After finishing the strengthening potion, Amon immediately used the remaining two items.
His body trembled slightly.
All of a sudden, a flood of information poured into his mind.
His perception of this world sharpened, became clearer, almost frighteningly so.
Even though he was standing on the ship, he could now distinctly sense the fish swimming beneath the waves, and the villagers far away, bustling about their daily lives.
"So this is Observation Haki, huh? It really is incredible."
Amon knew this new awareness came from the Observation Haki he had just learned.
Roughly estimating the range by matching what he sensed with the layout of the village houses, he figured his Observation Haki currently covered about three hundred meters in every direction.
"Eh? Isn't that the Sea King Luffy beat up just now? Why does it look so miserable?"
As he used Observation Haki to scan around, he happened to notice a huge Sea King lying motionless in the nearby sea, its body covered in wounds.
Even in this state, he recognized it at first glance.
The big lump on its head had not faded yet.
That was not even its most serious injury.
What had really knocked it out were the burns on its left forelimb and the bloody, mangled flesh all across its back.
Still, he had to admit, the Sea King's vitality was insane.
Even after taking so much damage, it was still alive.
If he had to guess, it looked like it was healing itself through sleep.
The only question was... who had pounded this Sea King so brutally?
"Pfft... do not tell me this was Ace and Sabo's doing. It really kind of looks like it."
After watching for a while, Amon could not help laughing.
He pretty much figured out what had happened. The poor Sea King had been used as a target dummy. Luffy had given it a beating first, and then Ace and Sabo had probably "tested" their new powers on it as well.
Thinking about it that way, it did have a little bit to do with him.
He was the one who had encouraged them to test their abilities on the sea, after all.
But Amon felt no guilt at all.This world was survival of the fittest.And this particular Sea King had once bitten off Shanks's left arm. You could call this karma.
He withdrew his Observation Haki and turned to the last ability.
Amon activated Swordsmanship LV7.
The moment he did, his mind filled with even more knowledge. Countless insights about swordsmanship surged into his brain. He suddenly felt an innate familiarity with the blade, like someone who had been wielding a sword since childhood, practicing day after day until it became as natural as breathing.
He had to admit it, the system really was something else. It directly infused him with combat experience.
His mind was suddenly packed with techniques, angles, and methods.
How to cut, how to defend, how to counter.
How to use a blade with minimum wasted motion and maximum force.
How to manipulate intent, pressure, and presence.
Even concepts like using "aura" to guide the sword, or letting the sword move as if carried by the wind.
[Ding. Congratulations to the host for mastering LV7 Swordsmanship. In three days, you should set sail for Shimotsuki Village."]
[Ding. New mission. Please sell ten jars in Shimotsuki Village. Once the mission is complete, you will receive one exclusive jar as a reward.]
The moment Amon finished absorbing the sword techniques, the system chimed in with new instructions.
"Shimotsuki Village, huh? That should be where Zoro lived as a kid. Ten years ago...hmmm… his childhood crush, Kuina, should still be alive."
As a One Piece fan, Amon was very familiar with Shimotsuki Village.
It was the place where Zoro had trained as a child, the village with a dojo full of sword trainees.
Selling ten jars there did not sound that hard. There was no need to rush, though. They would only set sail in three days.
He still had that much time to play around the village. He had already been anchored at Foosha Village for three days, but because of the system's restriction he had never been able to disembark.
Now that the restriction was gone, he naturally wanted to go take a proper look at Luffy's hometown, the little village where Shanks had once stayed.
With that thought, Amon stepped off the boat at once.
His first destination was obvious.
Makino's bar.
In Luffy's flashbacks, that bar showed up over and over.
"Eh, isn't that the owner of that merchant ship? He actually got off the boat. That is rare."
"Wow, what a handsome guy."
"Where did that pretty boy come from? I have never seen him before."
The moment Amon stepped onto the main street, villagers began whispering and pointing.
Several young women stared openly, stunned by his looks.
Amon simply smiled lightly and did not respond.
He had a goal in mind.
"Mr. Amon!"
Just as he was wondering which way the bar was, a delighted female voice called out.
Amon turned toward the sound and saw Makino standing at the entrance of a bar not far away, waving to him.
She had stepped out after hearing the commotion from the villagers.
She had not expected Amon to actually come into town, and her heart fluttered with excitement.
"Ah, Miss Makino, you look even more beautiful than before. I almost did not recognize you."
Amon studied her carefully and smiled.
The change really was obvious.
The roughness on her hands was gone. In its place were slender, pale arms and smooth, delicate hands. Her skin was clearer, more radiant, and she seemed to glow softly in the sunlight. It looked like the Beauty Pill had done more than just lock her age.
It had improved her whole constitution.
"Rr…really?"
Hearing his compliment, Makino shyly touched her cheek.
Her face was already flushed bright red.
"Of course it is true."
Amon nodded.
He had always liked this gentle, kind barmaid from Luffy's story.
-------------------------
Patreon Advance Chapters: patreon .com / ElvenKing20