A customer, as the name suggests, is someone who specifically comes to buy a knife.
The Marine logistics personnel's salaries are not high, incomparable to Marine soldiers who go out on missions. It's normal for many logistics soldiers to take on private jobs to earn some extra money, and their superiors usually turn a blind eye to it.
To save money and earn extra income, Martin took on many private jobs during his years at the logistics base, accumulating some channels.
He also posted small flyers on the bulletin board in the town center, specializing in customizing blades for customers with needs.
He opened his shop after his honeymoon, but perhaps due to the pirates causing trouble earlier, there had been no business.
Now, finally, he had a customer; it was truly not easy.
Pushing open the outer door of the workshop, he saw a bright-eyed young man standing outside. The man wore a short-sleeved shirt and had a knife at his waist, exuding a sharp aura from head to toe.
This was the aura of a swordsman!
"Are you the Knife Craftsman Martin?"
"I am Jason, a swordsman who just moved to Orange Town. I'd like to buy a Good Sword from you."
The young swordsman got straight to the point: "If you have a Good Sword here, the higher the quality, the better. The price is negotiable."
After speaking, he presented a box of charcoal with both hands.
Martin nodded. Just from the respectful attitude and the gift, it was clear that this person was knowledgeable, and his sincerity was not in question.
"Excellent Quick Blades are not cheap. If you have the money, you'll definitely buy a Good Sword from me. Come in."
He accepted the charcoal and led the other party into the workshop, bringing him to the knife rack.
"These six or seven are Good Swords, and these two are Excellent Quick Blades. You can pick one and try it out."
Martin casually pointed to a row of blades on the knife rack. These blades were simply wrapped in plain leather sheaths, representing his work over the past month.
If not for the physical and time demands of his personal life, he could have forged more Good Swords, but the blend of leisure and work was a wonderful feeling.
"What? All of these are Good Swords? And there are Excellent Quick Blades too?"
Upon hearing this, Jason's eyes immediately lit up, finding it hard to believe.
He immediately went to the knife rack and began inspecting, eager to find out the truth.
This made Martin smile. It was evident that Jason was a knife lover; that expression, like a pervert seeing a beautiful woman or a wolf encountering fatty meat, was unmistakable. From this, it could be seen that his swordsmanship was also not bad.
Jason kept drawing out blades, tapping them with his finger, blowing on them, and listening to their echoes with his ear, a look of intoxicated appreciation on his face.
"This blade pattern, this texture... it really is an Excellent Quick Blade. I looked in several shops and couldn't find one. How much is it?"
Jason held two or three Excellent Quick Blades in his arms, too excited to speak, wishing he could have them all.
"My ordinary Good Swords are 200,000 Berries each, but I'll sell them to you for 150,000 each."
"For Excellent Quick Blades, the shop price is 350,000 Berries each, but I can sell them to you for 300,000 Berries."
Martin quoted an enticing price.
"That's so cheap!"
"It's so much cheaper than the market price?"
"Mr. Martin, are you serious?"
Jason's body trembled, and he asked with wide eyes.
"Of course, you're the first customer since I opened, so I can give you the lowest discount. Besides, you brought a gift; that box of charcoal is worth about 10,000 Berries."
"Young man, you're polite."
Martin picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"Thank you, thank you very much!"
Jason was overjoyed, bowing repeatedly in gratitude, his waist almost touching the ground, nearly brought to tears.
As a swordsman, he naturally knew the importance of a Good Sword.
A swordsman with a Good Sword can achieve twice the results with half the effort, cutting down all enemies before him.
Most of the ordinary knives sold in the weapon shops and general stores in Orange Town were common, Good Swords were rare, and Excellent Quick Blades were even rarer.
Moreover, the prices were exorbitant; an Excellent Quick Blade now typically cost over 500,000 Berries.
He had only heard that there was a retired Marine Knife Craftsman in the town and came to check it out with a hopeful attitude, initially thinking that a Knife Craftsman in a small place like Orange Town could at most forge an ordinary Good Sword. He never expected to buy an Excellent Quick Blade in this godforsaken town, and for only 300,000 Berries.
Who would believe it if he told them?
"Try the knife."
"No need to try it, your knife is definitely fine, it's absolutely an Excellent Quick Blade."
"Try the knife, you must try the knife!"
Martin said, casually taking a knife from the rack and slowly drawing it: "Cross swords with me using your original knife."
He assumed a sword-drawing stance, saying he wanted to test the knife, but in reality, he wanted to see what level his own swordsmanship had reached.
"Then... if I may be so bold!"
Jason also drew the sword at his waist. His sword had several nicks, but it still gleamed with an unusual cold light, indicating that this blade was also a Good Sword, just damaged in battle.
After drawing his sword, Jason's expression became incredibly serious.
As a swordsman, he could clearly feel a sense of oppression from the Knife Craftsman in front of him.
It was as if he was facing a fierce beast that could take his life at any moment.
Impossible!
This was the oppressive aura of a strong individual.
How could a small-town Knife Craftsman exert this kind of pressure on him?
Hoo ah!
Feeling the pressure, Jason gathered his strength and tentatively swung the blade in his hand, launching the first attack.
Whoosh!
The sword wind howled, and cold light flashed. In that instant, Martin also swung his knife.
Clang!
The two blades collided, erupting in brilliant sparks.
Jason felt the blade in his hand lighten, and a cold knife was already at his throat, while the broken half of his own blade was still flying in mid-air, finally falling to the ground.
"So... such a fast knife!"
Jason's face drastically changed.
No one had expected that his Good Sword would be cut in half with one strike. Although this knife had been damaged in battle and had nicks, it had never been so brittle, not even when facing an Excellent Quick Blade.
The knife in the other person's hand was simply too sharp!
As a swordsman, he could feel that the other person's swordsmanship was extraordinary, not something an ordinary Knife Craftsman could possess.
Glancing at the knife slowly moving away from his neck, Jason's eyes gradually widened. He could see a sinister red pattern on the blade.
A... a Cursed Blade?
He swallowed hard.
Could this sinister knife be a Cursed Blade?
Probably...
"Mr. Martin, I want to buy this knife."
Jason asked, "Does it have a name?"
"This knife is not for sale."
Martin looked at the blade and realized he had picked up the wrong knife. The knife in his hand was the failed Zanpakuto, which had no name.
"Try the other knives."
"Mr. Martin, I trust your knives. I'll choose another one. I have to report to the Marine soon, so I'll take my leave now!"
"Report to the Marine?"
"Yes, the Marine has issued many bounties recently. As a disciple of a kendo dojo, I've also joined the pirate hunting team, so I wanted to find a suitable Good Sword."
"A pirate hunter, huh? In this chaotic Great Pirate Era..."
"Leave the money on the table. If you get a chance, help me spread the word."
"Certainly, certainly! Please rest assured."
After paying, Jason nodded and bowed, clutching an Excellent Quick Blade, and ran out as if fleeing, seemingly afraid that the mysterious Knife Craftsman would change his mind.
A Knife Craftsman who can forge Excellent Quick Blades is already considered good. An existence that can forge Cursed Blades is absolutely a master-level Knife Craftsman.
Today was truly a stroke of great luck.
Who would have thought that a master Knife Craftsman was hidden in Orange Town?!
If this news got out, it would surely be big news.
"Pirate Hunter Jason, huh?"
Martin looked at his retreating back: "That's a rather dangerous job. I hope this kid survives."
Speaking of which, I should go sell the knives I've forged, and also buy some supplies and understand the current situation in the East Blue...