Evening.
Wang Shi and the others were covered in bruises and sprawled weakly on the ground while Nojiko, Kaya, and the others tended to their injuries.
While Wang Shi and the others had been training that afternoon, people from the Goa Imperial Capital had delivered food and medicine. Even the three girls, Nami and the others, had come along.
"Ahahaha! That was a great workout!"
Garp wolfed down the food brought from the Goa Imperial Palace without a trace of guilt, drawing glares and complaints from Nami and the others.
This so-called hero of the Marines didn't act like a hero at all. He was more like a bandit, and he'd beaten their heroic king into this sorry state.
Even Makino and Village Chief Slap looked at the "inconsiderate" and "ill-mannered" Garp with displeasure.
What good could possibly come of beating Wang Shi so badly and making an enemy of him?
Village Chief Slap wore a worried expression, filled with concern for Foosha Village's future.
He was genuinely afraid that Wang Shi might suddenly settle old scores one day and retaliate against Foosha Village.
Meanwhile, little Straw Hat Luffy had been drawn over by the smell of food. He snuck into the banquet and stuffed himself.
As he stole bites, he kept an eye on the black-haired young man his grandfather had beaten so badly.
He thought the guy was amazing. He'd lasted so long against his grandfather.
If it had been Luffy, he would've surrendered and begged for mercy ages ago.
Once he went out to sea, he was definitely going to find a companion as strong as that man, someone who couldn't be beaten no matter what.
And when Straw Hat Luffy saw the orange-haired girl and the young man with the moss-green hair, he felt something special about them.
But he still had a long time to wait before setting sail, and the idea of recruiting companions hadn't crossed his single-minded brain yet.
For now, he just wanted to eat until he was full. It had been a long time since he'd been able to eat as much as he wanted like this.
Wang Shi let Kaya treat him and Nojiko feed him.
He watched Straw Hat Luffy sneak food.
He hadn't expected that the members of the future crew would meet like this today.
Maybe he should call Sanji over tomorrow to help cook, too.
He could also have those Marine officers teach Sanji martial arts and kicking techniques.
Wang Shi had noticed that quite a few of the Marine officers on Garp's ship were lieutenant commanders and captains who had learned the Six Powers.
Sanji had spent two years being chased around Kamabakka Island by okama before he learned Geppo. Just thinking about it was heartbreaking.
Should he help him avoid that ordeal?
Wang Shi had even seen a Marine captain disperse Eric's Wind Blade with a blast of Armament Haki.
Damn!
No wonder they were officers on Garp's ship.
They could use the Six Powers and Haki at the drop of a hat.
Thinking of the Marine officers who had accompanied Fujitora Issho on the mission during the Dressrosa incident, and how every one of them could use Armament Haki and even coat their swords with it to turn them into Black Blades, Wang Shi wanted to hurry up and learn the Three-Color Haki, too. He also wanted to pick up a couple of the Six Powers.
"Wang Shi, brat, are we continuing tomorrow? I won't go easy on you!"
Garp raised his fist and grinned after eating his fill, trying to scare Wang Shi off.
An emperor ought to be unable to endure this kind of hardship.
He'd be better off going back to embrace his empress and handle state affairs.
With his Devil Fruit ability, Wang Shi was already strong enough to deal with many enemies.
"Yes!"
"I want to learn the Three-Color Haki and the Six Powers, too!"
Wang Shi, covered in bandages, spoke coldly, his tone leaving no room for argument and his gaze unwavering.
"Heh. How many days until Judge gets here?
You think you can learn all that in the time you have? Do you think you're a genius?"
"And the Six Powers are a secret art of the World Government and the Marines."
"Besides, once Germa 66 leaves, I'll have to return to Marine Headquarters. I won't have time to train you."
Garp picked his nose and looked at Wang Shi disdainfully. This emperor was too greedy and ambitious, without the slightest consideration for reality.
"At least teach us the training methods."
"Or do you really want me to hold a grudge against Foosha Village, Garp?"
"Besides, this is a debt your son owes..."
Wang Shi shot back. Secret art, my foot. Plenty of pirates had learned it.
"You little bastard, Wang Shi! You're threatening me again? I'll beat you to death tomorrow!"
"The next time I see that rebellious son of mine, I'll make him remember the Fist of Love! He left me with such a huge mess to deal with!"
Garp cursed angrily, then grabbed the rubber arm that had been sneaking food and yanked Straw Hat Luffy over, landing two quick punches on him.
"Ow! That hurts! You bastard, Grandpa!"
"Hmph! I can't beat your good-for-nothing father, so I'll beat you instead!"
Garp took out his anger at Dragon on his foolish grandson, who was always shouting about becoming Pirate King.
Two big bumps sprang up on Straw Hat Luffy's head.
Wang Shi looked at Straw Hat Luffy. Should he try to set him straight and put him in the Guard Army?
But that probably wouldn't work. Even Garp couldn't beat the idea out of him.
And this Sun God Nika ability user was the Celestial Dragons' greatest enemy.
Wang Shi didn't want to draw the Five Elders' hostility.
As Garp and Luffy made a scene, a rubber arm and a rubber head flew back and forth.
Nami and Zoro, along with the others, couldn't help noticing this amusing Rubber-Rubber Fruit user.
Wang Shi was eating meat when a head suddenly flew toward him. He caught Straw Hat Luffy's head in one hand.
"Ah, sorry..."
Straw Hat Luffy grinned, his smile utterly guileless.
But when Wang Shi grabbed the straw hat on Luffy's head, a strange aura surged into his mind.
Wang Shi's heart jolted. He yanked the hat off, and Luffy's head snapped back.
"Give me back my straw hat!"
Feeling the hat being taken from his head, Straw Hat Luffy, who was struggling in Garp's grasp, immediately began shouting wildly and thrashing with all his might.
"This is!!!"
Wang Shi's pupils contracted into black pinpoints.
The Conqueror's Haki left behind on the straw hat!
Pirate King Roger's Haki? One of the Four Emperors, Shanks's Haki?
"Buzz!"
Without warning, Wang Shi released a burst of his own Conqueror's Haki, frightening everyone.
A large number of people swayed and collapsed.
"Why are you unleashing your Conqueror's Haki all over the place again?!"
Garp scolded him angrily, his face darkening. It looked like he really would have to teach Wang Shi properly, so he could master his Haki and stop letting it leak out everywhere.
Wang Shi held the straw hat, his expression shifting uncertainly.
This straw hat, passed down through three generations, actually contained Roger's Conqueror's Haki.
Just like the Conqueror's Haki Joy Boy had left behind, eight hundred years ago, in the knot of Emeth the robot's belt.
Had Roger's mastery of Conqueror's Haki reached the same level as Joy Boy's?
Or was storing Conqueror's Haki a special technique, like Ryou in Wano?
A strange thought suddenly came to Wang Shi.
Shanks had worn Roger's straw hat since childhood, and Luffy had worn it since inheriting it.
Could they both have been influenced by Roger's Haki and will?
Damn!
Maybe Kozuki Oden knew the same technique for storing Conqueror's Haki as Roger.
His travel journal might hold his Haki, convictions, and aura, which would explain why he brainwashed Yamato so effortlessly.
Oden's sword, Enma, also held his Conqueror's Haki, allowing Beast Kaido to recognize Oden's aura instantly.
The unique nature of Conqueror's Haki had even kept Imu from forgetting Joy Boy's Haki for eight hundred years.