Wang Shi sensed a faint, elusive aura coming from the Straw Hat.
He guessed there had to be some quality or aura about him that had triggered the Conqueror's Haki lingering in the hat.
Or perhaps there was something special about his Conqueror's Haki and conviction that allowed him to sense Roger's Conqueror's Haki.
Otherwise, after spending so many years around Straw Hat Luffy, how could Garp possibly have failed to notice anything special about the hat?
Even Roger's own son, Ace, and Sabo had worn Luffy's Straw Hat.
Yet none of them had triggered anything in this particularly special hat.
Was it Conqueror's Haki storage? Or could Conqueror's Haki nurture objects, the way Armament Haki nurtured Black Blades?
Wang Shi didn't know whether Roger had truly mastered the technique of storing Conqueror's Haki.
Or whether the Haki had simply rubbed off on the hat after years of wearing it.
Also, why had Red-Haired Shanks been so determined to give Luffy the Straw Hat Roger had given him? Was it because of the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika?
Or was there some kind of legacy or trigger that had made Red-Haired Shanks so certain?
Could it be that the hat itself had accepted Luffy, and that the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika had chosen him too? Had the twofold affirmation made Shanks so certain of his choice?
Had he placed all his hopes for the future on Luffy?
Dark King Rayleigh had also once said meaningfully that Luffy suited the hat very well.
Thinking of Imu, who also kept a giant Straw Hat in their collection...
Roger, a member of the D Clan and an Awakened user of the Voice of All Things, must have known certain secrets long ago.
That was why he had gone to sea, searching for the Poneglyphs and reaching Laugh Tale, turning the world upside down.
What secrets are you hiding?
Holding the Straw Hat, Wang Shi ignored Luffy's shouts and covered it with his unpracticed Conqueror's Haki.
In an instant.
Wang Shi felt the entire world fall silent.
A thunderous boom erupted in his mind. His pupils spread out, then contracted again, and every hair on his body stood on end.
He "saw" wisps of indistinct auras and "heard" countless voices...
"Give me back my hat!"
Just then, Luffy's rubber arm snatched the Straw Hat from Wang Shi's hand while he stood there dazed.
As soon as the hat left his grasp, Wang Shi's mind abruptly returned to him.
The next moment, Wang Shi panted heavily, trembling as he braced himself on the ground with both hands. Cold sweat dripped to the floor.
Nojiko and Kaya hurried to help him up, alarmed.
"This is, this is..."
"Hahahaha!!!"
Wang Shi suddenly burst into unrestrained laughter, his mirth so infectious that everyone looked at him strangely.
Garp watched Wang Shi with a grave expression.
Why did Wang Shi give off a feeling he recognized?
He looked down at Luffy, who was struggling wildly, and pressed a large hand against the Straw Hat Luffy had just put back on his head.
He carefully sensed it.
Nothing special.
In fact, Garp had known for a long time that the hat had belonged to Roger and Shanks.
Could there really be something special about it?
Garp had secretly tested the hat again and again with Conqueror's Haki, Observation Haki, and even Armament Haki.
Still, there had been no reaction. Nothing special at all.
Roger, what kind of contingency plan did you leave behind?
Garp couldn't figure out what was going on, but from Wang Shi's reaction, the hat definitely had something to it.
"Your Majesty, what happened?"
Kaya asked Wang Shi worriedly, checking him repeatedly for injuries.
"Hahaha, I just awakened Observation Haki."
Wang Shi sat back down in his seat, unable to suppress his smile.
The Monkey D. family really was blessed by fate. Just meeting them had brought him tremendous benefits.
When he encountered Monkey D. Dragon, Dragon's murderous intent and oppressive presence had awakened his Conqueror's Haki.
When he met Monkey D. Luffy, his Straw Hat had awakened Wang Shi's Observation Haki—a particularly special form that granted him the Voice of All Things. His control over Conqueror's Haki had also improved considerably.
Today, after Monkey D. Garp beat him black and blue, Wang Shi had nearly been beaten into awakening his Armament Haki, on top of learning to control his Conqueror's Haki.
Could the Monkey D. family really be his lucky stars?
Or had Wang Shi, a transmigrator, somehow latched onto or even seized the family's immense fortune?
"Consider yourself lucky."
Garp casually tossed Luffy to the side and swept Wang Shi with his Observation Haki.
This suddenly risen Goa Emperor was full of strangeness and the unbelievable.
What had he gotten out of Roger's Straw Hat?
"I look forward to learning more from you tomorrow, Vice Admiral Garp."
Wang Shi's lips curved into a slight smile as Nojiko continued feeding him. He gazed at Garp fearlessly, letting him examine him as much as he liked.
"Hmph."
Garp turned his head away and went back to picking his nose.
But his opinion of Wang Shi had changed considerably.
That guy would definitely become one of the most important figures of the future.
"Get back to the mountain!"
Garp saw Luffy still sneaking food and rushed over to kick him flying, leaving a scream in his wake.
For some reason, Garp didn't want Luffy spending too much time around Wang Shi.
There was something strange about the way Wang Shi looked at Luffy, as if he could see right through him.
The banquet ended as the villagers of Foosha Village cleaned up.
In the days that followed.
Wang Shi and his companions endured daily beatings and instruction from Garp and the other Marines.
During that time, Zeff and Sanji came by to help cook. The food was so delicious that Straw Hat Luffy ran down from the mountain every day to mooch off them, happily watching Wang Shi and the others get beaten.
Garp had lost count of how many times he'd beaten Straw Hat Luffy, but Luffy still couldn't get enough of it.
Sanji and Straw Hat Luffy also met for the first time.
Wang Shi even arranged for him to learn Geppo and Soru from a Marine colonel.
After all, Garp could never repay the debt Dragon owed.
Garp could only have his subordinates do their utmost to teach them.
Anyway, once Germa 66 reached the East Blue, their mission would be complete.
Several days later, after another beating from Garp, Wang Shi was on the verge of awakening Armament Haki.
This beating method really worked.
"Wang Shi, you brat! If you still can't awaken it, I'll smash your emperor's dream to pieces with one punch!"
Garp swung a murderous fist at Wang Shi's head. His overwhelming aura made it seem as though he wasn't holding back at all.
"That feeling like I'm about to die!"
Wang Shi shouted excitedly, sensing the same crisis and aura of death he'd felt when Dragon had nearly killed him.
A powerful force gathered in his arms, and he forcibly blocked Garp's iron fist.
Of course, at the last moment, Garp pulled his strength back a little, despite looking ready to kill, so he wouldn't actually finish Wang Shi off.
Even so, though Garp had held back, Wang Shi was still sent flying and smashed into a huge crater.
Wang Shi gasped for breath in the crater, a little blood seeping from his mouth and nose.
"As expected of Fist Garp. Your fists are hard as hell!"
Wang Shi's whole body ached, and he was covered in bruises, but his lips curled upward.
He had finally awakened Armament Haki.
It was only the most basic form, hardening, but now that he had made a start, the rest would be much easier.
The Goa Empire's medical team hurried over to rescue and treat Wang Shi.
While he was being treated, news arrived from the Goa Imperial Capital.
The commercial fleet from Dressrosa, an Affiliated Nation, had reached the Goa Empire and wanted to discuss some business with Wang Shi.
They could even offer assistance to help the Goa Empire deal with the Germa 66 evil army from the North Blue!