The Sandai Kitetsu was a sword that the spiky-haired Bartolomeo had snatched from a vendor and offered to Takumi in a misguided attempt to curry favor.
From the beginning, Takumi had never expressed any desire to own this sword.
It was all Bartolomeo's own doing, and the resulting chaos was his responsibility.
No matter what happened, it wasn't Takumi's job to clean up the mess.
So, regardless of what Bartolomeo said, Takumi had no intention of helping him.
Seeing that Takumi was still ignoring him, Bartolomeo grew anxious. "Please don't ignore me! Really, if you don't stop him, more people will get hurt—someone might even die!"
"And so what?" Takumi said flatly. "Go find the Marines; don't bother me."
"Huh?" Bartolomeo froze in confusion, watching Takumi walk past him.
At that moment, a man with bloodshot eyes, clearly out of his mind, suddenly rushed out from a narrow alley in front of Takumi.
Upon seeing Takumi and Bartolomeo, the crazed man let out a howl and swung his sword at Takumi, who was closest.
It was the middle-aged man who had picked up the Sandai Kitetsu.
Takumi dodged effortlessly, and the man's wild swing cut through the air.
Undeterred, the man quickly adjusted his stance and swung the sword at Takumi again.
This time, Takumi didn't bother dodging. He faced the attack head-on, grabbing the man's wrist with one hand and twisting it forcefully.
However, unlike when Bartolomeo had been controlled, this time, the Sandai Kitetsu seemed almost fused to the man's hand. No matter how much force Takumi applied, the man wouldn't let go.
Could it be that the longer someone is controlled by this cursed sword, the harder it becomes to release it?
Frowning slightly, Takumi enveloped his other hand in Armament Haki, grabbed the sword's blade, and with sheer brute strength, forcibly pried the sword from the man's grasp.
As soon as the cursed sword was removed, the man's eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the spot.
Takumi held the Sandai Kitetsu in his hand, examining it casually. Just as he was about to toss it aside, the familiar chime of the system echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Acquired the cursed sword Sandai Kitetsu. Progress +10%.]
[Ding! Loguetown sign-in mission complete. Congratulations to the host for unlocking Shave and Paper Art, and receiving the reward: Mastery in Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu.]
Shave is a technique from the Rokushiki, which involves moving at high speeds by kicking the ground multiple times in an instant to generate explosive propulsion.
Paper Art is another Rokushiki technique, a defensive maneuver that allows the user to relax their body like paper, dodging attacks with fluid and precise movements.
Now, all the Rokushiki techniques have been unlocked.
Though Shave might seem less useful due to the existence of Flash Step, combining these two techniques could exponentially increase their effectiveness.
Takumi glanced at the Sandai Kitetsu in his hand.
He hadn't expected that the final bit of progress would come from this cursed sword.
It seemed this sword would be with him for a while.
Smiling, Takumi turned to the still-dazed Bartolomeo and asked, "Where's the Sandai Kitetsu's scabbard?"
Bartolomeo snapped out of his daze and quickly replied, "It's nearby! I'll get it right away!"
With that, Bartolomeo hurried off to a nearby alley.
Takumi opened his status panel.
[Name: Takumi
Age: 10
Sign-in Location: Drum Island (0%)
Physique: All-Attribute Chakra
Haki: Armament Haki Lv5, Conqueror's Haki Lv4, Observation Haki Lv4
Skills: Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu (Mastery), Swordsmanship Lv6, Flash Step Lv3, Night Guy Lv2, Divine Departure (Mastery), Fairy Sphere Lv1
Rokushiki: Finger Pistol Lv1, Iron Body Lv2, Shave Lv1, Moonwalk Lv1, Tempest Kick Lv1, Paper Art Lv1
Weapon: Cursed Sword Star Fragment (Tōryū)
System Space: 100x100x100 cubic meters]
Looking at the next sign-in location listed, Drum Island, the first thing that came to Takumi's mind was the little reindeer Chopper, who had eaten the Human-Human Fruit.
Chopper would eventually become the doctor aboard Luffy's ship—a cute, fluffy little creature who got bashful when praised.
Judging by the current timeline, Chopper should be around five years old, not yet having met Dr. Hiriluk, who would teach him medicine.
As Takumi mused over this, Bartolomeo returned with the scabbard for the Sandai Kitetsu.
Takumi closed his status panel.
Taking the scabbard from Bartolomeo, he sheathed the Sandai Kitetsu and then casually strapped it alongside Tōryū at his waist.
Bartolomeo stared, stunned, and asked, "Are you planning to use that cursed sword yourself?"
Takumi nonchalantly replied, "Yeah," before turning to continue on his way to the tavern.
Bartolomeo stood frozen in place, watching Takumi's back, growing more excited by the moment. "Ah! Did I misunderstand you? To prevent others from being controlled by this cursed sword, you took it upon yourself to bear the burden. Takumi, you're such a warm-hearted person beneath that cold exterior. You really are the one I've chosen to follow!"
Back at the tavern.
The tavern owner noticed that Rayleigh hadn't returned with Takumi and asked curiously, "Where's Mr. Rayleigh? Don't tell me he's gone gambling again?"
Takumi replied coolly, "He's gone."
"Huh?" The tavern owner paused, mid-polish of a glass, "He left without saying a word? I thought he'd at least wait until today was over before leaving."
Takumi stared at him calmly and said, "I'm leaving too."
"Uh?" The tavern owner was taken aback.
Takumi continued, "I'll take all the wine in the cellar."
"What?" The tavern owner exclaimed, "There are over a thousand bottles in there! Can you carry them all?"
Takumi nodded.
After a moment of hesitation, the tavern owner nodded. "Alright, if you want them, take them. Do you need any help?"
Takumi shook his head.
"When are you planning to leave?" asked the tavern owner.
"Soon," Takumi replied.
"Alright then, let me treat you to a meal before you go," the tavern owner offered.
Takumi nodded again.
After setting down the glass he was polishing, the tavern owner stepped out from behind the bar. "Wait here in the tavern for a bit. I'll go buy some food to go with the wine."
Takumi nodded once more.
After the tavern owner left, Takumi went into the cellar behind the bar where the wine was stored and transferred it all into his system space.
Then he emptied the wine racks in the bar and left the tavern.
Takumi understood why Rayleigh had left without a word.
Some farewells shouldn't be drawn out.
That was Takumi's intention as well.
So, after taking all the wine from the tavern, he purchased a small boat at the port and sailed directly to his next destination.
The Baratie's supply ship had been destroyed in the earlier explosion at the port.
Bartolomeo had been following Takumi the entire time.
Seeing Takumi set sail, he rushed to the port, shouting after him, "Takumi, are you really leaving just like that? I still have so much to say to you! Don't go, please come back!"
Takumi didn't turn around, simply raising a hand to wave goodbye.
Bartolomeo was disheartened.
Just then, one of his subordinates came running over, holding a small wooden box. "Boss, I found something good—an Akuma no Mi!"
Back at the Roger Tavern.
When the tavern owner returned, Takumi was long gone.
He stared at the empty wine racks, stunned, letting the bag of food in his hand drop to the floor.
"No way... that kid left too?"
The tavern owner quickly ran to the cellar behind the bar and opened the door, only to find that all the wine was gone.
Staring at the million beri Takumi had left in the cellar, the tavern owner's feelings were a mix of emotions.
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