## One Piece Chapter 97, pages 3-5: Sandai Kitetsu - Chapter: 97 - Pages: 3-5 - Characters: Roronoa Zoro, Tashigi, Ipponmatsu ### Summary Page 3: A distant view of the execution stand is shown, with a voice saying, "AND THE PLACE, WHERE THE PIRATE AGE BEGAN..." Elsewhere in the town, Zoro is walking through the streets, looking deeply annoyed. He mutters, "THAT WAS SHOCKING. DAMN IT..." He recalls his recent encounter with Tashigi, remembering her smiling face as she apologized, "S... SORRY FOR TROUBLING YOU." Zoro thinks to himself, "BUT THAT GIRL, LOOKS WAY TOO MUCH LIKE KUINA." A small note adds, "She's basically a copy!" He continues to reflect on the encounter, "NOT ONLY THAT, SHE'S A SWORDSMAN AS WELL!" Zoro scowls, trying to brush it off. "WELL, IT IS A BIG WORLD, AFTER ALL... AT LEAST I WON'T EVER RUN INTO HER ANYMORE. DAMN IT, I STILL CAN'T GET OVER IT..." Page 4: Zoro enters an arms shop, announcing, "I'D LIKE TO PURCHASE A SWORD." Inside, the shopkeeper, Ipponmatsu, is visible. He eagerly replies, "YES, YES, YES, YES." Ipponmatsu rubs his hands together greedily, welcoming his new customer. "COME RIGHT IN, SIR. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LOOK AROUND AS MUCH AS YOU WANT. WE'VE GOT ANTIQUE SWORDS, NEW SWORDS, AND THE LATEST SWORDS IN FASHION. AFTER ALL, THIS IS A WELL-ESTABLISHED STORE THAT'S BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 200 YEARS!" A sign on the counter identifies him as "ARMS SHOP OWNER IPPON MATSU". Zoro approaches the counter and states, "I'VE GOT 100,000 BELI. SELL ME TWO SWORDS." Ipponmatsu's enthusiastic demeanor instantly vanishes. He repeats in disbelief, "100,000?" Leaning on the counter and picking his nose dismissively, Ipponmatsu says, "YOU WANT 2 SWORDS WITH ONLY 100,000!? IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO BUY ONE SWORD EACH FOR AROUND 50,000, I'VE ONLY GOT BLUNT PIECES OF TRASH TO SELL, Y'HEAR!?" He thinks to himself, "SO HE'S JUST SOME PENNILESS TRASH. MUST BE SOME IGNORANT NEWBIE..." Page 5: Zoro settles for the cheaper swords, saying, "THAT'LL BE GOOD ENOUGH SINCE I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY RIGHT NOW." Ipponmatsu's eyes suddenly widen as he notices the white-hilted sword hanging at Zoro's waist. He thinks, "THAT SWORD ON HIS WAIST... COULD IT BE...!?" A close-up shows the hilt of the Wado Ichimonji. Ipponmatsu begins to sweat profusely, leaning over the counter with a nervous smile. "H-H-H-H-HEY... C-C-C-COULD I M-M-MAYBE SEE THAT S-S-S-WORD OF YOURS...?" Zoro looks at him suspiciously, asking, "WHAT'S WITH THE STUTTERING...?" Ipponmatsu tells himself, "KEEP IT COOL NOW..." He takes the sword and examines it closely, his eyes bulging in shock. "ACK! THIS IS DEFINITELY...!" He realizes the immense value of the blade. Sweating heavily, he tries to calm himself down. "C... CALM DOWN! THIS IS MY BIG CHANCE! A DUMB NOVICE JUST HAPPENED TO COME IN WITH A FAMOUS SWORD HANGING ON HIS WAIST SO DON'T MESS IT UP! JUST PLAY IT COOL..." He hands the sword back to Zoro, feigning disinterest. "MEH, IT'S NO GOOD. JUST A PIECE OF JUNK." Zoro looks annoyed and says, "WHAT?" Ipponmatsu quickly backpedals, "SORRY, I WAS LYING JUST NOW."