"Chidori…"
Maude gazed at the long blade resting on the table.
The hilt was adorned with a row of diamond-shaped patterns, and the sheath, a deep blue hue, exuded an elegant texture. Scattered white patterns shaped like birds in flight adorned the sheath in an unordered arrangement.
The interplay of blue and white immediately evoked a sense of profound depth.
After a moment of scrutiny, Maude's curiosity about the blade hidden within the sheath intensified.
In contrast, Sunny showed no interest in the sword. She was entirely engrossed in scraping the bottom of her bowl, leaving no stray pieces of scallion behind.
Sol slurped a mouthful of steaming noodles, glancing sideways at Maude. "What? You want to test the grip?"
Maude instinctively nodded. "Yeah, the blade looks incredible. I wonder what it feels like to hold it."
Sol chuckled. "Why don't you give it a try and find out?"
With one hand free, Sol picked up Chidori and held it out toward Maude.
Maude's eyes lit up, and he reached out eagerly to take the sword.
But in that instant, Sol's playful expression vanished. He flipped the blade around and used it like a stick, rapping Maude lightly on the forehead.
"If you're going to do something, focus on it. You haven't even mastered firearms yet, and now you're eyeing a blade?"
"…."
Rubbing his forehead, Maude stared in disbelief at Sol, who had gone from cheerful to stern in the blink of an eye.
It was just a glance at the sword—was that really necessary?
Knowing Sol's sensitivity toward such matters, Maude wisely chose not to argue.
He had been considering whether to jot down a second request for tonight, and it just so happened that Thor had returned with Chidori from the auction.
Naturally, Maude wanted to experience firsthand the allure of a renowned blade in the world of One Piece.
But to his dismay, Sol refused to even let him touch it.
For someone who seemed to disdain swords and everything they represented, Sol was remarkably passionate about collecting famed blades.
Maude cast a regretful glance at Chidori, now returned to the table.
Still, a thought soon sparked in his mind—Sol always went out for morning practice at Pleasure District. If Chidori ended up on the shop's shelves…
Keeping his face neutral, Maude silently started planning.
Unbeknownst to him, Sol shot him a meaningful look, as if to say: Don't even think about it, kid.
The next morning.
Dawn broke, shrouded in light mist.
The air was thick with salty moisture.
Maude woke from his slumber and immediately donned his weighted gear before rushing to the shop.
"How can it not be here?!"
Staring at the unchanged shelves, Maude's face fell with disappointment.
Hearing his voice, Sunny appeared from the corridor, looking puzzled. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing," Maude replied dismissively.
Though he tried to brush it off, Sunny glanced at the shelves and immediately connected the dots based on his behavior last night.
"Don't bother. Any sword Sol wants to keep for himself would never end up on the shelves. He doesn't need famous blades to boost the shop's image."
"I see…"
Maude's disappointment deepened.
He had been hoping Sol would toy with the blade for a few days before placing it on display. Sunny's words shattered that hope entirely.
"All the high-priced blades Sol buys end up in his room. But I'd advise against sneaking in—even an ant crawling through his room wouldn't escape his notice."
Seeing Maude's crestfallen expression, Sunny headed toward the kitchen.
"Breakfast will be late today. Clean the shop while you wait."
"Alright," Maude replied weakly before glancing at the shelves again.
Though they displayed many long blades, none had the same captivating allure as Chidori. The difference was worlds apart.
After all, a blade with a storied reputation never disappoints.
As one of the Fifty Skillful Grade Blades, Chidori wasn't just distinguished by its aura. Its quality far outclassed anything else in the shop.
That said, the blades on display weren't exactly subpar. While they didn't compare to Chidori, they weren't so inferior as to warrant disdain.
The stark contrast in Maude's perception stemmed largely from the weight of Chidori's reputation.
There was no helping it—having been influenced by the original story, Maude naturally assumed that only the near-hundred famed blades of the world were truly worth calling "great swords."
Yet, in such a vast world, how could there only be a hundred exceptional blades?
Even a moderately crafted sword, if wielded by a master of Armament Haki, could become a fine weapon after years of infusion with Haki.
Although he couldn't touch Chidori, Maude's desire to acquire his own blade began to grow.
Of course, he would need to buy it secretly and hide it in his room.
That way, he could familiarize himself with its handling whenever he had free time.
With this thought in mind, Maude didn't feel as rushed anymore.
Instead, he turned his attention to transcribing notes from the journal. After dinner, he would need to return it to Sunny.
Pushing thoughts of Chidori aside, Maude quickly cleaned the shop, then borrowed a fresh notebook from Sunny.
It took over two hours to finish copying all the information.
Already familiar with much of the content, the process reinforced Maude's memory. By now, he was confident he could identify most individuals from the bounty posters at a glance.
The day dragged on without any customers, as usual.
It wasn't until mealtime that Sol finally returned, reeking of alcohol and carrying a jug of wine.
The moment he entered the shop, Sol glanced at the weights strapped to Maude's legs.
"No lunch for you," he muttered before heading upstairs.
Clearly, he'd already eaten his fill elsewhere.
Watching Sol disappear, Maude glanced at the slightly ajar door.
If Sol took his usual long nap, he wouldn't wake for hours.
That meant Maude would be free from his oversight this afternoon. Perhaps he could head into town to scout for targets.
With that in mind, Maude didn't bother with lunch. He returned to his room, removed the weights, and strapped two flintlock pistols to his side.
As for his old pistol, "Usopp," he decided to leave it behind due to its visible wear and tear.
"Roughly 50,000 Berries…"
After counting his remaining stash, Maude tucked it securely into his pocket.
These were the spoils he had scavenged from past hunts.
Ready and eager, Maude dashed downstairs to the shop.
"Sunny, I'm heading out!"
He called out as he bolted through the door, leaving Sunny no chance to respond.
In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
Behind the counter, Sunny stared at the door, dumbfounded. A moment later, she clenched her teeth.
"Maude!"
But then her mind lingered on his speed when he slipped away.
"No way… Could he really have improved so much in just a few days?"
Try as she might, she couldn't wrap her head around it.
Walking through the alleyways, Maude reminded himself of a few nearby "neighbors" he had yet to visit.
Still, with time pressing, he decided to leave those visits for another day.
"Come to think of it, this is the first time I've been out during the day," he mused.
A sense of excitement bubbled within him as he thought about where to go.
The tavern was the obvious first choice. Its mixed crowd offered the best chance to scout potential targets.
That said, Maude also wanted to explore the daytime bustle of Cape Street, other weapon shops, and perhaps even Sol's morning practice spot…
The more he thought about it, the more his excitement grew, quickening his pace.
Yet, in his eagerness, Maude failed to notice a pair of eyes quietly watching him from the shadows.
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