"How do you know my name?"
The moment little Luffy heard this stranger call out his name, his face filled with innocent curiosity.
"I don't just know your name. I also know that in the future, you will become the new Pirate King."
Looking at Luffy's wide, trusting eyes, Amon spoke in a slow, coaxing tone.
"Really? Big brother, you also think I'll become the next Pirate King? That's awesome!"
The instant Luffy heard Amon's words, he broke into a huge grin, showing all his big white teeth as he shouted excitedly.
This was the first time someone had truly acknowledged his dream. Usually, whenever he said this, his grandpa would beat him up, or Ace and Sabo would mock him.
'Of course I know. I'm a transmigrator, after all.'
Amon looked at the overjoyed little Luffy, thinking silently to himself.
Naturally, he could not say that out loud. It would sound way too terrifying in any normal conversation.
But he had already thought of another explanation. Amon coughed lightly, then deliberately put on a mysterious air.
"Of course it's true. Because I am a prophet. I also know you have an older brother called Ace, who is living over at the bandit Dadan's place right now. I know you have a grandpa called Garp, and the one thing he hates hearing is you saying that you want to become Pirate King. Every time you say that, he gives you one of his 'fists of love' because he wants to raise you into a brave Marine hero.
"But you don't like the Marines. You like pirates. You want to be a pirate like Shanks, sailing freely across the seas. Your goal is the great treasure of the seas, the One Piece."
Anyone who had watched One Piece would recognize this whole speech instantly. In the modern world, it was nothing special. But for someone living inside the story, for Luffy himself, Amon's words were like a revelation.
Luffy's eyes sparkled like stars. His whole face radiated pure admiration.
"Wow, a great prophet. That's so cool!"
Luffy clasped both hands in front of his chest, his expression full of worship.
"Ahem, this is nothing much. My power actually came from a very simple source. Little brother, do you want to know where it came from?"
Seeing how Luffy looked at him with total awe, Amon could not help smiling. Just as he expected, Luffy's intelligence was just as low as in the story. It was absurdly easy to trick him.
"I want to know!"
Hooked by Amon's tone, Luffy even forgot he was hungry. He stared at Amon with shining eyes, hanging on every word.
"It's actually very simple. All of these powers came from the jars on my ship."
As Amon spoke, he pointed at the rows of clay jars stacked on the ship.
"Wow, really? Then, big brother, can you give me one?"
Tch. This kid was pretty sharp. So young and already trying to get something for nothing.
But free was absolutely not an option. Even if Amon was willing, the system would not be. That thing treated money like its lifeblood.
"Ahem. Big brother would like to give you one, but these don't belong to me. I am only a reseller, so I cannot give them away. But if you want to buy one, I can give you a huge discount. A jar that originally costs one million Berries, I'll sell it to you for only one hundred thousand."
Amon gave a light cough, then put on his most "sincere" expression.
"One million Berries for only one hundred thousand? Big brother, you're such a good person!"
"Yes, yes, we just really get along, you and I."
Even with his thick skin, Amon felt a faint blush on his face at tricking such a pure child.
But strictly speaking, this was not exactly a scam. According to the system, the contents of the jars were worth far more than their price. One hundred thousand Berries sounded like a lot, but in a world where bounties reached into the hundreds of millions, it really was not much at all.
Just a single newspaper around here cost one hundred Berries.
"But, I don't have any money."
"I'm so hungry. I don't even have enough money to eat."
Just when Amon thought Luffy was about to buy one, the boy's shoulders drooped. His head hung low and his voice turned weak and dejected.
No money? Seriously? So all that pitch was for nothing?
Seeing Luffy's defeated posture, Amon felt a stab of disappointment.
But the next instant, a new idea lit up in his mind.
"Ahem. If you don't have money, you can go get some from your grandpa's house. Let me tell you a secret. Inside these jars, there are not only all kinds of fun things, there are also lots and lots of delicious foods. Fragrant, sizzling roasted meat, sweet and tasty desserts, and all sorts of other dishes."
"Meat!"
The moment Luffy heard there was a lot of delicious food, his mouth started watering. In his eyes now, there was only one word: meat.
"That's right. Inside the jars, there is lots and lots of juicy roast meat, and many other fun things. You just got beaten up by Ace again, didn't you? Let me tell you, once you open a jar, you will be able to beat Ace right away."
Heh, let's see you resist that, kid.
As a transmigrator, Amon knew exactly how deep Luffy's obsession with meat ran. It was especially deadly when he was hungry.
"Meat. Beating Ace…"
As expected, under Amon's temptation, Luffy's mind was now filled with images of roast meat and the fantasy of finally beating the older brother who always thrashed him. Without another word, he turned and bolted toward home.
Seeing this, Amon's smile turned utterly lecherou… cough, no, utterly pure and innocent.
Luffy's movements were quick. Not long after sprinting off, he came running back, a small bag slung over his shoulder.
"Meat, meat…"
Plopping the bag down, little Luffy stared at the jars, his eyes full of eager anticipation.
"Luffy, which one do you want to open?"
After counting the money in the bag and confirming that it added up to one hundred thousand Berries, Amon's smile grew brighter and brighter.
At long last, his first sale. It really had not been easy.
"I want that one on the side!"
As he spoke, Luffy pointed excitedly at the purple jar placed at the very edge.
"Got it."
Amon picked up the jar from the shelf, grabbed a small wooden mallet from beside him, and tapped the jar lightly.
With a crisp crack, the purple jar shattered, and three items dropped out from inside.