Freedom and Great Freedom!

Chapter 24: 024. "Freedom" and "Great Freedom"!

"I wonder who it is, oh, it's you, girl. If it's you, then it's not surprising."

"I heard earlier that something happened to your family, but with Slab helping out, I didn't feel the need to butt in."

"Makino, how is your life now?" Garp asked seriously. "If you need anything, just tell Slab."

"If he can't handle it, I'm here."

Mercer looked at Garp, always feeling that his perception of Makino was different, and couldn't help but feel a little curious.

Garp noticed.

"Before Dragon turned ten, he was raised in the village. He and her father were childhood friends. Our two families have always been close."

"Oh, right, Makino." Garp looked at her. "You're not young anymore, and you live alone. Would you like to come with me to Marine Headquarters? It would be easier for me to look after you there."

Makino smiled and shook her head. "Mr. Garp, there's no need. I'm doing well here."

"Also, thank you for before. I heard a group of thugs had taken a liking to my home, and you came back to teach them a lesson."

"Tch, it's that big-mouthed Slab again."

Makino covered her mouth and chuckled, then looked at Mercer and Garp.

"So, who are you two?"

Garp said, "This is Mercer, you know him. I'm his grandfather."

"Is he your biological grandson?" Makino asked curiously.

Mercer pouted. "He's my grandson, but he's adopted."

Makino's eyes widened in surprise.

After hearing Mercer's answer, Garp pouted, very displeased with Mercer's quick reply.

"Adopted? I'm still wet behind the ears."

"You little brat, do you think I raised you as my own grandson?"

"I think you just want another beating."

Mercer rolled his eyes and looked at Garp speechlessly:

"Sorry, I was wrong, okay? I apologize, I'm sorry. You're an elder, please don't hold a grudge against a child. Given my sincere attitude in admitting my mistake, can we let this matter go?"

Pfft!

Makino watched Mercer coaxing like a child and immediately burst into laughter, her shoulders shaking. "As expected~, little Mercer, you're so amusing. I think you should be my little brother."

"No." Mercer flatly refused. "I refuse."

"Huh?" Makino asked, confused, puffing out her cheeks. "Why?"

"I, Mercer, have a rebellious bone in my body. I'm naturally defiant. How could I be someone's subordinate? Even if I were, I wouldn't truly obey. I'd rebel sooner or later."

Mercer looked at Makino. "You want me to be your boss? Then are you prepared for me to stab you in the back?"

Makino blinked and chuckled again. "Pfft."

"Then forget it. I'm afraid you'll stab me to death. Then you'll be kneeling and crying, begging me not to die."

Garp, standing beside them, looked at Mercer with a subtle expression, always feeling that his "rebellious bone" remark had a hidden meaning.

Mercer looked at her with a dark expression until she stopped laughing. He then spoke:

"I'm leaving. I'm going somewhere else. This deer is for you."

Makino pursed her lips. Regarding Mercer's words, she only thought that Mercer had asked Garp to hunt it, as Mercer couldn't even fish. Her eyes were a little downcast. "A deer is too precious…"

But seeing Mercer's unyielding expression, she asked, "Will you come to Foosha Village again? I'd like to treat you to a meal again."

"And then I'll give you a deer?"

Mercer said with a grin.

Makino suddenly said, "Then it's a deal."

"Next time you come, find me, I'll treat you to a meal, and you'll give me a deer."

"Dream on, it's not even dark yet."

Mercer gave her a sidelong glance. Makino curled her lips. "It's because dreams are beautiful that we have the saying 'beautiful dreams'."

"Nightmares, you mean."

"Beautiful dreams."

"Whatever you say." Mercer said, "I won't say anymore. I'll find you to play with next time I come to Foosha Village."

Makino smiled. "Okay, then it's settled."

Mercer smiled and nodded at her, then looked at Garp. "Grandpa, it's time to hit the road. We should go."

Garp's face darkened. He punched Mercer on the head. "You scoundrel, what nonsense are you talking about? Hit the road? We're setting sail!"

Garp finished fighting Mercer and said to Makino, "While I'm away, if anything comes up, go find Slab. Take care of yourself. We're leaving now."

"Mhm, have a safe trip. I'll see you off."

The two arrived at the warship.

Bogard on the deck had been waiting impatiently.

As soon as he saw them, "You're so slow, Vice Admiral Garp."

With a nonchalant expression, Garp chuckled, "Alright, stop nagging. Let's set sail now. We're going to Paradise, Drum Island."

Bogard responded and went to instruct the ship's helmsman and navigator.

The warship slowly backed away from the dock, turned, and its sails billowed.

Catching the wind, it cut through the waves.

Heading towards the Calm Belt near Loguetown.

A week later, Under the warship's speed, taking a shortcut, they safely crossed the Calm Belt once more.

There were a few minor incidents during the journey.

A few days ago.

A Sea Beast with a head diameter of a hundred meters broke the surface and lunged at the warship, opening its mouth. Then Garp leaped up and punched the air in the warship's direction.

The terrifying fist wind created a massive negative pressure, causing the warship to sink into the sea like it was on a trampoline. Immediately after, with a tremendous reaction force, it shot straight into the sky.

They escaped the Sea Beast's bite.

Mercer still felt a surge of excitement thinking about it.

Not only that, but in Garp's punch, Mercer also "saw" something different. It was a special kind of power.

Lying on the warship's top deck, Mercer squinted, looking at the white clouds in the azure sky.

"Armament Haki?"

"A biological energy that fuses intense personal willpower, or perhaps thought, manifesting as something akin to Blood Essence, vitality, cellular energy, or life force."

"It's truly interesting."

"It is interesting, but it's too early for you right now."

"Being too curious isn't a good thing." Garp sat down beside Mercer, his expression serious. "You've heard the saying 'curiosity killed the cat,' right?"

"Hey, Grandpa," Mercer asked, "since Haki is an innate power, and Observation Haki can awaken naturally, what about Armament Haki? And Conqueror's Haki?"

"The World is vast and full of wonders. There certainly are. Existence is reasonable; there are always those who are born extraordinary and different," Garp said as if reminiscing.

"Heh."

"Alright, you just need to remember to let things happen naturally. You already understand the Concept of 'Haki.' When the time comes, you'll awaken it naturally; don't force it too much," Garp advised Mercer. "Don't think I was that amazing that day. When you grow up and experience more, you'll naturally be able to use it too."

Mercer said, "Who knows what the future holds? But somehow, I feel like you have more confidence in me than I have in myself."

"Hmm~, who knows," Garp smiled.

Mercer also smiled and then said, "Next time you return to the East Blue, remember to bring me along. If nothing unexpected happens."

"No problem."

The next morning.

Gazing at the island that appeared in the distance, eight pillar-like mountains stood on the snow-white island.

"Drum Island."

The warship sailed into this sea area, and the snowflakes falling from the sky instantly coated the warship in white.

Crystal snowflakes fell from the sky.

It was breathtakingly beautiful.

Mercer, dressed in a cotton coat, stood at the bow and said to the person beside him, "Uncle, I'll say goodbye in advance."

Bogard smiled. "Okay. See you next time."

The warship did not land on the island.

It simply stopped near the shore. Ten meters away from the island, a tall figure appeared beside Mercer.

Garp grabbed Mercer's right arm with his right hand, grinned, and said, "Fly, kid."

With that, he threw Mercer, who sailed in an arc through the air. Garp tossed Mercer onto the island.

Mastering his body's Balance mid-air, he followed the force acting upon him, his feet landing on the snowy ground by the island's shore.

Mercer turned back and waved at Garp.

"Mercer, be careful going back alone. Grandpa won't accompany you. Help me send my regards to that woman, Dolier."

"Mhm! I know."

The next second, Garp tossed Mercer's luggage bag over.

Mercer caught it.

Inside were Mercer's clothes and several bottles of packed Plum Wine.

They were a different brand from the East Blue ones Kureha had drunk, and he didn't know if she'd like them.

Watching the warship drift away from the island with the current, Mercer also started walking towards home.

This trip had lasted over a month.

It was already mid-October, and Mercer would be another year older in less than two months.

The long-lost scent of wind and snow.

The cold wind mixed with snowflakes brushed against Mercer's face as he walked, his feet sinking shallowly and then deeply into the accumulated snow.

The path Mercer took wasn't a road in the village or town, but through a deserted forest.

He hadn't walked this way before, but Mercer wouldn't get lost. The best landmarks on this island were its eight pillars.

Eight "Drum Mountains."

Even the longest road eventually comes to an end. After half an hour, a treehouse appeared in his sight, and Mercer couldn't help but quicken his pace.

Before he even reached the door, it was pushed open, and a black and white head poked out.

The next second, Bear Cub's round body squeezed through the door crack, letting out a "whimper" as he ran towards Mercer.

"Oof!"

Hit in the stomach by a headbutt, Mercer slid back half a meter, wincing.

"Are you trying to kill me?" Mercer grabbed Bear Cub's large face with both hands, looking at his snow-white teeth.

Standing on its hind legs, its front paws rested on Mercer's shoulders. Its large head nuzzled Mercer's face, emitting happy "whimpering" sounds.

He tilted his head, looking at Bear Cub's dark, gem-like eyes, and hugged his body. It was soft and furry.

There was also a faint, clean scent of soap.

Its fur was glossy and shiny, black where it was black, white where it was white, clearly defined, not a single stray hair.

At this moment, Kureha's voice rang out from inside the house, "Aren't you cold?"

"Why are you standing at the door? Hurry inside. You're letting out all the remaining warmth."

Mercer stuck out his tongue, and Bear Cub mimicked him. One after the other, man and bear entered the house.

As soon as he entered, he saw Kureha sitting in a chair by the fireplace.

Mercer smiled, "Doctor Doriel, I'm back."

A smile tugged at her lips, and Kureha chuckled, "You're back, you're back. I'm not blind. Go wash your hands. There's some stewed bone broth in the kitchen."

Mercer nodded and went to the bathroom to wash up.

After washing his hands, he went to the kitchen and got a large bowl of bone broth.

Bear Cub trotted beside Mercer, looking up with pleading eyes.

Seeing this, Mercer handed him the large bone from the bowl. Bear Cub bit down, crunching the bone with a "crackling" sound.

Savoring the marrow, his bear face swallowed with satisfaction.

Taking a sip of the soup, his body instantly felt warm. After finishing the bowl, a warm current flowed through him.

He smacked his lips, mentally reciting several types of nourishing traditional Chinese medicines.

He put the half-chewed large bone into Bear Cub's mouth.

The latter didn't mind and happily chewed on it.

After washing the bowls, Mercer left the kitchen, and at this moment, Kureha also walked over.

"Come, go to the second floor with me. I need to check you over."

With that, Kureha walked upstairs alone.

Mercer didn't think much of it.

There was no need to think much of it.

If nothing unexpected happened, it would be about the records of his Breathing.

Mercer climbed the stairs and arrived at the laboratory.

He skillfully took off his clothes and lay down on an operating table.

Kureha said calmly, "Start your breathing."

Mercer listened to the command.

Within a few breaths, he adjusted his own breathing frequency and entered the Unity of Heaven and Man state.

Without paying attention to Kureha, Mercer used his breathing in conjunction with Observation Haki to perceive the inside of his body with meticulous detail.

He roughly observed the "flow direction" of the inhaled oxygen within his body, sensing the peristalsis of his stomach and intestines with each breath.

The food he had just eaten was rapidly broken down inside him, and streams of energy and heat coursed through his body, which was quite interesting.

Mercer became engrossed without realizing it, deepening his Perception continuously, striving to see even more subtle changes.

However.

It was all for naught.

Finally, Mercer opened his eyes. At the same time, Kureha withdrew her left index finger from beside Mercer, and her right hand also stopped recording.

"Not bad! It's only been a month, and your breathing has improved significantly in both progress and proficiency."

"Doctor Doriel, we always call it breathing, breathing, which feels a bit plain. What do you think if we give this special breathing method a new name?"

"Oh?" Kureha said indifferently, "Whatever you like. I don't particularly care."

"You're the one who figured it out, so you should name it."

Smiling helplessly, Kureha said faintly, "From what you're saying, you've grasped a state of mental tranquility from breathing, which you call Unity of Heaven and Man, right?

You can perceive the breathing frequency of all things in nature.

It's like what those swordsmen talk about, the Unity of All Things realm.

Nature, all things, heaven and man, tranquility – these terms are quite grand.

So, let's call our breathing method the 'Free Breathing Method'."

Mercer blinked. He was also surprised by Kureha's naming, but "Free Breathing Method" was acceptable.

"It's good. Our breathing is innate, naturally free and unrestrained. 'Freedom' is good, so let's call it the 'Free Breathing Method'."

For now, it's "Freedom," but when his level is higher later, he can add "Great" to it.

A continuation of the lineage.

With a thought, a light screen panel appeared on his retina.

Gifted Abilities tab.

[A+ Grade Gift: Breathing]

Its name has been changed and has now become:

[A+ Grade Gift: Free Breathing Method]

The name of the Gift has changed, but the effect of the Gift remains the same.

Kureha smiled, shook her head, and looked strangely at him, "You... you always have so many clever ideas. I just casually suggested that name."

"Mhm, I guessed as much. I just said it casually anyway, Freedom, being free and unrestrained."

Mercer said, chuckling along with himself.

Newcomer, new book! Please follow!

Monthly votes! Recommendation votes! Investment!