Freedom and Great Freedom!

"I was wondering who it was. So it was you, girl. If it's you, then I'm not surprised."

"I heard something happened to your family earlier, but since Slab was helping out, I didn't want to meddle unnecessarily."

"Makino, how's life treating you now?" Garp said seriously. "If you need anything, tell Slab."

"And if he can't handle it, you can come to me."

Mercer looked at Garp, feeling that he seemed to regard Makino differently. Curiosity crept into his eyes.

Garp noticed.

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

"By the way, Makino." Garp looked at her. "You're not a little girl anymore, and you're living on your own. How about coming with me to Marine Headquarters? It'd be easier for me to look after you there."

Makino smiled and shook her head. "That won't be necessary, Mr. Garp. I'm happy here."

"And thank you for what you did earlier, too. I heard a bunch of thugs had their eye on my house, and you came back and taught them a lesson."

"Tch, that bigmouth Slab again."

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

"So, what are you two to each other?"

"He's Mercer. You know him, and I'm his grandfather," Garp said.

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

Mercer pursed his lips. "I'm his grandson, but I'm adopted."

Makino looked surprised.

Hearing Mercer's answer, Garp pursed his lips, clearly unhappy that Mercer had answered for him.

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

"You little brat, don't I treat you like my own grandson?"

"You're just asking to get smacked again."

Mercer rolled his eyes and looked at Garp helplessly.

"Sorry, okay? I said I'm sorry. I apologize. Please, be the bigger man and let it go. Can we put this behind us, since I'm sincerely admitting I was wrong?"

Pfft!

Watching Mercer placate Garp like a child, Makino burst out laughing, her shoulders bouncing. "You really are so funny, little Mercer. I think you should just be my little brother."

"No." Mercer flatly refused. "I decline."

"Huh?" Makino puffed out her cheeks, confused. "Why?"

"I, Mercer, am rebellious to the core, born wild and untamed. How could I possibly become someone else's underling? Even if I did, I'd only obey on the surface. I'd rebel sooner or later."

Mercer glanced at Makino. "You want to be my boss? Have you prepared yourself to be stabbed in the back?"

Makino blinked, then burst out laughing again.

"Then forget it. I'm afraid you'd stab me to death, and then you'd be on your knees, crying and begging me not to die."

Garp gave Mercer an odd look. Something about that talk of rebellion sounded like it had a hidden meaning.

Mercer stared at her, his face dark, until she stopped laughing. Then he spoke.

"I'm leaving. I'm going somewhere else. I caught this deer for you."

Makino pressed her lips together. She assumed Mercer had asked Garp to hunt it for her, since Mercer couldn't even fish. Her eyes turned somber.

"A whole deer is too much."

But seeing how firmly Mercer refused to take no for an answer, she asked, "Will you come back to Foosha Village again? I'd like to make you another meal."

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

Mercer grinned.

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

"When you come back, I'll make you a meal, and you'll give me a deer."

"Dream on. It's not even dark yet."

Mercer rolled his eyes at her. Makino tipped up the corners of her mouth. "Dreams are beautiful because they're so wonderful."

"More like nightmares."

"Wonderful dreams."

"Whatever." Mercer said, "Enough of that. I'll come find you when I visit Foosha Village again."

Makino smiled. "All right, then it's a deal."

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

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

After hitting Mercer, Garp turned to Makino. "While I'm away, go to Slab if anything comes up. Take care of yourself. We're heading out."

"Mm, have a safe trip. I'll walk you out."

The two of them made their way to the warship.

Bogard had been waiting impatiently on deck.

As soon as he saw them, he spoke.

"You took your time, Vice Admiral Garp."

Garp gave him an unconcerned smile. "All right, stop grumbling. Let's get going. We're heading to Paradise, Drum Island."

Bogard acknowledged him and went to give orders to the helmsman and navigator aboard the warship.

The warship slowly backed away from the dock. Once it had turned around, its sails filled with wind.

Riding the wind and cutting through the waves,

it headed toward the Calm Belt near Loguetown.

A week later,

the warship's speed let it take a shortcut and cross the Calm Belt safely once again.

There had been a few little incidents along the way.

A few days earlier,

a zebra Sea Beast with a head a hundred meters across had burst out of the water and lunged at the warship with its jaws open. Garp leaped up and punched the air in the warship's direction.

The terrifying force of his punch created a huge vacuum. The warship plunged into the sea as if it had landed on a spring mattress, then shot straight into the sky under the tremendous recoil.

It escaped the Sea Beast's bite.

Even now, thinking back on it filled Mercer with excitement.

What was more, in Garp's punch, Mercer had "seen" something else—a special kind of power.

Lying on the upper deck of the warship, Mercer squinted at the white clouds in the deep blue sky.

"Armament Haki?"

"Some kind of biological energy infused with a strong personal will—or perhaps the power of thought. It manifests like blood and vitality, cellular energy, or life force."

"This really is interesting."

"It is interesting, but it's too soon for you to concern yourself with it."

"Too much curiosity isn't a good thing." Garp sat down beside Mercer, his expression stern. "You've heard the saying 'curiosity killed the cat,' right?"

"Hey, Grandpa. If Haki is an innate power and Observation Haki can awaken naturally, what about Armament Haki? What about Conqueror's Haki?"

"The world is full of wonders. Of course there are people who have them. Everything that exists has a reason for existing. Some people are born extraordinary, different from the rest."

Garp spoke as if reminiscing.

"Heh."

"All right. Just remember to let things happen naturally. You already understand the concept of Haki. When the time is right, you'll awaken it yourself. There's no need to force it."

Garp offered Mercer some encouragement. "Don't think I'm all that amazing because of what I did the other day. When you're grown and have been through more, you'll be able to do it too."

"Who knows what the future holds," Mercer said. "But I get the feeling you have more confidence in me than I do."

"Who knows?"

Garp smiled.

Mercer smiled too, then said, "Next time you come back to the East Blue, remember to take me with you. If nothing unexpected happens."

"No problem."

The next morning,

an island appeared in the distance. Eight towering peaks, like pillars supporting the heavens, rose from the snow-covered island.

"Drum Island."

As the warship entered the waters around the island, falling snowflakes instantly dusted it white.

Crystalline snowflakes drifted down from the sky.

The scene was breathtaking.

Mercer put on a padded coat and stood at the bow, speaking to the man beside him. "I'll say goodbye now, Uncle."

Bogard smiled. "All right. See you next time."

The warship didn't go ashore.

It stopped near the island's coast. As Mercer looked at the ten-meter gap between the ship and the shore, a towering figure appeared beside him.

Garp grabbed Mercer's right arm and grinned. "Fly, kid."

With that, he flung Mercer away. Mercer traced an arc through the air as Garp hurled him onto the island.

In midair, Mercer steadied himself, following the force acting on his body. His feet landed in the snow on the shore.

Mercer looked back at Garp and waved.

"Mercer, be careful on your way back by yourself. Grandpa won't be coming with you. Give that woman Doctor Doriel my regards."

"Mm! I will."

The next moment, Garp tossed Mercer's luggage over.

Mercer caught it.

Inside were Mercer's clothes, along with several bottles of Plum Wine packed for him.

It was a different brand from the East Blue wine Kureha had tried. Mercer wasn't sure if she'd like it.

As he watched the warship drift away from the island with the current, Mercer set off toward home.

He'd been at sea for a little over a month.

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

The familiar scent of snow and wind.

The cold wind blew snowflakes against Mercer's face as he trudged through the snow, one step sinking deeper than the next.

He wasn't following a road through a village or town, but walking through an uninhabited forest.

He'd never been this way before, but he wouldn't get lost. The island's eight pillars were its best landmarks.

The eight Drum Mountains.

Even the longest road eventually came to an end. Half an hour later, a treehouse came into view, and Mercer quickened his pace.

Before he reached the door, it cracked open, and a black-and-white head poked out.

The next moment, Bear Cub squeezed his round body through the gap, whining "yu-yu" as he ran toward Mercer.

"Whoa!"

Bear Cub slammed his head into Mercer's stomach, sliding him back half a meter. Mercer grimaced in pain.

"Are you trying to kill me?" Mercer grabbed Bear Cub's chubby face in both hands and looked at his snowy-white teeth.

Bear Cub rose onto his hind legs and placed his front paws on Mercer's shoulders. He rubbed his big head against Mercer's face, making happy "yu-yu" sounds.

Mercer turned his head to look at Bear Cub's dark, jewel-like eyes and hugged his soft, fluffy body.

He even smelled faintly of soap.

His fur was glossy and sleek, with black and white sharply divided. Not a single strand was out of place.

Just then, Kureha's voice came from inside. "Aren't you cold?"

"Why are you standing in the doorway? Get in here already. You two are wasting what little warmth there is."

Mercer stuck out his tongue, and Bear Cub copied him. One person and one bear went inside, one after the other.

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

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

Kureha's lips curved into a smile. "You're back, so you're back. It's not like I'm blind. Go wash your hands. There's bone soup simmering in the kitchen."

Mercer nodded and went to wash up in the bathroom.

After washing his hands, he went to the kitchen and filled a large bowl with bone soup.

Bear Cub crowded beside Mercer, drooling as he stared at the food.

Seeing this, Mercer handed him the large bone from his bowl. Bear Cub clamped down on it and crunched it to pieces.

He savored the marrow and swallowed it with a satisfied look on his face.

One sip of soup warmed Mercer right up. By the time he finished the bowl, warm currents seemed to be flowing all through his body.

Smacking his lips, he mentally listed several nourishing medicinal herbs.

He stuffed the half-eaten bone into Bear Cub's mouth.

Bear Cub didn't mind at all and happily chewed it.

After washing the bowl, Mercer left the kitchen. Kureha came over just then.

"Come upstairs with me. I'll give you a checkup."

With that, Kureha went upstairs by herself.

Mercer didn't think much of it.

There was no need to.

It was most likely about recording his breathing.

Mercer climbed the stairs and entered the lab.

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

Kureha said calmly, "Begin your breathing."

In the span of a few breaths, he adjusted his breathing rhythm and entered a state of Unity of Heaven and Man.

Paying Kureha no mind, Mercer coordinated his breathing with Observation Haki, sensing the inside of his body in minute detail.

He roughly observed the "direction" the oxygen he inhaled flowed through his body, and followed his breath to sense his stomach and intestines moving.

The food he had just eaten quickly broke down inside him, waves of warm energy coursing through his body. It was fascinating.

Before he knew it, Mercer was engrossed. He kept deepening his perception, hoping to see even subtler changes.

But...

It was all for nothing.

At last, Mercer opened his eyes. At the same time, Kureha withdrew her left index finger from his side and stopped taking notes with her right hand.

"Not bad! Your breathing has improved a lot in both depth and control since I last saw you a month ago."

"Doctor Doriel, we keep calling it 'breathing,' and it sounds a little plain. What do you think about giving this special breathing method of ours a new name?"

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

"You came up with it, so you should name it."

Kureha gave a helpless smile. "From what you've said, breathing led you to a state of inner peace. You call it Unity of Heaven and Man, right?

"You can sense the breathing rhythms of all things in nature.

"Like that realm the swordsmen talk about—the Breathing of All Things.

"Nature, all things, heaven and man, serenity... Those words all sound pretty grand.

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

Mercer blinked. Kureha's choice of name surprised him, but "Free Breathing Method" would do.

"That's pretty good. Breathing is something we're born with, something free and natural. 'Free' works. Then the name is 'Free Breathing Method.'"

For now, it was "Free." Once its level rose, he could add "Great" to the name.

A seamless lineage.

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

Gifted Abilities

[A+ Rank Gift: Breathing]

Its name had changed, becoming:

[A+ Rank Gift: Free Breathing Method]

The Gift's name had changed, but its effects hadn't.

Kureha chuckled and shook her head, looking bemused. "You really do have a lot of tricks up your sleeve. I only said that name offhand."

"Yeah, I figured. I only said it on a whim, too. Free, as in free and easy."

As Mercer spoke, he started laughing along with her.

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