The Straw Hat Crew rested for a week in Coco Village.
Afterward, they began heading to their next destination.
Nami also started fulfilling her duties as a navigator.
At the same time, her fists became heavier.
Luffy had the most to say about this.
Rosen had been in the cabin these past few days, researching how to refine the Cultivation method for Armament Haki.
At this moment, Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp were fishing.
Nami was controlling the rudder on the deck above the cabin, while also observing the wind direction.
"Nami's fists remind me of Grandpa," Luffy said, looking dejected.
Zoro had also been punched a few times these past two days, and he felt that Nami's fists were like wearing spiked gloves.
"Ha… I got a bite!" Luffy suddenly felt a tug on his fishing rod and immediately pulled it.
The next moment, an ugly squid was pulled up, but because Luffy pulled too hard, it landed directly on Nami's face.
"Oh no…"
Nami's face was filled with anger as she pulled the squid off her face.
Immediately after, everyone saw a black glow appear on Nami's fist.
"Hiss… Is that… Is that Armament Haki?"
Nami ultimately gave up on scolding Luffy, as he hadn't done it on purpose.
But at this moment, Luffy and Zoro had already rushed to Nami's side, eager to know more.
"Nami, can you use Armament Haki?"
"Armament Haki? Do I have it?"
Nami occasionally overheard Rosen talking to them, but it usually went in one ear and out the other. So, although she had heard Rosen mention Armament Haki, she hadn't studied it carefully.
"Didn't you notice that when you hit us, a black glow appears on your fists?"
"Oh, you mean that? Grandpa taught me that."
"Ah ah ah… Grandpa said he couldn't do it, yet he can teach you! That's too much, too much!" Luffy stomped his feet in frustration.
Zoro was also very excited. They had been working hard on their Cultivation these days.
Their physical strength had improved significantly, but they still had no clue about Armament Haki.
"What is this Armament Haki you're talking about?" Sanji came to Nami with a plate of sashimi. "Nami-chan, try my cooking."
"It's an ability Grandpa mentioned. Only by mastering Armament Haki can you qualify to enter the Grand Line."
As Nami spoke, a layer of black appeared on her fist.
When Luffy and Zoro saw it, their eyes lit up even more: "That's it! That's it!"
"I'm going to ask Grandpa to teach me."
"Me too."
"Have you forgotten what Grandpa said? We can't disturb him until he comes out himself," Nami stopped them. "If you want to learn, I'll teach you."
"Grandpa has been cooped up in his room for two days without eating anything. Is he going to be okay?" Although Rosen had given Sanji a hard time, as a companion, he was still very concerned.
"Yeah, yeah, we're just going to check on Grandpa."
Creak—
Just then, Rosen's Nagato opened, and Rosen walked out of the cabin.
"Grandpa, I want to learn Armament Haki!" Luffy clung to Rosen like an octopus.
Bang—
Nami punched Luffy on the head, pulling him off Rosen.
"Alright, everyone needs to learn. Usopp, you come over and learn too."
"Ah… I'm a sniper, do I need to?" Usopp asked somewhat casually.
"Of course, you do."
…
Loguetown in the East Blue, this was once the place where Pirate King Gol D. Roger was executed.
Hawkeye walked past the execution platform, glanced at it, and then continued on his way.
He wasn't pursuing the One Piece, but rather the ultimate in swordsmanship.
Just then, a white-haired Marine walked over from the front. This Marine was smoking a cigar and had a Jitte made of Sea Stone on his back. He was Smoker, the commanding Colonel of Loguetown and a Smoke-Smoke Fruit user.
At this moment, Smoker was staring intently at Hawkeye.
Hawkeye merely gave the Marine a dismissive glance.
"Hawkeye, why are you here?"
"That's my freedom," Hawkeye said indifferently.
Smoker's expression was serious, his hand already reaching back to grip the handle of his Jitte.
"Are you sure you want to make a move on me? Especially here," Hawkeye exuded a Killing Intent.
He rarely took the initiative to kill Marines or pirates, but if someone sought death, he didn't mind teaching them a lesson.
"Oh… Such terrifying Killing Intent. Is this the strength of the World's Strongest Swordsman? How terrifying, indeed."
Hawkeye looked behind him at Borsalino, who was currently pouting, hands in his pockets, and waving his head at Hawkeye, "Long time no see, Hawkeye."
He was somewhat surprised. Why would the three Admirals appear here?
Hawkeye withdrew his Killing Intent. As a Shichibukai, he had an agreement with the Marine.
The Marine could not arbitrarily attack a Shichibukai, and similarly, he could not arbitrarily attack the Marine.
"Are you here to capture me?"
Borsalino quickly waved his hand, "I don't have that courage, after all, you are the World's Strongest Swordsman. But I heard you suffered a great loss in the East Blue. How about it, do you have anything you can share with me so I can go back and report?"
Hawkeye suddenly understood. So that was it. His disheveled appearance at sea had been reported back to Marineford, which was why Marineford had dispatched Borsalino to investigate.
"Watch out for a white-haired old man. He's very strong," Hawkeye said before turning and leaving directly.
"Hey, hey, hey… That's too vague. It's like saying nothing at all," Borsalino looked dejected.
Smoker came before Borsalino: "Officer."
"Mama…" Borsalino waved his hand. "Find me a place to rest. I've been traveling for three days and three nights before landing. It's really hard work. I'm truly working too hard."
"Officer, did your conversation with Hawkeye just now imply that Hawkeye suffered a great loss in the East Blue?"
"Yes, it's really troublesome. I completely don't understand why the Fleet Admiral sent me here. Even if I encountered him, I wouldn't be able to defeat him, and I might even lose my life. I'll just sleep in your garrison for three days, and then I'll go back and report that I didn't find any clues."
"Officer, perhaps you could entrust this matter to me to investigate."
"Still, no. This mission is too dangerous."
Anyone who could defeat Hawkeye would definitely be a pirate of the billion-Beli class or higher.
If Smoker were to encounter such a person, he probably wouldn't even be able to save his life.
Smoker had been stationed in Loguetown in the East Blue for a long time, so he simply didn't understand what that level of pirate meant.
"I'm not afraid of danger," Smoker said seriously.
"What a headache…" Borsalino rubbed his temples. "You are stationed in Loguetown. This mission doesn't require you to be responsible for it."
…
Hawkeye wandered through Loguetown and suddenly saw a pirate appear ahead.
That must be a crew member from the former Pirate King Roger's ship.
Hawkeye saw Buggy the Clown.
Hawkeye had never seen Buggy the Clown before, but he had seen photographs.
One of Shanks's photos was a picture of a young Shanks with Buggy the Clown.
Buggy the Clown was swaggering down the street, followed by a motley crew of ruffians.
"Get out of the way, get out of the way! Don't block my path, you commoners!"
Buggy the Clown kicked over a roadside stall, acting as if he feared nothing.
He continued until he reached Hawkeye, where Buggy the Clown's short stature was blocked by Hawkeye's tall frame.
"Hey, I say, you fellow, don't you know who I am?"
As Buggy the Clown looked up, Hawkeye also lowered his head.
When his pupils met Hawkeye's, Buggy the Clown plopped down onto the ground. He felt as if he had seen his great-grandmother who had died many years ago.
"You… you are…"
Although Buggy the Clown was active in the East Blue, he was well-versed in the major pirates.
After all, wanted posters of those major pirates were everywhere.
So, recognizing Hawkeye was simply too easy.
"Prepare a place for me to stay. I plan to remain here for three days," Hawkeye said naturally.
"Yes… Yes, Your Excellency Hawkeye."
Buggy the Clown had completely lost his previous arrogance, becoming a subservient follower.
…
The Going Merry docked in Loguetown.
Nami and Usopp went to purchase supplies for the ship.
Luffy went to see Roger's execution platform, while Zoro went to buy a new sword.
His two swords had been cut by Hawkeye's black blade during their last duel, and now he only had one sword left, which significantly reduced his combat power.
Rosen stayed on the ship to guard it, and he had no intention of going out.
He was still delving deeper into the Cultivation method of Armament Haki.
Currently, the Cultivation method for Armament Haki had been updated to the second version.
The effect was decent, but only decent; it still didn't meet Rosen's requirements.
Armament Haki was more like a strengthened application of Qi and blood.
From a practical perspective, Armament Haki was very useful, and if Cultivated to a high level, Armament Haki could even slow down the aging of the body.
Just then, a scene flashed through Rosen's mind.
Dozens of Marines surrounded the Going Merry, and then a white-haired man, emitting smoke, attacked him.
Is this… Observation Haki?
Rosen was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected to inexplicably gain Observation Haki.
And Observation Haki came too abruptly; Rosen had no idea when he had Awakened it.
Furthermore, Rosen had no clue how Observation Haki Awakened or how it was produced.
Unlike Armament Haki, which had traceable origins, Observation Haki was completely rootless, like a floating duckweed, unable to be clearly felt in its existence.
It would only activate when needed.
Rosen couldn't help but wonder if Observation Haki was related to his Mental Energy.
If Armament Haki was linked to Qi and blood, and Observation Haki was linked to Mental Energy.
Then what about Haoshoku? What was it linked to?
Rosen had already witnessed Observation Haki and Armament Haki, but he hadn't had the opportunity to witness Haoshoku yet, so it was difficult to analyze and research Haoshoku at the moment.
He shouldn't have been so heavy-handed with Hawkeye last time. At least he should have let Hawkeye display his Haoshoku.
There was no doubt that Hawkeye was also one in a million with Haoshoku Aptitude.
Next time he saw Hawkeye, he must give him ample opportunity to demonstrate it.
It was a pity. The next time he saw Hawkeye, he would at least have to be in the Grand Line, or even the New World.
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