Luffy had run off in such a hurry that he did not even take the last item with him. Amon called after him a couple of times, but when Luffy did not respond at all, he simply let it go. As long as nothing unexpected happened, the kid would probably be back sooner or later anyway.
While Luffy was racing toward the back mountain, Makino was leading the old village chief toward the docks.
Somewhere else, Ace and Sabo were at a small river in the back mountain, catching fish. The two boys were fishing and practicing their combat skills at the same time, splashing around as they trained their bodies.
Deeper in the forest, Dadan was complaining about the three brats to Garp, listing every terrible thing they had ever done.
When Garp learned that Sabo was also Ace and Luffy's brother and that he was just as fond of causing trouble, he burst into hearty laughter.
Dadan, on the other hand, was so furious at his attitude that her teeth itched. She could not beat him, she could not run from him, and as a bandit she could not very well go to the authorities either. All her grievances could only stay bottled up inside, so she sat there, miserable and weeping in frustration.
For a moment, Dadan genuinely felt weak, pitiful and utterly helpless.
…
"ACE, where are you?! I am going to beat you!"
While everyone was busy with their own affairs, little Luffy finally arrived.
It had taken him so much effort to find a way to defeat Ace. As long as he could knock Ace down, he would prove he was not just a crybaby.
Then he would be able to go out to sea with Ace in the future, to have adventures together.
"Crybaby, what, you have already forgotten how bad it hurt just now?"
Hearing Luffy shouting that he was going to beat him, Ace looked at him with utter disdain.
At this time in his life, Ace's feelings toward Luffy were still a little tsundere.
When they were young, Ace really had not liked Luffy much. Yet when he grew up, he turned into a complete little-brother fanatic.
It was exactly like that saying: the more you dislike someone as a child, the more you love them when you grow up.
To be precise, Ace did not truly hate Luffy. Because of his own identity, he just felt deeply inferior.
He believed Luffy being good to him was abnormal. He believed that, like the people of the kingdom, Luffy ought to hate him for him to feel "normal." So he kept pushing Luffy away, kept trying to provoke him, hoping to turn him into someone just like those people.
Only if he completely lost hope in this world, Ace thought, would he become stronger.
Yet at the same time, he desperately wanted Luffy to stay as he was, and in his heart he had already begun to accept this little brother three years younger than him.
People could be very contradictory.
"I am not a crybaby. I am Monkey D. Luffy!"
"Ace, I am going to defeat you today and prove that I am not a burden!"
Riled up by Ace's words, Luffy was instantly furious. He absolutely hated that look of contempt on Ace's face. He wanted to prove to him that he was a real man now.
"Heh, looks like there is going to be a good show."
In the trees behind them, Garp watched with great interest.
"Looks like I went too easy on you just now. Come on then, let me see what new tricks you have learned, crybaby."
Seeing the fighting spirit burning in Luffy's eyes, Ace's own desire to fight was also stirred.
"Ace…"
Sabo, standing to the side, opened his mouth as if to stop them. Unlike Ace, Sabo was very fond of Luffy.
"It is fine, I know what I am doing." Ace nodded slightly to Sabo, reassuring him.
"Come on, Luffy. Let me see what new moves you have picked up."
"Okay! Ace, you better be careful, I am really strong now!"
Luffy reminded him one more time before making his move.
"Quit talking and bring it on."
With that, Ace pushed off the ground and took the initiative, charging straight at Luffy.
"Good timing. Gum-Gum Pistol!"
Seeing Ace rush in, Luffy immediately lashed out with a punch powered by Armament.
"Huh? What is this…"
Just as he was about to attack, Ace suddenly felt the distinct sensation of being targeted by a wild beast. The hair on his arms stood on end. His body, which had been ready to strike, stopped dead and shifted from offense to defense.
"Ace, it is dangerous, get out of the way!"
Garp, who had been planning to stay hidden and watch the show from the trees, stiffened when he saw it. His eyes widened as he realized that his seven-year-old grandson was actually using Armament to attack Ace.
Luffy himself had no real concept of how terrifying Armament could be. But Garp was the man known for possessing the strongest Armament. He knew all too well how powerful it was.
If Luffy's punch landed directly, with Ace's current level, the kid might be bedridden for several months.
Hearing Garp shout, Ace did not dare to be careless. He dodged at once, leaping out of Luffy's attack range.
Bang!
The moment Ace moved away, the spot he had been standing on exploded. Under Luffy's fist, the hard ground was smashed into a crater more than three meters wide.
Sabo and Dadan stared at the destruction with their mouths hanging wide open.
Even Luffy was stunned by the power of his own punch.
He had tried it once earlier against the Lord of the Coast, but that was a Sea King, its defense much tougher than rock. He had thought that his fist was only strong enough to beat Ace. He had never imagined it would have that kind of destructive power.
As for Amon, who had sent Luffy to "advertise," he understood even less about Armament. In his memory, two years later, when Armament appeared in the story, everyone and their grandmother seemed to know it. Getting hit by a punch did not look like such a big deal.
He had not expected Luffy to be this straightforward and use his strongest move on Ace right away. In Amon's mind, the plan had been something simple, like asking Luffy to go punch out a tiger or a bear somewhere to show off.
Thankfully, because Garp was there, Ace had dodged in time. Otherwise, Amon would have turned into a sinner on his very first day of business.
Thunk.
While Luffy was still frozen in shock, Garp suddenly appeared beside him and dropped a Fist of Love right on his head.
"Hahahaha, as expected of my grandson. So small, yet you can already use Armament Haki."
Under that Fist of Love, a huge bump grew visibly on Luffy's head.
"Waaah!"
Luffy, who had no idea what he had done wrong, clutched the new lump on his skull, and tears instantly burst from his eyes.