One Piece: The Strongest Trait System

[59] : Loguetown Arrival! Tashigi's Iaijutsu!

"But I can't enter the Grand Line with just one sword... Rowen, do you have any spare cash?" Zoro asked, turning hopefully towards Rowen.

"Money? I have no interest in money," Rowen replied, glancing at Zoro, a powerful curve to his lips.

"So... you're—" Zoro's eye twitched even harder.

"—Completely broke," Rowen finished, spreading his hands empty. 'Of course, I'm not interested in money when I don't have any!'

"....." Zoro covered his forehead.

Just then, Rowen's lips curved into a knowing smile as he looked towards another direction.

Found her...

"It's rude to call Captain Smoker a monster!" a high-pitched female voice declared earnestly.

"Shut up! Our boss got thrown in jail because of that bastard! We're gonna dump your corpse right in front of him!" Two rough-looking pirates snarled menacingly at the woman holding a sword protectively before her.

"I understand. I will accept your challenge," Tashigi replied seriously.

"Huh? Hahaha! What can a woman like you do?!" the two pirates laughed contemptuously.

"Die!" They charged, swinging their swords at Tashigi.

Clang!

Seeing this, Zoro instinctively moved to draw his sword. He couldn't stand watching bullies pick on the seemingly weak.

But the next moment—

"Rowen?" Zoro looked surprised as Rowen placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.

"Watch. That woman—isn't weak," Rowen commented, looking at Tashigi with a faint smile.

Zoro immediately focused his attention. He knew Rowen possessed Observation Haki, capable of sensing others' strength through their presence.

SHINK!

With a swift draw, Tashigi crouched low, executing a beautiful iaijutsu slash!

The two pirates collapsed instantly.

"Amazing!" The surrounding crowd gasped in awe.

"That must be Observation Haki, right? Incredible," Zoro remarked, seeing Tashigi easily defeat the two pirates just as Rowen predicted.

Rowen didn't explain, simply smiling as he watched Tashigi.

"Hah!" Tashigi, holding her elegant finishing pose, prepared to sheathe her sword.

"Whoa!" Suddenly, Tashigi tripped over her own feet, inexplicably falling face-first onto the ground. Her glasses flew off, landing near Rowen and Zoro.

"Hahaha! Can't figure out if she's strong or just clumsy!" the crowd chuckled good-naturedly.

"Ow ow ow... Wh-Where are my glasses?" Tashigi mumbled, groping blindly on the ground.

"Here are your glasses," Rowen said, picking them up and offering them to Tashigi with a smile.

"Th-Thank you so much!" Tashigi looked up towards Rowen, unable to see his face clearly without her glasses, but offered a grateful smile.

"Y-You! Kuina?!" Zoro gasped, his pupils constricting in shock the moment he saw Tashigi's face clearly.

This woman... looked exactly like his deceased childhood friend and rival!

"Kuina? Who's that?" Tashigi asked curiously, taking her glasses back from Rowen and putting them on.

"Sorry. This guy's an idiot," Rowen interjected smoothly with a smile.

"....." Zoro's eye twitched. If Curly-Brows had said that, he would have started a fight immediately. But coming from Rowen... he couldn't really argue. Not after failing so miserably to learn Haki under Rowen's tutelage.

"Thank you so, so much! I don't know how to repay you!" Tashigi bowed repeatedly, endearingly clumsy.

"Don't mention it. I just picked up your glasses. However... if it's alright... could you perhaps do me a small favor?" Rowen asked, smiling at the adorably clumsy Tashigi.

"Eh?" Tashigi looked bewildered.

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