"In addition to entwining and hardening, Armament also has various applications. I won't elaborate one by one. In short, learning techniques varies in difficulty, but in real combat, there's no distinction between strong and weak."
Garp said in a deep voice, "Ultimately, no matter which technique you excel at, you have to increase the intensity! Only intensity is the essence of Armament, and it's the direction you should solely aim to improve!"
Shano had long understood this principle.
One force breaks ten techniques, just like when sparring swords with Kuina and Zoro before...
Shhh——
The distant treetop suddenly rustled, startling the birds into flight.
Shano, whose thoughts were interrupted, looked up towards the sound and happened to see the figure wearing a wide-brimmed brown hat descending from the sky, stepping on Moonwalk.
Bogart?
Shano instantly recognized the person's identity.
This guy looked quite young, in his twenties or thirties, but he had followed Garp since before the Divine Valley incident, at least an age contemporary with Akainu.
"Mr. Garp."
Bogart frowned as he spoke, "Vice Admiral Yamakaji sent a message saying that the Buggy Pirates have been driven out of the East Sea, and they're currently docked at a nearby navy port, set to return to Marinfanto early tomorrow morning. We need to move immediately."
"Why the rush?"
Garp impatiently scratched his ear, "Old man just returned home a few days ago. Can't I rest for two more days?"
"But your leave is about to expire, and don't forget, Vice Admiral, this time we hitched a ride on their ship, while your flagship is being repaired at headquarters."
Bogart's face was expressionless, "If we don't move now, we'll have to swim across the Windless Zone ourselves tomorrow."
"...Uh." Garp's movements stiffened.
Though swimming through the Windless Zone wasn't much of a challenge for him, it was indeed tiring. Nothing beats lounging comfortably on a deck soaking up the sun.
"Alright."
Garp begrudgingly agreed, just as Luffy and Ace walked over. He extended his large hand, rubbing his grandsons' heads vigorously.
"I'm leaving! Remember to listen to Dadan. Next time I return, if you don't look like at least a marine recruit, see how I deal with you!"
No one wants to be a marine! Luffy protested loudly, but Ace stopped him with a look—dummy, just go along with his words since he's leaving!
"Mr. Garp."
This time it was Shano speaking, calling out to Garp who was ready to turn away.
He clenched his fist, feeling the elusive presence of Armament's Qi, "Aren't you planning to explain?"
"What?" Garp looked at him, puzzled.
"I'm not a kid, so I'm not that easy to fool." Shano grinned, "You're confident I can understand, but honestly, we don't know each other well, so there's no reason for you to teach me such great stuff on our first meeting, right?"
"Didn't you save Luffy from mountain bandits last year? It's only normal for me to repay that life-saving grace on behalf of my grandson." Garp raised an eyebrow.
"It was just a misunderstanding. I don't believe Luffy hasn't explained it to you clearly."
"...It really can't be hid, can it?" Garp scratched his head a bit gloomily.
"Alright, then let's be honest. When there was a vacancy for the Seven Warlords of the Sea, it was I who took the initiative to propose inviting Sea Hero Jinbe to Sengoku."
"Initially, I only thought that with Jinbe's character, him filling the position was better than granting pirates the legal right to plunder, but I didn't anticipate the Sun Pirates splitting afterward, Ah Long establishing his own, leaving the East Sea, all that mess."
"Konomi Island saw multiple towns and villages suffer heavy casualties."
Garp sighed deeply, "And if it weren't for a little monster like you appearing in Cocoyashi Village, it might not have escaped disaster, so when I first saw your photo in the newspaper, there was a sense of guilt in my heart. Meeting you in person made me somewhat ashamed."
"It's not necessary." Shano shook his head slightly, "The grudge with Ah Long is already enough to be pinned on Jinbe, what does it have to do with you?"
"But there's still this hurdle in my heart that's hard to overcome. However, hearing you say that makes me feel somewhat better."
Garp suddenly grinned, patting his shoulder, "Consider Armament as compensation from me. Keep practicing hard, kid, make yourself stronger! With your talent, someday, you might become so strong that even when you've been gone for a long time, those ill-intentioned guys will tremble with fear just hearing it's your hometown and flee like frightened dogs!"
You're strong enough, and your reputation is already intimidating.
But when Mountain Bandit King Siger broke into Windmill Village...
Shano couldn't help but mutter internally, but didn't express it in words. He stood with Luffy and Ace, watching Garp and Bogart's figures gradually disappear at the edge of the forest.
"It's really not easy, that old geezer finally left!"
Luffy completely relaxed, lying on the grass and stretching leisurely, suddenly remembered something and turned, looking at Shano with a grin:
"Hey, Brother Shano! We're going back to find Dadan, want to come along and have a feast together to celebrate?"
"It'll be late at night when we get there, right? Scar and the others came with me this time too. There are quite a few people, might not be enough space."
"Don't worry, there are plenty of spare rooms! We can arrange it all! Sabo's room has been unoccupied, you can stay there tonight!"
Sabo's room?
Shano nodded, showing a genuine smile: "Alright."
...
Harbor.
Bogart, about to buy boat tickets for the navy port nearby, looked at Garp yawning beside him and suddenly thought of something wrong.
"Mr. Garp, where's your dog head cap?"
"Hmm?"
Garp paused, reflexively reached, but found it empty.
"How strange..." The old man puzzledly checked all four pockets thoroughly, "I clearly remember picking it up after the fight and putting it in my pocket, did it accidentally fall out again?"
"Your careless and forgetful nature is really hard to change..." Bogart was speechless.
"Just criticize me?" Garp glared at him disapprovingly, "You've been so great, haven't you? Tell me, where's your hat?"
"Isn't it right here on my head?"
Bogart didn't understand Garp's question, chuckled and touched his head with his right hand, but ended up grasping at air, suddenly realizing.
Eh, where's my hat?!!
Could it be the wind at the harbor blew it away accidentally?
...
"They're all good stuff."
Late at night, leaning against Sabo's headboard, Shano, flushed from wine, belched contentedly after feasting, looking at the system panel in front of him with satisfaction.
Scrolling through the stream of information, confirming his sweat and effort paid off.
[You've sacrificed Garp's dog head cap, received 4000 points]
[You've sacrificed Bogart's wide-brimmed hat, received 200 points]
[You've sacrificed Sabo's old coat, received 150 points]
[You've sacrificed Ace's adult magazine hidden under the bed, received 250 points]
[You've sacrificed Dadan's collectible wine, received 50 points]
[You've sacrificed Luffy's imitation straw hat, received 3000 points]