"Pure gold can cure diseases, but it's not omnipotent," Luffy began, his tone unusually serious. "If someone breaks an arm or loses a leg, pure gold won't magically grow it back. But the healing fruit… that's a different story. As long as you're willing to consume your lifespan, it can restore you to how you were before you got hurt. Every injury, no matter how severe, could be undone."
His words hung in the air, heavy with implications.
"But," he continued, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous spark, "if the user of the healing fruit wears pure gold, then they can heal anyone without suffering any damage themselves. Think about it! No more worrying about injuries or sickness—not for me, not for my crew."
He leaned back, crossing his arms with a satisfied grin. "What? You didn't think I'd keep all that healing potential to myself, did you? I've got a crew to look after. Giving each of them a piece of pure gold isn't practical. This way, we could heal anyone, anytime."
The room fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. His companions stared, their minds racing to imagine the possibilities. A healing fruit combined with pure gold—it sounded almost too good to be true.
Hancock's gaze lingered on Luffy, her thoughts drifting to when he had first helped her. He had mentioned someone who could completely erase her mark. Could it be… her?
"Luffy," Hancock finally asked, her voice soft but insistent, "the person you mentioned before… the one who could remove scars entirely… is that the user of the healing fruit?"
Luffy nodded, his expression calm but resolute. "Yes. No matter how deep the scar or how old, she can erase it entirely. Of course," he added with a sly grin, "we keep that little detail between us."
Hancock's heart swelled with gratitude. If her sisters weren't present, she might have embraced him right then and there.
Meanwhile, Nami swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she broke the silence. "So… where is it? The pure gold?"
All eyes turned to Luffy, anticipation crackling in the air. He let the moment stretch, drumming his fingers on the table with deliberate slowness. The women shifted in their seats, barely able to contain their impatience.
Finally, he spoke. "It's in the belly of a giant lantern fish. Specifically, in the lantern. Or maybe around the lantern?" He shrugged nonchalantly. "Either way, the pure gold is inside a lantern fish—one bigger than an island."
The revelation hit like a thunderclap.
"A… lantern fish?" Nami echoed, her brow furrowing in disbelief.
The others shared her bewilderment. They had expected the pure gold to be hidden away on some forgotten island or in the treasure hoard of an ancient being. But inside a fish? And a fish the size of an island, no less?
Luffy shrugged again, this time more sheepishly. "What we know is that the lantern fish roams the New World. It's attracted to the light of pure gold, but tracking it down? Well… that's the tricky part."
Gion, arms crossed and a skeptical frown on her face, finally broke her silence. "You're not seriously suggesting we search the entire New World using only your observation Haki, are you?"
The room erupted into chaos as the women began clearing the table, spreading out a detailed map of the New World. Luffy's companions, far from discouraged, seemed energized by the challenge.
"Everyone, clear some space!" Nami barked, her navigator instincts taking over. "Luffy, tell me—what's the range of your observation Haki right now?"
"Uh, I'd say about 150 to 160 kilometers, if I really push it," Luffy answered, rubbing the back of his head.
The room fell silent again, but this time it wasn't disbelief—it was awe.
"Did… did he just say 150 kilometers?" Gion stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "That's… impossible."
Kujaku, rolling her eyes at Gion's reaction, shot back, "Newbie, if you don't know how incredible Luffy is by now, maybe keep quiet and let the pros handle this."
Gion bristled but held her tongue, the sheer absurdity of Luffy's range still swirling in her mind.
Luffy stood, closing his eyes as he released his observation Haki to its fullest extent. His focus was unwavering as he scanned the map laid out before him. After a few moments, his finger landed on a specific island.
"There," he said confidently. "How far is that from us?"
Nami leaned over the map, quickly calculating. "About 130 kilometers in a straight line. Is that within your range?"
"Easily," Luffy replied with a grin.
Gion's jaw dropped. A radius of 130 kilometers? It was beyond anything she had ever encountered.
Meanwhile, Yamato tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Is 130 kilometers… a lot?" she asked innocently.
Nami gave her a flat look. "How far can you sense?"
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