One Piece Swordsman's Heart - Chapter 43
After about seven or eight days of sailing, Vir and his companions finally reached their destination: a small island called Iron Furnace.
Contrary to Vir’s expectations, the island where the blacksmith family resided was surprisingly prosperous, not a secluded and picturesque location as he had imagined.
Usually, master craftsmen’s families lived on remote yet beautiful islands. However, this island had billowing smoke and numerous short chimneys emitting much smoke.
After docking, the air was filled with a strange smell, like something burnt mixed with the scent of grease.
Vir frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the island’s odor. Ferdinand explained that this island had long supplied steel to various factions, and the blacksmith family was one of the island’s powers.
The steel used to manufacture weapons on Tutu Island was purchased from this island, and Ferdinand had met the blacksmith family through these steel purchases.
Due to the unpleasant smell, the rabbit refused to leave the ship. Vir had no choice but to leave it on board. The same thing had happened on Tutu Island, where the rabbit was shy and hid inside upon seeing Catarina. Vir couldn’t do anything about it.
Following Ferdinand to the island’s center, the air was noticeably fresher than at the dock, but the strange odor still lingered.
Ferdinand entered a blacksmith shop without paying attention to the front desk staff and went straight to find the blacksmith in the back workshop.
Entering the workshop, the temperature noticeably increased. Soon, Ferdinand was sweating profusely, but Vir showed no visible discomfort.
Inside the workshop was a tall, bearded, muscular man wielding a large smithing hammer, forging a piece of glowing red metal.
Ferdinand approached without introducing himself or greeting, directly handing the muscular man a special silver-white coin.
The man initially ignored them but, upon seeing the coin, reluctantly set down his hammer and the glowing metal, took the coin, and placed it in the fire with a pair of tongs.
A miraculous thing happened: the coin did not melt in the high temperature but turned from silver to purple, emitting crackling sounds like firecrackers.
The muscular man, unsurprised, cooled the coin in water and said mechanically, “Honored guests, please follow me. I will take you to see the head of the family.”
He led them to the workshop’s back door.
Vir was surprised by the grand procedure, wondering why meeting someone felt like a secret agent rendezvous needing special tokens. He pulled Ferdinand aside, asking for an explanation.
Ferdinand, also feeling awkward, whispered that the family members were quite arrogant, proud of their skills and not taking others seriously. If it weren’t for their business relationship and Ferdinand being the purchaser, he doubted he could persuade them to forge swords for Vir.
Hearing this, Vir’s lips curled into a smile that sent chills down Ferdinand’s spine. He whispered back, “If they refuse, I’ll make them agree. I’ll make them kneel and beg to forge swords for me.”
Though Vir no longer killed indiscriminately, he wasn’t a saint. He wouldn’t do favors to earn someone’s gratitude and help in forging swords like a story protagonist. If refused, he’d intimidate, kill if necessary, and if that didn’t work, wipe them all out before finding another blacksmith. He’d repeat the process if needed.
Ferdinand, horrified, pleaded softly, “Please, I’ll do my best to persuade them to forge your swords. I supplied you with rare metals and found the blacksmiths; please don’t resort to violence.”
Vir felt strange seeing Ferdinand, usually ruthless and profit-driven, plead for this family. It seemed Ferdinand had a hidden reason for helping them.
Under Vir’s silent, questioning stare, Ferdinand confessed reluctantly. He liked one of the family’s juniors, the patriarch’s granddaughter named Tetsuroko.
Vir looked at Ferdinand’s aged face and thought of the young junior.
“I didn’t expect you to like such a younger girl. What will Catarina, your sister complex, do to her if she finds out?” Though Vir smiled, his words dripped with malice.
Ferdinand’s face turned red. “I’m only twenty-four, just mature-looking! If I shaved, I’d look young too! And Catarina isn’t a sister complex; she supports my relationship with Tetsuroko.” Forgetting Vir’s madness, Ferdinand argued for his pure love.
Before Vir could use his sharp tongue, taught by his master, to further tease Ferdinand, the muscular man led them to a small courtyard.
The courtyard wasn’t luxurious but had an aura of age, as if it had stood there for countless years.
The muscular man led them inside and knocked on a door.
A young girl in training clothes answered. Surprised to see the muscular man, she greeted him as senior brother before spotting Ferdinand and joyfully jumping into his arms, laughing and talking intimately.
Vir finally understood Ferdinand’s earlier anxiety. It wasn’t one-sided; they were clearly a couple. Observing the muscular man glaring jealously at Ferdinand, Vir found the situation amusing.
The muscular man’s jealousy was evident, but Ferdinand and the girl’s bond was strong, leaving him with no chance.
Vir couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of Ferdinand’s successful courtship compared to the muscular man’s unrequited feelings.
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