Chapter Sixty-Eight: Zoro and Tashigi

"Yes, the world's greatest swordsman!"
Loran still wore that confident smile, as if everything was proceeding just as he intended, and answered unhurriedly.
"Hey, Loran, would you help me pick out one more? For three-sword style, no matter how I look at it, I'm still one blade short."
Zoro tucked the Sandai Kitetsu into his waistband and looked expectantly at Loran.
He felt he'd made the right choice coming to buy swords with Loran. No wonder they avoided all those fancy weapon shops and came straight to this little place—turns out there really were hidden treasures here.
As for the cursed sword legends, Zoro had already proven with his own experience that it wasn't a problem.
"Alright."
Loran continued to browse through the shop, putting on a show of carefully inspecting each blade.
He'd already memorized every sword listed in the famous sword compendium and didn't need to check each one.
But he also knew that, apart from the Sandai Kitetsu, the only other notable sword here was the owner's own, the rarely-shown Shusui. No matter how much he looked, there was nothing else worthwhile.
He recalled from the story that the owner, moved by Zoro's spirit, had taken the initiative to give him Shusui.
Today, the scene had played out as expected. Now it was just a matter of whether the owner would do as in the story and offer the sword on his own.
If not, Loran would step in.
One way or another, he was determined to get both the Sandai Kitetsu and Shusui for Zoro today.
Because only then, when acquiring other famous swords in the future, could he rightfully keep them for himself—such as the legendary Shusui from Thriller Bark.
"Wait, wait a moment."
The owner didn't disappoint Loran. Just as Loran turned his eyes to the barrel of junk swords, the owner hurried upstairs and came back down carrying a wooden box.
"The blade is finished with black lacquer, the edge in a chaotic hamon—ko-maru pattern."
"A fine sword—Shusui."
He opened the box and presented Shusui to Zoro.
"My shop might not be anything grand, but this is the finest sword I possess."
"Shusui, huh?"
Zoro drew the blade, examining the cold gleam running along its edge, and was immediately taken with it.
"How much is this sword?"
Zoro sheathed the blade and looked at the owner.
With Loran, the generous sponsor, right beside him, he wasn't worried about being unable to pay.
"No need—I'll give it to you. And, of course, the Kitetsu as well; you needn't pay for that either."
"To think, the future world's greatest swordsman bought swords in my humble shop—it's an honor for me."
The owner smiled.
As a weapon shop owner, he could tell who truly loved swords and who merely put on a façade.
A swordsman like Zoro, whose luck could overcome the curse of the Kitetsu, surely had a great future ahead.
Perhaps, just as that gentleman said, this was the future world's greatest swordsman.

To entrust his beloved sword to such a man, it would never be tarnished.
"If you put it that way, then I can't accept them," Zoro replied.
He was a man of principle. If he had no money and no friends to lend him any, he might have accepted the two swords.
But with Loran by his side, and knowing he could borrow the money if needed, he would never let the owner simply give them away.
Unlike himself, whose life was devoted to the sword, the owner needed this shop to make a living. If he took the swords for free, what impact would it have on the owner's livelihood?
"Don't worry, sir, he's my subordinate. We're both Marines—we're not short of money," Loran said with a smile.
He'd never intended to take the swords for free.
He had no lack of funds anyway. With a hundred million given to him by his teacher, and the loot from Krieg's ship, buying two swords was nothing.
"Ma…Marines?"
The owner was a bit bewildered. He didn't know every Marine in Loguetown, but he'd never seen a swordsman with such presence.
"That's right. He's a new recruit—might even be assigned to Grand Line headquarters soon."
Hearing this, the owner nodded slowly. So young, yet already bound for headquarters—their future was limitless. If a matter of two swords delayed their advancement, he'd be a great sinner indeed.
"Here's what we'll do: the Sandai Kitetsu was already in the fifty-thousand Beli barrel, so I'll sell it to you for fifty thousand."
"As for Shusui, you can have it for seven million Beli. That's what I paid for it, so I won't lose out."
After a long pause, the owner finally named his price.
"That's settled then!"
Loran didn't haggle further. Since the owner had made his offer, there was no need to press.
While pretending to pull money from his coat pocket, Loran actually took six million Beli from his system, counted it out in front of the owner, paid a total of seven million and fifty thousand Beli, and then left with the swords.
"It feels more secure with three swords."
Outside the weapon shop, Zoro grinned and spoke to Loran.
"Hey—"
Just then, a short-haired girl with glasses collided directly into Zoro's chest.
"Hey, are you alright?"
Zoro steadied her, but when she looked up, he was thunderstruck.
"Ku…Kuina—"
Suddenly, Zoro's memory drifted far away, back to that moonlit night more than a decade ago.
"Promise me, one day, either you or I will become the world's greatest swordsman. Let's see who gets there first."
Not long after, he'd heard of Kuina's death.
The girl who'd made that vow with him had vanished from the world forever.
"So you're just another lecher,"
Seeing Zoro staring at her blankly, Tashigi instantly became furious and kicked toward a part of Zoro best left unmentioned.

"Hey—"
Fortunately, Loran reacted quickly, pulling Zoro out of the way and blocking Tashigi, explaining, "Don't be rash, Tashigi—he just thinks you look familiar."
"Mr. Loran!"
As Smoker's direct subordinate, Tashigi had seen Loran the day before and heard of his deeds, so she treated him with respect.
"Sorry, I mistook you for a childhood friend,"
Zoro quickly regained his composure.
Of course—Kuina had died more than ten years ago. How could she possibly still be alive?
"For Mr. Loran's sake, I'll forgive you this time,"
Tashigi adjusted her glasses and nodded.
"And these are…?"
As she lowered her gaze, the three swords at Zoro's waist immediately caught her attention.
"That… that… that's the Great Grade Sword, Wado Ichimonji!"
She pulled a small book from her pocket, her voice full of delight.
"The other is the Sandai Kitetsu, a fine sword from the Kitetsu line."
"And this one—it's Shusui, the renowned fine sword! They're all masterpieces!"
Tashigi's cheeks flushed with excitement as she gazed at the three swords, her eyes hungry with admiration.
"Would you like to take a closer look?"
Perhaps out of guilt, or maybe because this girl resembled Kuina, Zoro scratched the back of his head and asked, blushing a little.
"May I really?"
Tashigi looked at Zoro, her excitement barely contained.
"Please—"
Zoro unfastened the three swords from his waist and handed them to her.
"This is truly astonishing!"
Caressing the blades gently, Tashigi stroked them as if they were works of art.
Her gaze was almost reverent, as though she were on a pilgrimage.
"Thank you!"
After thoroughly examining the swords, Tashigi returned them to Zoro without a hint of reluctance.
Only then did she remember her original purpose. She bowed deeply to Loran and earnestly requested,
"Mr. Loran, may I ask for your guidance in swordsmanship?"