"Ding!By changing Kuina's fate of death, sign-in progress +10%. Current total progress: 80%. Reward: Swordsmanship Level +1. Current Swordsmanship Level: Lv5."
Lin Mo was drinking in his room when the system notification suddenly rang in his mind, causing him to pause.
Immediately, a stronger wave of sword aura burst out from him, filling the small room with a sharp, vibrating energy.
When he calmed his mind, he could even sense the breathing of all things around him.
His strength… had risen again!
Lin Mo's eyes glanced toward the Wado Ichimonji lying nearby.
In the original One Piece story, Kuina died by falling down stairs while looking for a whetstone for this sword.
Now that the sword belonged to him, Kuina had no reason to go looking for a whetstone, and thus avoided the fatal fall.
"Looks like I'll be finishing the Shimotsuki Village task very soon." In high spirits, Lin Mo continued drinking. Sitting in the house, enjoying the rewards of fate—this feeling wasn't bad.
Half an hour earlier—
Kuina narrowly defeated Zoro.
Zoro lay on the grass, covering his face in frustration. "Damn it! Just a little more… I almost had it…"
Kuina, with a serious face, stared at him. "I'm the one who's really frustrated."
Zoro moved his hand and looked at her.
Kuina continued, "Girls grow up to be weaker than boys. You've already caught up to me—soon you'll surpass me. Zoro, you always say you'll become the world's strongest swordsman. My father told me a girl can't become that. I knew it long ago, but still… I'm not willing to accept it. Zoro, it's nice for you… because you're a boy. I want to become the strongest swordsman in the world too! If only I were born a boy…"
Zoro sat up from the ground, getting angrier the more he listened. "You just beat me—don't whine like that, it's too cowardly! You're the person I've always aimed to defeat! Man or woman, what does that matter? What, when I finally beat you someday, are you going to say the same thing? That I didn't win with my own strength? Then all my training and hard work would be meaningless! Don't ever say that again!"
Tears welled in Kuina's eyes as she looked at him.
Zoro stepped closer and said seriously, "Promise me—one day, either you or me, one of us will become the world's greatest swordsman!"
Kuina froze for a moment, then smiled and said, "Idiot… You're still weaker than me…"
"Then it's settled!" Zoro held out his hand. "But before that, let's see who can beat Lin Mo first."
Kuina's eyes sparkled as she reached out and grabbed his hand. "Okay, deal! Just watch, I'll be the one to beat him first!"
The next day.
Lin Mo, as usual, woke up early to go hunting in the valley.
But this time, his little tail had turned into two…
And the two seemed to have teamed up. They kept challenging him for duels, and after getting rejected, they even started trying sneak attacks.
Every time, Lin Mo knocked them flat.
And yet, no matter how many times he beat them down, they never gave up.
Their enthusiasm never faded—they kept showing up every day, doing the same thing over and over.
Koshiro watched all of this with a constant smile and never tried to stop his daughter or disciple.
He clearly approved of their relentless pestering of Lin Mo.
That evening—
After Lin Mo beat Zoro and Kuina down for the Nth time behind the dojo, Koshiro waved to him from the corridor with a smile. "Lin Mo, come here for a second."
Lin Mo glanced over.
Dragon was there too.
Looks like Dragon was about to leave.
Lin Mo walked over.
Dragon smiled. "I've stayed here too long. It's time I moved on."
"Oh," Lin Mo replied casually.
Dragon continued, "You sure you don't want to reconsider coming with me?"
Lin Mo replied bluntly, "No."
Seeing that Lin Mo wasn't interested at all, Dragon gave up trying to recruit him. "Alright then. If you ever run into trouble, come find me at Baltigo."
Baltigo—headquarters of the Revolutionary Army.
Lin Mo nodded indifferently.
Dragon chuckled, then turned to Koshiro and said without hiding anything, "Thanks for helping gather supplies this time."
Koshiro smiled. "It's nothing. What are your plans next? The Windmill Village in the Goa Kingdom isn't far from here—you haven't been back in a long time, right? Planning to visit?"
"No," Dragon shook his head. "It's not the time yet. Maybe later."
Koshiro nodded. "Alright. Let me know ahead of time next time you come."
"Sure." Dragon gave a final nod and left Shimotsuki Village before nightfall.
In the original story, Luffy didn't even know who his father was until long after the Water 7 arc.
Dragon was extremely cautious and wouldn't reveal any personal weaknesses. Almost no one knew he had a son—not even most of the Revolutionary Army.
Though it wasn't said explicitly, Koshiro's familiarity made it clear he was one of the few who knew Dragon's true background.
Clearly, their relationship wasn't ordinary.
Not that it mattered to Lin Mo.
All he cared about was completing his mission progress—and drinking.
"I'm heading back to drink." Lin Mo turned to go.
Koshiro stopped him again. "There's a village festival tonight. Want to check it out?"
"No," Lin Mo refused flatly.
Just then, Zoro and Kuina came running over.
Zoro said excitedly, "The village holds a fun festival at the end of every month—it's awesome! Lin Mo, come with us!"
Kuina added with a proud look, "I don't usually like festivals, but if you're going, I guess I can make an exception."
Lin Mo: "…"
"No interest. Not going."
Koshiro smiled and said, "There'll be lots of villagers bringing their homemade brews. Unique flavors you can't get at the tavern."
Hearing that, Lin Mo stopped mid-step.
Koshiro turned to Zoro and Kuina. "Well? What are you waiting for?"
The two immediately grabbed one of Lin Mo's arms each and dragged him outside.
"Aunt Sugimoto's brew is supposed to be really good," Kuina said. "That scary-faced okama who's friends with Uncle Dragon always buys her liquor when he visits, even though she doesn't normally sell it outside of festival nights."
"Is it really that good?" Zoro asked, confused. "I snuck a sip once and thought juice tasted better."
Lin Mo pulled his arms free from their grip and muttered, "You two really have no shame…"
Zoro laughed loudly. "What? Did we do something wrong?"
Lin Mo: "…"
Kuina giggled. "Actually, Lin Mo, when you ignore us and knock us down in one hit, it's really a form of training, right?"
Lin Mo: "…"
No, it really isn't…
Zoro continued, "I've gotten so much better at reacting and taking hits—all thanks to your 'guidance,' Lin Mo."
Lin Mo: "…"
Huh? When did I teach you that?
Kuina added, "I've been meaning to ask—sometimes we both ambush you at once, and you don't even look at us. How do you dodge every attack?"
"Yeah, right!" Zoro chimed in. "I've always wanted to know. Lin Mo, tell us—how do you do it?"