After leaving Makino's bar, Ronny returned to the small hotel where he was staying.
Following careful consideration, his determination solidified. He had no intention of remaining in Foosha Village any longer. He was ready to embark on the Grand Line. Only there could he encounter new abilities and acquire additional skills to further enhance his already formidable strength.
"The three types of Haki..." Ronny smiled slightly. "Once I grasp even a fraction of their essence, I can instantly level them up! The system has no limits; the only restriction is my capacity to learn! Mastery from the beginning! How exciting!"
Learning the three types of Haki wasn't something he could achieve immediately. Conqueror's Haki was innate and required self-awakening, while Observation Haki and Armament Haki could be accelerated through proper training and guidance. He planned to start by mastering these two fundamental types before finding a way to awaken Conqueror's Haki.
"The Grand Line..." Ronny contemplated as he packed his belongings. "If I sail alone and control a ship by myself, even with navigation skills, it would be quite challenging. The next step is assembling my own crew. As a seafaring pirate, how can I not have my own band of trusted companions? When the time comes for me to conquer these seas, I can't be a solitary commander."
At the island's docks, he boarded a merchant vessel departing for other islands, paying for passage like any ordinary traveler.
"Of course, forming a pirate crew means recruiting people. But I won't follow the path of the Evil Wolf Pirates, collecting all sorts of scoundrels and misfits..." Ronny stood on the deck of the merchant ship, his heart brimming with determination as he gazed at the distant sea. "The One Piece world has its share of extraordinary women. My pirate crew will be different—apart from me, there'll be only women. That's the way it's going to be!"
"My first target is Nami!" Ronny smiled, contemplating the genius navigator. He hadn't yet acquired navigation skills, but he knew he could learn them from her expertise.
"And then there's Kaya... Although she's still young, her parents should still be alive. She should already be studying medical skills. I can use my medical expertise to treat her parents and use that as leverage to recruit her into my pirate crew. The possibility is high! Teaching Kaya with my current medical knowledge will undoubtedly make her the finest doctor on the Grand Line!"
With his decision made, it didn't take long for Ronny to reach Loguetown.
Loguetown wasn't a simple place—it was where Gol D. Roger was born and where he met his end. Countless pirates flocked here every year, making it heavily monitored by the Marines. The average pirate who came here risked immediate capture.
Fearless and bold, Ronny headed straight into Loguetown without a hint of concern.
"I recall that in the original plot, Zoro acquired a famous sword here!" Ronny's eyes gleamed with anticipation. He intended to obtain that famous blade before Zoro could claim it. As for a Supreme Grade sword, he'd have to wait until he entered the Grand Line. Perhaps he could eventually make his way to Impel Down and obtain the legendary blade wielded by Deputy Warden Shiryu of the Rain—a weapon comparable to Mihawk's black blade Yoru.
After all, Zoro already possessed Wado Ichimonji, a Great Grade sword.
The sword grading system in the One Piece world was quite specific: Grade Blades (of unknown quantity), the fifty Skillful Grade Blades, the twenty-one Great Grade Blades, and the twelve Supreme Grade Blades representing the pinnacle of craftsmanship.
"Never mind, I'll make the best use of this Grade sword for now. I'll search for something better in the future!" Ronny thought as he approached the weapons shop.
The weapons shop appeared relatively quiet, with the owner busy with his calculations behind the counter.
Ronny entered, immediately catching the shop owner's attention. The man greeted him with a welcoming smile. "Greetings, esteemed customer! Your bearing suggests you're a skilled swordsman. You've chosen the right place to select a blade."
"I'd like to take a look," Ronny replied with a nod.
The customs in the One Piece world referred to all sword users as swordsmen, regardless of their actual skill level. Even renowned fighters were known as great swordsmen, and the terminology differed from what Ronny was accustomed to from his previous world.
Having already mastered basic sword techniques to their absolute peak, Ronny's ability to sense sword quality approached that of the world's greatest swordsmen. With subtle perception, he immediately detected an unusual sword emitting a faint aura of power from a basket among the other blades.
"What's the price of that sword?" Ronny asked casually, pointing toward the cursed blade.
Initially assuming Ronny was interested in higher-priced options, the shop owner's enthusiasm waned when he saw the direction of Ronny's interest. "Ah, those over there," he said with obvious reluctance, "they are priced at fifty thousand Berry each. Please feel free to choose one."
Ronny nodded, selected the sword, and handed it to the owner. "I'll take this one for fifty thousand Berry. Process the payment."
The shop owner's expression changed abruptly upon seeing the specific sword—it wasn't just any blade; it was the cursed Sandai Kitetsu.
"This... This sword, sir..." The shop owner's face grew moist with nervous sweat as he stammered, "Sir, would you consider selecting a different one?"
Ronny frowned slightly, and an aura of quiet intimidation radiated from him, causing the shop owner to step back in alarm.
"No, no, no! Master swordsman, please don't take offense!" The shop owner quickly clarified, raising his hands defensively. "I'm simply being forthright. This is a cursed blade—Sandai Kitetsu—and its previous owners have all met with unfortunate ends. If you still wish to purchase it, I've given you fair warning. Any consequences won't be on my conscience!"
"That's not your concern," Ronny replied coolly.
He placed fifty thousand Berry on the counter without further discussion, took the sword, and departed the weapons shop. The Sandai Kitetsu felt perfectly balanced in his hands, and he could sense the blade's unusual properties—a bloodthirsty nature that seemed to possess its own dark will.
After all, if Zoro could master the eccentricities of this cursed Grade sword in the original timeline, Ronny had no reason for concern. With his current abilities enhanced to their maximum potential, even a Supreme Grade cursed blade would pose no threat to him.
Not to mention a mere Grade sword—Ronny possessed more than enough power and willpower to completely dominate its curse.