It was hard to believe.
The scene that had just unfolded made Ippon Matsu feel as if the Sandai Kitetsu itself had avoided harming the man in front of him.
Or perhaps—
Even though they had only just met, the man had already subdued the cursed blade.
Staring at Kaito Arisawa in shock, Ippon Matsu suddenly sprang up from the floor.
He hurried back behind the counter and retrieved the gold bars he had just put away.
"Sir, I apologize for earlier."
"Please take these gold bars back."
"It's an honor for a swordsman who can control Sandai Kitetsu to visit my shop."
"As for Yubashiri, please accept it as a gift."
This time, Ippon Matsu no longer spoke with the same flattering tone as before.
Instead, he spoke solemnly.
Kaito waved his hand casually.
"I appreciate the gesture, but there's no need to return the gold."
"I'm not short on money."
"Besides, trading two gold bars for these two famous blades is already a bargain for me."
Gold had a price.
But famous swords were priceless.
The so-called market value was only theoretical.
Anyone who managed to buy a famous blade on the open market could consider themselves unbelievably lucky.
As for Kaito—
He relied on his own strength.
If he hadn't, he would never have obtained them.
Seeing that Kaito refused to take the gold back, Ippon Matsu could only sigh helplessly.
However, out of respect, he quickly fetched a finely crafted scabbard and fitted it onto Sandai Kitetsu.
"I didn't expect an ordinary weapon shop to have two famous swords."
"And one of them is even a cursed blade."
After leaving the shop, Robin, who was carrying Yubashiri and Sandai Kitetsu, couldn't help speaking with amazement.
Meanwhile, Neferpitou had already climbed back onto Kaito's shoulders as if it were the most natural place in the world.
Kaito smiled faintly.
"That's just luck."
"I'm only borrowing someone else's fortune."
The "someone else" he was referring to was Roronoa Zoro.
Kaito had come here specifically to take Yubashiri and Sandai Kitetsu.
They would serve as gifts to attract Zoro.
In other words—
Borrowing flowers to present to the Buddha.
"Let's go," Kaito said while glancing toward the distant harbor.
"It's time to head back."
"Otherwise, the fight on Mangu's side might already be over."
"Fight?"
Robin looked surprised and followed Kaito's gaze toward the port.
BOOM!!!
Amid clouds of smoke, a figure covered in blood suddenly flew through the air toward the warehouse near the harbor.
With a deafening crash, the figure smashed straight through the warehouse wall, leaving a massive hole before disappearing inside.
"Colonel Smoker!!"
Seeing her superior knocked flying, Tashigi's face filled with shock.
Unfortunately—
She had forgotten that she was still in the middle of her own battle.
"Ahhh!"
A fist suddenly struck her stomach.
The punch carried a powerful shockwave.
Tashigi screamed as she was blasted backward.
The impact sent her flying across the ground.
Even the sword Shigure slipped from her hand and landed nearby.
"Tch."
"That's pretty pathetic."
The man standing before her was Bunier, one of the captains of the War Pirates.
Looking down at Tashigi, who could no longer stand, he clicked his tongue with disdain.
"You're not even strong, yet you're worrying about someone else."
If it hadn't been for the fact that she was attractive—
And might be useful later as a gift for the captain—
Bunier could have killed her with that single punch.
"Hey! Captain Bunier's fight is over!"
"Now only that Marine colonel is still fighting!"
"That guy can turn his body into smoke."
"That's a Devil Fruit ability."
"Looks like a Logia user."
"Wait, didn't people say Logia users are extremely powerful?"
"Then why is he getting beaten up by Mangu?"
"You idiot."
"Lord Mangu isn't an ordinary fighter."
"He's ridiculously strong."
"Even if the opponent has a Logia ability, in front of Lord Mangu he's basically just a high-level punching bag."
In the open area near the harbor, the battle had already ended.
The Marines who had rushed to attack the War Pirates now lay scattered across the ground as corpses.
Meanwhile, the victorious pirates stood around chatting excitedly.
Many of them were watching the fight between Mangu and Smoker with admiration.
Inside the warehouse—
A battered Smoker wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Through the massive hole in the wall, he stared in horror at the towering figure outside.
"Damn it…"
"Is this the War Pirates?"
"They have numbers comparable to an army…"
"And even their officers are monsters who can use Haki…"
Kaito and his fleet had arrived at Loguetown in a dramatic fashion.
They had bombarded the harbor the moment they arrived.
Naturally, the Marine forces stationed in Loguetown had immediately noticed.
The Marine officer commanding the base there was Smoker.
A rising star from the Marine Headquarters' elite training camp.
Whether because of his belief in Marine justice—
Or his confidence in his own strength—
The moment he heard that the War Pirates had appeared in Loguetown, Smoker gathered his forces and rushed straight to the harbor.
But the outcome proved one thing.
He had been too confident.
Or perhaps—
He had underestimated the War Pirates.
In the very first clash, the Marine troops under his command were crushed by the overwhelming firepower of the pirate fleet.
And then Smoker himself had been confronted by Mangu.
Just like now—
Mangu used Armament Haki to counter Smoker's Logia powers and repeatedly beat him back.
The entire battle had been one-sided.
But despite his injuries, Smoker had no intention of surrendering.
"Smoke Launcher!"
His lower body transformed into smoke.
Using the propulsion of his smoke form, Smoker blasted forward through the warehouse opening.
"White Fist!"
More than ten meters away stood Mangu, holding his massive mace.
Smoker roared and lunged forward.
His arms transformed into smoke as his fists shot out violently.
A red glint flashed in Mangu's eyes.
Using Observation Haki, he easily read Smoker's movements.
With two slight shifts of his body, he effortlessly avoided the incoming punches.
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