Just as the echo of Gern's words faded and the atmosphere in the bar remained slightly stiff, Makino approached at just the right moment, a wine jug in her hands.
She gently refilled Gern's empty cup with golden ale, her soft voice breaking the heavy mood.
"Sir… they're still just children."
The words were like warm sunlight, dispersing some of the chill.
The three brothers seemed to snap back to themselves as well, shaken out of Gern's warning about the sea that devours without mercy. Their youthful, unyielding spirits immediately took over again.
Especially Luffy, who was still tied to the pillar—he struggled with all his might and shouted,
"I'm not scared at all! When I grow up, I'll definitely punch you flying! One hundred percent!!"
Ace and Sabo quickly chimed in as well, shouting out various bold declarations, trying to drown out that fleeting moment of unease with sheer volume.
Gern paid no attention to the children's tough talk. Instead, Makino's intervention drew his gaze to her.
Looking at the kind, perceptive tavern owner, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
"To be able to speak one's dreams so openly… and to be willing to give everything for them…""That alone is already proof of being a man."
"And besides, beautiful Miss Makino…" Gern paused briefly, his tone softening,"I, too, bear a kind of 'justice' that I have no choice but to see through to the end."
When the word justice was spoken so clearly from Gern's mouth—
Makino froze for a fraction of a second.
Then, in her clear eyes, a flash of realization and shock flickered past.
She didn't point anything out. She only nodded quietly, her gaze gaining a hint of understanding—and a trace of subtle worry.
After all, talking about becoming pirates in front of a Marine was never appropriate.
At the same time, Gern didn't linger any longer. He drained his cup in one go, then reached into his coat and took out a stack of Beli—more than enough to cover the meal, with plenty left over.
He placed it lightly on the bar, where it made a crisp sound.
"Thank you for the hospitality, Miss Makino."
With that, he stood up cleanly and pushed open the wooden door of the bar.
Inside, Makino looked at the stack of Beli on the counter, then at the three boys who were already chattering excitedly about how they'd get stronger and how they'd defeat Gern one day.
When her gaze landed on Ace in particular, her expression turned serious.
"Ace," she asked softly, "do you remember what I taught you?"
As she spoke, she raised both hands and crossed her fingers gracefully in front of her chest, forming a clear X.
Ace stared at the gesture, stunned for a moment—then understood.
That gesture meant politeness.It meant if you've received someone's kindness, you should respond to it properly.
And when he thought about it again—That weird old man might have been strong and annoying, but he really had treated them to a huge meal… and he hadn't actually hurt them.
Ace fell silent for a few seconds.
Then he nodded firmly, walked over to the pillar, and untangled Luffy from the rubber bindings.
After that, he turned to Luffy and Sabo and said,
"Come on. Let's go outside."
...…
Outside the bar, the streets of Windmill Village were dyed a warm orange-red by the setting sun.
Gern hadn't gone very far when Ace's clear, youthful voice rang out from behind him.
"Hey! You weird old man up ahead! Wait!"
"Hm?" Gern stopped and glanced back slightly. "What is it?"
"I don't know if you lied to us or if you really are the old man's friend—but you did treat us to food!""So tell us your name! Young weird old man!"
"My name?" Gern repeated, putting on a deliberately puzzled look as he turned to face the three boys who had chased after him."But I don't even know what you three brats are called yet."
"You don't need to know that!" Ace planted his hands on his hips, a supremely confident grin spreading across his face as he met Gern's gaze."Because it won't be long before the names of the three of us are famous across the entire sea! When that happens, you'll know naturally!"
But as he said this, it seemed as though it still wasn't enough.
Or perhaps some inexplicable impulse deep in his heart pushed him to formally announce their existence—to this mysterious "weird old man."
The three brothers exchanged glances, took a deep breath together, then pointed to themselves and each other in turn, their voices ringing clearly through the streets of Windmill Village.
"Of course, I can tell you right now!"
"Monkey D. Luffy!"
"Portgas D. Ace!"
"Sabo!"
"Remember these three names—because they will echo to the very ends of this sea!"
The declaration was forceful and ringing, filled with boundless anticipation for the future and an unquestionable resolve.
Watching those confident, radiant smiles beneath the sunset, hearing that incredibly familiar way of announcing oneself—almost as if it transcended time—
Gern froze for a moment.
Then, unable to hold back any longer, he threw his head back and burst into a loud, heartfelt laugh, tinged with unmistakable emotion.
"Hahahahaha! Hahahahaha!"
He laughed so freely that Luffy and Sabo stared at him in confusion, and even Ace's confident expression wavered slightly.
"Weird old man… what are you laughing at?!" Ace demanded, clearly displeased.
"Haha… nothing, nothing…" Gern's laughter gradually subsided. He raised a hand and wiped at eyes that might not even have been wet, a trace of gentle nostalgia flickering in his gaze.
"It's just… it reminded me of some things from when I was young.Some things… only someone with a boy's reckless spirit would dare to do."
As he spoke, memories surfaced in Gern's mind—
Years ago, when he had first been promoted to Marine Headquarters…When, in a chance encounter, he'd faced the towering, mountain-like figure of Whitebeard—Edward Newgate—at his absolute peak…
Back then, he too had drawn his blade against the strongest, standing tall without fear, shouting those very words—
"Gern Reginald Sigmar! Remember this name—because it will echo to the very ends of this sea!"
Time flowed on. The world changed.
That young Marine who had once challenged legends had now become a legend of the new era himself.
And now, standing before him, were three boys assuming almost the exact same posture—challenging not only him, but the entire old era.
It was a strange kind of cycle.A passing down of spirit.
Slowly, Gern gathered his emotions back in. His gaze returned to calm as he looked at the three fiery-eyed boys before him, a faint curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"I'll remember your names."
"Monkey D. Luffy. Portgas D. Ace. And Sabo."
"As for my name…" Gern paused, his tone calm and open."Just call me 'Gern.'"
"That's what everyone who knows me calls me."
With that, Gern didn't linger any longer. He turned, waved a hand casually, and his figure gradually disappeared toward the far end of Windmill Village's street.
Ace and Luffy remained standing there, staring at the empty street.
"Gern?" Ace clasped his hands behind his head and remarked casually,"So that young weird old man's name was Gern, huh?"
Luffy peered in the same direction, his expression innocent as ever."Yeah! Gern! He even treated us to meat—he's a pretty nice weird old man!"
But behind them—
Sabo looked as though he'd been struck by lightning.
His face went deathly pale, his body swayed—and with a thud, he collapsed onto the ground, sitting there in a daze as he muttered,
"Gern… Gern Reginald Sigmar…He's Gern Reginald Sigmar!!"
Hearing Sabo's dreamlike shout—calling out the full name—Ace and Luffy both turned around in confusion.
Luffy tilted his head, utterly baffled."Sabo, how do you know the weird old man's full name? He only said 'Gern' just now!"
Sabo suddenly looked up. His face was filled with unprecedented shock—and a complex emotion that defied description.
Looking at his two still-unknowing brothers, his voice trembled as he spoke,
"Ace! Luffy!He's Gern Reginald Sigmar! He's a Marine Headquarters Admiral—'White Qilin'!!"
"When I was still living at home, my parents—and their noble colleagues—used to talk about that name all the time!I've never seen him, but I remember the name clearly!"
"But… they preferred to call that man—"
"'Heavenquake.'"
"'Heavenquake'? Heavenquake Gern…" Ace frowned, repeating the title that carried an oppressive weight just from hearing it.
Still confused, he looked at the unusually grave Sabo."So what's the problem with that?An admiral… that's just a really strong Marine, right? Like old man Garp."
Looking at Ace's lingering confusion—and Luffy, who clearly had no idea what was going on—
Sabo bit down hard on his lip, then slowly raised his eyes, his gaze heavy as it locked onto Ace.
Especially those eyes—so frighteningly similar to a certain legend.
His voice came out as if squeezed from between clenched teeth, each word heavy and deliberate.
"The problem is…"
"The Pirate King… Gol D. Roger…"
"Was the one he—was the one that man who just treated us to food and joked around with us—"
"Personally captured… and sent to prison!"
"It was him… it was him who arrested—"
"The Pirate King!!!!"