The teenagers nearby began to whisper among themselves, their voices filled with pride and superiority. "See, I told you he came to seek guidance!" Their faces beamed with joy at having their prediction confirmed.
However, Master Grace observed something entirely different in Ronny's composed gaze—a quality that transcended mere academic interest.
This wasn't about seeking guidance.
This was a challenge.
Grace couldn't help but suppress a knowing smile as he asked, "You stated that you came seeking guidance! Haha, young people are so audacious nowadays. Are you certain you want me to instruct you?"
"Absolutely," Ronny responded with a casual nod. Then he suddenly shifted his stance and added, "But when it comes to a duel, how about we make it interesting with a wager?"
"Oh, a duel?" Grace inquired with genuine interest. He had been active in the East Blue for many years and had cultivated a formidable reputation. The teenager standing before him couldn't be older than twenty, yet he dared to challenge him directly. Grace chuckled inwardly, confident that he would teach this young upstart a lesson about the harsh realities of swordsmanship. He planned to demonstrate his skills before his students and show them the vast difference between an accomplished master and a mere challenger.
"My head!" Ronny pointed to himself and declared boldly, "I propose a wager—I challenge your sword drawing technique and your mastery of the dual blade style. If I lose, you can claim the ten million Berry bounty on my head. But if I win, you must teach me these two sword techniques. How about it?"
"A ten million Berry bounty?" Grace's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Are you a pirate?"
"That's right!" Ronny admitted with a casual shrug.
"Young man, you're quite daring to gamble with your life on the line for two sword techniques," Grace noted with a wry smile, his respect for the youth's audacity growing despite himself.
"Doesn't a true swordsman require an unwavering and determined spirit?" Ronny replied calmly, his composure never wavering.
"Well said," Grace remarked, his opinion of Ronny shifting from dismissive to genuinely intrigued. "I accept your challenge."
The teenagers nearby stood slack-jawed, completely dumbfounded. This wasn't how they had expected the situation to unfold. They had anticipated that someone had come to admire their teacher's fame and seek humble guidance. How had it escalated into a life-or-death challenge?
Frowning in confusion, one of the shorter students muttered, "We completely misread this situation. He's actually here to challenge our master!"
"Yeah, and he doesn't stand a chance!" Another slightly chubby teenager regarded Ronny with open disdain. "He can't be much older than us. Even if he's been practicing kendo since childhood, how skilled could he possibly be? I'm confident our teacher will defeat him with a single strike!"
"That's absolutely right—our master is incredibly powerful," another student's eyes sparkled with admiration as he added, "I've seen him spar with a Marine base captain, and it only took two moves to defeat him completely! Why would this stranger challenge our teacher? Is he seeking death?"
"Well, if he's looking for trouble, let's see how this ends!" A nonchalant teenager snorted dismissively.
Click...
Grace's demeanor shifted completely once he accepted the challenge. When facing an opponent, he approached every duel with unwavering focus, regardless of their apparent skill level or reputation.
With a slight bend of his knees, Grace positioned his right thumb against the guard of his katana while his left hand gripped the scabbard. His posture radiated controlled power and explosive readiness, much like a tiger preparing to pounce on unsuspecting prey.
"Is this the stance for iaijutsu?" Ronny observed Grace's movements with genuine fascination. He was truly eager to learn this legendary sword technique, renowned for its devastating attack power and explosive speed, although it typically came at the cost of reduced defensive capabilities. Ronny wasn't concerned about such limitations—once he acquired this technique through his system, he possessed plenty of complementary skills to address any shortcomings.
"Are you ready?" Grace's tone turned ice-cold as he asked, "I won't hold back against a pirate."
"I'm ready," Ronny nodded calmly. He held the Sandai Kitetsu in his left hand, positioning it diagonally across his body. Rather than immediately drawing the cursed blade, he remained perfectly still, his breathing steady and controlled.
Grace furrowed his brow in confusion. "Aren't you going to attack first?"
"Master Grace, as the senior swordsman, please take the initiative," Ronny replied with a gentle smile that never wavered.
"Truly audacious!" Grace muttered under his breath, his grip tightening on his weapon. "It's been quite some time since I encountered such a cocky young man. If you're so bold, then I'll teach you the essence of true swordsmanship today. You'll learn that underestimating your opponent can be fatal."
"Wind-Cutting Strike!"
Swish!
A brilliant flash of steel erupted as Grace's blade sang through the air. In the blink of an eye, he had closed the distance and appeared directly behind Ronny, his sword having traced a perfect arc through the space where his opponent had been standing.
Click!
Grace lowered his head as he smoothly returned his katana to its scabbard, the motion fluid and practiced. His left hand guided the blade home while his right settled on the hilt. Then, he straightened once more, his expression confident and satisfied.
Ronny maintained his gentle and completely unruffled expression. He slowly lowered the Sandai Kitetsu in his hand, then turned around to face Grace with deliberate calm. In a soft, respectful tone, he said, "Master Grace, you truly deserve your reputation as a renowned swordsman of Loguetown. Your iaijutsu technique is exceptional, and I admire it greatly."
Grace remained silent, still keeping his head lowered as an odd tension filled the air.
The teenagers standing nearby wore expressions of smug satisfaction. They believed unquestionably that their teacher had won the duel decisively. After all, they had heard the challenger himself praising their master's technique—surely that indicated Ronny's defeat and acknowledgment of superior skill.
"Haha, this kid thought he could challenge our sensei? What a joke!" one teenager laughed mockingly.
"Exactly! Our sensei is incredibly strong. Even Marine officers can't match his abilities," another student chimed in, laughing heartily at the perceived outcome.
The rest of the teenagers wore similar expressions of joy and pride. With such a formidable teacher to instruct them in swordsmanship, how could they not eventually grow strong themselves?
"SILENCE!!!"
Grace's sudden, commanding shout cut through their celebration like a blade, instantly silencing every teenager in the dojo.
Grace slowly raised his head to address the exuberant praise from his students, his expression complex and troubled. Then, he shifted his gaze back to Ronny, his face displaying a mixture of profound astonishment and barely concealed fear. The young pirate's calm demeanor and complete lack of injury had stirred up emotions within the master swordsman that he had not experienced in years—excitement, trepidation, and the humbling recognition that he might have encountered someone truly extraordinary.