowen asked, looking at Nami's flushed face, a fond, teasing smile playing on his lips.
"I-I wasn't stealing anything from you! I-I just came to wake you up! We're almost at Loguetown! I'll go now!" Nami tried to squirm away, wanting to escape.
"Is that so? But I feel like—you did steal something from me," Rowen replied seriously, looking intently at Nami's crimson face.
Nami started to protest, but then saw Rowen point to the cheek she had just touched.
"You stole this," Rowen said, pointing at his cheek, smiling mischievously at Nami.
"You were planning to wake me up like this, weren't you? Just like back in Cocoyasi Village? But now you're trying to run away..." Rowen's lips curved slightly upwards.
"W-Who said that?! I just came to wake you up, that's all!" Nami sputtered, speechless. How could she argue when she had been lost in memories of their journey together, looking at his sleeping face, and acted impulsively?
But Nami still tried one last desperate defense.
"Nami! Rowen! Come quick! We've reached Loguetown!" Luffy's sudden loud shout from outside made Nami jump in panic.
Seeing Rowen still showed no intention of letting her go, Nami's face felt like it was on fire.
Because of her experiences in Cocoyasi Village, she had buried her typical girly behavior years ago.
But around Rowen—Nami always seemed to revert to the young woman her age was supposed to be.
"So... are you going to return what you stole, little thief cat?" Rowen asked, his smile widening.
"!!!" Feeling the warmth press against her cheek, Nami scrambled away like a startled kitten, Rowen chuckled.
Nami is really adorable
<><><><><><><><>
"So that's Loguetown?" Dressed and ready, Rowen walked out onto the deck, looking at the town on the island ahead.
The birthplace and execution site of the Pirate King—hence its nickname, the 'Town of the Beginning and the End'.
In the past, this town was notoriously chaotic.
Loguetown's location near the entrance to the Grand Line made it the final supply stop for pirates heading into the treacherous sea.
Furthermore, being the place where the Pirate King began and ended his journey, many pirates came here seeking to follow in his footsteps.
This inevitably led to constant clashes between pirates, bounty hunters, and Marines, making the town incredibly turbulent.
But everything changed after Captain Smoker took command of the Marine branch here.
A Logia-type Devil Fruit user was practically invincible in the East Blue.
No pirate could escape Smoker's pursuit.
It could be argued that Smoker was partly responsible for the East Blue being known as the 'weakest sea'.
After all, the pirates capable of reaching Loguetown and aiming for the Grand Line were generally the stronger ones from the East Blue.
By capturing virtually all of them, Smoker effectively culled the ambitious and powerful, leaving mostly mediocrities without the ability or drive to venture into the Grand Line.
However... Smoker had now become Rowen's prey.
Nami glanced sideways at Rowen, then quickly looked away, pretending to study Loguetown nonchalantly when she felt his gaze.
Rowen chuckled inwardly at Nami's 'thief-like' attempt at subtlety; it was quite endearing.
Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji all smiled as they looked towards Loguetown.
From here, they would officially embark on their journey into the Grand Line.
Their dreams were about to truly set sail.
<><><><><><><><>
Soon, the Going Merry docked.
"What a huge town!" Luffy exclaimed, grinning as he took in the bustling sights of Loguetown.
"I'm gonna go see the execution platform where the Pirate King died!" Luffy declared excitedly, then dashed off towards the town center without waiting for a reply.
"Hey! Luffy! We haven't decided on a meeting place yet!" Usopp yelled after him, but Luffy had already disappeared into the crowd.
"Honestly! That guy is still such an airhead," Usopp sighed helplessly.
"Let him have his fun. We should go stock up on supplies too. This is our last chance before entering the Grand Line," Rowen suggested with a smile.
He wasn't sure if the Buggy Pirates would show up here seeking revenge like in the original story.
But Luffy's father, Monkey D. Dragon, was definitely here.
Even if things played out like the original, with Buggy capturing Luffy and attempting a public execution, Rowen wasn't worried. Dragon would intervene and sort everything out.
Rowen had no particular interest in Gol D. Roger's execution platform; let Luffy explore on his own.
"I need to buy two swords," Zoro stated. Entering the Grand Line, as a three-sword style user, he needed his full complement of blades.
"Buy swords? Do you have any money, Zoro?" Hearing this, Nami's eyes suddenly lit up, a predatory 'merchant' gleam appearing in them.
"N-No," Zoro replied, his eye twitching at the mention of money.
"I can lend you some!" Nami offered brightly.
Zoro felt a surge of hope. 'Maybe Nami isn't so bad after all! She knew he needed the money for swords...'
After all, Nami had previously earned money to save her hometown. She left nearly 100 million Beri behind for them... surely lending him a bit for swords—
"—But you have to pay me back triple," Nami finished, her eyes literally transforming into Beri symbols ($).
"You haven't changed at all!" Zoro yelled, his eye twitching violently.
"So, do you want the loan or not? Just telling you, if you borrow it, you can't default!" Nami declared, grabbing Rowen's arm and tilting her chin up proudly. With Rowen backing her up, Nami felt incredibly confident.
Rowen watched Nami's 'money-grubber' persona emerge, amused.
"I'll borrow it..." In the end, Zoro reluctantly agreed to Nami's high-interest loan.
"Okay! I'm going shopping then, Rowen!" Having successfully extorted Zoro, Nami beamed happily at Rowen.
"Alright. Have fun," Rowen replied with a smile. The horror of accompanying a girl on a shopping trip was something Rowen remembered vividly from Earth; it was an ordeal he preferred to avoid. Besides, Rowen had his own plans.
"I'm gonna go check out the ingredients! And look! So many beautiful ladies!" Sanji started seriously, but his eyes quickly transformed into hearts as he spotted attractive women nearby, vanishing into the crowd instantly.
"That idiot lovesick kappa," Zoro muttered, watching Sanji disappear.
"Well, Rowen, I'm gonna go buy some stuff too. Goggles, and materials for inventing," Usopp said, then also headed off into Loguetown.
"Let's go, Zoro. Follow my lead," Rowen said, turning to Zoro once the others had dispersed.
"Got it," Zoro smirked.
Loguetown Marine Branch, Captain's Office.
"Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!" Dense smoke filled the entire room, completely obscuring the interior.
BANG!
The office door burst open frantically.
"Captain Smoker! Terrible news!" A Marine soldier rushed in, his face pale with horror.
"Word from HQ! Straw Hat Monkey D. Luffy's crew is heading towards Loguetown! The captain, Straw Hat Luffy, is a pirate with a 45 million Beri bounty!" The soldier paused, sweat suddenly drenching his forehead, his expression turning fearful.
"And among the Straw Hats—is Sky Sovereign Rowen—with a bounty of 100 million Beri!" The Marine yelled the last part, as if shouting could bolster his courage.
100 million Beri!
In all his time stationed in Loguetown, he had never seen such a high bounty! That kind of bounty, even on the Grand Line, signified an absolutely major pirate!
"100 million? Not small fry, then. That bounty..." A figure slowly emerged from the thick smoke inside the office.
"Captain! They defeated Clown Buggy's crew, and the Fish-Man Arlong's crew! And 'Sky Sovereign' Rowen killed Captain Nezumi of the 16th Branch!! They're vicious pirates!" the soldier yelled urgently, seeing Smoker's seemingly nonchalant reaction.
"Calm down. All your shouting ruined my concentration. Failed again," Smoker grumbled, standing up. He opened the window, letting the smoke dissipate from the office. He had been training his Smoke-Smoke Fruit abilities.
"So. What were you saying?" Smoker turned around.
"HQ says the Straw Hats are estimated to arrive in Loguetown today!" the soldier reported, snapping to attention, though the cold sweat and fear in his eyes were still evident.
A 100 million Beri pirate! About to land in Loguetown!
"Don't panic. Since I've been stationed here... has a single pirate who entered this town ever escaped?" Smoker stated calmly, pulling on his signature 'Justice' coat and lighting two cigars simultaneously.
"N-No, sir!" Hearing Smoker's confident words, the soldier swallowed hard, his fear of the 100 million Beri pirate diminishing slightly.
"Then stay calm. Don't disrupt my rhythm. Even if it's 100 million Beri... it makes no difference," Smoker declared. His confidence stemmed from the Devil Fruit he had eaten.
The Logia-type Smoke-Smoke Fruit.
Here in Loguetown, just before the entrance to the Grand Line, a Logia user was virtually invincible against pirates from the Four Blues.
Even a 100 million Beri pirate was no exception.
"Report! Pirates sighted at the harbor! Requesting your immediate presence, sir!" Just then, another Marine soldier burst into the room.
"It must be the Straw Hats! They've arrived!" the first soldier exclaimed.
"45 million... and 100 million... Hope they're interesting fellows," Smoker muttered, heading outside.
<><><><><><><><>
"So expensive... The money I borrowed isn't nearly enough," Zoro sighed, looking at the swords displayed in a shop window, his eye twitching. But there was no way he was going back to Nami for more money. Triple interest... borrowing too much would bankrupt him completely.
"But I can't enter the Grand Line with just one sword... Rowen, do you have any spare cash?" Zoro asked, turning hopefully towards Rowen.
"Money? I have no interest in money," Rowen replied, glancing at Zoro, a powerful curve to his lips.
"So... you're—" Zoro's eye twitched even harder.
"—Completely broke," Rowen finished, spreading his hands empty. 'Of course, I'm not interested in money when I don't have any!'
"....." Zoro covered his forehead.
Just then, Rowen's lips curved into a knowing smile as he looked towards another direction.
Found her...
"It's rude to call Captain Smoker a monster!" a high-pitched female voice declared earnestly.
"Shut up! Our boss got thrown in jail because of that bastard! We're gonna dump your corpse right in front of him!" Two rough-looking pirates snarled menacingly at the woman holding a sword protectively before her.
"I understand. I will accept your challenge," Tashigi replied seriously.
"Huh? Hahaha! What can a woman like you do?!" the two pirates laughed contemptuously.
"Die!" They charged, swinging their swords at Tashigi.
Clang!
Seeing this, Zoro instinctively moved to draw his sword. He couldn't stand watching bullies pick on the seemingly weak.
But the next moment—
"Rowen?" Zoro looked surprised as Rowen placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.
"Watch. That woman—isn't weak," Rowen commented, looking at Tashigi with a faint smile.
Zoro immediately focused his attention. He knew Rowen possessed Observation Haki, capable of sensing others' strength through their presence.
SHINK!
With a swift draw, Tashigi crouched low, executing a beautiful iaijutsu slash!
The two pirates collapsed instantly.
"Amazing!" The surrounding crowd gasped in awe.
"That must be Observation Haki, right? Incredible," Zoro remarked, seeing Tashigi easily defeat the two pirates just as Rowen predicted.
Rowen didn't explain, simply smiling as he watched Tashigi.
"Hah!" Tashigi, holding her elegant finishing pose, prepared to sheathe her sword.
"Whoa!" Suddenly, Tashigi tripped over her own feet, inexplicably falling face-first onto the ground. Her glasses flew off, landing near Rowen and Zoro.
"Hahaha! Can't figure out if she's strong or just clumsy!" the crowd chuckled good-naturedly.
"Ow ow ow... Wh-Where are my glasses?" Tashigi mumbled, groping blindly on the ground.
"Here are your glasses," Rowen said, picking them up and offering them to Tashigi with a smile.
"Th-Thank you so much!" Tashigi looked up towards Rowen, unable to see his face clearly without her glasses, but offered a grateful smile.
"Y-You! Kuina?!" Zoro gasped, his pupils constricting in shock the moment he saw Tashigi's face clearly.
This woman... looked exactly like his deceased childhood friend and rival!
"Kuina? Who's that?" Tashigi asked curiously, taking her glasses back from Rowen and putting them on.
"Sorry. This guy's an idiot," Rowen interjected smoothly with a smile.
"....." Zoro's eye twitched. If Curly-Brows had said that, he would have started a fight immediately. But coming from Rowen... he couldn't really argue. Not after failing so miserably to learn Haki under Rowen's tutelage.
"Thank you so, so much! I don't know how to repay you!" Tashigi bowed repeatedly, endearingly clumsy.
"Don't mention it. I just picked up your glasses. However... if it's alright... could you perhaps do me a small favor?" Rowen asked, smiling at the adorably clumsy Tashigi.
"Eh?" Tashigi looked bewildered.
<
So you guys came here to buy swords?" Tashigi asked, leading Rowen and Zoro through the streets of Loguetown.
"I'm actually here to pick up my sword that was being sharpened. But it's strange—don't you already have one sword?" Tashigi looked curiously at Zoro.
"He just really likes collecting swords," Rowen interjected with a smile, clapping Zoro on the shoulder before Zoro could answer.
Although Tashigi was endearingly naive, recognizing a three-sword style user in the East Blue could easily lead to identifying Zoro. Rowen still needed this clueless Marine to guide them.
"Really? You like collecting swords too?!" Tashigi suddenly asked Rowen, her eyes lighting up with surprise and excitement.
"Oh? You like collecting swords as well?" Rowen asked, feigning ignorance with a smile.
"Well, it's not exactly collecting—It's just that in this era, most of the famous blades have fallen into the hands of villains!—The 12 Supreme Grade Swords, the 21 Great Grade Swords, the 50 Skillful Grade Swords! My dream... is to retrieve all the famous swords in the world from the hands of those villains! Even if I have to risk my life!" Tashigi declared passionately, her eyes sparkling brightly as she spoke of her dream.
"That's quite an admirable dream," Rowen commented, looking at Tashigi, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Eh? Really?!" Tashigi gasped, then excitedly grabbed Rowen's arm.
This was the first time anyone had genuinely acknowledged her dream!
Most people reacted with disbelief or condescension, thinking, 'Just a woman, talking big'. Even her fellow Marines, while not saying it outright, often conveyed similar sentiments through their expressions. Women were inherently weaker than men... Tashigi often wished she had been born male.
"Do you really think I can achieve my dream?" Tashigi asked eagerly, sensing Rowen's sincerity, craving further validation from the first person who truly seemed to believe in her.
"Achieve it? Well, that might be rather difficult," Rowen replied honestly, looking at the excited Tashigi.
The famous swords of this world... who wielded them? Setting aside others, among the Supreme Grade Swords: Ace (sword name) belonged to Gol D. Roger (current whereabouts unknown);
Yoru, the black blade, belonged to the World's Greatest Swordsman, Mihawk;
Murakumogiri belonged to Whitebeard, the Emperor known as the World's Strongest Man.
Trying to retrieve those swords? Given Tashigi's current strength and aptitude, the probability was practically zero.
"Is it—because I'm a woman, after all?" Tashigi's bright eyes instantly dimmed with disappointment. She had thought she'd finally met someone different, but was he ultimately looking down on her because of her gender? Tashigi's insecurity about being a woman made her interpret almost any comment through that lens.
Zoro's eye twitched upon hearing Tashigi's words. 'Not only does she look like Kuina, but she even sounds like her!' Though, Kuina was much smarter than this woman.
"No, it's not because you're a woman. Even for the World's Greatest Swordsman, accomplishing that goal would be nearly impossible," Rowen stated seriously, pausing to look directly at the disheartened Tashigi.
Even Mihawk would struggle immensely to acquire all those famous blades—many of which were held within the territories of the Four Emperors.
"But... just because something seems impossible, does that mean you shouldn't even try? That's not how things work on this sea, After all, People's dreams... NEVER END!" Rowen declared, spreading his arms wide and laughing heartily.
"Hmph." A smirk touched Zoro's lips. 'As expected of Rowen.'
Tashigi stared blankly at the laughing Rowen. For some reason, at that moment, she felt like the man before her was radiating light.
"That's right! I absolutely WILL achieve my dream!" Tashigi exclaimed, inspired by Rowen's words.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" Just then, someone bumped into Tashigi as they walked past.
"S-Sorry!" Tashigi quickly tried to step aside. In her haste, she once again tripped over her own feet.
THUD!
"Ouch!" Tashigi cried, rubbing her head.
Zoro's eye twitched again watching the clumsy idiot. 'Truly... a national treasure level klutz.'
Rowen also looked helplessly at Tashigi, who had been so full of determination just moments before. 'Yep. Definitely belongs in a museum exhibit of clumsiness.'
<><><><><><><><>
Led by Tashigi, Rowen and Zoro soon arrived at a sword shop.
"Shopkeeper! Is my sword sharpened yet?" Tashigi called out upon entering.
"Your sword..." The shopkeeper, a man with a prominent drinker's nose, looked up, but his pupils instantly constricted the next moment.
"Th-That sword is—!" the shopkeeper stared intently at the sword at Zoro's hip.
"Shopkeeper, do you have any suitable swords? I need two. Here's 100,000 Beri," Zoro said, placing the money he borrowed from Nami on the counter.
"100,000? You won't find any good swords for that price. How about... you sell me your sword? I'll give you 200,000 Beri! Then you can buy three 100,000 Beri swords," the shopkeeper suggested, his eyes greedily fixed on the sword at Zoro's waist.
Wado Ichimonji! One of the 21 Great Grade Swords! This poor fool buying 50,000 Beri swords probably has no idea how valuable this blade is!
"Sell my sword?" Zoro's expression clearly conveyed refusal.
"Alright, alright! I'll take a loss! 400,000! No—600,000 Beri!" the shopkeeper urged desperately, knowing such treasures were rare finds.
"W-Wait! I didn't notice it properly before... May I take a look at that sword?" Tashigi's attention was suddenly captivated by the sword at Zoro's hip.
Zoro didn't refuse, handing the sword to Tashigi.
"There's no mistake! This is Wado Ichimonji! One of the 21 Great Grade Swords! This is a famous blade worth over 10 million Beri!" Tashigi exclaimed. The shopkeeper's face turned pale green.
"Wado Ichimonji?" Zoro's eyes narrowed slightly. This was the first time he'd heard the sword's name. Previously, he had simply thought of it as the 'Sword of promise' between him and Kuina.
"I'm reporting you for obstructing business! Your sword is sharpened! Take it and get out!" His hopes dashed, the shopkeeper rudely tossed Tashigi's sword towards her.
Clack!
Rowen caught the sword thrown at Tashigi with one hand, while his other steadied Tashigi, who had stumbled and nearly fallen while juggling both Wado Ichimonji and her own thrown sword.
"You were so eager to raise the price earlier—even without this lady's identification, the deal likely wouldn't have happened, right, shopkeeper?" Rowen asked, looking at the shopkeeper with a knowing smirk.
This shopkeeper, though greedy, wasn't inherently bad. Ultimately, he would give Zoro his family heirloom, Yubashiri, along with Sandai Kitetsu.
"Th-Thank you," Tashigi blushed, steadied by Rowen. She felt incredibly embarrassed by her clumsiness. If this man hadn't caught her, she would have fallen again.
"Hmph!! Those over there are all 50,000 Beri swords! Go pick from them!" The shopkeeper, losing face, grumbled twice, then pointed towards several barrels in the corner filled haphazardly with swords.
"Here, your sword," Rowen handed the sheathed blade back to Tashigi.
"Th-Thank you," Tashigi accepted it, examined it carefully, then smiled. This shopkeeper's sharpening skills were actually quite good.
"That sword... should also count as a famous blade, right?" Rowen asked with a smile.
"Mm! This is Shigure! I'll train hard and use it to retrieve more famous swords from the hands of villains!" Tashigi nodded seriously.
"!!!"
"W-What are you doing?" Tashigi looked shocked as Rowen gently patted her head.
"Sorry, sorry! You just looked so cute, I couldn't resist," Rowen chuckled, raising his hands defensively.
The combination of the glasses and her earnest, determined expression made Rowen subconsciously want to ruffle Tashigi's hair.
"C-Cute?!" Tashigi's face instantly turned bright red. She stammered, looking at Rowen. "Y-You! You still see me as just a woman!" she then puffed out her cheeks angrily.
Rowen found her reaction amusing. This klutzy woman's thought process really was different from most people's.
"Hm? This sword?" Just then, Zoro, who had been rummaging through the barrels, spoke up, holding a particular katana.
"Hm? Let me see... Hey! This... this sword... no mistake! It's Sandai Kitetsu! One of the Skillful Grade Swords! Its predecessor, Nidai Kitetsu, is a Great Grade Sword, and the original, Shodai Kitetsu, belongs among the Supreme Grade Swords!" Seeing a famous sword, Tashigi immediately got excited again.
"Shopkeeper! Is this sword really only 50,000 Beri?! Amazing! These usually sell for over a million!" Tashigi looked towards the shopkeeper, whose expression had become extremely uneasy.
"Oh? The Cursed Sword Kitetsu?" Rowen looked at the blade Zoro had drawn, Sandai Kitetsu, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Check Traits."
Sandai Kitetsu (Bonding...): A cursed sword! Swordsmen unable to gain its acknowledgment ultimately meet gruesome deaths!
(Influenced by Asura Aura, currently selecting a master. Target: Roronoa Zoro).
————
Interesting!
So it's because of Zoro's [Asura Aura] Trait that this cursed sword started choosing a master.
Looks like the [Asura Aura] Trait is even more special than I initially thought.
The equipping speed also indicated its value. Zoro's Demonic Physique Trait had finished equipping long ago, but the Asura Aura Trait still had a long way to go.
While slightly faster than equipping Luffy's Sun God (Apex Gold) Trait, the difference was marginal. This Special Trait was easily as valuable as an Apex Gold Trait.
"Can you sense it too, Rowen? This cursed sword's aura," Zoro asked, holding Sandai Kitetsu, feeling the unusual presence emanating from it, looking towards Rowen.
"It's choosing you as its master," Rowen replied with a smirk.
"D-Don't be stupid! This sword isn't for sale! Since you can sense its sinister nature, you should give up on it! The Kitetsu line of swords—it's like they're cursed! No swordsman uses a Kitetsu anymore! Anyone who uses one dies mysteriously!" the shopkeeper exclaimed, drenched in cold sweat.
"Even if someone unknowingly uses it, they just vanish from the world! I want to get rid of it too! It's like I'm cursed just by having it!"
"S-Sorry! I didn't know it was such a terrifying sword..." Tashigi looked alarmed.
"Rowen, you said it's choosing me as its master? Interesting... I like it! This is the one!" Zoro declared, a feral grin spreading across his face.
"Hey! Stop! If you die, doesn't that mean I killed you?!" the shopkeeper panicked. He might be greedy, but he didn't want to be responsible for someone's death!
"Well then, let's test it. My luck versus its curse—which one is stronger?" Zoro chuckled.
"Of course, your luck is stronger. You're a man I acknowledge," Rowen added with a confident smile.
"Hmph!" Zoro smirked, then abruptly tossed Sandai Kitetsu high into the air.
Whoosh!
The cursed sword spun through the air. Zoro immediately extended his bare arm straight out beneath it.
"Stop! Your arm will be cut off!" the shopkeeper yelled, his eyes wide with fear, sweat pouring down his face.
"..." Zoro closed his eyes. The cursed sword's aura intensified.
Then—
Thwip!
Sandai Kitetsu landed perfectly alongside Zoro's outstretched arm, burying its tip harmlessly into the floorboards inches away.
"I'll take it!" Zoro opened his eyes, a fierce, predatory curve to his lips.
"!!!" The shopkeeper and Tashigi both collapsed onto the floor, utterly terrified by the display.
————
Sandai Kitetsu (Master Acknowledged): Has acknowledged Roronoa Zoro as its master.
————
"It belongs to you now," Rowen stated with a smile.
With his System, Rowen could clearly perceive the entire process of Sandai Kitetsu acknowledging Zoro. The cursed sword emitted a sinister aura, bringing misfortune and death upon users it didn't accept. But Zoro's Asura Aura triggered the acknowledgment process. In the contest of wills, the sword's curse lost to Zoro's demonic aura, leading it to accept Zoro as its master.
"There's one more sword... Rowen, can you sense any other special blades?" Zoro asked, looking towards Rowen.
"W-Wait a second!" the shopkeeper suddenly yelled. He then scurried to the back and returned with another katana.
"Black lacquered scabbard, blade pattern is an irregular 'choji' midare! One of the 50 Skillful Grade Swords—Yubashiri! This is the best sword in my shop!" the shopkeeper declared, drawing the blade.
"I can't afford it. Like I said, I only have 100,000 Beri," Zoro replied. He loved swords, but wouldn't take blades that weren't rightfully his.
"No charge! And no charge for the Kitetsu either! Sorry for trying to trick you earlier! It's been too long since I saw the eyes of a true swordsman! The cursed sword chose you as its master... Good luck!" the shopkeeper said, offering a genuine swordsmith's smile.
"Well then... I accept," Zoro replied with a swordsman's grin, taking Yubashiri.
Three swords—assembled.
"I-I'm still weak in the knees... You guys—are amazing," Tashigi murmured, looking at Zoro and Rowen, wiping cold sweat from her brow. One dared gamble his arm against a cursed sword, the other watched calmly, seemingly certain the sword would be conquered.
"By the way... your name is Rowen? That's the same as that 'Sky Sovereign' Rowen," Tashigi commented, looking at Rowen.
Zoro's eye twitched. 'Oh no... Is this going to ruin Rowen's plan?'
"But it's probably just the name, right? Someone as nice as you couldn't possibly be that villain!" Tashigi added quickly.
'Phew!' Zoro breathed a sigh of relief. 'Good thing this woman is klutzy.'
"Let me help you up. There's actually one more thing I need your help with," Rowen said, helping Tashigi to her feet with a smile.
"Eh? Something else? What is it, Rowen? If it's something I can do..." Tashigi replied earnestly. Rowen was the first person to genuinely acknowledge her dream.
"You're a Marine, right? Could you take me to meet the Captain here, Smoker?" Rowen asked with a smile.
"Eh? Meet Captain Smoker? What for?" Tashigi blinked, surprised.
"There's something... I need his help with," Rowen replied cryptically.
With his current level of Observation Haki, Rowen couldn't yet scan the entirety of Loguetown to quickly locate Smoker. Having a guide was necessary.
"Help... ah, well, alright then," Tashigi agreed, nodding.
<><><><><><><><>
"That brat just now—was Straw Hat Monkey D. Luffy! Head to the execution platform immediately!" Smoker ordered grimly. He rarely paid attention to happenings outside capturing pirates in the East Blue. He hadn't even looked closely at the WE News report earlier.
In the East Blue, no pirate was worth remembering. He had only just seen the wanted posters, realizing too late he'd crossed paths with Straw Hat and even pointed him in the wrong direction!
Towards the Pirate King's execution platform, no less!
"Captain Smoker! There's someone here asking for your help!" Just then, a female voice interrupted
As Smoker turned around, his pupils instantly constricted.
"'Sky Sovereign' Rowen!" Smoker stared intently at the two men Tashigi had brought with her. One of them... looked exactly like the face on the wanted poster he had just received.
"Check Traits."