Fortunately, Loguetown was not far from the Calm Belt. Garp had only just left it behind, and he was already here.
Right now, Garp was extremely curious about the special gift Amon had prepared for him.
He was also quite interested in that Amplifier. He wanted to see just how powerful the ultimate version really was.
On the other side, after hearing Smoker's words, the surrounding Marines immediately closed in on Amon and Koby.
"Captain, what exactly is this supposed to mean?" Amon asked lightly.
"What does it mean? It means arresting a fraud like you."
"If I didn't know Vice Admiral Garp had only just returned from the East Blue to Headquarters yesterday, I might actually have let you fool me."
"And besides, I do not believe a mere merchant like you could ever come into contact with Vice Admiral Garp."
Smoker knew about Garp and Sengoku arriving in the East Blue yesterday.
More importantly, he just did not believe Garp would personally come all the way here for one person.
Koby's talent might have been decent, but Garp was a living Marine legend. There was no way he would make such a fuss over a single recruit like Koby.
To Smoker, Amon's words were full of holes. The more he thought about them, the less they held up.
That was why he acted decisively and ordered his men to arrest both Amon and Koby on the spot.
"So that's why you think I'm a liar."
Amon had been a little puzzled at first about why Smoker had decided he was a fraud. Now he understood.
Thinking about it, Smoker's reaction was not strange at all. People like Garp and Sengoku stood at the top of the world. No ordinary merchant should have been able to reach them.
If Amon had been standing in Smoker's place, he probably would have made the same judgment.
"If you know Vice Admiral Garp and Fleet Admiral Sengoku only left the East Blue yesterday, then you should also know why they came in the first place, right?"
"Why they came? I heard it was because of a merchant in Cocoyasi Village..." Smoker's brow slowly furrowed. Amon was far too calm. That calmness suddenly made him feel as though he had made a serious mistake.
"Wait... a merchant? Don't tell me you're that merchant?"
With just that reminder, his eyes widened as he stared at Amon in shock.
Could Amon really have ties to Garp?
Yesterday, Cocoyasi Village had contacted them and asked them to prepare a few hundred million Berries, saying they wanted to buy some kind of item.
At the time, Smoker had not dared ask questions. Looking at it now, that matter seemed to be directly connected to the man in front of him.
"Hahaha, at least you're not dumb."
The moment Amon saw the look on Smoker's face, he knew the man had pieced it all together.
Just then, the Den Den Mushi on Amon's body suddenly rang.
Amon picked it up and saw that it was Garp calling.
"Listen for yourself. You'll understand."
"Hm?" Smoker was confused when Amon handed him the Den Den Mushi, but he still accepted it.
After what Amon had just said, he already believed him seven parts out of ten. So although he was puzzled, he still did as told.
"Oi, brat, I am already here. Where are you?"
The moment Smoker took it, Garp's bright, booming voice rang out from the Den Den Mushi.
Smoker's face changed instantly. He looked at Amon with open shock.
There was no mistake. He recognized that voice. He had spoken with Garp only yesterday.
"Oi, oi, oi, why aren't you saying anything? Don't tell me you're messing with me again, brat!"
When no one answered, Garp immediately assumed he was being toyed with.
Amon raised a hand and gestured for Smoker to speak.
"Is... is that Vice Admiral Garp? I'm Smoker, the captain stationed in Loguetown."
After steadying himself, Smoker finally spoke in a respectful tone.
"Hahaha, Smoker, huh? Where's the owner of that Den Den Mushi? Put him on."
"Yes, Vice Admiral!"
Smoker held immense respect for Garp. He even straightened up and saluted the Den Den Mushi before hurriedly returning it to Amon.
The sudden shift in Smoker's attitude left Tashigi confused.
In all her time with him, she had always known Smoker to be proud and sharp-edged. This was the first time she had ever seen him act like this.
"Hey, Garp, you got here pretty fast."
After taking back the Den Den Mushi, Amon spoke in his usual tone.
"Hahaha, just happened to be on the way, on the way."
Garp could not admit that he had rushed over the instant he got the call, so he laughed it off before asking, "Right, where are you? I'm already in Loguetown."
"I'm not far ahead of you. Can you feel it?"
As Amon spoke, he released his aura.
The instant it spread outward, Smoker and the others felt a terrifying sword intent burst from Amon's body like a storm.
Smoker had a clear feeling. If Amon had wanted to strike him earlier, he probably would not have been able to endure even a single move.
Who would have thought that this unremarkable-looking man was actually such a peak expert?
The more Smoker thought about how disrespectful he had just been, the colder his back felt.
Fortunately, Amon had not taken it to heart.
Otherwise...
"Hahaha, so you're here. I had quite a time looking for you."
Just as Smoker was still reeling from Amon's strength, a sturdy figure suddenly dropped from the sky and landed right in front of them.
"Smoker pays his respects to Vice Admiral Garp!"
Seeing Garp land so suddenly, Smoker quickly saluted.
The Marines beside him followed suit at once.
"Hahaha, no need to be so formal, boys. So you're Smoker, huh? Not bad, not bad. The money you sent over yesterday came right on time."
Garp gave Smoker's shoulder a hearty slap and praised him.
Smoker was instantly flattered. He had not expected Garp to be this approachable. If he had not seen the man with his own eyes, he might have suspected an imposter.
After that, Garp turned toward Amon.
"Hahaha, Amon, long time no see."
Amon rolled his eyes.
What long time no see? They had only parted yesterday.
Garp just laughed, not the least bit bothered by Amon's look.
"Right, where's that special gift you said you had for me?"
That was the one thing he had been thinking about the whole way here.
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