Harlan Flint leaned back at Galehaven Comics, a faint smile on his face as he looked at the new titles: Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! and Yu-Gi-Oh.
The first, Chuunibyou, made him chuckle nostalgically—everyone had a phase of youthful delusions, saying grand lines like "The world's wrong, not me!" or "Bow, mortals, to this dark angel!" Looking back as an adult, those antics brought a mix of embarrassment and fondness, a phase he had long outgrown. In the comic, Rikka Takanotsume truly embodied that chuunibyou spirit, her "Evil King's True Eye" and cries of "Burst reality! Banish this world!" practically jumped off the page. Her over-the-top style was even more dramatic than Harlan's own past antics, a hilarious contrast to his current grounded self. Yet, beneath the comedy, Rikka's fragile heart hid a deeper story—her father's death made her want to see him in a parallel world, her "True Eye" a desperate bridge to that loss. Yuta Togashi, her unwilling partner in delusion, offered comfort, turning her quirks into a bittersweet bond that tugged at Harlan's emotions.
"If Fischl ever reads this, Mondstadt's 'Prinzessin der Verurteilung' might trade her raven for an Evil King's eyepatch," he mused, picturing the funny scenario.
The second comic, Yu-Gi-Oh, was different—a card-based epic tracing back five thousand years to ancient fate-weaving rituals. Yugi Muto's Millennium Puzzle released Dark Games, where duels of light and shadow crowned him Duel King alongside his other self, Atem. Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Dark Magician, and Millennium artifacts pulsed with power, a spectacle Harlan knew would attract Mondstadt's thrill-seekers. "These should draw in the crowds—Wendy has fresh material for his songs," he thought, stretching as the sun set outside.
He put the new comics on the shelves, their covers bright against the wood, then hung a "Closed" sign on the door with a satisfied nod. He thought about the day's sales—two customers in the morning, four by afternoon, six total, earning him 600,000 Mora in a single day. As word of Galehaven Comics spread, more people would come, increasing his funds and moving him closer to the system's thirty-guest goal.
The system pinged, its panel glowing with a prompt: "Business closed—draw a reward from existing comics." Harlan's pulse quickened, a grin appearing on his face. "Finally—my turn to experience this magic." Watching Lumine, Barbara, and the others claim prizes had made him eager to try his luck.
Five comics now lined his shelves: One Piece: East Sea Saga, Cardcaptor Sakura's Magic, Digimon: First Frontier, Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai!, and Yu-Gi-Oh. Most were full of power—Devil Fruits, Clow Cards, Digimon—while Chuunibyou was lighter, a daily comedy with less combat focus.
Harlan wanted something direct, a boost to his own strength, not dependent on external tools like cards or creatures. He couldn't stay hidden in the shop forever, and as its fame grew, curious eyes—especially from the Fatui—might become hostile. Jean's group played fair, but today's conflict with Anastasia hinted at trouble brewing beyond his control.
"I need raw power—something to rely on myself," he decided, looking at One Piece for its Devil Fruits and Haki.
"System, draw from One Piece: East Sea Saga," he commanded, his voice steady as anticipation built inside him. The system whirred, its response flashing: "Drawing Reward—Garp's Armament Haki."
Harlan held his breath as the details appeared: a mastery of attack and defense, hardening the body to strike and shield with devastating force. At its peak, this Haki could shatter foes from within, a gift perfected by Navy hero Garp—capable of earth-shattering blows even in untrained hands.
"Not bad—my luck is holding strong," he said, a satisfied grin spreading as he savored the prize. Among Haki's strongest users, Shanks controlled Conqueror's, his aura splitting skies; Katakuri mastered Observation, seeing into the future; Garp claimed Armament, his fists becoming legend. Garp's legacy was clear—the Iron Fist who crushed Rocks with Roger, pursued the Pirate King, and defeated powerful figures like Marco and Badgers with bare-knuckled might. A single punch could take down a 500-million-Beri giant, a testament to decades of perfecting this armored ability. For Harlan, defenseless beyond the shop's walls, this combination of offense and defense was perfect.
The system's light flared, embedding Garp's Armament Haki into him, a steel-clad power now his to wield.