South Sea, Sorbet Kingdom, port.
The Sorbet Kingdom is very divided. Half of its territory is a World Government affiliated nation, where nobles live lavishly and flags fly high.
The other half, however, is an lawless land, a mix of chaos and poverty, where even the World Government's reach doesn't bother to extend.
Lieutenant Gern's Marine warship from the East Blue branch naturally docked at the port of the World Government affiliated nation.
Officials of the Sorbet Kingdom were not surprised by this; Marine warships briefly stopping for resupply was a common occurrence.
As long as they didn't interfere with internal affairs, they were happy to turn a blind eye.
"Lieutenant Gern, we'll be heading back now." The chief petty officer on the warship saluted Gern, who was dressed in black plain clothes.
"Go ahead!" Gern smiled and waved his hand, "If I need to leave later, I'll contact the South Sea branch directly."
Watching the warship slowly sail out of the port, Gern took a deep breath, feeling the humid air unique to the South Sea.
Immediately after, he pulled down his hat brim, covering half of his face, and walked towards the depths of the town.
Four years ago, amidst the chaos of God Valley, young Bartholomew Kuma and Ginny escaped and eventually returned to Kuma's hometown—the Sorbet Kingdom.
According to his vague memories, they should be hiding in some abandoned church.
"It's been four years! Kuma is now 14, and Ginny is 17.
I wonder how they are doing now…" Gern's lips curved into a slight smile, and a hint of anticipation flickered in his eyes.
.......
The lawless land of the Sorbet Kingdom was far more desolate than imagined.
Dilapidated houses, cracked earth, ragged residents… It was as if this place had been forgotten by the world.
Because he didn't know which specific church it was, Gern had to ask around, and finally learned from an old woman selling fruit that there was indeed a young man and woman nearby taking care of the elderly and children in an abandoned church.
"That boy is very tall, and his hands are strange, like bear paws…" The old woman squinted, recalling, "That girl always smiles and is very lively."
"Thank you!" Listening to the old woman, Gern followed the directions, passed through several muddy paths, and finally arrived in front of a half-collapsed church.
Outside the church, several elderly people sat in the shade of a tree, while a tall young man was squatting on the ground, carefully bandaging an old woman's knee wound.
The young man was Bartholomew Kuma.
Although he was only 14, his height was already close to two meters.
He also had two features similar to bear ears on his head, characteristic of the Buccaneer race, along with broad shoulders and those distinctive paw-pad hands that were particularly striking.
At this moment, Kuma, who was tending to the elder, moved very gently, as if afraid of hurting the other person, and his eyes were so gentle that he didn't seem like someone who had experienced the hell of God Valley and a life of slavery.
"Kuma, thank you…" The old woman smiled kindly.
"You're welcome. After bandaging, you can't get it wet.
If there's farm work, you can come find me." Kuma's voice was deep and gentle.
Gern stood not far away, quietly watching this scene, a slight stirring in his heart.
"Just like in my memory… so unbelievably gentle." Thinking this, Gern slowly walked forward.
Kuma noticed the movement and slowly looked up. The man in front of him was wearing black plain clothes, his hat brim pulled very low, and he had a sword wrapped in white cloth at his waist.
"Hello, can I help you?" Kuma stood up, and the shadow cast by his tall figure completely obscured Gern.
His body, which should have had a powerful oppressive presence, combined with his gentle tone and smile, somehow made people feel as warm as a spring breeze.
Looking at Kuma, Gern was silent for a moment, then showed a casual smile: "I heard there's a doctor here who can take away people's pain, so I came to see."
Hearing Gern's words, Kuma blinked, then showed a sincere smile: "Ah, yes… However, you don't look like someone who's sick."
Next, Gern falsely claimed to be an ordinary tourist, and Kuma, facing Gern's words, naively believed him.
And he enthusiastically talked with Gern, then brought Gern back to the church where he lived.
Gern walked into the church and looked around.
On the simple wooden table were herbs and bandages, in the corner were stacked a few worn-out medical books.
On the wall hung children's crooked scribbles, depicting Kuma's broad, smiling face.
"Do you live here alone?" Gern asked.
"No." Kuma shook his head but didn't say Ginny's name, instead continuing, "This was originally an abandoned church, and later… it took in some homeless people."
Kuma's voice was very soft, but Gern knew that this was Kuma's true… "original" home.
However, since he didn't say it, Gern would just assume it.
Immediately after, Gern's gaze swept over the sleeping elderly in the corner, the children curled up in blankets, and finally returned to Kuma's face.
"Do you take away their pain every day?"
"Yes, as long as I can."
"Aren't you tired?"
Kuma shook his head, revealing a gentle smile: "Compared to their pain, my fatigue is nothing."
Gern stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly chuckled, "That's… a foolish answer."
Kuma was stunned for a moment, but he wasn't angry, instead somewhat confused: "Mr. Gern, do you know me?"
Gern didn't answer directly, but walked to the window, looking outside.
In the distance, several ragged children were chasing a lame stray dog in the mud.
"Have you never thought about leaving here?" he suddenly asked.
"Leave?" Kuma was a little bewildered, but still stepped forward to help Gern examine his body.
After all, in his perception, Gern was just a patient who had heard of his ability and came to seek him out.
Since he was a patient, he should have problems that other doctors couldn't handle.
If his Devil Fruit ability could help him… he would help.
"The world is vast. Beyond the South Sea, there's the East Blue, the West Blue, the Grand Line… and even further places." Gern turned around and looked directly at him.
Kuma's examining hand paused, and after a moment of silence, he said softly: "But… the people here need me."
Gern stared at him, suddenly feeling a tightness in his chest.
This young man, despite having experienced the hellish escape from God Valley and the life of a slave with both parents deceased, still chose to live in the gentlest way possible.
Even now, facing someone of unknown identity like himself, he would choose to use his Devil Fruit ability to help, completely unconcerned about how much pain he would endure.
Kuma was simply—a person so gentle it made one angry.
"You saved them, and then what?" Gern's voice was low, "Their pain disappears, but this world will still continue to torment them.
Hunger, disease, oppression… Can you absorb all of it?"
Kuma's fingertips curled slightly for a moment, but quickly straightened out again.
"Perhaps not all of it." He looked up, his eyes calm and firm, "But as long as I can, I will keep doing it."
Gern was speechless.
The sunlight slanted across Kuma's face, his outline edged with a faint golden rim, like a silent declaration.
Despite possessing the power to repel everything, he chose to bear the suffering of others.
"Mr. Gern, do you train often?" Kuma didn't know what Gern was thinking, instead continuing with the examination.
"Your body has some minor strain, and you should have had a major injury not long ago…
However, don't worry.
I can repel this pain…" Kuma hadn't finished speaking when Gern suddenly interrupted, "Kuma, if you were to travel, where would you want to go?"