The road back to Ahipara was relatively quiet.
Relatively.
Swiss and Jinzo enjoyed the wagon ride through the Zealandia countryside, taking note of the many sheep that inhabited the pastures.
Halfway through their travels, Swiss and Jinzo were enjoying a cigar when they spied a large man in tribal attire standing in the middle of the dirt road.
He had the eyes of a warrior, with tribal tattoos all over his body, including his face. His jade green staff resembled the hilt of Swiss' sword.
"Uh oh," Swiss said, exhaling cigar smoke, "That one looks intense. I don't think he's gonna let us pass peacefully."
"Take the reins, I'll handle this," Jinzo replied nonchalantly.
Handing the reins to Swiss, Jinzo then got off the wagon and dashed his way towards the large tribal warrior.
"Bleh!" The warrior stuck his tongue out and did a war dance. All the while Jinzo speedily approached, unsheathing his blade.
["CRIMSON"]
The warrior readied himself and sprung towards Jinzo with an attack of his own, yet..
["KOMBUCHA!"]
It happened in the blink of an eye. The pair did their attacks and then stood, not turning back to face each other.
Then Jinzo straightened his posture and sheathed his katana.
At that moment, a diagonal slash materialized on the warrior's torso. Blood splattered. The man collapsed, defeated.
"Ohhhhh shit! That was epic!" Swiss clapped his hands regally, cigar in mouth and wearing his sunglasses. He looked like a Miami Vice kingpin.
Jinzo awkwardly smiled and scratched his chin, "Thank you, Swissan."
The whole confrontation reminded Swiss of the One Piece manga when Zoro would use his move [LION SONG].
Swiss used to not question the physics of a slash only happening after Zoro sheathed his katana, chopping it up to the creative license they would use in battle manga.
Now seeing it happen in front of his eyes, Swiss couldn't help but wonder how was possible.
"How the fuck did you do that? And also, did you just name your attack after a tea?" Swiss blurted.
"It's the product of my training. And yes, yes I did." He grinned at Swiss mischievously, it was the first time Swiss noted that Jinzo seemed genuinely happy.
"Trolol, I suppose I can't judge. My finishing move is named after a meme in a children's cartoon I used to watch."
When they arrived in Ahipara, the evening sun had a gorgeous orange hue and the temperature was nice and cool.
"Oiiiiii! Everyone! I'm baaaaack!" Swiss called out to the Stacy family as they parked the wagon outside the house.
"Swiss!" Amsterdam came running out, Lockett and Mayah following behind.
"Ahoy there. Well, ain't this a heroes welcome?" Swiss got off the wagon and ruffled Amsterdam's hair.
"Welcome back, Swiss. I see you were successful. And you have a friend with you?" Lockett asked.
"Yup! Everyone, this is Jinzo. He and I are partners in crime, right buddy-o-pal?" Said Swiss, nudging Jinzo in the ribs.
"Hello, I'm Ken Jinzo." Jinzo looked at the Stacy family with an awkward disposition and bowed respectfully. They winked at him as if they understood how he had been roped in by the antics of Swiss.
'Ken..?' Lockett thought to himself.
"What the heck are we Swiss, a bed and breakfast?" Mayah was unimpressed with Swiss coming back with another mouth to feed.
"Oh, don't be like that Mayah. Still salty about losing to me? Jinzo can have my bed. I'll sleep on the floor. That's fine, right Lockett?"
Lockett nodded in approval and inspected the cargo on the wagon. "A fine beast you got here," he said, patting the black horse.
Swiss wiped his nose with his index finger and proudly declared, "Yes, I thought our lovely Mayah would want it. My gift to you, darling."
"Wha-?" Jinzo scratched his head in confusion before sharp eye contact from Swiss instructed him to play along. "…Ah, yes. Swissan said it was so beautiful that it reminded him of you."
'Nice bro!' Swiss celebrated internally.
But Mayah did not allow herself to show any positive reaction to the so-called 'planned gift' that Swiss had given her. "Hmph. How am I supposed to afford to feed it?" she barked.
"With this." Swiss threw two large sacks full of belli to the feet of Mayah, "Should be enough in there for a lifetime of horse maintenance, trololol."
"Wow! I didn't know you were rich!" Amsterdam reached into one of the sacks and took out a wad of cash.
"Me neither…" Lockett said in a concerned tone, "I hope you didn't make any trouble."
"Of course not! I just got lucky in a gambling den, trololol!"
Jinzo marveled at the view from the Stacy family's house for a bit while they talked, then he snapped out of it and asked, "What will you name the horse?"
"Oo, I know! How about Amsterdam?" The enthusiastic young Amsterdam suggested.
"I think Jack suits this handsome beast quite well, don't you think?" Swiss added.
"…call him Earl Grey" Jinzo mumbled.
"Why not Roach?" said Lockett.
"Stop! I'M going to name him." Mayah got face to face with the black horse and a bond appeared to form immediately, "Bruce. His name is Bruce."
"So it's decided then. Now, shall we take Bruce and load the booze into the pub?" Lockett clasped his hands and asked. Though to the rest of them, this was not so much as a question, but an order.
"Lezgeddit fam."
The family descended the hill while the sun was setting.
There, at the start of 90-mile beach, was Lockett's humble rustic pub. It had a porch that wrapped around the whole building. Built with ashy brown wood, it made Swiss recall some western movies he had seen.
After loading the bar with the supplies, Lockett opened the place for business.
Various locals of Ahipara's small population came through for a pint (or five) of brew. There was a warm friendly family atmosphere.
Jinzo and Swiss were sat at a round table, poring over the maps that they purchased in Russell.
"So we're waaaaaay down here at the bottom right of the south blue. We want to travel allll the way up here, northwest, to reverse mountain." Swiss said after taking a chug of his brew.
"We're going to the Grand Line?" Jinzo was mildly concerned.
"Yeah, bro. That's where the party is."
The Stacy family joined them at the table after finishing up their odd jobs around the pub.
"How are you going to get there?" asked Lockett.
"We will buy a ship here in Zealandia with some of the money we have and sail our way there." Replied swiss.
"I know of someone in Ahipara who has a small fishing boat you could buy. Though I wonder if it will be able to make it through reverse mountain…" Lockett added.
"That's perfect! Who is he? I'll speak to him tonight."
"He's sitting right there." Lockett pointed to a bearded fisherman enjoying a drink with another local.
"Excellent. I'll make him an offer he can't refuse." Said Swiss in his failed attempt at a Marlon Brando impersonation.
Swiss ended up offering the fisherman $220,000 belli upfront for the boat.
He reasoned that Nami's adopted mother, Bell-mere, was poor and only managed to save up 100k during her lifetime.
He had a lack of knowledge regarding how the belli currency worked. So he wagered slightly doubling what a poor person could earn in a lifetime would suffice.
It worked. The fisherman accepted with glee. He pointed out towards the sea where it was moored.
The boat was small but had a sheltered room with a door, as well as a sail. It reminded Swiss of Johnny and Yasaku's boat when they met Luffy in the Romance Dawn saga.
"Done. It's perfect." Swiss said as he returned to the table.
That's when Mayah decided to try to undermine Swiss, "Do you even know how to sail?"
"Nope. Do you, Jinzo?"
"I'm afraid not."
"Welp," Swiss shrugged his shoulders, "How hard can it be? Just put the sail down and head northwest."
"You guys are idiots…" Mayah said while rolling her eyes.
"Trololol. It's fine. I'm sure we can learn quickly. Or better yet, meet a navigator to join us." Swiss was making light of the situation but in truth, he was praying for things to go smoothly.
"By the way," Swiss looked to Lockett, taking the sword off his waist, "Here's your cutlass back."
"Thank you. Did you have to use it?" Lockett asked.
"Once or twice."
That's when Amsterdam shook his head, "What about you though, Swiss? Don't you need a weapon to defend yourself?"
"I'll figure out my weapon later. Can't exactly steal the sword you are to inherit, can I?"
Amsterdam placed his hand on a chin and hummed for a moment, "I want you to have it."
"Pardon me?" Swiss widened his eyes.
"No, Amsterdam. That is for you." Lockett interjected.
"Yeah, dude. It's something special meant for you." Swiss affirmed.
"No! I want you to have it!" Amsterdam pouted his lips to his father, "I don't want to fight, Dad. After you came back from fighting, you were sad. I don't want to be sad. You have it Swiss. Or I'll throw it in the ocean."
Swiss felt emotional after hearing the kind gesture of Amsterdam, yet his initial reaction was to still reject it. That's when he noticed tears in Lockett's eyes.
"My son, I am so very proud of you. Your mother would be proud." Said Lockett, giving Swiss the nod of approval and handing the sword back to him.
"This blade, which I named 'Rangi' long ago, saved my life many times. It was thanks to Rangi that I made it back home. Now, with Amsterdam's blessing, I want you to have it. In the hopes it can bring you back home also."
The words of Lockett etched themselves deep in the heart of Swiss, "Home? You mean.."
"That's right. You are always welcome here, Swiss."
Now it was Swiss' turn to cry. "You bastards! I'm not crying, you are!"
They stayed in Ahipara for a few days before deciding to depart.
"Be safe, you guys. We will definitely see each other again!" Swiss hugged Lockett and Amsterdam goodbye, before facing Mayah.
"Do I get a hug from you also?" he asked her like a soft-spoken child, hoping that would work. But of course, it didn't.
"As if." She coldly replied.
"Ouch. Well, if it means anything, you are easily the most stunning girl I have ever met. If you're single when I get back, I will definitely propose!" Swiss was half joking.
"Good luck, Swiss and Jinzo! I'll miss you!" Amsterdam said in his trademark positive tone that resembled his father.
"Thank you, everyone." Jinzo bowed.
"Alright…" Swiss crouched down and inhaled deeply, before springing up with his arms held high and shouting
"SET SAIL!"
They waved each other goodbye as they sailed away.
Our duo was the first to turn away.
Looking onward towards their new adventure.