"Swords, especially famous ones—they deserve to be cherished by us swordsmen! One day, I will become the greatest swordsman in the world and reclaim every famous blade stolen by evildoers!" Tashigi's face was flush with gravity as she declared her vow.
"The greatest swordsman in the world? You've got ambition, girl! Wait... when did I become a 'Grandmaster Swordsman' in your mouth?"
"Mr. Rowan, your swordsmanship is so incredible. Could you give me some guidance on the Way of the Sword later?"
"You stubborn girl, I never told you I knew swordsmanship."
"Don't hide it, Mr. Rowan! If you aren't a Grandmaster, how could you have sliced all those pirate ships with a single swing?!"
"Great-Grandpa, Big Sister, stop talking! Can we move a little faster? I'm starving to death!"
"You brat, can't you hold on for a minute? You're like a hungry ghost reincarnated!"
"So, Mr. Rowan, it's a promise. You have to give me some pointers later."
"Huh? Since when did I promise you that?!"
"..."
Before long, they arrived at the largest tavern in Loguetown.
At a relatively secluded table, the small surface was piled high with chicken, duck, fish, and meat. Luffy was like a wild dog upon its prey, shoving dishes into his mouth at a relentless pace. He looked exactly like a starving spirit from the underworld.
Within minutes, the empty plates in front of Luffy were stacked like a mountain.
Rowan, used to the sight, leisurely sipped his strong liquor. Beside him, Tashigi was speechless, her jaw hanging open. Between her and Rowan, there were only three or four plates, and they hadn't even started.
Not just Rowan and Tashigi, but the other customers in the tavern couldn't help but stare at Luffy's eating habits.
Rowan reached out and poked Luffy's belly. After eating so much, it was only slightly bulging...
He knew that since this boy was a rubber man, his stomach could expand ten times that size when fully satisfied. Which meant...
Gulp.
A stunned Tashigi swallowed hard and whispered cautiously, "Mr. Rowan... has your great-grandson not eaten in three years?"
Sharing a table with someone eating like this made Tashigi feel like she was losing face. As Smoker's adjutant, she was a person of some standing in Loguetown. She had the urge to bury her head in her hands, her cheeks turning a deep shade of crimson. If Mr. Rowan hadn't been sitting next to her, she might have bolted long ago.
"This kid just ate half an elephant at noon—the one you saw," Rowan replied, looking equally bewildered.
Between then and now, Luffy had only punched a few dozen pirates. Rowan had handled the rest. The boy hadn't even burned that much stamina. Why was his appetite suddenly this monstrous? It made no sense...
At this rate, how much is this kid going to cost me?! Rowan grumbled inwardly.
Wait... money?!
Rowan's expression froze. He suddenly realized that when he left the house this time, he hadn't brought any money!
Embarrassment washed over his face. He turned to Tashigi, who was still trying to hide her face, leaned in, and whispered.
"Uh... girl. I seem to have forgotten my wallet when I left the house. Could you... lend me some money? As you can see, this brat's appetite is huge. If we don't pay the bill, he'll be washing dishes for a year before he's allowed out of here."
"Mr. Rowan, you..." A startled Tashigi looked at him blankly.
"Keep it down, girl!" Rowan quickly covered her mouth with his hand, giving a sheepish laugh. "As the saying goes, a single penny can beat a hero. This is just an emergency."
Tashigi looked conflicted. She scratched her head and said, "Mr. Rowan, I... I didn't bring much money either..."
She pulled out a small, delicate wallet and handed it to Rowan.
"Not enough?" Rowan looked inside and found only two 50-Berri notes and a few 20-Berri coins. He frowned. "Why so little? Is Smoky-boy finding excuses to dock your pay?!"
He handed the wallet back and stroked his beard. "Maybe you could call a colleague to bring some over? Don't worry, once Smoker gets back, I'll make sure he pays you back."
Smoker and his men were cleaning up the battlefield; they must have secured plenty of loot from the Krieg Pirates. With Krieg's wealth, paying for Luffy's meal should be a drop in the bucket.
"But... most of my colleagues are still with Colonel Smoker," Tashigi replied, thinking to herself: Didn't you pull me away to run off early in the first place?
"Then what now?"
Rowan frowned. His gaze drifted to the blade at his waist. If it comes to it, should I just sell this? Even though he was now a top-tier swordsman with maxed-out skills, he didn't share Tashigi's obsession with weapons. With his connections, he could easily find a better one later.
BANG!
Suddenly, a loud noise echoed. The tavern doors had been pushed open with force.
Rowan looked up to see a figure in green walking into the tavern with steady, heavy steps. He wore a green haramaki (belly warmer) around his waist, which held three long swords. He had striking, short green hair.
But most notably, he was splattered with fresh, crimson blood. As he entered, a heavy scent of iron and gore filled the air.
He walked to the bar and slammed a black cloth bundle, still dripping with blood, onto the counter. The other customers shuddered. Anyone with eyes knew what was inside that bundle.
It was his trophy. A head.
Dressed like that and carrying a head into a Loguetown tavern—there was only one person he could be.
"The Pirate Hunter, Roronoa Zoro!"
"Boss! Food!" Zoro said in a deep voice, ignoring the stares of the crowd. He set his three swords aside.
To think I'd run into this little guy at this time and place, Rowan mused, leaning back and narrowing his eyes as he puffed on his pipe.
Looking at the black bundle in front of Zoro, a sudden idea formed in his mind.
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