Clang.
Sandai Kitetsu fell to the ground.
The vibrating blade emitted a rhythmic sound as if uttering crude words.
Icey didn’t quite understand the world of swords, but recalling the sharp sensation when the blade cut his skin, he felt this trip was worthwhile.
No wonder it’s a legendary cursed blade. The quality and feel of it were excellent, making it a perfect weapon supplement before entering the Grand Line!
“Huh (meow)?!”
This operation left Ipponmatsu and Meow Meow dumbfounded.
So the phrase “whether my arm or this blade is harder” was meant literally!
“The result is obvious; the so-called curse of the cursed blade lost to my arm.”
Looking at the stunned weapon shop owner, Ipponmatsu, Icey retracted his unharmed arm and smiled, “Boss, I want this blade. How much?”
“F-F-Five… Forget it, if you really want it, I’ll just give it to you!”
Ipponmatsu hadn’t yet recovered from the thrilling scene.
To be honest, in all his years of selling weapons in Loguetown, it was his first time seeing such a straightforward and brutal swordsman.
What legitimate swordsman would do such a thing?!
“Thanks.”
Icey didn’t hesitate and bent down to pick up the fallen Sandai Kitetsu.
The moment his hand grasped the hilt, the entire blade vibrated slightly, as if possessing its own will.
A cold glint flashed, and a chilling sensation spread through his body from the hilt.
“Excited to follow a powerful master, huh?”
Icey swung his arm to suppress Sandai Kitetsu’s small movements. “As expected of a legendary cursed blade, I can deeply feel your joy.”
“I think it’s more like resistance…”
Having seen countless blades, Ipponmatsu saw through the truth and hesitated before suggesting, “The curse of the cursed blade might have severe consequences. Customer, perhaps you should choose another good blade?”
Icey didn’t respond directly. Instead, he swung Sandai Kitetsu in the air a few times, familiarizing himself with the weight and length.
After a few swings, he casually glanced at Ipponmatsu.
“Don’t worry, boss. My goddess specializes in purifying demons and curses. If this blade is really that disobedient, she’ll purify it thoroughly.”
The dumb goddess might be lacking in other areas, but she was top-notch when it came to purifying curses.
Not just one cursed blade, even ten or a hundred wouldn’t be a problem!
As Icey finished speaking, Sandai Kitetsu vaguely sensed an incredibly holy and radiant aura that could obliterate it in an instant!
The vibrating blade instantly calmed down, and the icy chill turned into a warm, spring-like breeze.
Looking down at the blade in his hand, Icey seemed to see the image of an old servant bowing and scraping…
“Huh?”
The constant reversals left Ipponmatsu bewildered.
Had he known that just mentioning “goddess” could subdue the cursed blade so obediently, he wouldn’t have left it in the most inconspicuous corner of his shop!
However, in reality, it wasn’t that simple. The true reason for the cursed blade’s compliance was likely the young man in front of him, who looked somewhat familiar…
Thinking that he could finally get rid of this hot potato, Ipponmatsu felt a sense of relief. “Since the blade is willing to recognize you as its master, I won’t say more. If you want it, just take it.”
“Thanks a lot, boss.”
Satisfied, Icey sheathed Sandai Kitetsu and stood still, staring intently at Ipponmatsu without any intention of leaving.
“Customer, is there anything else?”
Ipponmatsu, feeling uneasy under the intense gaze, braced himself in a defensive posture.
Is this guy planning to test the power of the cursed blade on me?
Seeing how slow this penny-pinching guy was, Icey had to speak, “Boss, seeing my eyes as a good swordsman, don’t you have anything to say, like entrusting a dream or something?”
“More like you’re about to rob me!”
Ipponmatsu frowned deeply, his face full of vigilance, and raised his hands in a defensive posture.
Icey: “…”
There’s no way to get Shusui for free.
Just as he was about to use his money, Meow Meow’s voice came from the side.
“Icey, I think this pistol is interesting. Let’s grab it for research, meow?”
Meow Meow, perched on the side counter, was carefully examining a newly styled flintlock pistol in his cat claws.
Clearly, his villainous mindset hadn’t been corrected yet. He habitually used the word “grab” for things he fancied.
This kind of speech only reinforced Ipponmatsu’s suspicions.
To run a weapon shop in Loguetown, which often had pirates coming and going, he naturally wasn’t a soft character. Just as he was about to reach for the flintlock pistol at his waist, he suddenly realized something very important.
“Wait? The cat talked?!”
He shook his head and carefully scrutinized Icey before hurriedly asking, “No, no, what did it just call you? Icey? East Blue Hero Icey?!”
After correcting Meow Meow’s speech habit, Icey turned back and said, “Yes, it’s me.”
There’s no other person named Icey in the entire East Blue!
“It’s really you! No wonder you looked so familiar!”
Confirmed, Ipponmatsu looked excited. “I just read the newspaper today, and now you’re in my shop!”
“Today’s newspaper?” Icey asked, surprised.
Hadn’t the news about them passed some time ago?
“Yes! Even the Creek Fleet, which dominated East Blue, was defeated by you. Great job!”
Ipponmatsu quickly ran to the counter, picking up the freshly printed newspaper from the table.
Icey took the newspaper and spread it out, the bold and colorful headline catching his eye.
[Fierce Sea Battle! The Seafaring Restaurant Thousand Sunny Strikes Again, Joining Forces with Loguetown Guardian Captain Smoker to Crush the Creek Pirates!]
Joining forces with Smoker?
Reading the headline, Icey frowned slightly.
Realizing the reasoning behind it, he relaxed, internally marveling at the World Government’s tactics.
With Smoker’s way of handling things, he would never take undeserved credit.
In the original story, the World Government attributed the defeat of Crocodile by the Straw Hat crew to Smoker, almost causing him to erupt in anger, further solidifying his resolve to change the corrupt system.
The essence of the current situation was almost identical to the Crocodile incident:
Clearly, the World Government didn’t want to see major pirates in East Blue being dealt with by anyone outside the Navy, even if they were lawful citizens running a seafaring restaurant, not ruthless pirates!
Thinking it through, the title “Hero of East Blue” was likely a setup for recruitment.
A “young and promising hero” sounded inspiring and just!
Unfortunately, no matter what they tried, not even Garp could recruit Icey and his crew.
No wonder Garp seemed so regretful when saying goodbye, mentioning a price for covering up Aqua’s identity; it was referring to this!
Reading further, apart from some hastily pieced-together battle illustrations, the description of Aqua was brief, emphasizing her water-based abilities and highlighting her wisdom and kindness.
Though Icey felt that calling the dumb goddess kind was a stretch, and wise was even more so…
But notably, King’s match with Garp was also prominently featured in the newspaper.
No doubt, this would stir quite a commotion.
Who knows if this was good or bad for King…
“If it’s you, a man like you, a hero known throughout East Blue, please wait a moment!”
Ipponmatsu’s excited words interrupted Icey’s thoughts.
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