"Armament Haki? Gramps, what is Armament Haki?"
After a brief moment of shock, Ace finally came back to his senses. Hearing Garp mention this strange new term, he frowned in confusion.
Just like Luffy, he had no concept of anything called Armament Haki.
Seeing Ace ask, Luffy stopped crying as well and turned to look at Garp with the same curious expression.
He had heard Amon say earlier that the card was some kind of Armament Haki trial card. Now that Garp had said it again, he was even more curious.
"Hahaha, that is a long story. Armament Haki is a power that can strengthen your body's defense and increase your attack power. Just like Observation Haki, it has to be gained through training and hard work.
"Armament Haki does not just boost your physical abilities, either. When you coat yourself with it, you can even strike Logia-type Devil Fruit users. It is an extremely powerful and practical ability."
"Your grandpa here is a mighty user of Armament Haki. Back in the day, when I was seventeen, I already mastered it and shocked the entire Marines. I never expected Luffy to be even more impressive than me, using Armament Haki at only seven years old. Hahahaha! Truly worthy of being a descendant of the D."
Garp was in an excellent mood. As he spoke, he could not help bursting into loud laughter, his face full of pride and satisfaction.
For an old man, nothing was more joyful than seeing his descendants become someone great.
"So the reason Luffy's punch was so powerful just now was because he used Armament Haki? It really is strong…"
Listening to Garp's explanation, Ace went quiet for a moment. He stared at the huge crater Luffy had left in the ground and clenched his fists, eyes burning with longing.
As the son of the Pirate King Roger, no one in the world wanted strength more desperately than Ace.
"That is right. But, speaking of which, Luffy, with your current body, it should be impossible for you to use Armament Haki at all."
Garp rubbed his chin, a flicker of doubt crossing his gaze.
As the man known for having the strongest Armament Haki, he knew exactly what kind of physical foundation it required. Yet he had personally confirmed that what Luffy used just now was indeed Armament Haki.
"Luffy, did you just use Armament Haki yourself?"
Unable to figure it out, Garp decided to ask the little boy who was still wiping away tears.
"Yeah. That big brother who sold me the jar said that is what it was called."
Luffy choked out an answer as he rubbed the big lump Garp had just raised on his head.
"The big brother who sold you the jar? You mean someone gave you this Armament Haki?"
The moment Luffy said that, everyone around him froze in shock.
"Luffy, tell Grandpa exactly what happened, from the beginning."
Garp frowned, his expression turning serious, and signaled for Luffy to explain everything in detail.
"Okay."
Luffy nodded and described the entire process of his deal with Amon, from the merchant ship and the jars to the food and the card.
He even included the part where he sneaked home and took Garp's secret stash of money.
"So you are saying your powers all came from a jar you bought from a merchant?"
As soon as Luffy finished speaking, everyone was stunned all over again.
This kind of thing surpassed anything they believed possible.
"A magic tablecloth that can turn into food, a black card that lets you experience Armament Haki, and a special coin…"
Garp repeated Luffy's words under his breath, his gaze growing sharp.
"Right, Luffy, you just said you stole Grandpa's secret savings?"
"Mm-hmm."
Thump.
The very moment Luffy nodded, Garp's Fist of Love crashed down on his head again.
"You little brat. That was the secret money I spent a lot of time saving up. And you used it to open jars!"
"Waaah…"
Poor little Luffy burst into loud sobs again under the merciless Fist of Love.
"Old man, your stash is not the main point here. I think we should go see that jar merchant right away. That is what really matters, if he is really as incredible as Luffy says." Ace cut in.
"Right, right, I got carried away hitting him. I almost forgot about the important part."
Garp scratched his head sheepishly when Ace reminded him.
Everyone else could only stare in speechless exasperation.
...
Just like that, Luffy led Garp and the other three back toward Amon's merchant ship.
At the same time, Makino had reached the docks with Foosha Village's headman.
As soon as they returned, they saw the crowd gathered and pointing at the sea, faces filled with excitement and fear. One quick glance was all it took for Makino to feel her heart clench.
"Luffy! Luffy!"
Calling his name over and over, Makino could not stop the tears from spilling down her cheeks. In her mind, Luffy had already been eaten by the Lord of the Coast.
"Makino, Luffy is fine. He just knocked out the Lord of the Coast and left afterward."
Seeing how devastated she looked, one of the onlookers hurried to explain.
"Luffy… knocked out the Lord of the Coast?"
"How is that even possible?"
Makino had watched Luffy grow up. She knew roughly how strong he was.
Now that she was hearing that Luffy had taken down the Lord of the Coast, her mind went blank.
"Makino!"
Just as she began to suspect everyone was lying to her, Luffy appeared at the harbor, walking toward them together with Garp and the others.
"Luffy, you really are alright. You scared me half to death."
The moment she saw him, Makino could not help rushing over. She grabbed him and checked him from head to toe. Only when she confirmed that he had not lost an arm or a leg did she finally relax.
"Yeah, I am fine."
Luffy nodded in his usual straightforward way.
"They said you just now defeated the Lord of the Coast?"
Even though she had already guessed as much from the crowd's reaction, Makino still could not stop herself from asking.
"Yeah. It got knocked out by me."
Luffy answered just as bluntly.
"That is impossible…"
Makino still found it hard to believe. In this sea area, the Lord of the Coast was the absolute ruler.
"I get it. It must have been Mr. Garp who helped in secret."
Makino glanced at Garp. In her mind, this was the only explanation that made sense.
"No, I bought this strength from that big brother over there."
Luffy shook his head, then pointed straight at the shabby-looking ship moored at the dock, the very one Amon was on.
As soon as he said that, everyone around them fell silent in shock.