In this world Graded blades are categorized into various levels. First, there are inferior weapons crafted by ordinary blacksmiths, followed by graded blades created by blacksmithing masters. These weapons are typically wielded by regular swordsmen and warriors and are reasonably priced, usually ranging from thousands of baileys and upwards.
Beyond these, there are weapons that belong to the category of renowned blades!
The most famed among these is the collection of the world's top graded blades, collectively known as the "50 skillful grade blades" Above that is the "21 Great grade blades" and at the pinnacle are the "12 Supreme grade blades" each of which is an exceptional weapon. Some of these have even been lost in history.
Very few blacksmithing masters today can craft supreme-grade blades, which explains why weapons of this level are exceedingly rare.
Now, in Logue Town, before the owners of two weapon shops, a renowned swordsman like Grace, and two navy officers, Smoker and Tashigi, Ron had astonishingly forged a weapon of the caliber of a great grade blade. This was an incredible feat!
"Great grade blade!" The owner of the Iron Furnace Weapon Shop stared blankly at the long sword in Ron's hand, mumbling, "This can't be, how is it possible? This guy is so young, clearly just an apprentice!"
"Indeed!" The blacksmithing master also gazed at the longsword in Ron's hand with disbelief. "He's just an apprentice, but from the aura emanating from that sword, it's unmistakably a great-grade level longsword. How is this possible? I must be seeing things!"
Old John, too, observed Ron with a bewildered expression. Among all the people in the street, the one that was most astounded by this turn of events was surely Old John, who had taught Ron the art of blacksmithing.
Old John's thoughts were in chaos. He had been the one to teach Ron blacksmithing skills, and it had taken Ron half a month to even get started. He knew that Ron had no prior knowledge of blacksmithing. Yet now, he was witnessing Ron create a great-graded blade.
This was a great-grade blade! The second highest ranking within the top three tiers!
This weapon was highly sought after by formidable swordsmen, not only in the East Sea but also in the Grand Line. Nevertheless, a sword of this caliber had been forged by an apprentice who had barely begun learning the craft just half a month ago!
Old John was at a loss for words. His face reflected a sense of bitterness and helplessness. He had dedicated decades to blacksmithing, all in an attempt to create a graded blade, to restore the former glory of his family from a hundred years ago. Unfortunately, for all the time he spent, he had been unable to achieve this goal.
And now, this apprentice...
Words failed him.
Old John shook his head and sighed.
Clinton and Dorlo, who stood beside him, were initially stunned but soon erupted in jubilant cheers. Their faces radiated happiness. They couldn't comprehend how an apprentice like Ron had managed to create a great-graded blade that even the master blacksmith couldn't craft, but they didn't care. What mattered was that Ron had won, and Old John's Weapon Shop had won. One of their apprentices had defeated the master blacksmith from the Iron Furnace Weapon Shop, one of the three major weapon shops in Logue Town. From that day forward, John's Weapon Shop would become renowned in Logue Town, and business would flourish. And overtaking the other three top weapon shops was now within their reach.
"Keep him, keep Ron!" Clinton and Dorlo looked at Ron's back with shining eyes.
"Actually..." Smoker regarded Ron with a serious expression. To create a blade of such level was no small feat. Even within the World Government, individuals like Ron were highly valued and granted key protection. Yet now, such a figure had appeared in Logue Town that was under his jurisdiction, astonished him.
In contrast, Tashigi gazed at Ron with admiration and awe. She didn't concern herself with whether Ron was the Great Swordsman now. Even if he was merely a blacksmith capable of forging a great-graded blade, it was enough to earn her deep admiration.
Grace, too, displayed an expression of admiration. "It turns out this gentleman is not only a formidable swordsman but also a skilled blacksmith. That's incredibly impressive."
Although he was slightly perplexed about why a skilled swordsman would come to an ordinary blacksmith like Old John to learn blacksmithing, it was no longer of importance.
Ron held the freshly crafted great-grade sword, a satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He could now collect materials and craft a Supreme grade blade independently. Only a renowned blade of that caliber was worthy of his skills.
Suddenly, two pairs of covetous eyes caught Ron's attention. When he looked up, he saw the owner of the Iron Furnace Weapon Shop and the master blacksmith greedily eyeing the great-grade sword in his hand, as if they wished to claim it for themselves.
'Greedy, are they?' Ron snorted inwardly. If they truly harbored any intentions toward the great-grade sword in his possession, they would be playing with fire.
The two men from the Iron Furnace Weapon Shop exchanged glances, and both could see an uncontrollable excitement in each other's eyes.
As one of the three major weapon shops in Logue Town, their dream for many years had been to craft a renowned sword at the level of a graded blade. Unfortunately, due to their lack of skill, they had never been able to fulfill this wish. Now, this young teenager had somehow managed to create a great-graded blade. They couldn't let this opportunity slip through their fingers; they absolutely couldn't.
With a cold gleam in his eyes, the owner of the Iron Furnace Weapon Shop swiftly drew a pistol from his holster and fired a shot at Ron's head.
Bang!!!
"Blinded fools!" Ron's eyes gleamed.
His sword aura surged, the blade gleamed coldly, and a human head fell to the ground!
The crowd had barely recovered from the shock of Ron's creation of a great-grade sword when they were once again stunned by this horrifying scene!