After leaving the execution square, the crew decided to find a place to eat. As they walked down the bustling streets of Loguetown, a specific storefront caught Bardock's eye. It was an arms shop. If his memory served him correctly, this was the exact establishment where Roronoa Zoro would eventually acquire the legendary swords Yubashiri and Sandai Kitetsu.
"You guys go on ahead and secure a table at a restaurant," Bardock said, stepping away from the group. "I'm going to take a look inside this shop."
Pushing open the wooden doors, Bardock stepped into the weapon shop.
"Welcome!" a highly enthusiastic voice called out.
The moment Bardock saw the shop owner, he knew he was in the right place. The owner, Ipponmatsu, sported an incredibly distinct, gravity-defying spiky hairstyle that was practically impossible to forget once you saw it.
"Boss, do you have any Meito (Named Swords) for sale?" Bardock asked directly.
He wasn't entirely certain if Ipponmatsu had acquired Yubashiri or the cursed Sandai Kitetsu yet, considering it was still a full decade before Zoro would arrive. However, he distinctly remembered that Yubashiri was considered the ultimate heirloom of this specific shop.
Ipponmatsu didn't answer the question immediately. He aggressively looked Bardock up and down, expertly appraising his customer. When his eyes naturally fell upon the black-scabbarded sword resting at Bardock's hip, the shop owner completely froze.
Ipponmatsu stared at the blade, utterly paralyzed. He didn't even dare to blink, terrified that if he closed his eyes for a microsecond, the legendary weapon in front of him might vanish like a mirage.
Shusui. One of the 21 Great Grade Swords (O Wazamono). The legendary Black Blade once wielded by the 'Sword God' Ryuma. The absolute, undisputed national treasure of the Wano Country!
"Ahem." Bardock coughed politely, snapping the man out of his trance.
Ipponmatsu violently jolted. "A-Ah! My absolute deepest apologies, sir!" he stammered, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "This shop has been proudly operating for over two hundred years! Of course we have a Named Sword! However... the price is quite..."
"The price is not an issue," Bardock interrupted smoothly, waving his hand with the casual dismissal of a man who owned a literal solid gold galleon.
"Understood! Please wait here for just a moment!" Ipponmatsu spun around and practically sprinted into the back room.
A few moments later, he carefully carried out a beautifully crafted, elongated wooden box and gently set it on the counter. "Please, take a look."
Ipponmatsu opened the lid. Resting on a bed of red silk was a magnificent katana sheathed in a highly refined, black lacquered scabbard adorned with intricate gold accents.
Bardock picked it up, admiring the craftsmanship. He gripped the hilt and smoothly drew the blade. The steel gleamed with a chilling, beautiful light.
Ipponmatsu puffed his chest out proudly, stepping into his salesman persona. "This is the Named Sword, Yubashiri (Snow Chaser)! It is one of the 50 Skillful Grade Swords (Ryo Wazamono). The scabbard is coated in premium black lacquer, and the blade features a stunning, irregular small-clove (midareba komidare) temper line. It is the absolute, undisputed heirloom of my family's shop! I normally wouldn't even bring it out for ordinary customers, but... that sword at your waist is clearly no ordinary weapon."
"Oh, you mean Shusui? Yeah, it's pretty special," Bardock replied casually, his eyes still carefully inspecting Yubashiri's edge.
Ipponmatsu sighed internally. 'So he actually knows exactly what he's carrying. I thought maybe he was just a clueless, incredibly lucky amateur.'
Unable to suppress his burning passion as a true sword connoisseur, Ipponmatsu finally bowed his head. "Sir... would you grant me the absolute honor of examining that blade for a moment?"
Bardock chuckled, unbuckling Shusui and handing it across the counter. "Sure. By the way, is Yubashiri the only Named Sword you have in stock? A two-hundred-year-old establishment only has one high-grade weapon?"
"Named Swords aren't exactly cabbages you can just order from a wholesale market, sir!" Ipponmatsu protested gently as he reverently accepted Shusui. "Having even one in a shop in the East Blue is an incredible rarity!"
For the next few minutes, Ipponmatsu was completely lost to the world. He meticulously inspected Shusui, constantly letting out breathless gasps of awe and muttering highly technical blacksmithing terms under his breath as he admired the legendary Black Blade.
Meanwhile, Bardock wandered over to a wooden barrel near the entrance that was stuffed to the brim with cheap, unorganized swords. He began digging through them, specifically looking for the cursed Sandai Kitetsu. He wasn't sure if Ipponmatsu hadn't acquired it yet, or if he was simply hiding it because of its lethal reputation.
Seeing Bardock rummaging through the literal garbage bin, Ipponmatsu looked up. "Ah, everything in that barrel is just cheap, mass-produced junk, sir. Fifty thousand Belly apiece."
After checking every single blade in the barrel, Bardock came up empty-handed. 'I guess I'm ten years too early. The cursed sword isn't here yet.'
Slightly disappointed, Bardock walked back to the counter. "Are you absolutely certain you don't have any other Named Swords? Perhaps... a cursed blade?"
Ipponmatsu looked genuinely apologetic. "I am truly sorry, sir, but Yubashiri is currently the only Named Sword in my possession. I apologize for disappointing you."
"Well, it is what it is," Bardock shrugged, sliding Shusui back into his belt. "I'll take Yubashiri. Name your price."
"Ahem. Well, standard Named Swords typically start at around one million Belly," Ipponmatsu began, instantly shifting back into his merchant mindset. "However, Yubashiri is an absolute masterpiece even among the Skillful Grade Swords. Therefore, my asking price is five million Belly."
Ipponmatsu mentally braced himself, fully expecting Bardock to initiate a fierce, drawn-out haggling session to significantly lower the price.
Bardock didn't even blink. "Deal."
He casually pulled a stack of high-denomination bills from his coat, dropped exactly five million Belly on the counter, grabbed the sword box, and walked out the door.
Ipponmatsu stood completely frozen behind the counter, staring at the massive pile of cash. It took him a full minute to process what had just happened.
"I... I just met an absolute tycoon!" Ipponmatsu gasped. He suddenly slapped his forehead. "Ah, dammit! I was so shocked I completely forgot to ask him how he managed to acquire Shusui! Well... I suppose it wouldn't change anything even if I knew."
Outside the shop, Bardock strapped Yubashiri to his waist alongside his other blades. Expanding his Observation Haki, he instantly pinpointed Robin and the rest of the crew's signatures sitting in a high-end restaurant a few blocks away. Without wasting any time, he navigated through the crowded streets to join them for lunch.