"That move…" Red froze for a moment, both pleasantly surprised and yet unable to quite believe it.
Unsure, he asked, "You're talking about… Armament Haki!?"
"Yeah!" Luffy nodded, raising his fist and staring at it intently. "I feel like… there's some strange power inside my body…"
"I just don't know how to use it the way you described, Red!"
"Actually, I already had this feeling back when you taught me Headbutt. It's just a lot stronger now."
"What did you say!?"
Red sprang to his feet in excitement.
Pokémon moves could help Luffy cultivate Armament Haki!?
Wait!
A sudden flash of insight struck Red.
"If Armament Haki really is, like I thought, a manifestation of vital energy and physical force…"
"Then Normal-type Pokémon energy is also a way of tapping into the body's latent potential, isn't it?"
There really might be a connection between the two!
"Interesting."
Light flickered in Red's eyes as he pressed his lips together and smiled faintly.
If this guess was correct, then he truly had underestimated the machine's potential before!
By learning Normal-type moves to master control over the body, combined with the physical boosts from leveling up…
Perhaps he could even allow companions like Nami—who weren't suited for close combat—to use Armament Haki as well!
And if Armament Haki could be learned this way…
Then could Observation Haki be cultivated through perception-based Pokémon moves like Detect, Foresight, or Mind's Eye…?
Or even allow his companions to awaken Conqueror's Haki by using moves that strengthen mental power!?
"My god~"
Having suddenly discovered the correct way to use the machine, Red's expression turned serious.
"It seems that from now on, besides speedrunning progress, I'll also have to pay attention to other ways to utilize this game world."
Muttering to himself, he lifted his head and praised,
"Well done, Luffy!"
"Perfect timing too. Since you've already found the trigger for Armament Haki, I'll leave Zoro's training to you!"
"No problem! Leave it to me!" Luffy laughed heartily, thumping his chest.
Even though he himself had no idea how to teach others…
At this moment, Red added,
"Armament Haki is an essential ability for traveling the Grand Line!"
"It not only strengthens attack and defense, it's also necessary to deal with troublesome Logia-type Devil Fruit users."
"If we can't even use Armament Haki, the moment we enter the Grand Line, we could be completely shut down by a Logia user!"
"No one knows how many ignorant pirates have been buried there because of that."
"I don't want to become one of them."
"You two especially—don't ever underestimate the Grand Line!"
At this point, Red suddenly paused. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced subtly at Nami and continued thoughtfully,
"For example, the seemingly strongest pirate crew in the East Blue right now—the Arlong Pirates…"
"Huh!?"
Nami, who'd had little interest in training talk, suddenly stopped dead in her tracks, her gaze trembling as she looked over.
Red continued calmly,
"They were originally nothing more than remnants of a Fish-Man pirate crew—trash that couldn't even rank in the New World, the latter half of the Grand Line…"
"And yet here in the East Blue, they can rule their territory like kings, leaving the Marines helpless, becoming tyrants who oppress humans!"
"It's because situations like this happen so often that the East Blue is called the weakest sea!"
"Trash from the New World, the strongest in the East Blue, huh?"
"Looks like I really have been a frog in a well all these years…"
Zoro quickly grasped Red's meaning and let out a quiet, self-mocking laugh.
But the moment his hand rested on the hilt of his sword, boundless fighting spirit surged and burned within him.
He immediately declared loudly to Red,
"Don't worry, Vice-Captain Red!"
"No matter the cost, before we enter the Grand Line, I'll definitely master Armament Haki!"
"I won't drag our crew down!"
Luffy was powerful, Red possessed mysterious abilities, and Nami had top-tier navigation skills praised by Red himself…
Compared to them, he—who only had a bit of fame in the East Blue—really didn't fit in with this crew at all!
I'm just too weak!!!
Zoro quietly clenched his fists.
This sense of frustration… he hadn't felt it in many years.
Collecting his thoughts, Zoro looked earnestly at Luffy.
"Luffy, I'm counting on you from here on out!!!"
"Hehe~ we're companions!"
Luffy slapped Zoro on the back. Even though he hadn't yet mastered Armament Haki himself, he spoke with full confidence,
"Leave everything to me!"
"Red!"
At that moment, Nami—who had been silent all along—finally spoke, causing Red's brows to lift slightly as his back faced her.
"So you can't hold it in any longer…"
He let out a soft sigh inwardly, then turned around, looking casual.
"What is it, Nami?"
"Just now… you said the Arlong Pirates?"
"That Fish-Man pirate crew, the Arlong Pirates!?"
Nami's expression was complicated, her mind involuntarily recalling the words Red had said to her back in Shells Town.
"Yes. Why? You know that crew too?" Red asked, pretending ignorance.
It might be cruel, but there were things he had to make Nami say herself.
First, so she could truly trust Luffy and Zoro, and see them as companions she could entrust her life to.
Otherwise, it would be far too unfair to Luffy and Zoro, who trusted her one-sidedly.
Second, she had to break free from her own mental shackles—abandon the false hope of buying her village's freedom with one hundred million Beli.
Only then could she break and rebuild, completely severing ties with her past self!
"I…" Nami's voice caught in her throat.
Luffy and Zoro, who had been energized just moments ago, frowned as they sensed the shift in atmosphere.
But at this moment, Red stepped forward.
"Looks like you've already made up your mind, haven't you?"
"…Yes."
Crystal-clear tears slid down Nami's cheeks, falling heavily to the deck and soaking it.
Slowly, she rolled up her left sleeve, revealing a purple tattoo.
Sobbing, she said,
"I'm sorry, everyone…"
"Actually… I'm a member of the Arlong Pirates."
"What!?"
Luffy and Zoro's eyes widened in shock.
Zoro was about to demand an explanation, but Red suddenly raised a hand, stopping him.
Then he continued, gently addressing Nami,
"So this is why you've been scavenging money all over the seas?"
"…Yes."
Nami nodded again.
Red pulled out a tissue, handed it to her, then helped her pull her sleeve back down, hiding the detested mark from view.
"There's still a long time before we reach the next island."
"So Nami, say everything you want to say."
"The reasons that made you cry, the pain you've endured, and…"
"The things you hope your companions can do for you!"
When he spoke the last sentence, Red deliberately emphasized his tone.
Nami looked up and met his eyes—filled with compassion and encouragement.
For some reason, in that instant, she felt that Red already knew everything. He had simply been waiting for her to say it herself.
After a few seconds of silence, having steeled herself, she took a deep breath, lifted her head, and forced back her tears.
Then, facing Luffy and Zoro, she laid out her own experiences, and everything that had happened in Cocoyasi Village, in full detail.
More than ten minutes later, having finally vented the emotions she'd long kept bottled up, Nami clutched her chest and bowed deeply to Red and the others.
"Please… help me!!! Help Cocoyasi Village!!!"
"..."
After a moment of silence, Red suddenly turned his head and looked at Luffy.
"Well, Captain?"
"Your navigator is asking you for help."
"Should we do it?"
"What are you saying, Red?"
For once, Luffy wasn't joking around. His expression was grave.
He slowly settled his straw hat on his head, drew in a huge breath, and suddenly shouted toward the sky,
"Of course we will——!!!!!!!!!!"
The thunderous roar was like the wrath of a god, shattering the clouds in the heavens…
And at the same time…
It shattered the shackle around Nami's heart!
(End of Chapter)