"Kuma, if you were to travel, where would you like to go?"
This sudden question startled Kuma; he seemed not to have expected Gern to ask such a thing out of the blue.
"Travel?" He blinked, looking at Gern with some confusion. "Well, I really haven't thought about it."
"Is that so?" Gern smiled, his gaze sweeping over the simple yet cozy furnishings inside the church.
There was burnt toast on the wooden table, herbs Kuma had gathered from the forest piled in a corner, and a few mended clothes hanging on the wall.
"Your home is very warm, and you have a girl accompanying you, don't you?" Gern smiled slightly.
"Uh..." Kuma, who secretly liked Ginny, couldn't help but avert his gaze when faced with Gern's teasing, changing the subject.
"Mr. Gern, I'm quite content with my current life; I haven't thought about traveling yet."
The Devil Fruit - Paw-Paw Fruit was a very powerful ability, and Gern himself had been inclined towards this Devil Fruit back then.
Unfortunately, whether it was due to the anchoring of characters' destinies in the Pirate World or not, he still missed out on it.
But then again, Kuma, who now possessed the Devil Fruit - Paw-Paw Fruit, would also be a good combat force in the future.
And as he developed step by step within the Marine, he would definitely need his own faction of justice in the future.
And on this point, rather than recruiting existing people within the Marine, Gern was more inclined to recruit people from outside to build his faction's strength.
Especially now with his ability to foresee the plot, he could completely intercept many excellent fellows, such as Kuma right in front of him.
As for Kuma joining the Revolutionary Army? Gern believed that it was entirely due to Ivankov and Ginny at the time.
He himself actually had no strong opinions; he just wanted to help others.
Besides, helping anyone is still helping, so why not help me?
At least when Kuma needed help the most, I wouldn't just sweat!
"My dear Kuma, my dear Kuma!" Just then, Ginny's voice rang out from outside the door.
"Grandma Ya sent me some baked bread! Come and try it!"
"Looks like she's back." Gern's lips curved slightly upwards; he could feel Ginny's liveliness and joy even through the door.
"My dear Kuma! I'm back!" Ginny's footsteps were light, accompanied by the creaking sound of the wooden door being pushed open, and her figure appeared at the doorway.
Her pink long hair swayed gently with her movements, and 17-year-old Ginny had already grown into a graceful young woman.
Her bright eyes and radiant smile made her look full of vitality.
However, as soon as she clearly saw Gern standing beside Kuma, her smile instantly froze, and her footsteps halted.
"Ginny?" Kuma noticed her abnormality and turned around in confusion.
He was about to go forward to greet her when he saw Ginny's face turn pale, and fine beads of sweat seeped from her forehead.
"You, why are you here?!" Ginny's voice trembled slightly; she raised her hand to point at Gern, her eyes filled with wariness and fear.
"Ginny?" Kuma was stunned; he looked at Ginny, then at Gern, completely bewildered by what was happening.
Gern, however, maintained a faint smile, as if he had long anticipated Ginny's reaction.
"Ginny, do you know Mr. Gern?" Kuma's gentle voice echoed in the church, his broad palm gently resting on Ginny's shoulder.
Ginny's pupils contracted violently, her fingertips uncontrollably trembling slightly, her gaze fixed on Gern's half-smiling face.
"My dear Kuma, stay away from him..." Ginny's voice was taut like a stretched string.
"He is a Marineford Lieutenant..." Ginny's throat bobbed.
"Two months ago, the 'Heaven Quake' who appeared in the newspaper... severely injured the Golden Lion with one slash!!"
The air instantly solidified.
Kuma didn't have a habit of reading newspapers, but when he realized Gern's Marine identity, his body visibly stiffened for a moment.
Because he and Ginny were runaway Celestial Dragons slaves!!
"Haha..." Gern casually twirled the brim of his hat, a playful arc gracing the corner of his lips.
"I didn't expect my reputation to be so widespread even in a place like the South Sea?"
"The publicity from World Economic News is truly something else."
Watching Gern's actions, Ginny suddenly darted in front of Kuma.
Her slender arms spread out like a protective mother beast, her voice trembling with suppressed fear: "What exactly do you want to do? Does hunting down runaway slaves give you a great sense of accomplishment?"
Gern watched Ginny's tense expression and suddenly chuckled softly.
Then, he slowly took off his hat, revealing his full face: "Relax, I'm currently on..."
Gern deliberately drew out the words, "Va-ca-tion~"
As he spoke, Gern's gaze swept over the two of them, and Ginny unconsciously shivered.
There was no other way; all her knowledge of Gern came from those exaggerated news reports.
The newspaper's description stated that Gern could severely injure the Golden Lion with one slash!
One must know that in this era, the three words "Golden Lion" symbolized the pinnacle of combat power.
Who wouldn't be afraid of such a dangerous person?!
"Ah, let's reintroduce ourselves, shall we?" Gern bowed slightly, performing an exaggerated gentleman's bow.
"Mr. Bartholomew Kuma, a kind man, and..." His gaze locked onto Ginny, "Miss Jewelry Ginny."
Hearing Gern speak both their full names, Ginny's breathing suddenly hitched.
Being able to accurately call out their full names meant that this Marine had already obtained their information.
....
At the same time, Kuma's gaze fell on Ginny's trembling shoulders; the fear in her eyes pierced his heart like sharp thorns.
"I can't let Ginny be scared, I must protect her!" The moment this thought exploded in his mind, Kuma's body had already moved.
His tall figure suddenly moved past Ginny, his Devil Fruit - Paw-Paw Fruit hand glowing faintly, the air compressing in his palm.
"Although it's very impolite..." Kuma's voice was deep and firm, "But please leave!"
His palm slammed towards Gern's chest, a force capable of instantly launching a person several days' journey away!
However, just as the Devil Fruit - Paw-Paw Fruit was about to touch Gern—
"Bang!" A single index finger, wrapped in pitch-black Armament Haki, casually blocked Kuma's palm.
The air solidified for a moment.
"Sorry, I don't want to experience traveling, you know?" Gern's lips curved slightly.
The Armament Haki on his fingertip was as hard as steel, directly blocking the transmission of the Devil Fruit - Paw-Paw Fruit's ability.
"What?!" Kuma's pupils suddenly constricted; having never encountered Haki before, he had never experienced such a situation.
His own ability was actually blocked by a single finger?!
A wave of air erupted between the two, causing the old wooden windows of the church to rattle.
Ginny's cry of alarm came from behind: "Be careful!!"
Kuma subconsciously tried to press harder with his palm, but found Gern's fingertip unmoving, like an unshakeable mountain.
"What is... this power?" Kuma's voice was filled with disbelief.
Gern chuckled lightly and slowly withdrew his finger: "Haki, a power that can counter Devil Fruits."
His gaze swept over Kuma's palm, "Your ability is very strong, but in this world, there are many powers you have yet to encounter."
Ginny rushed forward, grabbing Kuma's arm, staring warily at Gern: "What exactly do you want to do?!"
Gern did not answer, merely tilted his head slightly, his gaze passing over them to the sky outside the church.
"I just want to tell you..." His voice was low and calm.
"If you can't even break through my single finger, then how can you fight against the true 'enemy'?"
"Or rather, if I really had intentions, would you still see Kuma when you returned, Ginny?"