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New Book Update: I Brought Tiktok tot he One Piece World
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"Hey! Ikki, you want to give me the Yubashiri?!" Tashigi exclaimed.
Ipponmatsu's eyes widened. "What, you want to give this exceptional sword to this woman?!"
Both Tashigi and Ipponmatsu couldn't hide their shock.
Although Tashigi knew that Ikki planned to get her a good sword, she never imagined it would be a sword ranked among the Meito. As for Ipponmatsu, he had always dreamed of entrusting Yubashiri to a worthy swordsman, but he never expected that person would simply give it to someone else.
"What, is there a problem?" Ikki raised his eyebrows, glancing between Ipponmatsu and Tashigi with genuine confusion.
"Hmph, this is indeed a problem." Ipponmatsu snorted. "I won't give you this sword. If you want it, you need to pay me 10 million berries."
Since Ikki didn't plan to use it himself, Ipponmatsu had no intention of selling Yubashiri at a discount.
"10 million berries? That's perfect. I happen to have exactly that amount with me." Ikki placed the bag he'd been carrying onto the counter in front of Ipponmatsu. "It's all yours, shop owner."
Problems that could be solved with berries were never difficult for Ikki. Whenever he needed money, capturing a few pirates with substantial bounties was more than enough.
Ipponmatsu frowned but finally opened the bag and inspected the berries inside. As he counted, his frown gradually relaxed, eventually giving way to a smile. Although Yubashiri represented his dream, that dream would likely never come true. But berries? Berries were real.
"Ahem, very good, indeed ten million berries," Ipponmatsu nodded. "I'll entrust this Yubashiri to you, and you can give it to whoever you wish. Take the Sandai Kitetsu as well. Consider it a discount from me."
Ikki smiled and handed Yubashiri to Tashigi, who still appeared unconvinced.
"Take it, Tashigi."
"This... this is too expensive. I can't accept it," Tashigi shook her head, trying to push away the Yubashiri. With her monthly salary as a Marine being only a few hundred thousand berries, she couldn't possibly accept a famous sword worth ten million.
"Take it. I'll train you for ten more days," Ikki insisted. "Having a superior sword will accelerate your progress. Don't worry about it—I'm just entrusting this sword to you temporarily. I'll evaluate your skills later. If you fail my assessment, I'll take back this sword."
Ikki didn't hesitate, placing Yubashiri firmly into Tashigi's arms. 'After ten days, I hope your strength will have improved, and then I can properly challenge you for this sword,' he thought but chose not to voice aloud.
"I knew it. You two are involved," Smoker, who had been silent for some time, finally spoke up.
"Captain Smoker, I told you we're not!" Tashigi's face flushed as she looked at Smoker with a pout.
"Yeah, right. But if you two aren't in a relationship, why would this man give you such an expensive sword?" Smoker turned toward Ikki. "Could it be that you don't return his feelings, but he's pining for you anyway?"
Smoker studied Ikki's expression, as if trying to confirm his suspicions.
Ikki maintained a smile on his face while internally cursing Smoker's assumptions.
"Hey! Ikki, do you actually like me?" Tashigi turned to look at Ikki, genuine curiosity in her eyes.
"Uh!" Seeing that Tashigi had actually believed Smoker's statement, Ikki couldn't help feeling embarrassed. "What if I do, Tashigi?"
"This... that... I don't know!" Tashigi pursed her lips and ran out of the weapons store with a crimson face, her flustered voice echoing down the street.
"Heh, it's rare to see Tashigi show such a side," Smoker remarked with amusement. "Come on, kid. I'm looking forward to drinking at your and Tashigi's wedding."
Even the typically stern Smoker couldn't help but smile at Tashigi's reaction.
"Speaking of which, Ikki, since you like Tashigi, why not join the Marines?" Smoker suggested. "That way, you could spend more time with her, right?"
Ikki twitched the corner of his mouth, walking out of the store with Sandai Kitetsu resting on his shoulder.
"Smoker, weren't you planning to test Tashigi's skills? Go ahead with that test. Once you're finished, I also plan to help Tashigi reach a new level."
Smoker shook his head and walked out of the store.
"Those two are quite awkward!" Ipponmatsu muttered to himself.
…
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.
"Captain Ikki, everything is ready. When will we depart?" Nami approached from behind, clutching her Zanpakuto Gonryōmaru at her side.
"Understood. I'll be at the coast soon," Ikki nodded to Nami. "Please return and prepare for sailing. Nojiko and I will join you shortly."
Ikki turned his attention back to Tashigi, who was engaged in a practice battle with Nojiko not far away. Tashigi was utilizing Water Breathing techniques, while Nojiko was carefully testing her opponent's defenses with her Zanpakuto, Minazuki.
"Alright, but don't get so caught up with Tashigi that you forget to return," Nami said with a knowing smile before turning and heading toward the coast.
Ikki shook his head, stood up from the ground, and walked toward Tashigi and Nojiko as they emerged from the clearing.
'Ten days is still too short,' Ikki thought regretfully. 'Even for someone like Tashigi, who has high compatibility with Water Breathing and natural talent for swordsmanship, it would be difficult to significantly elevate her life force in such a limited time.'
Although Ikki couldn't see Tashigi's personal attributes directly, he could observe her attack speed and power through his Observation Haki. This allowed him to roughly determine whether her internal energy had been enhanced.
If her life force hadn't been upgraded, it meant that Ikki wouldn't be able to challenge her properly and thereby reclaim Yubashiri.
However, just as Ikki was contemplating this, he suddenly noticed a subtle change in Tashigi's aura.
"Is that... the Iron-Cutting Realm?" Ikki stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening slightly as he watched Tashigi's movements become sharper, more refined.