The main street of Loguetown was even livelier than the docks.
Wooden houses along the street displayed colorful signs, silk fabrics from the tailor shop fluttered in the wind, and the aroma of freshly baked bread from the bakery mingled with laughter drifting from a distant tavern.
Ryan strolled leisurely along the cobblestone path with a cigar in his mouth, watching street vendors hawking their goods in the distinctive East Blue accent, feeling rather relaxed as if browsing a market.
As he turned the corner, a loud crash of overturned tables and chairs erupted ahead, accompanied by crude curses.
Ryan paused slightly, his brow lifting almost imperceptibly.
Following the noise, he saw chaos at the entrance of a tavern. Three pirates were kicking and punching a bartender. The bearded leader slapped the short sword at his waist loudly, a string of skull necklaces hanging from his neck. His attire appeared more presentable than those at the docks earlier.
Tsk, the livelier the place, the more trouble there is.
"Daring to ask me for money?" The bearded man kicked over a nearby barrel. "If I don't smash this damn shop today, my reputation as 'Iron Anchor' Baron will be for nothing!"
"Stop!"
A clear shout cut through the chaos as a figure with light blue short hair pushed through the crowd.
Ryan's gaze lingered on her.
She wasn't particularly tall but stood straight, her eyes behind thin-framed glasses exuding a soldier's distinctive vigor. Paired with her somewhat youthful, delicate face, she presented a contradictory blend of competence and innocence—showing promise yet still unrefined.
Isn't that Tashigi!
"Drop your weapon immediately!" Tashigi drew her long sword, its blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
"A little girl like you dares to challenge me?" Baron sneered upon seeing she was a female Marine, then swung his blade at her.
Instead of retreating, Tashigi advanced, angling her sword to precisely deflect his strike. With a twist of her wrist, she forced Baron to stumble backward.
Her swordplay wasn't flashy but was steady and accurate, clearly the result of formal training. After a few exchanges, Baron gradually fell behind, a gash opening on his arm.
"Damn it!" Seeing he was outmatched, Baron feinted and tried to flee into an alley.
Just as he was about to dash into the alley, Ryan casually stuck out his foot as he passed.
Focused solely on escape, Baron didn't notice the obstruction and tripped hard, falling flat on his face with a thud, his short sword flying from his grasp.
"Grab him!" Tashigi immediately rushed over, pinning Baron to the ground by stepping on his back, her movements crisp and efficient.
Nearby Marine soldiers hurried forward, pulling out handcuffs to secure Baron.
"Thank you!" Tashigi finally turned around, but her gaze froze when it swept past his waist, her eyes instantly lighting up. "Th-this is the Good Quick Blade 'Wind Splitter'?"
Ryan chuckled softly at Tashigi's mesmerized expression as she stared at the sword. "Seems you're quite interested in swords."
"Y-yes!" Tashigi's cheeks flushed slightly as she instinctively adjusted her glasses, her hand already reaching for the palm-sized leather notebook tucked at her waist.
"Look at the cloud pattern engraving here, and the silver wire edging on the scabbard..." She quickly flipped open the notebook, comparing the sword diagram illustrations under the sunlight, her eyes widening with excitement. "It's definitely the Good Quick Blade 'Wind Splitter'!"
Without another word, Ryan reached down and unfastened Wind Splitter from his waist, handing it over. The blade reflected a cold gleam under the sunlight, its cloud-like patterns shifting with the angle.
Tashigi received it with both hands, her fingertips gently brushing over the blade as if touching a sacred artifact. "It's truly magnificent... It's a shame that renowned swordsmen nowadays are either pirates or bounty hunters. Famous blades across the world have almost all fallen into their hands. These swords, which should have been used to uphold justice, are instead wielded for pillaging and slaughter. Just thinking about it... it feels as though the blades themselves are weeping."
"Perhaps it's because the world is in turmoil," Ryan replied calmly, observing her demeanor.
In this world of pirates, it was essentially a lawless jungle where the strong preyed on the weak. Pirates had become the mainstream precisely because the common folk had no means of survival. The nobles indulged in decadent lives behind their crimson walls, while the "Celestial Tribute" weighed heavily upon the people like an insurmountable mountain. Those driven to desperation had no choice but to take up their blades and set sail as pirates.
Moreover, the so-called "villains" were merely labels assigned by the World Government, with the most prominent example being the so-called "Tyrant" Kuma.
"That's exactly why we must train even harder as swordsmen," Tashigi declared, gripping Wind Splitter firmly, her eyes resolute. "I will use my Little Night Rain to reclaim all the famous blades fallen into the hands of scoundrels and return them to where they belong!"
"How do you know where a blade truly belongs?" Ryan took back Wind Splitter, his tone tinged with indifference. "Blades choose their masters. You may think others are unworthy of wielding famous swords, but from the blade's perspective, following its master into battle and slaughter might very well be the meaning of its existence."
"B-but..." Tashigi froze, her fingers pausing mid-air as she adjusted her glasses. She bit her lower lip, a flicker of conflict in her eyes behind the lenses, but it soon gave way to renewed determination. "Blades are meant for protection, not for bullying the weak. Just as justice may be delayed but never absent, famous blades should also follow their rightful path!"
She raised her own Little Night Rain, its blade gleaming humbly under the sunlight. "I know some blades may adopt their masters' traits over time, but I believe that with the guidance of a righteous sword, they will one day understand what true swordsmanship means."
Tashigi spoke these words hurriedly, as if afraid of being contradicted. A faint blush colored her cheeks, yet she stubbornly met Ryan's gaze, as if awaiting his approval.
"What use is delayed justice?" Ryan's faint smile faded slightly. "Blades have never been benevolent objects in need of guidance. What you call 'protection' is merely a shackle imposed by their wielders. The essence of a blade is that of a weapon—to cut, to draw blood. That is the purpose of their creation."
He looked directly at Tashigi, the earlier nonchalance in his eyes replaced by a cold clarity. "Take the legendary Demonic Blade Ghosty, for instance. How many self-proclaimed righteous swordsmen have fallen by its edge? It's not because the blade is evil, but because those individuals were incapable of taming its ferocity."
Tashigi abruptly lifted her head, her fingers gripping her glasses so tightly they turned pale. There was not a trace of doubt in her eyes behind the lenses; instead, they shone even brighter with defiance. "You're wrong!"
She took a small step forward, steadily raising the hand holding "Little Night Rain." Though the blade appeared unadorned, it radiated undeniable resolve. "A sword is an inanimate object—it is the wielder who gives it life. Kikoku is called a cursed blade because those who used it were consumed by desire, staining it with bloodshed. But if it is held by someone with a righteous heart, it can still cut down evil!"
"You say a sword recognizes power? But true power is the power to protect!" Tashigi's voice was soft, yet every word rang clear. "Just as Wind Splitter is now in your hands—it subdues pirates. That is the power of justice guiding it. If one day it falls into the hands of a villain, that is not the sword's fault. It is because we who seek justice are not strong enough. That is precisely why we must train harder, to make our blades swifter than evil!"
Ryan raised an eyebrow, surprised that this young girl could refute him with such conviction. Even the blush on her cheeks seemed like proof of fervent passion rather than shyness.
What struck him most was that he had actually been regarded as a righteous man...
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