However, this was originally borrowed to deal with the window period.
Now I want others to help me forge swords for myself. Of course, I have to return them.
He drew his sword and handed it to Shimotsuki Kozaburo, who studied it carefully. Meanwhile, Caesar reluctantly withdrew his gaze.
"I have gathered all the materials needed to forge the sword."
"When can you help me forge it? I can't wait!"
"What? You've gathered all the materials?"
When Caesar made this claim, Shimotsuki Kozaburo was visibly surprised.
Those materials were incredibly rare—each one among the finest for forging weapons!
When he forged Enma, Ame no Habakiri, and Wado Ichimonji, he had only managed to collect a fraction of them, barely one-third.
---
Thus, he had spent most of his life refining his craft.
Otherwise, how could he have forged only three O Wazamono (Great Grade) swords?
"Yes, indeed."
Seeing Kozaburo's reaction, Caesar felt puzzled.
"Weren't these the materials listed?"
"Otherwise, why would I have spent so long gathering them?"
At this, Shimotsuki Kozaburo coughed awkwardly, his old face slightly flushed.
"Ahem… Those are all top-tier materials. In reality, even a portion of them would be enough to forge a Ryo Wazamono (Skillful Grade) sword."
"You..." Caesar froze.
So, from the very beginning, he had been given an unrealistic list?
"However, since you've gathered everything, this is a good thing!"
"With all these materials, the sword we forge may be stronger than any I've ever created."
"Perhaps, it might even surpass the three O Wazamono swords I've forged before."
In Kozaburo's eyes, anticipation and excitement surged.
With such a vast collection of top-tier materials, he could push his limits and attempt to create a blade far beyond any previous O Wazamono sword.
For a master swordsmith, this was the highest honor!
---
If successful, his name—and the sword—would be remembered throughout history.
"Oh, by the way, my crew members also want you to forge weapons for them."
"This..."
When Shimotsuki Kozaburo's apprentice, Shimotsuki Gensaburo, heard this, he frowned slightly.
Forging such high-level weapons consumed immense energy.
But after thinking for a moment, he agreed to Caesar's request.
It had been years since he last forged a weapon. His skills needed some refining.
Before attempting to forge what might become his greatest masterpiece, he welcomed the chance to practice by forging weapons for Caesar's crew.
"It's fine, I can help craft your weapons. But not here in the village—casting these will take months, maybe half a year, or even longer."
"I also have some things to settle before I leave."
"I can't just abandon everything immediately."
Caesar nodded in understanding, allowing Kozaburo to handle his affairs.
They waited patiently at the Isshin Dojo.
After about three hours, Shimotsuki Kozaburo returned.
"When forging these weapons, we need an undisturbed environment. A deserted island would be ideal."
"Especially for your O Wazamono blade—I aim to forge a masterpiece never before seen, and distractions would only hinder the process."
"Additionally, there may be some… side effects."
"When Enma was forged, the surrounding area experienced disturbances."
Caesar nodded.
"Then let's go to the Calm Belt."
"There are many uninhabited islands there, where we won't be disturbed."
"Yes, the Calm Belt is a good choice," Shimotsuki Kozaburo agreed.
"Then when do we leave?" Caesar asked.
"We can go now. I've already handled everything that needed to be settled."
"Alright, let's move. There's a small boat by the shore with all the necessary supplies."
Caesar called out to his crew, and they set off toward the seaside.
A short while later, a small boat broke through the waves, leaving a long white trail behind it.
After a few hours, they reached the hidden island where they had stored their supplies.
Loading up several tons of rare materials, they set sail again—heading straight for the Calm Belt.
---
[96] The Strongest Blade Is About to Be Born!
Upon arriving at the Calm Belt, Caesar and Kozaburo scouted several islands before settling on one.
Shimotsuki Kozaburo observed the landscape and approved.
The island had a dry, hot climate—perfect conditions for forging.
Without wasting time, he found an open clearing and prepared to begin.
Before starting, he turned to Caesar.
"Before we proceed, I need to ask: what kind of weapon do you desire?"
"There are many types—katanas, spears, halberds, heavy and light swords… Each has its own strengths and weaknesses."
"And what about your crew? What do they need?"
Caesar fell into deep thought, recalling his past battles and assessing his true needs.
Meanwhile, his crew members gave their requests without hesitation.
"My requirements are simple," said Regina. "As long as it's sharp enough."
"I need a scalpel—razor-sharp, so I can strike with precision in battle."
"My request is a bit more complicated," added Yaxi.
"I need gloves that are both flexible and durable. They must be strong enough to protect my hands from injury during combat."
"If possible, they should extend up my arms to provide additional defense."
Hades grinned. "Just forge me a powerful trident, and I'm good."
Shimotsuki Kozaburo listened carefully, nodding as he memorized their requests.
After they finished, he spoke.
"These requests are reasonable. I'll forge them as requested. Afterward, I'll focus on crafting Caesar's sword."
Hearing this, the crew cheered.
Although they weren't competing with Caesar, they were excited to receive powerful weapons first.
However, Kozaburo's next words made their smiles freeze.
He stretched his shoulders and sighed.
"It's been a long time since I last forged seriously. I need to regain my touch—so I'll use your weapons as practice."
The crew's expressions stiffened.
They had considered these weapons precious… but to Kozaburo, they were mere warm-ups.
And Caesar's sword? That was where he would truly put his skill to the test.
"Caesar, why is there such a big difference in treatment?"
"We want the best weapons too!"
"Caesar, can my weapon be made third? Let Kozaburo forge the trident and gloves first."
"Why make gloves first? Those require the most precision."
Though they weren't truly upset, their complaints carried a tinge of envy.
Caesar smirked.
"Don't take Kozaburo's words too seriously. Even if he's just 'practicing,' his work is still superior to most swordsmiths."
Shimotsuki Kozaburo smiled knowingly and began his preparations.
---
The crew had underestimated the process.
Before forging could even begin, they had to construct a steel-smelting furnace.
Refining the rare ores into pure metal was the first step.
Then, separate furnaces had to be built to achieve the extreme temperatures required for different materials.
Fortunately, Caesar's Devil Fruit abilities made the construction trivial.
Using blueprints provided by Kozaburo, he quickly assembled everything in less than a day.
Then, step by step, the forging began.
They waited three months.
Yaxi's gloves—complex and intricate—took the longest, nearly fifty days.
Hades' trident, though massive, was relatively simple and took twelve days.
Regina's scalpels, small yet requiring extreme precision, took twenty-nine days.
But these were mere "practice" weapons.
Now, the time had come to forge Caesar's blade—one that might surpass even Enma and Wado Ichimonji.
A true masterpiece was about to be born.
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