"Probably... to be able to live freely in this world."
The crisp voice echoed in the room.
Evidently, Cyrus's answer surprised Shimotsuki Koshiro, and it showed clearly on his face.
"To live freely in this world... that is no simple matter."
Shimotsuki Koshiro seemed to have understood the meaning behind Cyrus's words and said with some emotion.
"That's why I need to learn swordmanship, to get stronger, to have the power to protect myself."
Cyrus continued with a calm expression, "So, Master of this Dojo, are you satisfied with my answer?"
"Satisfied. In truth, no matter what answer you gave, I would have taught you. After all, when you swing a sword, you must have your own conviction.
Only such a sword can possess greater power."
Shimotsuki Koshiro spoke, a gentle smile on his face.
Cyrus naturally didn't take Shimotsuki Koshiro's words as a lecture.
After all, his own knowledge of the sword was half-baked, while the man before him was a top-tier Master Swordsman.
At least for now, his understanding of the sword far surpassed his own.
Moreover, it seemed that to become a true Master Swordsman, one really did need the support of some kind of conviction.
That included Haki.
"Since you've come to learn the sword, let's discuss the fee."
Just as Cyrus was thinking, the kneeling Shimotsuki Koshiro spoke again.
"Alright!" Cyrus nodded.
Although... he recalled that Zoro hadn't been charged any fees to learn swordmanship here and was even allowed to eat and live at the Dojo for free.
But Zoro, or perhaps everyone in Shimotsuki Village, was likely related by blood.
Besides, this was better.
"Five hundred thousand Belly, for one year."
Seeing Cyrus nod, Shimotsuki Koshiro thought for a moment and gave a price.
Cyrus shook his head directly.
Seeing this, Shimotsuki Koshiro thought Cyrus was going to haggle, so he waited for him to continue.
"One million Belly, for one year!" Cyrus then stated his own price, which made Shimotsuki Koshiro freeze for a moment.
He thought he had misheard him.
"One million Belly. I want you to teach me without holding anything back."
Cyrus stated his demand.
"I can, but I will only teach you more advanced things when your Swordsmanship has reached a certain level."
Shimotsuki Koshiro looked into Cyrus's direct gaze, fell silent for a moment, and then nodded.
Seeing Shimotsuki Koshiro agree, Cyrus also breathed a sigh of relief internally.
He smiled and was about to speak when two small children poked their heads in from outside the door.
"Kuina, go and get..." Shimotsuki Koshiro was about to speak, then remembered he hadn't asked for Cyrus's name.
"Cyrus."
"Right. Kuina, go and arrange a place for Cyrus to stay. He will be learning the sword in the Dojo from now on."
"Oh!"
Kuina looked at Cyrus curiously and nodded.
On the other side of the door, Zoro, whose face was even more bruised and swollen than before, stared at the rising Cyrus.
"You come too. I'll need you to move things later." Kuina said directly to Zoro, then led the way.
Cyrus cupped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute toward Shimotsuki Koshiro, then followed behind Kuina.
After the three had left, Shimotsuki Koshiro remained seated, a puzzled look on his face.
He understood the meaning behind Cyrus's gesture just now, but the action seemed standardized, like some sort of etiquette.
"Could my guess be true?" Shimotsuki Koshiro murmured to himself.
Although they had just met and not for long, Shimotsuki Koshiro had detected arrogance, or perhaps pride, in Cyrus.
'No, that wasn't it!' Shimotsuki Koshiro frowned and shook his head.
While it resembled arrogance and pride, it was actually more of a condescending attitude.
Though he appeared very polite, that was the feeling Koshiro got.
'Was he a noble?'
Shimotsuki Koshiro felt that there were many contradictions about Cyrus.
...
Cyrus, on the other hand, wasn't thinking that much.
At that moment, he was holding Zoro by the scruff of his neck, dragging the boy along as he followed Kuina.
"So, he can get lost in a place as small as the Dojo?" Cyrus's voice was filled with curiosity.
He knew Zoro was the ultimate directionally-challenged person, but the Dojo wasn't that big.
'This guy had probably been here for a long time, and he still got lost?'
"Yes!" Kuina replied crisply without turning around.
"Impossible, how could I get lost?"
Zoro struggled with all his might, but the hand holding the scruff of his neck was incredibly steady, not even shaking.
"If I hadn't grabbed you, you would have turned around and wandered off to who knows where just now."
Cyrus's words brought the desperately struggling Zoro to a halt.
He then went limp, looking somewhat dejected.
"Speaking of which, you lost again."
Seeing Zoro give up the struggle, Cyrus suddenly provoked him.
Zoro, who had just given up, instantly snapped back to his senses and began struggling again.
"Ahhhhh, what did you say, you bastard?" Zoro's face was full of fury!
"So, you won?" Cyrus asked with a strange expression, looking at the enraged Zoro.
At these words, Zoro's face stiffened.
"I didn't win, but I will in the future!" Zoro mumbled with his head down.
"Hmph!" Kuina didn't even turn her head.
"This is your room. I'll have Zoro bring you the things you need... never mind, I'll bring them to you in a bit."
Kuina pushed open the door to one of the Dojo's rooms and stepped aside.
Cyrus dropped Zoro on the floor, stepped into the room to look around, and nodded.
"To learn the sword by joining the Dojo, you must first learn from me. Only after you've mastered the basic sword moves will my father teach you," Kuina said. She looked up at Cyrus, who was much taller than her, then turned to look at Zoro.
"Come with me to get the things."
Zoro followed Kuina with his head down, looking dejected.
It was clear that Cyrus's earlier words had hit him hard, and he still hadn't recovered.
After watching the two leave, Cyrus turned back and looked at the small room before him.
He didn't have many requirements for his living environment.
Although it wasn't large, it was clean enough.
Walking over to the small table in the middle of the room, Cyrus sat down cross-legged.
"Step one is complete. Next is to see how much I can learn."
Cyrus rested his chin on his arm, thinking to himself.
He was quite looking forward to the learning that lay ahead.
Although he had already eaten a Devil Fruit, this was the true beginning of his contact with the powers of this world.
Kuina and Zoro returned quickly.
Zoro was carrying a large bundle of simple daily necessities on his back.
"Here!"
After watching Zoro put down the large bundle, Cyrus placed a small bag on the table in front of him.
Both Kuina and Zoro cast puzzled glances at it.
"What's this?" Kuina asked, a little curious.
"Tuition and living expenses for the future."
As soon as Cyrus spoke, Kuina became even more confused.
She walked over, opened the bag, and her eyes widened.
"So much money!" Zoro was stunned.
He walked over, peeked inside, and immediately swallowed hard.
"Does it cost this much to learn swordsmanship at the Dojo?"
Zoro's mind went numb.
He didnt pay a single berry ever since he's practicing here!