Chapter 175: Garp Arrives
After completing all necessary arrangements, Rhodes set out for Water 7.
Traveling alone this time, he quickly traversed the long spatial tunnel and arrived near Water 7.
He then assessed his location, opened a door, and entered the city proper.
Walking through the streets of Water 7, Rhodes noticed that many of the city's temporary structures had been washed away by Aqua Laguna, but the towering buildings still stood firm.
This impressed Rhodes.
In his opinion, a city like Water 7, built on such precarious foundations, shouldn't withstand such punishment. He wondered what ingenious techniques the island's shipwrights had employed to survive even a tsunami of Aqua Laguna's magnitude.
After strolling for a while, Rhodes suddenly caught a tantalizing aroma.
As a true food enthusiast, he naturally followed the scent.
As he approached, he discovered the source was a small barbecue stall. An elderly vendor was intently grilling, only occasionally calling out to customers.
In fact, calling out was unnecessary. The aroma alone attracted a crowd. They lined up eagerly with Berry in hand. Rhodes could clearly hear the sound of collective swallowing.
Gulp.
Rhodes swallowed his own saliva and joined the queue.
Although he was powerful, he wasn't one to throw his weight around with ordinary citizens.
The old man worked at a leisurely pace. Rhodes waited quite a while before finally receiving his portion.
The first bite exploded with juices, the rich flavor seeming to linger endlessly. This meat was different from ordinary fare—incredibly tender and smooth, overflowing with savory juice.
"Delicious. This must be Water 7's specialty—Water-Water Meat."
Rhodes ate skewer after skewer while mumbling appreciative praise.
A middle-aged woman nearby, perhaps charmed by his handsome appearance, smiled and said:
"You have excellent taste, young man! Due to the climate, Water-Water Meat can't be preserved, so you can only eat it here in Water 7."
"I suspected as much! How else could it be so delicious? Thank you."
With that, Rhodes turned to leave, not forgetting the real purpose of his visit.
"So polite and handsome! I wish I had a daughter."
The middle-aged woman watched him admiringly, though puzzled. She felt the young man looked familiar, as if she'd seen him somewhere before.
After wandering around for a while, Rhodes discovered that Water 7 had an intricate urban design, with crisscrossing waterways and forking paths everywhere. It was easy to get lost without familiarity.
"Hmm?"
After pausing at an intersection, Rhodes's Observation Haki suddenly detected a familiar presence in a shop not far ahead.
"That seems to be Nami?"
Rhodes was slightly surprised and couldn't help but move closer.
He then spotted Nami in a clothing boutique, constantly trying on various outfits.
Nami truly was a natural beauty. Tall, with a slim waist, long legs, and—crucially—ample curves, she looked stunning in everything.
She was currently wearing a professional business outfit, her curvaceous figure wrapped into a perfect hourglass silhouette. Even the female shop owner was impressed, her eyes twinkling with admiration.
Nami was happily posing before the mirror when she heard a familiar voice from behind:
"You look beautiful, little Nami."
Startled, she quickly turned, surprise flashing across her face.
"Rhodes-niisan!"
"Wow, seeing you again!"
Nami's face brimmed with delight as she threw herself into Rhodes's arms, twisting playfully.
Rhodes, who had personally resolved Nami's nightmares and witnessed her most vulnerable moments, was someone very special to her.
"Alright, alright, that's enough."
Rhodes quickly pressed against Nami's forehead and pushed her back gently. He took in her businesswoman outfit and smiled faintly:
"Don't be stingy with your wardrobe. Take whatever you want."
"Really?!"
Nami's eyes sparkled as she stuck out her tongue playfully.
Then Rhodes immediately regretted those words.
Nami, intent on taking full advantage, simply bought everything she wanted...
At that moment, Rhodes finally experienced the terror of shopping with a girl.
Fortunately, Water 7 was full of special mounts called Yagara Bulls. He used several Bulls to carry Nami's shopping bags, then he and Nami rode them toward the city center.
Upon arriving at their destination, Nami scratched her head while looking at the overflowing carts of clothing bags. She said sheepishly:
"That might be... a bit much..."
"..."
Rhodes was speechless. You're only just realizing this now?
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from the courtyard:
"Hey, Rhodes! What brings you here?"
Rhodes turned to see Zoro walking out with three swords at his waist, looking surprised.
Rhodes narrowed his eyes slightly, glanced at the swords, and said:
"Did your sword break?"
"Ah, yeah."
Zoro's expression darkened, his tone heavy.
Yubashiri, which he'd obtained in Loguetown, had been destroyed a few days ago by a user of the Sabi Sabi no Mi—the Rust-Rust Fruit.
"As a swordsman, failing to protect your blade is shameful," Rhodes said.
"Do you have a solution?"
Zoro, quick-witted, immediately grasped Rhodes's implication and looked at him hopefully.
"Of course."
Rhodes nodded toward the carts of clothing:
"Help move these inside, and I'll teach you a special power to protect your swords."
"Deal!"
Zoro was filled with energy, not worried that someone as powerful as Rhodes would deceive him. In short order, he'd moved everything inside.
"Thank you!"
Nami said happily, running inside to try on her new clothes.
Seeing Zoro—breathless and sweating profusely yet still staring at him intently—Rhodes smiled faintly and slowly drew his cursed blade.
"Yoto—one of the Saijo O Wazamono!"
Zoro's eyes gleamed with envy.
The Supreme Grade Blades were among the highest aspirations for any swordsman.
"This is a power called Armament Haki."
After mastering Armament Haki, Rhodes had realized that relying solely on a supreme blade wasn't always optimal. So he sheathed the sword and extended his hand. His Armament Haki hardened, and his arm instantly turned pitch black.
"Try drawing your sword and striking it."
Rhodes smiled.
"That... alright."
Seeing Rhodes's serious expression, Zoro slowly drew Wado Ichimonji, gripped it with one hand, and slashed down with only seventy percent of his strength.
CLANG!
The blade struck Rhodes's hand, producing a metallic ring that left Zoro's jaw hanging open.
"Are you trying to tickle me?"
Rhodes casually grabbed the blade. Wado Ichimonji froze completely in mid-air. No matter how hard Zoro strained, he couldn't move it even a fraction.
"This..."
Zoro leaned in, examining Rhodes's arm repeatedly, but couldn't find a single drop of blood despite the sword strike. He couldn't help but feel profound shock.
Although he'd only used seventy percent of his strength, combined with the sharpness of a Wazamono-grade blade like Wado Ichimonji, the strike should have been enough to cut through steel.
Yet Rhodes's skin remained completely intact.
"This kind of power..."
Zoro's eyes shone brightly as he looked at Rhodes with intense desire.
Rhodes smiled and explained casually:
"This is Armament Haki. When coated on a blade, it prevents damage from external forces and amplifies offensive power."
With that demonstration, he casually gripped the wall, creating a large indentation. The solid structure seemed as fragile as tofu under his hand.
"Can I... learn it?"
Zoro felt as if a cat's claws were scratching his heart. Having just lost Yubashiri, he desperately craved this miraculous Haki power.
"Sure."
Rhodes nodded. He didn't mind teaching Zoro some Haki fundamentals in advance.
Over the next few days, Rhodes toured Water 7 under Nami's guidance during the day, enjoying the food and sights.
After returning each night, he taught Zoro about Armament Haki.
Of course, due to the limited time, Rhodes only covered the basics, letting Zoro comprehend and develop the skill independently.
Time passed quickly.
The Hero of the Marines, Vice Admiral Garp, finally arrived.
(End of Chapter)
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