"Kuma… if you were to travel, where would you want to go?"
The sudden question caught Kuma completely off guard. He froze, clearly not expecting Gern to ask something like that.
"Travel…?" Kuma blinked, tilting his head slightly as he looked at him in confusion. "I… I've never really thought about it."
"Is that so?" Gern smiled faintly, his gaze drifting across the modest yet warm interior of the church.
On the wooden table sat a few pieces of slightly burnt bread. In the corner lay bundles of medicinal herbs Kuma had gathered from the forest. A few mended clothes hung on the wall—patched carefully, lovingly.
"You've made this place feel like a home," Gern said lightly. "You're living with a girl, aren't you?"
"Ah—"Kuma stiffened. Thinking of Ginny, his eyes instinctively darted away. Flustered, he hurriedly changed the subject.
"Mr. Gern… I'm satisfied with my life right now. I haven't really thought about traveling."
The Paw-Paw Fruit was an incredibly powerful ability—one Gern himself had once been drawn to.Unfortunately, whether due to fate or the cruel inertia of the world, he had missed his chance.
Still… the current bearer of that power—Kuma—had the potential to become something truly extraordinary.
And as Gern continued to rise within the Marines, he knew one thing clearly:one day, he would need his own faction—his own version of justice.
Rather than relying on the existing powers within the Marines, he preferred gathering allies from outside the system.
People like Kuma.
As for Kuma joining the Revolutionary Army in the future?Gern believed that was more circumstance than conviction—largely due to Ivankov and Ginny's influence.
At heart, Kuma didn't have strong ambitions.
He simply wanted to help people.
And if he had to choose whom to help—why not me?
At least when Kuma needed help most…I wouldn't just stand there sweating.
"Big Kuma! Big Kuma!"
A cheerful voice suddenly called from outside.
"Auntie gave me some freshly baked bread! Come try it!"
"That must be her," Gern said with a faint smile. Even through the wooden door, he could feel Ginny's energy.
"Big Kuma! I'm back!"
The door creaked open, and Ginny stepped inside.
Her pink hair swayed gently as she moved, her youthful energy filling the room. At seventeen, she had grown into a lively young woman, her bright eyes and radiant smile lighting up the space instantly.
But the moment she saw the man standing beside Kuma—
Her smile froze.
Her steps halted.
"Ginny?" Kuma noticed immediately. He turned toward her, concern rising in his voice.
Her face had gone pale. A fine sheen of cold sweat beaded across her forehead.
"You… you—why are you here?!" she gasped, pointing at Gern, her voice trembling with fear.
"Kuma?" He looked from her to Gern, completely confused.
Gern, meanwhile, remained calm—almost amused—as though he had expected this reaction all along.
"Ginny," Kuma said gently, resting a large hand on her shoulder, "do you know Mr. Gern?"
Her pupils shrank violently. Her fingers trembled uncontrollably as she stared at his faint, unreadable smile.
"Big Kuma… stay away from him…" Her voice quivered, stretched taut with terror."He's a Marine officer… Headquarters level…"
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed.
"Two months ago… the one in the newspapers… the man who severely wounded Golden Lion with a single strike—'Heaven-Shaking' Gern!"
The air froze.
Kuma rarely read newspapers, but the moment he heard Gern's identity, his body stiffened.
Because he and Ginny were escaped slaves of the Celestial Dragons.
"Haha…"Gern casually tipped his hat, a crooked grin forming on his lips.
"I didn't expect my reputation to reach even the South Blue."
"Guess the World Economy News really knows how to sell a story."
Suddenly, Ginny rushed forward, placing herself between him and Kuma. Her slender arms spread wide like a mother shielding her child.
"What do you want?!" she cried, her voice shaking. "Does hunting escaped slaves really make you feel proud?!"
Gern looked at her taut expression, then let out a quiet laugh.
Slowly, deliberately, he removed his hat, revealing his full face.
"Relax," he said lightly."I'm currently… on va·ca·tion~"
Despite the playful tone, Ginny shuddered.
Every image she had of him came from the newspapers—the man who nearly killed Golden Lion with a single strike.
In this era, that name represented the very pinnacle of power.
Who wouldn't be afraid?
"Sigh… how about we start over?" Gern said, bowing exaggeratedly like a gentleman."Allow me to introduce myself properly."
He looked at Kuma first."Kind-hearted Bartholomew Kuma."
Then his gaze shifted to Ginny.
"And… Jewelry Ginny."
Ginny's breath caught.
He knew their full names.
That meant one thing—this Marine had already investigated them thoroughly.
—
Kuma noticed Ginny's trembling shoulders, the fear trembling through her frame like a blade against his heart.
I can't let her be afraid.
The thought exploded through him.
Before he realized it, his body moved.
He stepped in front of her, towering like a wall. His massive paw-shaped hands began to glow faintly as air compressed around them.
"Even if this is rude…" Kuma said quietly but firmly,"Please leave."
He thrust his palm forward—a blow capable of launching someone across the sea.
But—
Bang.
A single finger wrapped in jet-black Armament Haki met his palm.
The air froze.
"Sorry," Gern said with a faint grin, "but I'm not in the mood to go on a trip."
His fingertip, hardened like steel, completely nullified the Paw-Paw Fruit's repelling force.
"What…?!" Kuma's eyes widened in shock.
He had never encountered anything like this.
His power—stopped by a finger?
The shockwave rippled outward, rattling the church's old windows.
"Watch out!" Ginny screamed.
Kuma tried to push harder—but Gern's finger didn't budge an inch.
It was like pressing against an immovable mountain.
"What… is this power…?" Kuma whispered.
Gern withdrew his hand calmly.
"Haki," he said. "A power that can stand against Devil Fruits."
His gaze lowered to Kuma's palm."Your ability is incredible. But there are many forces in this world you haven't touched yet."
Ginny rushed forward and grabbed Kuma's arm protectively, staring at Gern with open hostility.
"What do you want from us?!"
Gern didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked past them—toward the sky beyond the church.
"I just wanted to tell you something," he said quietly.
"If you can't even get past one finger of mine… how do you plan to fight your real enemies?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Or tell me—if I truly meant harm… would you still be standing here when you came back, Ginny?"