Mercer's Mouth!

So you're the bastard who kept shoving me around in the womb?

Hmm. He's a little shorter than me.

Mercer thought as he looked at the newcomer.

He'd just come downstairs after hearing that Garp had arrived, and Ace spotted Mercer standing two meters away.

Who's this?

Ace tilted his head in confusion.

There was an inexplicable sense of familiarity, and his heart was beating a little faster. Ace asked cautiously,

"Who are you?"

Mercer smiled warmly.

"You don't remember me? I held you when you were born, Ace. I'm your dad."

Ace's little face visibly darkened. He bared his white teeth. "Bastard, are you asking for a beating?"

Mercer replied, puzzled,

"Was I wrong? The eldest brother is as good as a father. By that logic, there's nothing wrong with you calling me Dad."

Just then, Garp came in and brought his fist down on Mercer's head, scowling.

"You little brat, what are you talking about?"

Mercer clutched his aching head and turned toward Garp, baring his teeth. "Was I wrong? The eldest brother is as good as a father."

Dadan came in right after him and watched with an odd expression. This kid named Mercer seemed even more troublesome than she'd expected.

At least she wouldn't have to raise him.

Just then, a rush of wind swept toward him. Catching sight of a figure closing in from the corner of his eye, Mercer glanced over and saw Ace swinging a punch at his face.

The next instant, Mercer's right leg shot out faster than Ace's punch. Ace's stomach slammed into the sole of Mercer's foot.

His upper body folded over Mercer's leg.

Ace's eyes widened, and he cried out in pain,

"Gaaah!"

Looking at Ace, Mercer grinned. "So you're that happy to see me? Is this how Ace says hello? Got it."

Got what?

Ace wondered.

Huh?

Mercer narrowed his eyes, quickly pulled his right foot back to the ground, and stepped forward.

With his left hand, he grabbed Ace by the face as Ace lost his balance and pitched forward.

Then he effortlessly flung him upward.

Mercer tossed Ace toward the ceiling with ease.

As Ace's body passed Mercer's face, Mercer grabbed both his ankles, one in each hand.

Mercer spread his feet and began spinning rapidly in place. In an instant,

"Ahhhhh! Put me do~wn!"

Ace's childish cries rang out without end.

After a dozen or so spins, Mercer gradually slowed down, then laid Ace flat on the floor.

Looking at Ace's eyes, which had turned into spirals, Mercer grinned.

He stepped over Ace and straddled his stomach, then lightly patted his cheek with his right hand. A few seconds later, he saw Ace's eyes focus again.

"Ace, remember this: your big brother will always be your big brother."

"If you want to overthrow your superior, try again in your next life."

Seeing Ace's defiant expression, Mercer shifted off him and sat down beside him.

He grabbed Ace by the collar and pulled him upright. Looking at Ace sitting beside him on the floor, Mercer gazed at him warmly.

This was his little brother.

"It's been a long time, Ace. Did you miss me? Even if you don't remember any of it."

"Hmph!" Ace turned his head away, putting on a haughty face. "Who'd miss you? Who do you think you are? It's not like you remember me."

Mercer smiled.

"Oh? Grandpa told me you missed me a lot. If that's the case, then I'll be going."

As he spoke, Mercer got up and walked toward Garp.

Suddenly, Mercer looked back at Ace and caught the worry in his eyes and his lips parting slightly. Mercer laughed. "Hey! Don't worry, I'm not leaving today."

Mercer turned back, grabbed Ace by the back of his collar, and lifted him up.

He looked at him seriously for a few seconds, then smiled.

"Little bro, let's make it official. My name's Mercer, Portgas D. Mercer. I'm your real big brother, born to the same mother and father, on the same year, month, day, and hour. No doubt about it. The genuine article."

Ace tilted his head. "Really?"

"Of course. If you don't believe me, we can prick our fingers and compare blood. I'll prove you were born from me—no, wait, that's not right. We're definitely brothers."

As Mercer looked at Ace, Ace's eyes began to redden. Then he rubbed at them, sniffing.

"My name's Ace, Portgas D. Ace. If you haven't mistaken me for someone else, then I'm your little brother."

"I haven't mistaken you. Don't worry, we look pretty alike. At least seventy percent. Once I'm a little older, we can go out together. If I say I'm your dad, no one will disagree."

Mercer patted Ace's shoulder.

Ace looked disgusted and brushed Mercer's hand away. "Are you done yet? You only came out a few seconds before me. If I hadn't let you, we wouldn't even know which of us was older."

Mercer said, "Want to challenge your big brother? Fine. Beat me first. If you can't, shut up."

"That rule stands forever. I said so. The genuine article."

Ace bit his lip, looking unwilling to accept it. Mercer watched him, then patted him on the head again. "All right, come take a look. I brought you a present."

Mercer took the luggage bag from Garp and opened it, pulling out several sets of new clothes.

They were all for fall and winter.

They were all pretty good quality.

"I bought these based on my size, but one size smaller."

"Looks like they'll fit you just right. You're exactly one size smaller than me."

That was only natural. Over the past few years, thanks to Kureha's medicinal meals and supplements, Mercer's body had developed better than an ordinary child's.

Ace naturally couldn't keep up. So, by that reasoning, one size smaller would fit perfectly.

Mercer held the new clothes up against Ace to check the fit, then took two cartons of cigarettes from the bag and handed them to Dadan.

"Ace must've caused you a lot of trouble."

"I didn't know if you smoked, but it looks like I prepared just the right thing."

"I didn't know what brands you usually liked, so I bought two of the more popular ones. Hope you like them."

Dadan took the cigarettes Mercer offered. The packaging was a rose-gold color, and she beamed.

"Oh, it's no trouble. Ace is pretty obedient. It's normal for boys to be a little lively."

Dadan's eyes immediately lit up when she saw the brand name: KING GROUND. There was one carton each of the men's and women's versions.

"These are good cigarettes."

Mercer smiled. "I didn't know that. I'm still a kid, so I don't smoke. I'm glad you like them."

Under Mercer's sugar-coated charm offensive, Dadan found herself warming to him considerably.

She decided that if Mercer really did end up living with her, she might not mind after all.

Garp watched them and smiled. He hadn't expected Mercer to be so thoughtful.

"But still, he's much more mature than Ace, at least. He's worthy of being an older brother."

Just then, Ace quietly asked Mercer, "How is it on Drum Island in the Grand Line? Are you feeling all right?"

Garp had told him about it.

"It's about what you'd expect. It's winter all year round. Every day, I study Medical Skills with Doctor Doriel, go hunting, and work out. Life's pretty peaceful. It's not bad."

"Then where did you get the money to buy all this stuff? Did Doctor Doriel give it to you?" Ace asked curiously.

"Not exactly. Some of it came from robbing bad guys. And on the way here, I ran into a Slave Ship and took it down with a little help."

Ace's expression stiffened, and he looked at Mercer in disbelief.

Dadan suddenly felt the cigarettes in her hand growing heavier. She'd been too naive after all.

"Little Mercer, is that true? A Slave Ship?"

Mercer nodded. "It's true, but I was only on support duty. Grandpa's adjutant did most of the work."

Dadan immediately relaxed.

They chatted about a few more things. Time passed, and before they knew it, it had grown dark.

During their conversation, Mercer also "learned" what Dadan's family really did for a living.

They were a band of mountain bandits.

And it wasn't as quiet here as it was now. Quite a few people had gone out hunting.

At dusk, the hunters returned. The moment they saw Garp, they all acted like mice who'd spotted a cat.

They were meek and cautious.

After dinner at Dadan's place, the four of them sat around the stove.

As for the rest of the bandits, they stayed far away and behaved themselves, afraid of angering Garp.

Some went to bed, while others went out for a stroll. They did their best to stay out of Garp's sight.

Even though Garp himself didn't care about any of that.

Just then, Ace asked in his childish voice, "Grandpa, you promised me that when Mercer came, you'd tell us who our real parents were."

"You should tell us now."

A look of resignation crossed Garp's face, and he fell silent.

"Your real parents, huh? To tell the truth, I'm not sure I want to tell you. So let me ask you: do you really want to know?"

Ace's little face was set. "Yes."

Mercer said, "I don't mind."

Garp looked at Mercer, unsurprised.

"Your mother was Portgas D. Rouge, a great mother. You stayed in her womb for more than twenty months, and she died of exhaustion after you were born.

"She used her wisdom, her life, and every means at her disposal to make sure you were born."

Everyone present swallowed, especially Dadan, despite never having been married herself.

"Your father was Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King—the man who created this dangerous Great Pirate Era."

The people seated around the stove all had different expressions.

Some were shocked.

Some were frightened.

Some didn't care.

He gave them plenty of time to take it in.

Then Garp told them the whole story, from beginning to end: his first clash with Roger, how they'd come to respect each other, and finally Roger entrusting his children to him before his death.

For some reason, Garp told them everything about how he'd come to know Roger.

"That's where you came from. That's the story of your past you've always wanted to know."

Dadan was horrified. She spoke in an agitated rush, nearly incoherent. "What is all this supposed to mean? Garp, are you trying to get me killed?

"Why did you have to tell me something like this? Couldn't you have just sent me away?"

Garp asked in confusion,

"Isn't it usually up to you to avoid learning something about someone else's past?"

"Besides, as Ace's adoptive mother, I think you have a right to know."

"I'd rather not have that right! Is that something I should know? I'm just an ordinary mountain bandit.

"If anyone finds out, how am I supposed to stay alive? Aaaah! You've gotten me killed, you bastard, Garp!"

Mercer picked at his ear, exasperated, then had to reassure her. "Relax, Dadan. We're all on the same side here. As long as we don't tell anyone, no one will find out.

"Besides, Grandpa's got your back. Don't worry, he'll protect you."

Dadan looked at Garp with teary eyes, full of hope.

"You old bastard, you'll protect me, right? Say something!"

Garp sighed. "As long as you don't go blabbing, I'll make sure you stay alive.

"But if any of you lets it slip, you'll have nowhere left to hide. I won't even have to lift a finger."

Just then, Ace looked at Mercer, confusion and uncertainty in his eyes. "You're not surprised, Mercer?"

Even though he was still young, he knew how fearsome the name of Pirate King Roger was.

"Why would I be surprised?"

"I'm grateful to Mom Rouge. I'll remember what she did for the rest of my life."

"As for that so-called Pirate King father? Sorry, I don't know him. And I don't want to think about something that troublesome."

"The way I lived before, I'll keep living the same way. As for the future, I'll think about it when it comes."

"Just live in the moment and be happy. Why think so much about everything else? Isn't it exhausting?"

"Or do you think being the Pirate King's son makes you special? That you have some kind of special destiny?

"Ace, it's not even bedtime yet, so don't start dreaming. We're just ordinary people.

"The Pirate King was just a man. Maybe he was only an ordinary man who was a little stronger than most.

"Like Grandpa said just now, he died of an illness."

Looking at Ace, stunned by his string of words, Mercer smiled.

"Remember, we don't get to choose our parents, but we can decide how to live our own lives."

"Don't get stuck in your own head, little bro. You're not special. You're just an ordinary person. And the same goes for me."

Ace nodded dumbly. Mercer reached out and ruffled his slightly curly black hair.

"Although you've lost your biological parents, you can call me Dad. They say an older brother is as good as a father, after all. Of course, since I'm already your dad, I don't mind being your mom, too."

"Want to call me something?"

Mercer curled his lips into a smile as he looked at Ace.

Ace stared at Mercer in silence, gritting his teeth. "You bastard! You've already taken advantage of me by making yourself my big brother. How much more are you planning to take advantage of me?"

"Tch. It's anyone's guess who's taking advantage of whom. And now you're the one crying foul."

Mercer kept needling Ace until he was left fuming, while Mercer's tongue was as sweet as honey.

Garp, standing nearby, also breathed a sigh of relief.

The son of the Pirate King, known to the whole world.

The pressure that came with an identity like that was no small thing.

If things went wrong, it could become an enormous psychological burden.

After all, words could wound.

Most people in this world were still ignorant ordinary folk, with little knowledge of the wider world. They were quick to believe rumors, and most of them despised the Pirate King. Garp feared Ace might hear their foul talk one day and get trapped in a dark place.

As for Mercer? Not a chance.

Garp didn't believe for a second that his precocious grandson would care about something like that.

Ace was a sensitive boy, while Mercer, in Garp's eyes, could sometimes be quite cold.

It was precisely because Mercer was there that Garp had been willing to tell them the whole story of Roger in such detail.

He wanted them to gain a well-rounded understanding of Roger.

He also hoped Mercer, as the older brother, would have a good influence on his foolish, naive little brother.

And this kind of guidance would be far more effective coming from Mercer, Ace's own brother.

Otherwise, Garp would rather have said nothing.

As expected, the clever, composed older brother had left his foolish, hotheaded little brother speechless.

Garp's lips curled up.

The plan worked.

Sure enough, Mercer's mouth had never let him down.

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