The stranger smiled broadly before replying, "Well, Monkey D. Luffy, future Pirate King, my name is Spencer. I'm very glad to have met you." He gestured for Luffy to go deeper into the forest, saying, "Go find your treasure, young friend. Goodbye."
"But we'll see each other again someday, right?" the teenager asked.
"I don't think so," Spencer replied, with the same small smile that had graced his lips since they first met once again.
Luffy tried to argue, but the older man gave him a terrifying look. "Go," he said again, "Your treasure awaits you."
"What does it matter, Grandpa! It was a pleasure meeting you!" exclaimed the teenager with a smile, disappearing into the woods. He might never see the old man again, but he was glad to have met him. He had given him an adventure!
When Spencer lost track of Luffy to Gray Trunks, he knew that, despite everything, he would stay out of it. The old man had promised himself that the era Roger had created would take over, and he wasn't going to interfere. If the boy died in this forest, the boy died.
Who was he kidding? He wasn't the one he should be worried about.
He should be worried about the world. The young man would surely turn it upside down.
"Your will is in good hands, Roger."
Upon entering the building, Zoro immediately heard the dull thump of a metal hammer coming from somewhere in the back. However, the bell above the door rang clearly throughout the shop, and the rhythmic sound ceased. Barefoot footsteps replaced the loud noises, and a muscular, gray-haired man emerged from the back, his arms and face covered in soot.
"How can I help you, son?" the man asked, gesturing to the various arms surrounding the shop. "As you can see, we sell knives and a few other things." The man walked over to a counter where there was a cash register and motioned for Zoro to approach.
The green-haired teenager nodded and started walking toward the counter behind which the shop owner stood. He scanned the shop. There were different sections for different types of swords, and Zoro could see every kind he could think of. Many display cases contained various, seemingly rare, swords of all kinds of brands. However, the most carefully curated cases appeared to be those of katanas. He would have to ask the shopkeeper about them later.
In the center of the shop, taking up space, stood mannequins. As far as the swordsman could see, they were only there to display the few suits of armor that were for sale. Zoro circled around them as he approached and, at last, got a good look at the man he was talking to. Well... his torso. Still, it was more than enough. The older man standing before the green man was a mountain of muscle.
The blacksmith was at least a foot taller than the young man and had arms as big as his head. He had long, gray hair, flecked with black and white, tied back in a high ponytail, and a beard of the same color. His face was long and wrinkled with age, but his eyes hadn't lost their sparkle. Their amber color shone gold in the sunlight filtering through the windows and contrasted beautifully with the dark ebony of his skin. He wore a green striped shirt that revealed his enormous muscles, and... That was all the swordsman could see.
Upon reaching the counter, Zoro received an expectant look from the man behind it. "I didn't come to buy anything... at least, not right now," he replied to the man's earlier question, looking him directly in the eye. He still needed two more swords, but that could wait. Something had drawn him to this shop, so he was certain it was where he was meant to be.
"Then go window shopping," the older man snorted, turning to go back to the room he'd come from. "I don't much care for people like you. You always take me away from my p-."
"I'm not here as a buyer, not at all," Zoro interrupted, starting to follow the man, "That sound earlier, where did it come from?"
The change of subject disconcerted the older man, but he recovered quickly. "You mean the forging I was doing?" he asked curiously. He decided to forget the rude interruption; it wasn't often that someone came to ask about blacksmithing.
"Forging?" Zoro asked, narrowing his eyes with excitement. The feeling from before had returned.
"I'm a blacksmith, so yes. I was in the back room forging some custom pieces when you came in," the blacksmith said indifferently. He stopped when he saw Zoro following him. He wasn't going to let some brat near his forge. He was his baby. He didn't care if they wanted to learn about blacksmithing or not.
"Teach me," Zoro said to the burly man standing in front of him.
The man looked Zoro in the eyes for a few seconds, as if searching for something, before turning around and continuing on his way back to his baby, "No."
"I refuse..." he interrupted the teenager as the door slammed shut in his face. The swordsman closed his eyes and snorted in annoyance. It was... to be expected. He knew he was meant to be there; he just had to get the man to show him. He'd understood when the blacksmith mentioned forging. If he knew how it was done, wouldn't that mean he could use it better?
Zoro stepped away from the door and started walking back toward the exit. He was going to come back. Every day. Every single day, until the man agreed to teach him. He had decided to dedicate all his time to it if necessary. He didn't know how learning to forge a sword would help him unleash the power he sought, but he didn't think much of it. Luffy would undoubtedly be furious about not spending time alone, but he knew this would make him stronger.
Therefore, I would pursue him.