Hearing this, Moke shook his head.
Although joining the Marines was not a bad option, there was simply too little freedom.
Just like Smoker before him — if Marine Headquarters ordered him to stay in Loguetown, then he had no choice but to stay in Loguetown.
Most importantly, Moke had no desire to live beneath others.
Nor did he want to become a lackey of the Celestial Dragons.
So, without hesitation, he shook his head.
“Thank you for valuing me, but my ambitions lie elsewhere.” As soon as these words were spoken, Smoker’s expression changed slightly.
The look in his eyes as he stared at Moke also became sharper.
Because in this world, once someone became strong, they either became a Marine or a pirate.
The other possibilities were extremely slim.
Therefore, for this kid to refuse so decisively meant there was a high chance he had already made up his mind to set out to sea and become a pirate.
And with this kid’s talent, once he became a pirate, he would definitely become a great threat.
That was not something Smoker wanted to see.
However, Moke was not a pirate yet.
Nor had he done anything illegal or harmed anyone.
Smoker’s own principles prevented him from eliminating this future threat under such circumstances.
“Sigh…” In the end, Smoker could not help but sigh inwardly.
I hope this kid, for Tashigi’s sake, won’t walk down the wrong path.
“Colonel Smoker!” Just then, a Marine soldier hurried over.
“Hm?” Smoker frowned.
“What happened?” The Marine soldier reported, “We’ve spotted the Straw Hat crew…” “The Straw Hat Pirates?!” Smoker was first somewhat surprised.
Then his gaze sharpened.
In his eyes, someone like that absolutely could not be allowed to leave the East Blue.
Otherwise, once he grew stronger, he would definitely become a troublesome existence even for the Marines.
After all, one month ago, Luffy had defeated Arlong and received a bounty of thirty million berries, becoming the pirate with the highest bounty in the East Blue.
And that was his very first bounty.
Naturally, he had become a target of special attention for the Marines stationed in Loguetown.
“Swish…” At this, both Tashigi and Moke looked over at the same time.
Tashigi reacted because she knew that there was an outstanding swordsman among the Straw Hats.
Moke, however, became excited.
He murmured inwardly, They’re finally here… Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, Nami, Usopp… Today is definitely going to be an interesting day.
He could hardly wait.
Smoker turned to Tashigi and said, “Tashigi, we’re going!” Tashigi replied, “Yes, Colonel Smoker!” She immediately followed after Smoker.
However, when she passed by Moke, her gaze fell on him, filled with complicated emotions.
Moke acted as if he had not noticed.
He simply watched her leave quietly.
Then he raised his hand toward the sun in the sky, feeling the warmth of the sunlight on his palm.
The light element was immediately absorbed.
Then Moke once again transformed into a body of light.
After absorbing Sandai Kitetsu and turning it into a permanent ability, he could still absorb other substances to transform his body after activating the power of the Absorb-Absorb Fruit.
It was just that whenever he was not using the ability, he would return to his “Kitetsu sword-man” state.
“Swish…” Moke turned into a beam of light and headed straight toward the center of Loguetown.
“What was that?” Because Moke had not deliberately avoided being seen, both Smoker and Tashigi noticed the existence of the beam of light.
Their pupils shrank at the same time, and confusion filled their hearts.
Especially Smoker.
In his eyes, that beam of light looked very much like the ability of a Logia user, just like himself.
… Moke quickly arrived in town and once again came to the weapon shop.
Because he knew that Roronoa Zoro would definitely still come to this weapon shop.
Sure enough, when he walked into the weapon shop again, Roronoa Zoro was already inside.
However, Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri had already been intercepted by him, so there were no famous blades left in the shop.
In the end, Zoro had only bought two swords worth fifty thousand berries each.
Of course, there was another reason.
He had no money.
Otherwise, he would not have ended up buying the worst swords in the shop.
As soon as the weapon shop owner saw Moke arrive, his eyes lit up.
“Honored customer, what would you like to buy this time?” When the owner looked at Moke, it was as though he were looking at glittering gold.
Moke chuckled.
“This time, I’m not here to buy swords.” Then he pointed at Roronoa Zoro.
“I came for him.” “Hm?” Roronoa Zoro looked surprised.
Then he carefully sized Moke up.
However, after thinking for a while, he could not remember ever seeing him before.
Soon, though, his gaze landed on Sandai Kitetsu at Moke’s waist.
His pupils shrank slightly.
Although he did not know what kind of sword it was, as a swordsman, his instincts told him that it was a fine blade.
At the same time, he sensed an aura from Moke similar to his own.
It was something unique to swordsmen.
The corners of Zoro’s mouth rose slightly, because he had already guessed the other party’s intention.
His hand instinctively moved to Wado Ichimonji.
At the same time, he said with some excitement, “If you want to fight, then let’s fight.” The owner froze for a moment.
His gaze swept back and forth between Roronoa Zoro and Moke, and then he also understood.
He immediately said, “Behind my shop, there is a small sword-testing arena.
How about…” He did not finish his sentence, but the meaning behind his words was already perfectly clear.
Moke and Roronoa Zoro both nodded at the same time.
“Good!” Their response was surprisingly in sync.
The two followed the owner through the door behind the counter, passed through a small storage room, and arrived at a sword-testing arena of about fifty square meters.
Moke and Roronoa Zoro glanced at each other, then nodded in satisfaction.
This place was already enough for them to have their match.
The two walked to the center of the arena one after another.
After standing four or five meters apart, they both assumed sword-drawing stances.
Roronoa Zoro’s gaze once again fell on Sandai Kitetsu.
He was very clear that it was a good sword.
The two ordinary blades in his hands would probably not be able to withstand it.
“Then I’ll use One-Sword Style.” His sword-drawing stance changed.
His right hand gripped the hilt of Wado Ichimonji.
In the next second, both of them drew their swords at the same time and charged toward each other.
Then, at the same time, they slashed.
Wado Ichimonji and Sandai Kitetsu collided fiercely.
Under the force of the impact, both sides were forced back several steps.
This slash had actually ended in a draw.
Moke’s and Roronoa Zoro’s eyes lit up at the same time.
For Moke, it was because he had gained an accurate understanding of his current swordsmanship strength.
At the same time, he was happy.
Happy that his swordsmanship had already reached the same starting line as a swordsmanship genius of this world.
Moreover, with the support of his Devil Fruit ability and the training he had done over the past three months, in terms of strength… he was no longer inferior to Roronoa Zoro.
At that moment, his state of mind completely transformed.
His aura also changed abruptly, becoming even sharper.
His entire body seemed like a drawn blade.
Roronoa Zoro naturally sensed the change in Moke as well.
However, he did not retreat.
Instead, his fighting spirit grew even stronger.
Because the man before him was the strongest swordsman he had encountered in the East Blue.
Of course, that excluded the man with the pair of hawk-like eyes.