"Y–You really came looking for me?"
When Li Bo heard Gern say he'd come specifically to find her, confusion flickered across her face.
She tilted her head, pink eyes shimmering with uncertainty as thoughts raced through her mind.
If this guy really came all this way just to find me… then doesn't that mean I totally misunderstood him?
The Mink Tribe's hearts were frighteningly pure.
As the realization sank in, she began circling Gern, examining him from every angle. At 168 centimeters, her petite frame looked especially small beside Gern's towering 221-centimeter height. Her long, drooping rabbit ears swayed gently with each step.
When her gaze landed on the white cloak draped across his back, her brow creased slightly.
"I've seen those two words before…" she muttered, pointing at the cape. "Pedro said something about them once…"
She squinted. "I think it means… Justice?"
At this point in time, very few within the Mokomo Dukedom truly understood the outside world. Most of the Mink Tribe had no real knowledge beyond their homeland.
That was precisely why Inuarashi and Nekomamushi had once ventured out—only to nearly be roasted alive after drifting into Wano.
"Want to know who I really am?" Gern asked with a faint smile.
"Yes! Yes!" Li Bo nodded furiously.
"Then watch closely!"
Gern suddenly lowered his stance, striking an exaggeratedly dramatic pose. His fist clenched as he swung his arm like a transforming Kamen Rider, his Justice cloak billowing behind him as he shouted:
"That's right! I am the hero of justice—Gern!!"
Far away, at Marineford.
Inside Marine Headquarters' academy.
Zephyr, who was in the middle of teaching a class to new recruits, suddenly sneezed violently.
His brow twitched as he muttered darkly,"That bastard Gern… don't think catching two billion-berry pirates means I'll approve of you picking some furry as a vice captain…"
Back in the Mokomo Dukedom—
Li Bo stared at Gern frozen in his dramatic pose.
"Hero of justice… Gern?!"Her eyes sparkled, ears shooting upright. "That's amazing! So you're not a carrot thief?!"
"Correct." Gern straightened up without a shred of embarrassment and spread his hands casually."And honestly—do I look like someone who needs to steal carrots?"
Thinking back to their brief clash, Li Bo realized she really had jumped to conclusions. She scratched her head awkwardly, then instantly bounced back to her energetic self, patting Gern's arm familiarly.
"Wow, I can't believe I messed that up!" she laughed cheerfully.
Then—without warning—she leapt forward and hugged him tightly, rubbing her cheek against his face in a typical Mink greeting, all hostility completely gone.
"But if you're a hero of justice," she asked curiously, "what are you doing in the Mokomo Dukedom?"
"Because—" Gern was just about to explain when his stomach suddenly betrayed him.
Grrrrrr—!
Li Bo's ears shot straight up. Her pink eyes went wide.
"Ah! You're hungry?!"
"Ahem." Gern coughed lightly, trying to save face. "I used a lot of energy getting up here…"
"Oh! That makes sense!" Li Bo's face lit up instantly. "You should've said so!"
She grabbed his wrist excitedly and shook it."Come on! I'll take you to eat something good! Let's make up for the misunderstanding!"
Gern chuckled, surprised by how quickly she'd changed gears."Well then, I'll gladly accept."
But just as he took a step—
Crunch.
A sharp sound echoed beneath his foot.
Gern looked down.
A carrot—half-buried in the soil—had been crushed cleanly under his boot.
"…."
The air froze.
Li Bo's smile stiffened.
Her gaze slowly drifted downward, locking onto the broken carrot.
"M… my… carrot…"
Her voice trembled. Her ears slowly rose, and every strand of fur on her tail stood on end.
Gern immediately lifted his foot. "S-Sorry! I didn't mean to—"
"YOU DARE STEP ON MY CARROT!!!"
Her voice shot up an octave as she exploded forward like a bolt of white lightning.
"Wait—listen, I can explain—!"
Too late.
She tackled him flat to the ground.
On the road to Crescent Moon Village
"This is ridiculous…" Gern muttered, rubbing his neck as he swallowed dryly."Did my Observation Haki and intangibility just… fail? I almost got soloed by a rabbit."
Thinking back to her furious pounce, he still felt a chill down his spine.
If he hadn't instinctively used his vibration ability to make every carrot in the field jump out of the ground at once, he'd probably be walking around with bite marks on his neck.
"Hey! What are you spacing out for?"
Li Bo's voice snapped him back to reality.
She hopped ahead of him, then turned around with a tilt of her head. Her long ears swayed gently, and she wore a bright, carefree smile—like nothing had happened.
Gern laughed helplessly."You Minks really cool off as fast as you explode."
"Of course!" Li Bo puffed out her chest proudly, hands on her hips. "We're the most straightforward people there are!"
She slapped his arm playfully."Anyway, that's all in the past! Come on, I'll take you to the village and let you try the best food ever!"
"Alright, alright." Gern nodded, just as she suddenly leaned in again, eyes wide with curiosity.
"By the way… how did you make all the carrots jump earlier?"
"Well…" Gern grinned knowingly, lifting a finger as faint vibration particles gathered at its tip."It's my ability. I can control vibrations."
"Whoa!" Her ears shot straight up again. "So you shook them out of the ground?!"
"Pretty much." He shrugged. "Just a light vibration."
Li Bo nodded thoughtfully, then leaned in with a mischievous grin."Then if I bite you again next time, can you make them pop out again?"
"..."
This rabbit's train of thought moves faster than her feet.
"Li Bo," Gern said patiently, "I think we can build a more peaceful relationship."
"Like what?" she asked innocently.
"Well… you could tell me what you want instead of biting me."
"Hmmm…" She tilted her head, thought for a moment, then grinned brightly."Okay! Then I want you to teach me that carrot-jumping power!"
Gern raised an eyebrow. "You want to learn vibration control?"
"Yes!" she nodded enthusiastically. "That way harvesting carrots will be way easier!"
Gern couldn't help but laugh.
The Mink Tribe's innocence really was something else.
"I suppose I could… but—" he dragged out the word deliberately, "you'll have to take me to the village first. I need to eat."
"Deal!" Li Bo cheered, grabbing his hand and tugging him forward."Hurry up! There's tons of delicious food!"
She giggled as she skipped ahead, long ears bouncing with each step.
They followed a winding forest path, the trees gradually thinning until open farmland appeared before them.
Li Bo pointed excitedly ahead."Look! That's Crescent Moon Village!"
Gern followed her gaze. A settlement of stone and wooden buildings sat peacefully ahead, smoke rising gently from chimneys. Laughter and song drifted faintly through the air.
"Come on!" she shouted, grabbing his wrist again and dragging him forward.
Gern stumbled slightly, then smiled as he looked at the lively rabbit girl pulling him along.
Maybe… this trip to the Mokomo Dukedom will be a lot more interesting than I expected.