Chapter 97

Hunting for replacement swords, Zoro enters an arms shop and, with help from a woman he met on the street, comes across the high-grade Sandai Kitetsu. He dares the cursed blade in a game of chance, letting it spin around his outstretched arm, and emerges untouched. Impressed, the owner Ipponmatsu hands over not only that sword but also his treasured family heirloom, Yubashiri. The woman, unaware of who Zoro is, turns out to be the Marine Tashigi, bent on reclaiming fine blades from criminals.

Nami tries on outfits without buying any, while Luffy stands before Roger's execution platform reflecting on the dawn of the pirate age. Still rattled by a swordswoman who resembles Kuina, Zoro reaches the shop and offers 100,000 berries for two blades. Ipponmatsu spots the Wado Ichimonji at Zoro's hip and tries to lowball him for it, tripling his bid when refused. Tashigi enters and identifies the sword as one of the 21 O Wazamono grade blades, worth at least a million. She laments that the finest swords now rest in criminal hands, vowing to take them all back. She then notices the Sandai Kitetsu priced absurdly low, and Zoro insists on buying the cursed weapon despite its history of doomed owners.

Grade classifications are laid out: 12 Supreme, 21 Excellent, 50 Skillful, and the remainder. Zoro learns the true worth of Wado Ichimonji, leaves with Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri free of charge, and once again carries three swords. Ipponmatsu confides that he has entrusted his dream to the young swordsman. Smoker makes his first appearance, summoning his subordinate to retrieve Tashigi, whom he privately dismisses as a disgrace to the Marines. Elsewhere, Sanji gazes lovestruck at a striking woman passing on the street.