chapter 77 part 2
"For this, I can offer compensation in exchange."
His words were very sincere.
Zoro, who was nearby, was incredibly surprised at first.
Enma—just the name indicated it was a superb, sharp sword, but the problem was… what was Haki? And what was Ryuo?
But before he could even react, Hai Zhu's subsequent words immediately made him show an alarmed expression.
That's right. Regarding the relics Kouzaburo left behind, it was he who had previously told Hai Zhu about them.
Incidentally, he had learned the contents of these relics from Kuina—they had even secretly flipped through those forging records together when they practiced sword fighting the previous night.
"This guy actually just blurted it out!"
For a moment, Zoro felt extremely guilty.
"..."
And sure enough—after hearing Hai Zhu's words, Shimotsuki Kozaburo also glanced at Zoro, clearly guessing who the culprit was.
However.
After taking a deep look at Zoro, Shimotsuki Kozaburo seemed to have made a decision.
Then, he turned his gaze to Hai Zhu.
"Mr. Hai Zhu, those forging records only contain some of my father's insights from back then, and there are no records about 'Enma'."
"According to my father's wishes, they are placed in the dojo's library, and any student of the dojo can read them if they wish—if you are interested, you can simply go and look for yourself."
At this point, his tone shifted: "However, regarding 'Enma', I do indeed know some things. Please follow me."
Having said that, he turned and walked deeper into the dojo.
But halfway there, he turned his head and said to Zoro, "Zoro, you come along too."
"...Yes!"
Upon hearing this, Zoro hastily responded, then glared fiercely at Hai Zhu: "Hey! You guy... You didn't tell me back then that these things were for…"
He was clearly displeased.
"Don't mind it, little brother Zoro."
Hai Zhu, however, chuckled merrily, "Mr. Shimotsuki Kozaburo isn't angry, is he?"
He said this, but his eyes beneath the mask clearly held a hint of surprise and joy.
He had even prepared himself that if Shimotsuki Kozaburo refused to tell him the secret of Enma, he would approach Shimotsuki Kozaburo through the Revolutionary Army instead.
But the situation seemed smoother than he had imagined.
"Huh?"
As Hai Zhu pondered this while following Shimotsuki Kozaburo.
He suddenly paused.
Because at this moment, Shimotsuki Kozaburo, who was ahead of him, had stopped walking.
And what appeared before Hai Zhu was a bamboo forest.
Deep within the bamboo forest, there was a simple wooden hut, and in front of the hut was an altar. They were now standing in front of the altar.
But the problem was...
"..."
Looking at the rudimentary arena carved out amidst the surrounding bamboo forest, and then at the armor and weapons displayed not far away.
Hai Zhu realized what kind of place this was—this was clearly an outdoor kendo training ground!
And it was at this very moment.
He heard Shimotsuki Kozaburo's voice.
At this moment, the usually gentle master of the Isshin Dojo picked up a box from the altar: "I can tell Your Excellency that Enma's special properties come from a certain mineral my father forged."
He opened the box, revealing a strange, pitch-black object inside.
It was a mineral that resembled neither gold nor stone.
"It autonomously devours the Haki within any living being it touches, and converts it into Ryuo for release."
"Whether it's the swordsmith who forges it or the swordsman who wields it, they must be true masters of strength who can control the power; otherwise, they are sure to die—hence, my father named it 'Ryuo Stone' or 'Underworld Demon Iron'."
"After forging Enma, because this mineral was too dangerous, my father sealed and destroyed the method of creating this forging material, leaving behind only this last piece."
As he said this, Shimotsuki Kozaburo rubbed that last piece of 'Underworld Demon Iron' in the world.
The moment he touched that pitch-black object, his hand quickly turned somewhat pale, and black Haki began to flow on that piece of Underworld Demon Iron.
But Shimotsuki Kozaburo didn't mind this.
He seemed to recall his own father.
He had once asked his father—since he had already decided to seal and destroy the Underworld Demon Iron, why did he still leave this one piece?
At the time, his father hadn't answered him.
But today, Shimotsuki Kozaburo gradually understood.
As a craftsman, he had forged an unparalleled powerful metal and sword, but because of its danger, he had no choice but to seal and destroy it.
That reluctance was precisely his father's reason for leaving this piece of 'Underworld Demon Iron'.
Perhaps he was also waiting—waiting for a day when a true strongman or craftsman would obtain this piece of Underworld Demon Iron, and then rely on it to make his name resound throughout the Grand Line?
Therefore.
"I must confirm this, Mr. Hai Zhu."
At this moment, under Zoro's heavy gaze.
Shimotsuki Kozaburo slowly took off his glasses and placed them on the altar, then…
"Shing!"
He drew the sword from his waist, turned, and pointed it at Hai Zhu.
"Please defeat me and prove to me—that you have the qualifications to take it."
In his eyes, there was now an unprecedented sharpness and blazing fighting spirit.
This chapter is an extra update for 1000 monthly passes in November. I see that it should reach 1000 today, so I've updated it in advance.
Today's total update is 12,000 characters.
(end of chapter)