The three people in the tavern were none other than the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Monkey D. Dragon, along with Crow and Ivankov.
"But I heard that he has been very close to the Marines recently."
The Revolutionary Army had its own intelligence network, and Arías's frequent visits to Naval Headquarters were not a secret to them.
"By getting closer to the Marines, he might be hiding his true intentions. I doubt he's just a Marine lackey; he likely harbors ambitions to become one of the Four Emperors," Crow remarked about Arías.
Ivankov added, "Moreover, his strength has been growing rapidly. Since his marriage to the Nine Snakes, the combat power of the Nine Snakes Pirates has surged. They now seem to be the strongest force in Paradise, having nearly wiped out the surrounding pirate forces."
Ivankov continued, "I think it might be possible to get in touch with them and explore potential cooperation."
Dragon nodded slowly. "Alright, let's go and see."
In the square, Arías took in the view of the execution platform and even leaped up to get a better look, fulfilling a long-held wish.
He then asked Yamato and Hiyori to take Iska for a walk while he and Hancock, accompanied by Salome, headed to the weapon shop.
The Third Generation Kitetsu had been there for a long time, and Yukizuru was considered a treasure of the shop. There was a high probability it would be available now.
"Dear guest, what weapons are you looking for? I have everything you might need!" Ipponmatsu, with his greasy face and shiny forehead, greeted them with a flattering smile. His thick hair on both sides did little to hide his obsequious demeanor.
Arías and Hancock were striking figures, and even their attendant was exceptionally beautiful. Such distinguished guests were expected to be wealthy, so Ipponmatsu was eager to please.
"Just looking around," Arías replied casually as he browsed the shop, occasionally pulling out knives from the display baskets.
When he turned a corner, he spotted the Third Generation Kitetsu, covered in dust. Its malevolent aura was distinct from other swords.
"How much for this one?" Arías asked, drawing the sword from its sheath.
Ipponmatsu's expression changed immediately. "Sir, this is a cursed sword. Several swordsmen have perished while wielding it, so I cannot sell it."
It was clear that Ipponmatsu wasn't a complete profiteer—he refused to sell dangerous items.
"A cursed sword?" Arías smiled faintly. As he pulled out the blade, he used his power to disperse the sinister energy surrounding it.
"A sword is just a sword. There's no such thing as a cursed sword. Any sword can be mastered by me!" He threw the blade into the air, his arm steady. "Let's see how well it performs."
As the blade spun and descended, Ipponmatsu looked on nervously. He was unsure of the guests' identities and feared potential repercussions if the sword caused harm.
To his amazement, the blade, which had been aimed at Arías's arm, suddenly changed direction mid-air, slashing harmlessly with its back and embedding itself into the floor.
"It's a miracle! Absolutely a miracle!" Ipponmatsu exclaimed in shock. The blade had clearly been on a collision course with Arías's arm. How it altered its trajectory mid-flight was beyond his understanding.
Arías, however, was unfazed. He had controlled the blade's direction through his powers. He was more interested in mastering the sword rather than showing off like Zoro.
With a calm demeanor, he declared, "See? I told you, all swords can only be in my hands!"
Impressed and deeply respectful, Ipponmatsu said, "Since the sword has acknowledged you, I will gift it to you."
Arías accepted the gift but requested, "I've heard you have another treasure here. Show it to me."
Ipponmatsu soon presented Yukizai, one of the fifty swordsmanship treasures, considered a fine weapon in the pirate world.
"Sir, this is a high-quality sword. I am willing to give it to you for free," Ipponmatsu offered, still in awe of Arías's display of power. He hoped to gain future benefits by making a favorable impression.
"No need," Arías declined. He preferred to pay for the items rather than receive favors from a weapon shop owner.
"The market price for a good sword is usually over a million beli, and Yukizai is worth 1.5 million beli. The Third Generation Kitetsu, despite its reputation, is priced at one million beli," Ipponmatsu quoted.
Arías accepted the prices as reasonable. He paid a total of 2.5 million beli and took both swords. Though he didn't need them personally, they could be used by his subordinates. Zoro, with his Three Sword Style, needed additional swords to complete his arsenal.
After leaving the weapon shop, they ran into a man wearing a windbreaker.
"Monkey D. Dragon?" Arías said, recognizing the revolutionary leader.
Dragon, sensing Arías's unique and imposing presence, replied, "You know me."
"Shall we have a drink for 930?" Arías suggested.
"Sure," Dragon agreed.
The group proceeded deeper into Logue Town.
On the roadside, several boys and girls were playfully mimicking pirates with knives and wooden sticks.
"Follow your great captain and set sail! I'll lead you to the treasure of the former Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!" shouted a green-haired boy, only to be playfully kicked aside by a girl.
"I should be the captain of the pirate ship! Bator, you can only be the deputy captain!" the girl declared with confidence, holding a wooden stick on her shoulder. She had striking red hair and a commanding presence.
As the birthplace of Roger, Logue Town had many young people aspiring to be pirates. Such scenes were common.
Arías, however, was intrigued by the boy with the comb-like hairstyle. "Bartolomeo?" He hadn't expected to see him so soon and wondered if he had already acquired the Barrier Fruit.
The girl was likely Dezaya. After observing them briefly, Arías shifted his focus to his upcoming cooperation with the Revolutionary Army. He was curious about Dragon's reaction if he knew Arías had assassinated Luffy.