"Just a legend, you say?"
"I don't think that's necessarily true~!"
Red gave a faint smile, murmuring almost to himself.
After all, Zoro had said it clearly before…
This blade—Narukami—could amplify Electric-type Pokémon moves. So the idea that it could help one comprehend a lightning-based sword path wasn't impossible at all!
"If that's the case, then I really don't know whether Zoro's luck is just absurdly good… or if Nami's Pickup Ability is simply broken."
A thoughtful glint flashed through Red's eyes.
And when he saw Tashigi standing there as well, her face full of delight as she showered praise on the three long swords at Zoro's waist—
Red chuckled softly and turned toward the weapon shop owner.
"Boss, if you really want to entrust Yubashiri to a suitable swordsman someday…"
"Then I'd actually recommend you consider this young lady right here."
"Eh?!"
Tashigi froze when she was suddenly singled out.
Right after that, she began waving her hands in a panic."N-no… I can't do that…"
"I-I'm still very weak, and I haven't even found my own way of the sword yet…"
"So… so…"
As someone whose dream was to collect famed blades, of course Tashigi wanted to make Yubashiri her own.
But she was well aware—she didn't have the courage or the capability Zoro had just demonstrated when testing blades, and she wasn't worthy of earning Ipponmatsu's recognition.
Don't think that just because Zoro has Armament Haki, he's truly invulnerable to blades!
Red might not count as a top-tier powerhouse yet, but he wasn't powerless either.
For Zoro to dare test Sandai Kitetsu's curse with his own Haki—he needed tremendous resolve.
And the results spoke for themselves. His caliber was more than enough to rein in that cursed blade.
Tashigi understood very clearly how wide the gap between herself and Zoro truly was.
Yet for some reason, that young man in the baseball cap seemed dead set on her, once more speaking up to recommend her to the shop owner:
"She may be weak right now, but I have a feeling…"
"In the future, she'll absolutely live up to the name of that famous blade!"
"My eye for people has never been wrong."
"I've said all I needed to say—what happens next is up to you, boss."
Although Yubashiri was a Ryo Wazamono, ranking slightly above Sandai Kitetsu in terms of grade,
The cursed blade Sandai Kitetsu—modeled after the First and Second Kitetsu—possessed a unique, eerie killing aura that no other sword could match!
Compared to a blade that was simply sharper in physical terms,
Sandai Kitetsu was without question the better choice for Zoro!
Of course, leaving Yubashiri to gather dust here would indeed be a pity.
And with Tashigi appearing at just the right time, Red merely returned the favor.
Even though on the original timeline Tashigi never truly shone, her diligence and kindness alone made her worthy of a better sword!
With those words said, Red—eager to get to the newspaper office—didn't linger any longer.
After thanking Tashigi, he waved casually and left the weapon shop with Zoro.
Zoro himself, however, kept casting furtive glances back at Tashigi until the very moment they stepped outside.
For reasons he couldn't quite explain, he saw the silhouette of an old friend reflected in that young swordswoman.
Yet her overly modest demeanor and those scholarly glasses cleanly separated her from the image etched in his memories.
"How strange…"
Zoro murmured softly.
But soon, his attention was drawn back to the blades at his waist.
"Narukami and Sandai Kitetsu, huh?"
"Man… that's getting me fired up!"
One hand rested on his swords as Zoro's gaze grew exceptionally resolute.
Though Narukami and Sandai Kitetsu were merely a Ryo Wazamono and a Meito—far inferior in rank to the Great Grade Meito, Wado Ichimonji, gifted to him by his master—
Narukami's amplification of lightning-based techniques, along with the palpable cursed aura of Sandai Kitetsu that one could feel just by touching it,
Had greatly broadened Zoro's path of swordsmanship!
At the same time, it made his application of Pokémon energy smoother and more intuitive than ever!
Now, he felt that even if he faced Luffy at his earliest Gear Third, he'd still be able to put up a real fight!
A month ago, he could never have imagined becoming this strong.
But then again, that was only natural.
Because lately, Red's main focus in training… had been Zoro and Sanji.
Aside from spending some electricity to help Usopp exchange for Evolution Stones, Red had spent nearly all of his game time with those two.
Even so, despite all the time invested, their in-game progress had barely advanced.
Several days had passed, yet Red's game character was still stuck inside the Team Rocket Hideout beneath the Celadon City Game Corner.
There was no helping it.
Under manual control, an area that was already absurdly complex in-game had turned into a full-blown labyrinth.
Forget Zoro the human compass disaster—even Red often got lost in there himself.
Thankfully, the Team Rocket Hideout was packed with Team Rocket Trainers, most of whom used evolved Pokémon above Level 30.
Defeating them yielded huge amounts of money and experience.
And from time to time, special items could also be found there.
As of now, Red already had two Rare Candies stored in his bag.
He planned to use both on Luffy once Luffy reached Level 50 through training.
Thanks to all this, Zoro and Sanji's levels skyrocketed as well!
Zoro, who had been Level 40, was now Level 42—and through sparring with Luffy, had successfully drawn out his own Armament Haki.
Sanji, whose level had initially been a bit lower, jumped up a full four levels to Level 36.
Though he still needed more refinement to truly master Armament Haki, his body seemed to be undergoing some unusual changes under the stimulation of Pokémon energy.
Under normal training, Luffy and Zoro now gained over 300 experience points per day.
Nami and Usopp gained even less.
Only Sanji—
Despite spending most of his time in the kitchen preparing three meals a day for the Straw Hats,
His naturally earned daily experience had reached a shocking 500+!
That leveling speed was nearly catching up to Usopp lazing around all alone in the Pokémon Day Care!
Even without actively playing the Pokémon game, Sanji could rely on natural experience gain alone to level up once every ten days.
As expected—
Life-skill professions were absolutely broken!
...
...
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Just as Zoro and Red obtained Sandai Kitetsu, Nami and Usopp had already finished their shopping.
Usopp staggered under a mountain of supplies strapped to his back, looking like he might topple over at any moment.
While desperately keeping his balance, he said,
"Alright, Nami, I'll head back first to watch over the Going Merry."
"I already saw several groups of Marines heading this way. You should be careful too!"
"Don't worry!"
Nami patted the Clima-Tact at her waist and flashed him a confident grin.
"It won't be so easy for the Marines to catch me now."
"That's true."
Usopp nodded with a smile.
Then, carrying their purchased supplies, he headed straight toward the harbor.
Nami, meanwhile, continued to wander around the commercial district.
It wasn't that she wanted to buy anything.
Having a rare chance to be on land, she simply wanted to see if she could trigger her Pickup Ability again.
Ever since learning how Pickup worked in reality, she'd been obsessed with it!
Time passed slowly.
Sure enough—effort never betrays!
Just as disturbances began breaking out near the execution platform, Nami suddenly felt something different!
That mysterious, indescribable sensation rushed into her mind.
In an instant, a greedy golden glint flashed through her bright eyes.
"Over there!"
Nami abruptly turned her gaze—to an ordinary-looking small inn beside her!
At the same time.
Inside one of the inn's rooms, Koby—standing guard beside a wooden crate—kept glancing nervously out the window, muttering to himself:
"Strange… why haven't Alvida and the others come back yet?"
(End of Chapter)