Time passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, three months had gone by.
Smoker looked at Tashigi with a somewhat scrutinizing gaze.
He had noticed that over the past three months, Tashigi had often asked for leave.
Especially during the last half month.
Even when she was physically present, she would often lose focus.
She was completely out of sorts!
“Tashigi, what’s wrong with you?” Smoker finally could not hold back and asked.
Normally, as long as it did not affect official duties, he would not interfere in his subordinates’ private affairs.
But now… it had already begun to affect her work.
Hearing this, Tashigi shook her head.
“It’s nothing, Colonel Smoker.” “Nothing?” Smoker’s eyelid twitched.
He was not blind.
How could he possibly not see that something was wrong?
So he pressed further, “What exactly happened?
What has made you so absent-minded?” However, as soon as those words left his mouth, he suddenly thought of the rumors that had been circulating around the base recently.
They said that Tashigi had been dating a man all this time.
Could it be true?
Was she in love?
But Tashigi answered with an unrelated question.
“Colonel Smoker, do you think women are inherently inferior to men when it comes to swordsmanship?” Smoker found it a little hard to keep up with her train of thought and was visibly stunned for a moment.
However, at this point, he seemed to understand something, so he comforted her.
“Women are only somewhat lacking in physical strength compared to men.
That is all.
After all, when it comes to swordsmanship, strength is only one factor.
So there is no need for you to lose heart.
If you are lacking in strength, then make up for it in other areas.
As long as you continue working hard, your name will surely be among the swordsmen of the future, Tashigi.” “Is that so?” Hearing this, Tashigi’s eyes first lit up, but they soon dimmed again.
She murmured, “Then how do you explain that guy?
In just three short months…” “What?” Smoker had not heard clearly and looked puzzled.
At that moment, Tashigi turned around and walked out, her eyes carrying a trace of disappointment.
Smoker: “…” This girl couldn’t really be in love, could she?
No matter how he looked at it, Tashigi now seemed exactly like a woman suffering from heartbreak.
But a heartbroken woman suddenly asking about swordsmanship?
As a man who had been single for decades and had relied entirely on his own two hands to get through life, Smoker felt his head begin to ache.
He stood up.
At that moment, he made a decision.
He had to figure out what exactly was going on with Tashigi.
He did not want a subordinate he valued to sink into depression like this.
So he followed after her.
… In a small forest on the outskirts of Loguetown, Moke stood there wiping Sandai Kitetsu.
Yubashiri was leaning against a nearby tree.
He and Tashigi had made an agreement.
Tashigi would teach him swordsmanship for three months.
Once the three months were over, Yubashiri would belong to her.
And today was the final day of those three months.
If, at first, Moke had only trained in swordsmanship to make up for his own shortcomings, then now, he had already become a qualified swordsman.
Because over the course of these three months, he had completely integrated into this world.
He had gained the heart of a brave man, the heart of a strong man, and the heart of a swordsman.
He was no longer that university student who ate instant noodles in his dorm while watching videos.
“Hm?” Moke’s ears twitched.
He turned his head to the side and could not help but smile.
“Tashigi, you’re here!” Tashigi’s grip on Shigure tightened involuntarily.
During these three months, she had spent the first month teaching Moke the basics of swordsmanship.
For the following two months, the two of them had continuously sparred against each other.
Because of this, Moke’s combat experience had risen rapidly.
Tashigi pursed her lips.
“Moke, you are the most talented swordsman I have ever seen.
In just three months, you reached the level I achieved after six years.
No… you have already begun walking your own path of the sword, while I am still clinging to sword techniques I learned from others.
So, you have already surpassed me.
Today is the last day.
It is time for this to end.” As she spoke, Tashigi walked over to Yubashiri and picked it up.
As a sword fanatic, the sight of Yubashiri brought a trace of joy to her heart.
Because from today onward, this Yubashiri would belong solely to her.
It was something she deserved.
After all, during these three months, she had taught Moke swordsmanship without holding anything back.
Then she looked at Moke again.
“I know that half a month ago, you already started holding back your strength.
Before you leave, can you let me see a technique that belongs to you?” Hearing this, Moke nodded.
He bent his legs slightly and assumed an iaido stance.
In the next second, both he and the Sandai Kitetsu in his hand released demonic aura at the same time.
Even his eyes had turned dark green.
“One-Sword Style: Demon Flame Flash!” In an instant, Moke disappeared from in front of Tashigi.
When he appeared again, he was already three or four meters behind her, slowly sheathing Sandai Kitetsu.
“Boom…” At the same time, a three-meter-tall tree beside Tashigi was cut down.
On the severed trunk, a flame that was purple with traces of green ignited.
It began burning rapidly.
Of course, this demon flame was formed from demonic aura.
Tashigi’s eyes widened, filled with shock.
This guy clearly had not even known the proper posture for swinging a sword three months ago.
But now… He was already capable of unleashing such a powerful sword technique.
He was probably only one step away from the realm of a true swordsman.
Not only Tashigi, even Moke himself sometimes found it difficult to understand.
Why did he have such an absurd talent for swordsmanship?
After thinking about it again and again, he could only come up with one somewhat unreliable possibility.
That was, because he had absorbed Sandai Kitetsu and turned into a “Kitetsu sword-man,” he had obtained such outstanding talent in swordsmanship.
Of course, there was also another possibility.
Perhaps he had always possessed such talent in swordsmanship.
It was just that in his previous life, he had never had the chance to train.
However, he was more inclined to believe the former.
Step, step, step… At that moment, the sound of footsteps rang out.
Moke and Tashigi both looked over at the same time.
When they saw the person approaching, the two of them froze at the same time.
Because the person who had arrived was none other than Colonel Smoker.
Although Moke knew that he would meet him sooner or later, he had not expected it to happen here, in this manner.
As for Tashigi, she felt somewhat guilty.
But in the next second, both of them were completely dumbfounded.
Smoker first looked at Tashigi and said, “So this is your boyfriend?” Then he looked Moke up and down before coldly saying to him, “Kid, since you’re already together with Tashigi, then give in to her a little.
You’re a grown man.
Why are you arguing with your own woman?” “Huh???” Moke was completely confused.
Tashigi was also stunned, but her face quickly turned red.
First, she glanced at Moke, then immediately ran toward Smoker and explained, “Colonel Smoker, it’s not what you think!
I only came here to teach him swordsmanship!” “You taught him swordsmanship?” Smoker’s face was full of disbelief.
He had seen that kid’s slash just now.
It was quite impressive.
Even if placed in Marine Headquarters, that level would be more than enough for the rank of major.
Although Tashigi also had considerable talent in swordsmanship, she was still too inexperienced at the moment.
With her current strength, it would be more believable if that kid were the one teaching her.
Smoker’s expression stabbed Tashigi right in the heart.
Still, she explained the entire situation to Smoker from beginning to end.
“What?” After listening, Smoker could not help but exclaim.
When he looked at Moke again, the look in his eyes had completely changed.
With an expression of disbelief, he said, “So this guy is also a Devil Fruit user?
And from knowing nothing about swordsmanship to reaching this level, he only took three months?” All right.
Moke’s talent in swordsmanship had truly shocked him.
After all, Smoker was Z’s disciple.
As far as he knew, in his class, as well as the two classes above and below his, there had never been such a monstrous guy.
Even among all of Z’s students, only the three from back then — Kizaru, Akainu, and Aokiji — possessed such abnormal talent.
“Huu…” Smoker took a deep drag from his cigar, then exhaled.
For a moment, smoke curled around him, but it also helped him calm down quite a bit.
At this moment, the way he looked at Moke was as if he were looking at a rare treasure.
“Are you interested in joining the Marines?
If you are willing, I will personally recommend you to Marine Headquarters.
With your talent and strength, I cannot guarantee too much, but the position of headquarters major should still be possible.
Of course, that would only be your starting point…”