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Five days later.
The Revolutionary Army moved swiftly. After finalizing their collaborative agreement, Lindbergh and Sabo departed first.
Lindbergh returned to West Blue to oversee the Revolutionary Army’s operations there.
Sabo headed back to the Revolutionary Army’s headquarters on Baltigo to report the negotiation results and share information about his origins with Dragon.
He had resolved to revisit the Goa Kingdom in the near future, hoping to recover his lost memories.
Meanwhile, Bellobetty began coordinating the East Blue Revolutionary Army forces to establish contact with headquarters, initiating preparations for the materials and down payment required for their first transaction with the Twelve Zodiac.
Until today…
“The 10 billion Beli deposit is ready, but the materials will take another two days. To avoid government detection, we’ll store the supplies in batches within the caves on the western side of this island. You can retrieve them yourself in five days.”
Bellobetty handed Inoshi a slip of paper and departed decisively.
The coordinates written on the paper pointed to a deserted island in the East Blue.
“As expected of the Revolutionary Army, their operations are truly meticulous.”
Even Inoshi couldn’t help but marvel at the slip of paper. There was a reason the Revolutionary Army had managed to survive and thrive despite relentless pursuit by the World Government.
Such a massive exchange of goods and cash could never be completely untraceable, which explained why the materials wouldn’t be delivered directly to Shimotsuki Village.
It wasn’t hard to imagine that during their past visits, the Revolutionary Army had likely used similar methods, separating personnel from supplies entirely.
This likely explains why Shimotsuki Village has remained undiscovered for so many years.
As Inoshi marveled, the holographic display beneath his mask’s eyes flashed:
[Roy Amos (Slice Clone – Inoshi)]
[Devil Fruits Equipped: Munch-Munch Fruit LV4, Slice-Slice Fruit LV3]
[Remaining Beli: 3,919,040,000 Beli]
That’s right.
Earlier, after Zishu killed Kara Miro III and Snack on ‘Candied Island’, he naturally plundered Kara Miro III’s Treasure Vault. After all, the latter had conveniently brought Snack to the vault just as Zishu arrived; such sincerity deserved a reward, so Zishu naturally took what was offered.
As previously mentioned, while Candied Island wasn’t an Allied Kingdom Member of the World Government, it was remarkably wealthy.
Adding to this, despite Kara Miro III’s lavish spending in recent years, he had also amassed considerable wealth through his connections with Big Mom.
As a result, the Treasure Vault of this tiny island nation contained nearly 150 billion Beli worth of treasure.
Roy, naturally, didn’t hesitate. Upon acquiring these treasures, he promptly embarked on a spending spree.
He enhanced several Devil Fruits, most crucially Inoshi’s Munch-Munch Fruit (LV4) and Slice-Slice Fruit (LV3).
This massive expenditure caused him considerable heartache for days afterward.
Fortunately, Zishu’s diligent work during this period had yielded considerable income. His successful negotiation with the Revolutionary Army meant he was about to receive another 10 billion Beli, which naturally pleased him greatly.
‘With this Beli, I’ll have enough to enhance the Great Buddha Fruit and the Ryu Ryu no Mi (Dragon-Dragon Fruit), Model: Wind God Winged Dragon, all to LV4 before the Three-Forces Military Exercise, Roy thought to himself, mentally mapping out how to allocate the funds.’
His goal remained simple: to secure a high ranking in the Three-Forces Military Exercise, ideally earning a promotion to Vice-Admiral and gaining command of the Marine Detention Unit.
With this, many of his future endeavors would become much easier.
‘My current strength is likely sufficient, but the scale and rules of this Martial Exercise are still uncertain. To ensure no mistakes or omissions…’
Lost in thought, Roy’s gaze drifted to a corner of the Dojo.
‘As expected, I still need to acquire that thing.’
Lost in thought, Inoshi strode to the Sword Technique Training Field within the Dojo.
There, Zoro and Kōshirō were practicing their sword techniques as usual.
“Mr. Inoshi?” Kōshirō asked, surprised by Inoshi’s arrival.
Zoro, on the other hand, stared at Inoshi with a hint of battle intent in his eyes. Ever since Kōshirō had “looked down” on him a few days earlier, he had been eager to prove his strength to his Sensei.
At that moment, Inoshi naturally paid little attention to Zoro.
He turned to Kōshirō and removed his ceremonial headdress. “Mr. Kōshirō, my trade negotiations with my esteemed partners are complete. I anticipate departing Shimotsuki Village in a few days.”
“Before I leave, I have a request to make.”
His words remained as refined as ever.
“Please, go on,” Kōshirō replied with a nod and a gentle smile.
“I’ve heard tales of your late father, Shimotsuki Kōzaburō,” Inoshi said, cutting straight to the point. “He was a legendary craftsman from Wano Country, renowned for forging two of the 21 Great Grade Blades, one of which is the ‘Wado Ichimonji.'”
As he spoke, he glanced meaningfully at the sword at Zoro’s hip.
The words hung in the air.
Shimotsuki Kōshirō’s once gentle expression shifted, becoming slightly more serious.
“I never imagined you would know so much about my father’s life, Lord Inoshi.”
Clearly, he hadn’t expected Inoshi to know these things.
After all, their clan, a branch of Wano Country’s Shimotsuki Clan, had left Wano Country for the East Blue fifty years ago.
Over the years, they hadn’t deliberately concealed their origins.
But due to Wano Country’s isolationist policies, only a handful of people across the entire sea knew their true identity.
Beside him, Zoro’s face lit up with surprise.
“That old man was actually…”
Though he vaguely knew the elder was a swordsmith and Kuina’s grandfather, he had no idea he had forged the Wado Ichimonji.
For now, Zoro remained silent, refraining from asking any questions.
Inoshi continued, “As I mentioned earlier, I consider myself a swordsmith, and naturally, I’ve studied the work of legendary smiths like your father.”
He subtly shifted the conversation to the true subject at hand, saying softly, “Naturally, I have little interest in the Wado Ichimonji.”
“What I truly wish to ask about is another Ō Wazamono blade forged by your father, the Enma!”
As he spoke the name, Shimotsuki Kōshirō’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Enma?”
“Indeed. That blade, named after the King of Hell, possesses the unique ability to autonomously absorb Haki to activate ‘Ryuo (Flowing Sakura).’ It is a monstrous blade that can claim its master’s life.”
Inoshi’s voice deepened. “What I want to know is, how exactly does it achieve that ‘Ryuo (Flowing Sakura)’ activation?”
At this point, he chuckled and added, “By the way, I happened to hear that Mr. Kōzaburō left behind some relics, including logs on sword forging. If you, Lord Kōshirō, don’t have any clues about Enma, I would be grateful for the opportunity to study or purchase them.”
“I am willing to offer compensation in exchange,” he said earnestly.
Zoro, standing nearby, was initially stunned.
Enma, the name alone suggested a razor-sharp, formidable blade. But the questions remained: ‘What is Haki? What is Ryuo (Flowing Sakura)?’
Before he could react, Inoshi’s next words sent him into a panic.
That’s right, he was the one who had told Inoshi about the relics Kōzaburō left behind.
And the contents of those relics? He had learned them from Kuina, they had even snuck into the forge together late at night to secretly pore over the forging logs.
“He just blurted it out like that!”
Zoro felt a sudden wave of guilt.
“…”
As expected, upon hearing Inoshi’s words, Kōshirō glanced at Zoro, clearly deducing who the culprit was.
However, after giving Zoro a long, thoughtful look, Kōshirō seemed to reach a decision.
He then turned his gaze to Inoshi.
“Mr. Inoshi, those sword manuals only contain my father’s notes on swordsmithing from years ago. There’s no mention of Enma.”
“In accordance with my father’s last wishes, they’re kept in the Dojo’s library, accessible to any student who wishes to read them. If you’re interested, you’re welcome to examine them yourself.”
At this point, his tone shifted. “However, I do possess some knowledge about Enma. Please follow me.”
With that, he turned and walked deeper into the Dojo.
Halfway there, he turned back to Zoro and said, “Zoro, you come too.”
“Yes!” Zoro replied immediately, then shot a ruthless glare at Inoshi. “Hey, you! You never told me asking about this stuff would be so…”
He was clearly annoyed.
“Don’t worry about it, Little Brother Zoro,” Inoshi chuckled. “Mr. Kōshirō doesn’t seem angry, does he?”
Though he said this, the eyes behind his mask gleamed with clear surprise. He had even prepared to approach the Revolutionary Army to pressure Kōshirō if the man refused to reveal Enma’s secrets. But things seemed to be going much more smoothly than he had anticipated.
“Hmm?”
Just as Inoshi was mentally calculating his next move while following Kōshirō, he suddenly froze.
Kōshirō had stopped walking.
Before Inoshi stretched a dense bamboo forest.
Deep within the forest stood a simple wooden hut, and before it lay an altar. They were currently standing in front of this altar.
But here was the problem…
“…”
As Inoshi surveyed the prototype training ground, framed by the surrounding bamboo forest, and glanced at the armor and weapons laid out nearby, he realized what this place was, clearly an outdoor swordsmanship martial arts training ground.
And just then,
“This was my late father’s former residence,” Kōshirō’s voice drifted through the air.
The perpetually gentle Dojo Master of the Isshin Dojo picked up a box from the altar. “I can reveal to you, Mr. Inoshi, that Enma’s unique properties originate from a mineral forged by my father.”
He opened the box, revealing a peculiar pitch-black object within.
It was a mineral that resembled neither gold nor stone, yet possessed qualities of both.
“It autonomously devours the Haki within any living being it comes into contact with and converts it into Ryuo (Flowing Sakura), which it then releases.”
“Whether it’s a swordsmith forging a blade or a swordsman wielding one, only those who truly master their power can survive. Otherwise, death is inevitable, hence my father named it ‘Ryuo (Flowing Sakura) Stone,’ or ‘Enma Iron.'”
“After forging Enma, because this material was too dangerous, my father sealed away and destroyed the method of its creation, leaving only this final piece.”
As he spoke, Kōshirō caressed the world’s last remaining piece of Enma Iron.
The moment he touched the pitch-black substance, his hand quickly paled, and dark Haki began to flow across the surface of the Enma Iron.
Yet Kōshirō paid it no heed, as if recalling his father’s words.
He had once asked his father, if they had already decided to seal away and destroy the Enma Iron, why keep even this single piece?
At the time, his father had offered no answer.
But as time passed, Kōshirō gradually came to understand.
As a craftsman who had forged peerless metal and blades, he had been forced to seal away and destroy his creations due to their inherent danger.
That lingering resentment was the reason his father had left behind this piece of Enma Iron.
Perhaps he had also hoped that one day, a true master swordsman or blacksmith would obtain this Enma Iron and use it to etch his name across the seas?
Therefore…
“I must be certain, Mr. Inoshi.”
Under Zoro’s intense gaze, Kōshirō slowly removed his glasses and placed them on the altar. Then…
Clang!
He drew his sword from his waist and turned to face Inoshi.
“Surmount me. Prove to me that you are worthy to wield it.”
His eyes now burned with an unprecedented sharpness and fierce battle intent.
(End of chapter)
You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.p*treon.com/darkshadow6395