Chapter 28
"So," Silas said, cutting through Tashigi's enthusiastic ramble,
"Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri are both free, right? No payment needed?"
Ipponmatsu nodded eagerly.
"Absolutely! After that stunt with the cursed blade, it's the least I can do. Consider them my gift to a true swordsman."
Tashigi straightened, her scholarly glow shifting into something sharper.
"Wait… three swords?"
Her eyes darted between Zoro's weapons. Recognition bloomed.
"A three-sword style… green hair… that scar…"
Her voice grew colder with each word.
"You look just like Roronoa Zoro. The resemblance is uncanny."
Zoro's eye twitched.
Here we go again.
But Tashigi was already shifting gears, adjusting her glasses as she studied them both.
"You know, speaking of legendary weapons in the wrong hands… they say the Red Sun Demon carries a Great Grade blade too. Though no one's ever seen him and lived to tell about it."
Silas went still. His hand drifted toward his pocket, where the sun mask lay hidden.
Oh, wonderful.
"But that's the problem!" Tashigi's voice rose, righteous and fervent.
"These legendary blades keep ending up with pirates, criminals, murderers!"
Her eyes blazed.
"That's why I joined the Marines. My dream is to take these weapons away from evil men—even if it costs me my life. I won't let history's finest blades be used for destruction."
Zoro stared at his swords like they'd betrayed him. Silas had developed a thin sheen of sweat. His jaw tightened.
She wants to confiscate legendary weapons from pirates, Silas thought.
And I'm sitting here with a forty-five million berry bounty—split between my regular identity and the Red Sun Demon she just mentioned.
Zoro, meanwhile, was having his own moment.
She wants to steal swords from pirates.
I AM a pirate.
With three legendary swords.
The tension was thick enough to cut.
---
Ipponmatsu, oblivious, burst into laughter.
"GAHAHAHA! Noble dream, young lady—but do you know what you're saying?"
He wiped his eyes.
"How do you plan to take blades from Mihawk? Or Shanks? Those men are monsters!"
He gestured toward Zoro and Silas.
"And these two—are you planning to steal from them too?"
Tashigi flushed, waving her hands.
"N-No! That's not what I meant! I don't want to steal weapons!"
She pushed her glasses up, flustered.
"I just… I don't want these blades in truly evil hands. People who burn towns. Hurt civilians. That kind of thing."
She trailed off, realizing she was digging deeper.
"Not everyone with a good sword is evil. Some protect people. Some fight with honor…"
Her voice shrank.
"I'm not great at explaining myself. I always mess it up…"
Zoro and Silas exchanged a look. The tension eased slightly, but both stayed wary.
"So you don't want our swords?" Zoro asked.
"Of course not!" Tashigi said quickly.
"You're not attacking anyone. You're just… buying swords. Like normal people."
Silas relaxed a little. His hand stayed away from his pocket.
At least she's not completely unreasonable.
"Besides," Tashigi added, her enthusiasm returning,
"Someone who respects a blade's history—that's exactly who should carry it."
She gestured at Blood Fang with admiration.
"A weapon like that deserves an owner who understands its legacy. Not someone who'd use it for mindless destruction."
Ipponmatsu nodded.
"Well said. These young men clearly understand the responsibility that comes with legendary blades."
Zoro grunted.
"Good. I wasn't planning to give them up anyway."
"And I wasn't planning to take them!" Tashigi said quickly.
"Though… if you don't mind me asking… where did you learn that three-sword style? It's remarkable. Almost like…"
She trailed off, studying Zoro's face again with unsettling intensity.
"Like what?" Zoro asked, bracing.
"Like that pirate hunter I mentioned. Roronoa Zoro. Though I suppose all great swordsmen develop similar techniques…"
Silas cleared his throat loudly, redirecting before it spiraled.
"Well, this has been educational," he said, cocky grin returning.
"But we should get going. Places to be. Adventures to have."
"Of course!" Tashigi said brightly.
"Thank you for letting me examine your weapons! And thank you again for the glasses money!"
---
As they prepared to leave, Ipponmatsu handed over Zoro's new swords with pride.
"Take good care of them, young swordsman."
Zoro nodded, securing Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri beside Wado Ichimonji.
"I understand."
At the door, Tashigi called out one last time.
"Be careful out there! And remember—there are good Marines too! Not all of us are bad!"
Outside, the storm had broken. Rain fell in heavy sheets.
Silas and Zoro stepped into the street. Tashigi watched them through the window, eyes lingering on Silas's retreating form—his crimson hair catching the last light through the clouds.
"I… I really love red flowers," she murmured, cheeks warming. His generosity, his quiet charm—it had left more of an impression than she'd expected.
She touched her glasses, remembering the kindness of a pirate who hadn't acted like one.
Handsome and generous. That's rare.
---
"Well," Silas said, scratching his head,
"That was… fun."
"Interesting," Zoro muttered, gripping his new sword.
"That Marine knows too much."
"At least she's not arresting us for having nice swords," Silas offered.
"Yet," Zoro replied.
They made their way through Loguetown's winding streets, rain soaking into their coats, the storm thickening around them.
Neither could shake the feeling that their encounter with the enthusiastic Marine swordswoman wasn't over.
Something about that green-haired swordsman nagged at her. Like a word on the tip of her tongue.
But surely it was just coincidence.
As for the red-haired one… well, men like that had a way of vanishing as quickly as they appeared.
Still, she thought, touching her glasses again,
It's nice to know there are decent people left in the world.