Luffy had a fresh lump rising on his head from Garp's Fist of Love, tears streaming down his face, but no one was really paying attention to him.
Everyone's eyes were locked on the wine barrel in Amon's hands.
"A barrel that can enhance the taste of wine..."
Makino's eyes lit up. She carefully accepted the barrel Amon handed over, then began to gently caress its surface, not wanting to let go.
A talented brewer and a precious cask, a hero and his sword, they belonged together.
To someone who loved making wine as much as she did, this barrel was no less valuable than the treasures Ace and Sabo had drawn before her.
"The last item is also quite precious."
Seeing Makino so taken with the first two items, Amon smiled slightly and reminded her that there was still a third.
"Mm?"
Lost in her happiness, Makino flushed a little when she realized there was yet another treasure belonging to her. For some reason, she felt a bit embarrassed.
"Miss Makino, why not guess what the last item is?"
Amon did not reveal it right away, instead prompting her to take a guess.
"I know, it is something tasty."
Before Makino could speak, Luffy blurted it out, drooling as he stared at the small jade bottle.
To Luffy, absolutely anything could be connected back to food.
"There is no way something like that is food. I think it is probably some kind of pill that increases strength."
Ace cut in right after Luffy, basing his guess on his own experience with the jar he had opened.
"Neither of you are right. Try again."
Amon shook his head, telling them both they were off the mark.
"I think it is something especially suited for Makino to use."
Sabo joined the little game as well, offering his guess after his brothers.
As expected, he was the sharpest of the three.
His answer was the closest.
The last item, the Eternal Beauty Pill, truly was tailored for Makino.
For a woman, nothing was more tempting than the promise of everlasting youth.
"Correct."
Amon chuckled and nodded.
"Something suited for me...", Makino's heart was already overflowing with joy.
She had not expected her luck to be this good, drawing three items that all matched her perfectly.
"Yes. The third item is called the Eternal Beauty Pill. As for its effect..."
He deliberately paused, letting everyone's curiosity build up.
"Just like the name suggests, it keeps a person's appearance forever young. In other words, once you take this pill, your beauty will be preserved for a lifetime."
"Eternal youth..."
The instant the words left his mouth, Makino's whole body trembled with excitement.
"Mr. Amon, are you saying that if I take this, I will never grow old?"
Afraid she had misheard, she pressed him again, her voice shaking.
Amon had already expected this kind of reaction.
No girl could truly remain calm in front of eternal youth.
"Yes. Once you take this pill, you will never grow old, ever."
Under her hopeful gaze, Amon confirmed it with a nod.
"So it only stops you from getting old... I thought it was something tasty."
Luffy could not help complaining when he saw how emotional Makino was.
As someone whose soul was ruled entirely by his stomach, he simply could not understand what everlasting beauty meant to a woman.
"It sounds amazing, actually. My mother often spends a lot of money on cosmetics just to look a little better..."
Sabo, born into a noble family, understood a bit more.
He had seen firsthand how much effort women put into beauty.
"Mr. Amon, Thank you very much."
Makino accepted the jade bottle with both hands, then bowed at a full ninety degrees, her whole body bending as she thanked him.
"Hahaha, Miss Makino, you really are too polite. Like I keep saying, I am only a merchant. What you get all depends on your own luck."
Her deep bow genuinely surprised Amon, and he hurried to support her back up.
"Mr. Amon, can I take it now?"
Once she straightened up, Makino could not wait any longer.
"Of course."
Amon nodded. He understood very well what she was feeling.
"Alright."
With his permission, Makino immediately opened the bottle, took out a pale cyan pill that emitted a faint, refreshing fragrance, and without giving anyone a chance to study it, popped it straight into her mouth.
As the Eternal Beauty Pill slid down her throat, she felt a cool sensation spreading through her esophagus.
Then a wave of medicinal power bloomed in her body, radiating outward.
Under the pill's effect, everyone could see Makino's skin growing clearer and more delicate, becoming dewy and soft.
Her hands, roughened a little by years of work at the bar, smoothed out and turned supple again, like those of a girl who had never done a day of heavy labor.
Feeling the changes in her own body, Makino was so happy she could barely find words.
Suddenly, her cheeks reddened.
She had caught a whiff of an unpleasant smell coming from her own body.
She instinctively realized that this was probably the toxins being pushed out as the pill purified her.
"Hahaha, just go home and wash up."
The moment he smelled it, Amon more or less guessed what it was.
To spare her embarrassment, he gently suggested that she head back first and clean off.
"Yes, thank you, Mr. Amon. I... I will go for now."
Makino nodded quickly, then hurried down the gangplank.
She did not want Amon to be left with any bad impression of her.
"Hahaha, brat, I really did not expect your jars to produce something like that. I am getting more and more excited now."
Once Makino left, Garp burst into loud laughter.
At the same time, he took out his Den Den Mushi once again, getting ready to call Sengoku to ask if the Berries he wanted had been sent over yet.