One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

Chapter 40: The Platform and the Blade

Goku wandered through the center of Logue Town, his mind deep in thought as the noise of the busy streets faded into the background. The city, with its rich history and bustling marketplace, was filled with stories of pirates and marines, but one place in particular seemed to call to him—Gol D. Roger's execution platform.

As he approached, the platform loomed before him, towering over the rest of the square. It was a simple structure, made of weathered wood, but its significance was undeniable. This was where the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, had met his end, and in doing so, had sparked the Great Pirate Era. The execution platform was a symbol of both death and destiny. Goku stood beneath it, looking up at the spot where Roger had spoken his final words, urging Those watching to seek out the One Piece.

The wind blew gently, rustling Goku's hair as he gazed up, feeling an odd connection to the place. He had never been one to care much for destiny or fate—he lived for the thrill of battle, for the next challenge. But standing here, in the shadow of history, he couldn't help but wonder if this was somehow tied to his own journey. Would he one day stand in a place like this, facing his own destiny? He shook the thought from his mind and continued onward, knowing the others were also busy preparing for their next steps into the Grand Line.

In another part of town, Sanji wandered through the market, grumbling as he gathered armfuls of food supplies. His arms were weighed down with sacks of rice, crates of vegetables, and strings of sausages. The sheer amount of food he was collecting was astonishing to anyone watching, but Sanji knew from experience that it was barely enough to satisfy Goku's insatiable appetite.

"Damn that Goku," Sanji muttered under his breath as he balanced a massive sack of flour on his shoulder. "How does one guy eat enough for an entire crew? And that's on a slow day!"

He weaved through the crowd, his sharp eyes scanning the stalls for more ingredients. Fruits, spices, meats—anything he could find to prepare the meals that would keep the crew fed as they journeyed into the dangerous and unknown waters of the Grand Line.

Just as he turned a corner, he spotted a familiar face—Gin. The stoic fighter was pushing a large wooden carriage stacked high with crates of booze, his expression as calm as ever. Sanji's eyes lit up in relief as he hurried over.

"Gin! Just the guy I was looking for," Sanji called out, approaching his crewmate.

Gin raised an eyebrow but didn't object as Sanji began dumping the mountain of food onto the already heavily loaded carriage. "Here, take this. Goku's going to eat us out of supplies before we even get to the Grand Line."

Gin smirked faintly, adjusting the weight of the crates. "You know, if Goku had his way, we'd be stopping for food every other day."

Sanji sighed in exasperation. "Tell me about it. But at least now we've got enough to last a while." He looked up at the sun, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Let's get this back to the ship. We've still got a lot to do."

Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of Logue Town, Zoro and Tashigi stood inside a small, cluttered sword shop. The walls were lined with all kinds of blades—long swords, short swords, even a few exotic-looking weapons from distant lands. The air smelled faintly of steel and oil, the scent of weapons both new and old.

Zoro glanced around, his eyes narrowing as he considered the selection. He still needed two more swords to complete his set, having lost two of his blades during the duel with Mihawk. The memory of that defeat still lingered in his mind, a reminder of just how far he had to go to reach his goal.

Beside him, Tashigi inspected the swords with an expert's eye, her fingers lightly brushing the hilts as she examined their craftsmanship. "So, you need two more swords," she said thoughtfully. "That's an odd request. Most swordsmen only need one."

Zoro grunted. "I use three."

Tashigi looked up at him, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Three swords… Wait a minute, I've heard of that before. The Pirate Hunter Zoro… He used a style with three swords."

Zoro tensed for a moment but quickly regained his composure. Even after he'd told her his name and mentioned his three-sword style, Tashigi still couldn't seem to connect the dots. It was almost frustrating how dense she could be.

"I am Zoro," he muttered under his breath, though not loudly enough for her to hear. "Three swords, huh?" Tashigi mused, glancing at him curiously. "That's pretty unusual."

Zoro, growing impatient, approached the shop owner, a balding, middle-aged man with a thick mustache and spectacles perched on the edge of his nose. "I've only got 100,000 berries," Zoro said bluntly. "I need two swords."

The shop owner frowned in disappointment. "100,000 berries? For two swords? Well, I suppose you can have some from the barrel in the corner over there. 50,000 a piece, but don't expect much quality."

Zoro sighed, realizing his limited funds weren't going to get him anything fancy. "Yeah, yeah, fine," he muttered, walking over to the dusty barrel in the corner. The shopkeeper's words didn't bother him—he knew he was broke. He crouched down, rummaging through the barrel, searching for anything that felt remotely decent.

While Zoro searched, Tashigi stepped up to the shopkeeper as well. "I left my sword with you for maintenance. Is it ready?" she asked, her tone polite but firm.

The shopkeeper nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, of course, Miss Tashigi. It's right here." He hurried to the back to fetch her sword.

Zoro's fingers brushed against a hilt in the barrel, and a strange sensation washed over him. It was as if the sword was calling out to him, but not in a friendly way. It felt… dark, filled with rage and doom. His instincts screamed at him as he pulled the sword from the barrel, examining its long, sleek blade. It was beautifully crafted, yet there was something ominous about it.

As Zoro turned the sword over in his hands, the shop owner returned, his face pale when he saw the weapon Zoro had chosen. "That sword… I can't, in good conscience, sell that to you."

Tashigi, curious, looked over at the sword. Her eyes widened in admiration. "That's a magnificent blade. The craftsmanship is remarkable."

But Zoro wasn't fooled by its beauty. "It's cursed," he said flatly, his instincts telling him what his words now confirmed.

The shopkeeper nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, it is. Sandai Kitetsu. It's one of the cursed swords, known to bring misfortune to its wielder."

Tashigi looked startled. "Cursed?"

Zoro, however, grinned. "I'll take it."

The shopkeeper shook his head. "No. I couldn't let you do that. You might lose your life if you wield that blade."

Zoro stepped forward, his hand tightening around the hilt. "I said I'll take it. But first, I want to test something."

Without another word, Zoro unsheathed the sword and lightly tossed it into the air. It spun, flashing in the light as it descended. Zoro stretched out his arm, holding it straight as the sword plummeted toward him.

Tashigi gasped, her eyes widening in horror. "What are you doing?!"

But Zoro stood perfectly still, his arm unwavering. The sword swung down, and at the last possible second, it twisted in mid-air, missing his arm entirely and landing harmlessly on the floor. Zoro smiled, satisfied.

"I'll take it," he said again, his voice calm and resolute.

The shopkeeper stared at him in awe. "I've never seen anyone test their luck like that. You have great talent… or great foolishness."

He turned and disappeared into the back room for a moment, leaving Zoro and Tashigi standing together. Tashigi, still recovering from the shock of what she had just seen, glared at Zoro. "You could have lost your arm, you idiot! What were you thinking?"

Zoro shrugged, his trademark grin returning. "My luck's stronger than the sword. Besides, I needed to know."

Tashigi crossed her arms, shaking her head in disbelief. "You're insane."

The shopkeeper returned, carrying a sword encased in an elegant black scabbard. He placed it reverently on the counter, his voice soft with admiration. "This is Yubashiri, one of the finest swords in my collection. I've had it for years, but a sword like this deserves to be in the hands of someone who can truly appreciate it. Take it, free of charge."

Zoro's eyes widened as he took the sword, examining its flawless design. He could feel its power just by holding it. "Are you serious?"

The shopkeeper nodded, smiling. "You've proven yourself worthy. Take care of it."

Before Zoro could say anything more, a large, rather intimidating woman stomped into the shop. She was tall and broad-shouldered, and her expression was one of fury. The shopkeeper's wife, towering over her husband, stormed over to the counter, her hands on her hips.

"What's this I hear about you giving away a sword for free?!" she bellowed, glaring down at the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper flinched, shrinking under her gaze. "W-Well, dear, you see, this young man—"

"I don't care who he is!" she cut him off, her voice booming through the shop. "We're running a business here, not a charity! You can't just give away a sword worth that much!"

Zoro stood there, stunned at the sudden outburst, while Tashigi covered her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh. The situation had gone from intense to absurd in a matter of seconds.

"Look, lady," Zoro started, "I didn't ask for the sword for free. Your husband offered it."

The woman turned her fiery gaze on Zoro, her eyes narrowing. "Offered it or not, it's still a sword worth more than this entire shop! What kind of idiot gives that away for nothing?"

The shopkeeper, desperate to avoid his wife's wrath, raised his hands in surrender. "But he's a swordsman—a true one! He's worthy of Yubashiri!"

The woman sighed heavily, clearly unimpressed. "Fine, but this is the last time you give anything away for free! You hear me?" She turned back to Zoro, her voice firm but less aggressive. "You'd better take care of that sword, boy. If I hear you've lost it in some stupid battle, I'll hunt you down myself!"

Zoro, both amused and slightly wary, nodded. "Got it. Thanks… I guess."

The shopkeeper's wife gave one last huff before stomping off into the back, leaving the shop in relative peace once again. Zoro looked at the shopkeeper, who gave him a sheepish grin. "Don't worry about her. She'll calm down."

Zoro chuckled, feeling the weight of his new swords at his side. With Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri, his set was complete once more. He turned to Tashigi, grateful for her help in finding the shop.

"Thanks for showing me this place," Zoro said, genuinely appreciative. "I owe you one."

Tashigi, who had finally composed herself after the comedic outburst, smiled slightly. "It's no problem. You've got a good eye for swords, I'll give you that. But seriously, trying to cut off your own arm? That's a whole new level of reckless."

Zoro shrugged, his grin returning. "Like I said, my luck's stronger than the sword."

Tashigi shook her head, still finding it hard to believe. "You're impossible."

Zoro, feeling a bit more relaxed now that he had his swords, decided he wanted to repay her in some way. "Tell you what—how about I buy you lunch? Consider it a thank you for leading me to this shop."

Tashigi blinked in surprise. "Lunch?"

"Yeah," Zoro replied casually, "I owe you one, right?"

Tashigi hesitated for a moment, clearly not used to such offers. She glanced at the swords hanging at Zoro's side, then back at him. "Alright, fine. But I'm picking the place."

Zoro grinned. "Deal."

Together, the two of them left the shop and headed down the bustling streets of Logue Town, searching for a nearby restaurant. As they walked side by side, Tashigi couldn't shake the strange feeling that there was something familiar about him—something more than just his name and sword style. But for now, she put that thought aside, focusing instead on the present.

Zoro, for his part, was content. He had found two excellent swords, and his spirits were lifted after the strange encounter with Tashigi. But somewhere in the back of his mind, the thought of Kuina still lingered. Tashigi's resemblance to her was uncanny, and although he knew they couldn't possibly be the same person, it gave him a strange sense of peace knowing that, in some way, Kuina's passion for swords lived on through this marine.

As they sat down at a small restaurant near the edge of the square, Zoro glanced at the execution platform once more, feeling the weight of history and destiny pressing down on him. He still had a long way to go, but with his new swords in hand, he felt ready to face whatever the Grand Line had in store for him.

[A/N: Read 20 chapters ahead available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]