The Marvelous Awakening of Observation Haki

Wang Shi felt the faint, lingering aura emanating from the straw hat.

He guessed that there must be some characteristic or aura about him that had triggered the Conqueror's Haki remaining within the hat.

Or perhaps there was something unique about his own Conqueror's Haki and conviction that allowed him to perceive Roger's Conqueror's Haki.

Otherwise, how could Garp, having spent so many years with Straw Hat Luffy, have failed to discover the uniqueness of this straw hat?

Even Roger's own son, Ace, and Sabo had handled Luffy's straw hat before.

Yet, none of them had triggered this special hat.

Is it Conqueror's Haki storage? Or is it like how Armament Haki can nurture a Black Blade—can Conqueror's Haki also nurture an object?

Wang Shi did not know if Roger had truly mastered the technique of storing Conqueror's Haki.

Or perhaps it was simply that through long-term wear, the Conqueror's Haki had gradually stained the hat over time.

Furthermore, why was Shanks so firm in giving the straw hat Roger had entrusted to him to Luffy? Was it because of the Sun God Nika fruit?

Or was there some inheritance or specific trigger that made Shanks so certain?

Could it be that the straw hat itself had accepted Luffy, and combined with the Sun God Nika fruit choosing its master, this double affirmation was what made Shanks so resolutely choose Luffy?

Betting all his hope and the future on Luffy.

Rayleigh had also once said with profound meaning that the straw hat suited Luffy very well.

Thinking of how Imu also kept a giant straw hat in their collection.

Roger, a member of the D Clan who had awakened the Voice of All Things and Observation Haki, must have known certain special information long ago.

That was why he set sail, sought the Poneglyphs, landed on Laugh Tale, and turned this world upside down.

What secrets do you truly contain?

Wang Shi held the straw hat, ignoring Luffy's shouts, and covered the hat with his unrefined Conqueror's Haki.

In an instant.

Wang Shi felt the entire world go silent.

A thunderous roar echoed in his mind, his pupils dilated and then refocused, and every hair on his body stood on end.

He "saw" trails of blurred auras and "heard" countless voices...

"Give my straw hat back!"

Just then, Luffy's rubber hand snatched the hat back from the dazed Wang Shi.

As the hat left his hand, Wang Shi's consciousness snapped back.

The next moment, Wang Shi was gasping for air, trembling as he braced himself on the ground with both hands, cold sweat dripping onto the floor.

Nojiko and Kaya rushed over in alarm to help him up.

"This, this is..."

"Hahahaha!!!"

Wang Shi suddenly burst into unrestrained laughter, his laughter incredibly joyous, leaving everyone around him with strange expressions.

Garp watched Wang Shi with a solemn expression.

Why did he feel a familiar sensation coming from Wang Shi?

He looked down at the struggling Luffy and pressed his large hand onto the straw hat Luffy had just put back on his head.

He felt it carefully.

There was nothing special about it.

In truth, Garp had long known that this was Roger and Shanks's straw hat.

Could there really be something special about this hat?

Garp quietly probed it again and again with his Conqueror's Haki, Observation Haki, and even Armament Haki.

But there was still no reaction, nothing special at all.

Roger, what other trump cards did you leave behind?

Garp couldn't find anything, but seeing Wang Shi's reaction, he knew there must be something wrong with this straw hat.

"Your Majesty, what happened?"

Kaya asked Wang Shi with concern, her hands constantly checking him for injuries.

"Hahaha, I just awakened my Observation Haki."

Wang Shi sat back down in his seat, unable to suppress the smile on his face.

The Monkey D Clan truly was a clan of destiny; even just coming into contact with them could yield immense benefits.

Meeting Monkey D. Dragon, the man's killing intent and pressure had allowed Wang Shi to awaken his Conqueror's Haki.

Meeting Monkey D. Luffy, his straw hat had allowed Wang Shi to awaken his Observation Haki—and a very special Voice of All Things Observation Haki at that—while even his control over Conqueror's Haki had improved significantly.

Today, after being brutally beaten by Monkey D. Garp, aside from learning to control Conqueror's Haki, his Armament Haki had been practically pummeled out of him by Garp.

Could the Monkey D. family truly be his lucky stars?

Or was it that the immense fortune of the Monkey D. family was being forcibly rubbed off on, or perhaps usurped by, Wang Shi, a transmigrator?

"Consider yourself lucky."

Garp tossed Luffy aside casually, his Observation Haki sweeping over Wang Shi.

This suddenly risen Goa Emperor was filled with strangeness and the inconceivable.

What exactly did he obtain from Roger's straw hat?

"I look forward to your continued guidance tomorrow, Vice Admiral Garp."

Wang Shi curled the corners of his lips, continuing to be fed by Nojiko, watching Garp fearlessly and allowing the man's scrutiny.

"Hmph."

Garp turned his head away and continued picking his nose.

However, his opinion of Wang Shi had already changed significantly.

This guy would definitely be a big shot worth mentioning in the future.

"Get back to the mountain!"

Seeing Luffy still stealing food, Garp rushed over and kicked him flying, leaving behind a trail of screams.

For some reason, Garp did not want Luffy to have too much contact with Wang Shi.

Because the way Wang Shi looked at Luffy gave off a strange, piercing feeling, as if he had seen right through him.

The banquet ended under the cleanup of the Foosha Village residents.

In the days that followed.

Wang Shi and his group were subjected to the ravages and instruction of Garp and his navy subordinates every day.

During this time, Zeff and Sanji came over to help with the cooking, and the taste of the food made Straw Hat Luffy run down from the mountain every day to mooch, watching Wang Shi and the others get beaten with great delight.

Garp didn't even know how many times he had beaten Straw Hat Luffy, but Luffy remained tireless and happy.

Sanji also completed his first meeting with Straw Hat Luffy.

He was even arranged by Wang Shi to learn Geppo and Soru from a navy captain.

In any case, the debt owed by Dragon was something Garp could never finish repaying.

Garp could only arrange for his subordinates to teach with all their might.

Regardless, once Germa 66 arrived in the East Blue, their mission would be complete.

Several days later, after being beaten by Garp, Wang Shi found the awakening of his Armament Haki within reach.

This method of getting beaten was indeed effective.

"Little brat Wang Shi, if you still can't awaken it, this old man will smash your imperial dream with one punch!"

Garp hammered toward Wang Shi's head with surging killing intent, his violent aura seemingly holding nothing back.

"This is exactly the feeling of being near death!"

Wang Shi shouted in excitement, feeling the sense of crisis and the scent of death that was nearly identical to when he was almost finished off by Dragon.

A powerful force gathered on his arms, forcibly blocking Garp's iron fist.

Of course, at the final moment, Garp, who had been acting as if he wanted to kill, pulled back a bit of his strength to avoid actually finishing off Wang Shi.

Yet, even with Garp pulling his punch, Wang Shi was still blasted away, crashing into a giant crater.

Wang Shi gasped for air in the deep pit, blood spilling from his mouth and nose.

"As expected of Fist Garp, your fists are hard as hell!"

Wang Shi was covered in pain and wounds, but the corners of his mouth curled upward.

He had finally awakened Armament Haki.

Although it was only the most basic coating, as long as he had a good start, everything that followed would be much simpler.

The Goa Empire's medical team rushed over to rescue and treat Wang Shi.

While he was being treated, news arrived from the Goa Imperial Capital.

A merchant fleet from the allied nation of Dressrosa had arrived in the Goa Empire to discuss some business with Wang Shi.

They could even provide some assistance to help the Goa Empire deal with the evil army of Germa 66 from the North Blue!