Chapter 97

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"Then, Mr. Zyhark, I will go take a look too."

King, hands in pockets, revealed a passionate desire for game consoles from another world hidden behind his calm eyes.

"Alright," Zyhark nodded in agreement.

While King's combat ability and Aqua's intelligence were similarly worrying, Zyhark also wanted King to experience the atmosphere and environment of the pirate world on his own.

With Smoker overseeing Loguetown, it was quite safe. Once they entered the Grand Line, such opportunities would become scarce.

"As for you, Meowth, you'll stay with me for now."

As for Meowth, who had just arrived in the pirate world, Zyhark chose to keep it close by. Apart from Meowth's unfamiliarity with this world, letting a "talking cat" wander alone outdoors posed too great a risk of being targeted and sold for money.

"I was thinking the same, meow."

Looking at the strangely dressed inhabitants of this other world on the streets ahead, Meowth also felt uneasy.

Thus, under the curious stares of passersby, the man and the cat walked into town together.

The main purpose of this trip was to find the tools and materials Meowth needed to build robots.

Of course, like Aqua wanting wine and King wanting a game console, Zyhark had his own desires. He wondered if what he sought might be available in Loguetown at this time.

As he pondered, a little boy holding an ice cream cone suddenly dashed around the corner. Perhaps too excited to pay attention, he tripped and fell right at Zyhark's feet, splattering his ice cream onto Zyhark's freshly polished boots.

What a classic scene to find myself in!

Remembering Smoker's iconic line to a pitifully cute little girl in the original story, "Sorry, it was my shoe that ate your ice cream," Zyhark was intrigued. Sorry, Smoker, but your line is mine now!

However, just as Zyhark was about to deliver his version, he noticed the boy sitting on the ground...

It was a scruffy, unappealing brat!

Zyhark's anticipation deflated: (ーー゛)?

"How about it, Zyhark? Do you need me to teach this impolite little fellow a lesson, meow?"

Sensing Zyhark's mood, Meowth showed a vicious expression, and with a "whoosh," three sharp claws extended from its paw.

The little boy sitting on the ground was instantly terrified: A cat, a talking cat that walks on two legs!

"No need, Meowth, it's not a big deal," Zyhark regained his composure and replied.

Meowth seemed a bit too enthusiastic about villainy—they were, after all, legitimate businessmen!

"I'm so sorry! This is my child, and I apologize for the trouble," the boy's mother hurried over and bowed deeply to Zyhark.

"It's alright," Zyhark waved dismissively.

"Thank you for your understanding. I'll compensate for the cleaning," the boy's polite and beautiful mother thanked him.

As she bent down to help her son up, her face shifted from gentle to fierce, "I told you to watch where you were going. Wait till we get home, and you'll see how I deal with you!"

The drastic change in her demeanor caught Zyhark off guard.

"That's alright, don't worry about the cleaning fee; it's not an expensive pair of shoes."

Watching the boy make faces at him from behind his mother, Zyhark smiled and suggested, "Perhaps you could spend that money on more practice books for him instead. After all, children are the future of our world..."

Surprised by Zyhark's suggestion to use the cleaning fee for educational purposes, the mother expressed her gratitude once more, "I understand, thank you very much!"

"Little Shu, hurry and thank the big brother!"

She "gently" held down her son's head as he reluctantly bowed and thanked Zyhark.

The forced thanks were so heartfelt that his genuine emotions were unmistakably apparent.

After waving goodbye to the mother and son, Zyhark and Meowth resumed their quest for "that item."

Wandering through the bustling streets, they finally came upon a shop filled with sharp blades.

Yes, the item Zyhark wanted was the infamous sword "Sandai Kitetsu" from the weapon shop in Loguetown.

Considering the weapon could enhance his combat abilities and train his Armament Haki, especially now that his physical prowess had been augmented, Zyhark was eager not to miss out.

"Welcome," greeted the shop owner as he looked up to see Zyhark, who bore no sword at his waist, immediately losing interest.

Despite looking a bit younger, the shop owner was practically identical to his depiction in the source material, complete with a ridiculous male pattern baldness and an unnaturally red nose.

Zyhark quickly scanned the dense array of weapons in the shop and got straight to the point, "Do you have the cursed blade, Sandai Kitetsu?"

"What? You want that legendary cursed blade?" The familiar name made the shop owner's pupils shrink as he stood up from behind the counter.

"Yes, I came specifically for that sword."

Seeing his reaction, Zyhark knew he was on the right track: Sandai Kitetsu must indeed be here!

"Although I'd love to sell this ominous thing, kid, I still need to warn you," the shop owner approached Zyhark with a serious look, "Sandai Kitetsu is a cursed blade. Every swordsman who has wielded it has died a particularly gruesome death. You need to think this through."

While known as a black-hearted shopkeeper who swindled naïve pirates out of their fine swords, the owner had some standards and didn't take matters of cursed blades and life safety lightly.

"Don't worry, just bring it out, and I'll prove to you whether it suits me or not," Zyhark replied calmly, his poise and confidence unshaken by the blade's ominous reputation.

Intrigued, the owner hurried to the back of the shop where he rummaged through a pile of scrap metal to retrieve Sandai Kitetsu, handing it over to Zyhark.

As Zyhark grasped the hilt and pulled out the blade slightly, a chill seemed to spread from the sheath.

Holding the handle, he felt an overwhelming coldness radiate from the steel blade patterned with flames, utterly captivating.

Zyhark's eyes lit up.

This was no ordinary blade. The mere presence of the sword, even slightly unsheathed, was unlike anything he had previously used!

"Let me remind you once more, if you're not strong enough, it's best not to keep this sword with you, or you'll meet a terrible end," the shopkeeper warned solemnly.

"Let the sword itself answer whether I am worthy or not."

Zyhark did not linger. With a firm grip, he fully drew Sandai Kitetsu from its sheath.

Clang!

The blade's cold gleam was fierce, bringing with it a dense aura of death.

Under its spell, the temperature inside the weapon shop seemed to drop.

"Let's see which is harder—my arm or the curse of this blade."

Zyhark smirked confidently, extended his arm, and tossed Sandai Kitetsu into the air.

As Meowth and the shopkeeper watched in horror, the icy blade spun slowly, descending toward Zyhark's arm in a deadly dance that captured their breath.

Perhaps it was the tension, but they could see a faint black light circling his raised arm.

Finally, as the blade aligned with Zyhark's arm, there was a loud clang.

As expected, no miracle occurred. The sharp edge struck Zyhark's arm precisely.

(End of Chapter)