Chapter 23
The Going Merry's anchor hit Loguetown's harbor with a massive SPLASH! Seabirds scattered in every direction, squawking indignantly as the ship settled into place.
Before the ropes were even tied, Luffy was bouncing on the balls of his feet like a rubber ball ready to explode.
"EXECUTION PLATFORM!" he roared, pointing dramatically toward the town center where a wooden structure loomed like a monument to the end of dreams.
"That's where Gold Roger died! That's where the Pirate King's adventure ended! I'm gonna climb it RIGHT NOW!"
And just like that—BOING!—he launched himself off the ship, arms stretched wide, grin plastered across his face.
"LUFFY, YOU IDIOT!" Nami screamed after him, but he was already gone, bouncing from rooftop to rooftop like a demented monkey.
"That moron's gonna get himself arrested before we even dock properly!"
Sanji took a long drag from his cigarette, watching their captain's chaotic departure with the resigned expression of someone who'd stopped being surprised years ago.
"Well," he said philosophically,
"At least he's enthusiastic."
"Enthusiastically stupid," Zoro muttered, but there was fondness in his voice.
"Give him five minutes and he'll be hanging upside down from that platform, wondering how he got stuck."
---
The crew finished securing the Merry, and immediately everyone started talking at once. It was like watching kids on the first day of summer vacation—everyone had somewhere to go and something to do.
"I'm hitting the markets!" Sanji declared, straightening his tie.
"This town's supposed to have ingredients from all over the East Blue. Spices you can't get anywhere else. Cuts of meat that'll make the All Blue jealous!"
"Equipment shopping for me!" Usopp announced, striking a dramatic pose.
"The great Captain Usopp needs proper tools worthy of his legend! New slingshot materials, better stuff, maybe some fancy goggles!"
He paused.
"And, uh… maybe something to help me be braver. If they sell that kind of thing."
Nami was already shouldering her bag, eyes gleaming with berry-shaped ambition.
"Supplies," she said innocently.
"Just boring old supplies. Food, water, navigation materials…"
Her smile was sweet as sugar and twice as dangerous.
"And maybe I'll… supplement our budget a little. You know how expensive pirate life gets."
The others exchanged glances. They all knew what Nami's "budget supplementation" usually involved—and it rarely ended with receipts.
"Try not to clean out the entire town," Zoro said dryly.
"I make no promises," Nami replied cheerfully, skipping off toward the market district like she didn't have a care in the world.
---
That left Zoro and Silas standing on the dock, watching their crewmates scatter like startled fish.
"Weapon shop," Zoro said simply, adjusting the three swords at his hip. The two he'd borrowed from Silas rattled slightly—cheap steel that threw off his balance.
"Swords," Silas agreed, but his eyes were fixed on Zoro. Specifically, on the way Zoro kept glancing at the sabre now hanging at Silas's side.
Blood Fang looked nothing like the sabre Silas had carried before. Where his old blade had been good but forgettable, this one radiated presence. The black lacquered scabbard gleamed like obsidian. The crimson cord looked like dried blood in the sun. The crescent-moon guard caught the light like it was alive.
"That's different," Zoro said as they started walking through Loguetown's busy streets. His voice was casual, but Silas caught the curiosity—and hunger—beneath it.
"Your sabre."
"Yeah, it is," Silas replied, offering nothing more.
"It's heavier," Zoro continued, swordsman instincts kicking in.
"I can tell from how you're carrying it. The way it hangs. The way your body compensates for the weight."
His eyes narrowed.
"That's not some ordinary weapon, is it?"
Silas could practically feel the battle lust radiating off Zoro like heat from a forge. His hand was already drifting toward his hilts. That grin—the one that meant someone was about to become confetti—was creeping across his face.
Oh, hell no.
"Stop looking at me like that, moss-head," Silas sighed.
"I don't want to fight you. Let's just buy you some new swords before you get us both arrested."
Zoro's grin faltered.
"Tch. Fine. But you know I'm gonna keep wondering about that blade, right?"
"Wonder all you want," Silas said firmly.
"But do it while we're walking toward the weapon shop, not standing here giving Marines time to spot us."
---
They started moving through Loguetown's crowded streets. Silas kept a careful eye on their direction. The town was laid out in a logical grid—but logic had never been Zoro's strong suit. Give the man a straight line and he'd turn it into a pretzel.
"By the way," Silas added casually,
"That's exactly why I'm sticking with you today. Someone's gotta make sure you actually find the weapon shop instead of wandering off a cliff."
"I DON'T GET LOST!" Zoro exploded, loud enough to turn heads.
"I have a good sense of direction!"
"Uh-huh." Silas smoothly steered him away from a side street that led straight back to the harbor.
"Sure you do, moss-head."
"Shut up, you flashy peacock!"
"Not so sure about that."
"Shut up, jewelry store."
---
They continued through town—Zoro grumbling about people who didn't appreciate natural navigation skills, Silas quietly steering them toward their destination.
Loguetown was impressive. Bigger than most East Blue towns. Wide streets. Heavy foot traffic. Buildings that looked like they'd stood for centuries.
And somewhere in those streets, the next chapter was waiting.