“Come on then!
Let’s make a promise!
We’ll all charge toward the title of World’s Greatest Swordsman together!”
Zoro was practically vibrating with enthusiasm, so worked up he looked like he might faint from sheer excitement at any moment.
But nobody was responding to his passion.
A cold breeze blew through the woods, rustling the leaves loudly.
Even Zoro started to feel a little awkward standing there all hyped up with no reaction.
“Hey!
I never said I wanted to become the World’s Greatest Swordsman,” Ban said, stroking his chin with amusement.
“You’re learning swordsmanship, aren’t you?
How can you not want to be the strongest?!”
Zoro’s eyes went wide, and he clenched his fists tight, looking like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Even Kuina looked curious.
“I’m different from you two,” Ban smiled.
“You both have firm dreams and ideals.
I don’t.
Maybe years from now, when you two are famous and the strongest swordsmen in the world…
I’ll still just be a nobody, wandering around unnoticed.
“But hey!
If anyone ever tries to bully me, I’ll just tell them: ‘Hey, do you know who I am?
The World’s Greatest Swordsman is my junior disciple!’ Then I’ll be able to eat and drink wherever I want without ever having to pay!”
He said this with a cheerful grin.
Zoro and Kuina looked at him with utter disdain written all over their faces.
“You are so lazy and pathetic!” Zoro said, looking at Ban as if he were hopeless.
Then suddenly, he frowned deeply.
“Wait!
That’s not right!
I’m the senior here!” Zoro corrected him immediately.
“I taught you most of the basics!
So you have to call me Senior Sister!” Kuina added quickly, nodding furiously.
“Look at you two,” Ban sighed, shaking his head helplessly.
“You guys are going to be the strongest swordsmen in the whole world, and yet you’re still arguing over such a small thing?
Besides, I’m older than both of you.
It makes perfect sense for me to call you my juniors, right?”
“Does it really?” Zoro scratched his short green hair and turned to look at Kuina.
“Umm…” Kuina scratched her cheek, unable to give a solid answer.
“Besides, we’re such close friends, right?
In the future, when I go around using your names to get free food and drinks…
it won’t be a big deal, will it?” Ban continued casually.
Zoro and Kuina looked at each other, not knowing how to respond.
they couldn’t figure out how to argue against it.
Hyaha!
You sure know how to talk, kid!
You’ve got them completely wrapped around your finger!
Suddenly, a strange voice rang out.
Ban snapped his head around instantly.
Peeking out from behind a tree not far from the dojo was half of a face attached to a head that was bigger than the person’s entire body.
“A MONSTER!!” Zoro’s eyes nearly popped out of his head in shock.
“Don’t be rude!” Ban reached out and smacked the leaping Zoro firmly back onto the ground.
“This person belongs to a very special race known as the Big-Head Clan,” Ban said with a perfectly straight face and a serious tone.
Zoro stared at the stranger in awe and shock, while Kuina looked on with sparkling eyes full of wonder.
“So this is one of those rare and mysterious races you were talking about…
truly incredible,” Kuina murmured, deeply impressed.
The sea really was full of amazing secrets!
Meanwhile, Emporio Ivankov, who had been listening from the shadows this whole time, was completely speechless.
He had come out alone while Dragon and Koushirou were busy discussing important matters.
Hearing voices nearby, he had wandered over and listened to the conversation between the three children.
They had quite the spirit—talking about becoming the strongest in the world, the greatest swordsman…
such wonderful dreams.
Then he listened as the older boy smoothly tricked the two younger ones, and now…
he had just been assigned his very own race!
Hyahaha!
Kid, I’m not part of any Big-Head Clan!
I am just a normal human being!
Ivankov stepped out from behind the tree and walked closer, while Zoro and Kuina watched him with great curiosity.
“How can you be so sure that you aren’t one of them?” Ban asked calmly, looking straight at him.
“What if your ancestors actually belonged to this race, but over the course of history, they slowly died out, and now you’re the only one left?”
Zoro and Kuina nodded vigorously.
To them, Ban’s logic sounded completely reasonable and convincing.
“My parents were both human!” Ivankov retorted instinctively, feeling caught off guard.
“That doesn’t prove anything,” Ban replied seriously.
“Like I said, over thousands of years, the Big-Head Clan almost completely disappeared.
The few survivors married ordinary humans, and their bloodlines lay dormant and hidden within their descendants.
It just so happens that in your generation, the genes awakened and reappeared.”
“I see!
That makes perfect sense now!” Zoro exclaimed, looking thoroughly enlightened.
“Don’t listen to him!
He’s obviously just making this all up!” Ivankov said, looking exasperated.
This older boy was truly something else—he talked so smoothly and confidently that even Ivankov was starting to doubt himself.
“Oh?
You say I’m making it up?
Then show me some proof,” Ban challenged with a slight smirk, looking completely relaxed and composed.
Immediately, Zoro and Kuina turned their wide, expectant eyes toward Ivankov, clearly waiting for him to prove Ban wrong. Get faster updates on g.com.
“I…
I don’t have any proof,” Ivankov admitted after a moment of hesitation, shaking his head helplessly.
How could he possibly prove something like this?
“See?
Since you can’t prove it, doesn’t that mean there is a real possibility that you actually are part of the Big-Head Clan?” Ban spread his hands in a casual gesture.
Ivankov paused, thinking it over, and slowly nodded in reluctant agreement.
“Is this ‘Big-Head Clan’ really just a race you made up on the spot?”
Suddenly, another deep voice joined the conversation.
A tall figure wrapped in a hooded cloak walked toward them.
His voice was sharp and commanding, sounding like the clash of metal blades.
Above his head, three bright blood-red question marks were clearly visible.
Dragon!
Dragon stopped and looked at Ban carefully.
Just moments ago, after finishing discussions about supplies with Koushirou, the master had mentioned a young boy who had recently arrived at the dojo—a boy possessing truly terrifying talent.
Naturally, Dragon had been curious and came over to see for himself.
With his advanced Observation Haki, he had heard and sensed everything happening nearby.
He had watched the whole scene unfold: how the two younger children had been completely tricked, and how Ivankov had been left confused and uncertain by Ban’s clever wordplay.
“Just because you haven’t heard of them doesn’t mean they don’t exist,” Ban replied, shifting his gaze to Dragon.
His eyes lingered noticeably longer on the distinctive mark that looked exactly like a shoe print on Dragon’s face.
“You have a point there,” Dragon nodded slightly.
“Leader!” Ivankov called out awkwardly.
He knew Ban was definitely wrong, but he honestly couldn’t figure out how to argue against him.
“Have you ever thought about leaving this island and going out to sea?” Dragon waved his hand dismissively toward Ivankov, then looked directly at Ban and asked.
“Going out to sea?
No way,” Ban refused immediately and decisively.
Whether Dragon was inviting him to join the Revolutionary Army or simply asking casually, Ban had absolutely no intention of leaving right now.
“So, your grand dream is just to wait until these two become powerful figures on the sea, and then rely on their fame to eat and drink for free wherever you go?” Dragon asked with amusement in his voice.
Of course, he didn’t believe that was Ban’s true ambition.
After all, during their arrangements today, Koushirou had managed to gather far more supplies than usual—all thanks to the large amount of money Ban had provided.
“Is there anything wrong with that?
Zoro, you wouldn’t mind, would you?” Ban turned his head and asked with a grin.
Zoro scratched his head awkwardly.
Deep down, he felt like this wasn’t quite right.
But then again…
if he really became the World’s Greatest Swordsman someday, letting his junior brother eat for free wherever he went…
that didn’t sound so bad, did it?
“O-Of course I wouldn’t mind!” Zoro nodded firmly.
Dragon glanced at Zoro, clearly seeing that this green-haired boy had been completely won over by Ban’s words.
“Koushirou told me you are currently learning how to awaken and utilize Armament Haki?” “Monday to Friday – Update 3 Chapters a Day”
“Saturday and Sunday – Off”