Karasu, Head of the Household!

Chapter 35: 035. Karasu, Head of the Household!

"Puhahahaha!!"

His laughter arrived before he did.

"Mercer, why are you sitting by the door?" Garp arrived at the entrance, chuckling. "Did you upset that woman Dolier about something?"

"Or did she kick you out of the house?"

"Tell me, Grandpa's here. If she doesn't want you anymore, you can come with Grandpa. You're grown up anyway."

Mercer rolled his eyes at him, speechless. "Then if you have the guts, say that inside. See if Doctor Doriel doesn't teach you a lesson."

Garp's smile froze. He gave Mercer an equally exasperated look and smacked his lips.

"Then it seems that's not it. I thought so, Dolier dotes on you so much, how could she bear to let you go."

Seeing Garp's rapid change of expression, Mercer sighed. "Grandpa, how much vacation do you have this time?"

Garp's expression turned serious, then he smiled, reaching out to pat Mercer's head. "Don't worry, if nothing unexpected happens, I'll have more vacation this time."

"Are you going back to the East Blue with me this time? It'll be a good opportunity for me to properly train the two of you."

"Hmm, alright then. I'll go tell Doctor Doriel."

"Let's go, I'll go with you. I haven't seen her in a while either."

Mercer got up and entered the house with Garp. Just then, Kureha came down from the second floor and pouted at Garp, looking displeased.

"Why are you here again? Do you think a Marine Vice Admiral has this much free time?"

Garp picked his nose and grinned. "Aren't I giving the younger generation more opportunities to grow? If I had to do everything myself, an old soldier like me, what would that make us?"

Kureha gave him a look, not really bothered by his words. She had just asked casually.

Looking at Mercer, Kureha said calmly, "Are you going to the East Blue?"

"Yeah, I want to go explore."

"Okay, then go. Staying here all the time isn't good. It's better to go out more. Besides, with that guy Garp around, you can walk sideways."

Mercer was helpless. "I'm not a crab, why would I walk sideways? I'm very well-behaved, okay."

Kureha and Garp both looked at the brat in front of them with subtle expressions.

Garp suddenly burst into laughter.

"Puhaha, Mercer, you're saying you're well-behaved? Are you trying to kill me with laughter? I haven't even brought up your legendary deeds."

Kureha's mouth twitched as well. She waved her hand helplessly. "Hurry up and get lost."

Mercer felt resigned and went to his closet by the bed to pack his clothes.

He packed some essential items into a backpack.

He changed into lighter clothes.

When he had finished packing, Mercer saw Bear Cub and the entire Karasu family blocking the doorway.

Mercer smiled. "I'm going out for a few days, you guys stay home and guard the house."

Bear Cub nodded reluctantly. "Ying~ Say, can, I, go, too?"

Mercer smiled and went to pat Bear Cub's head. "You have a more important mission. If the family's cook leaves, what will Doctor Doriel do?"

"Aow, right."

Bear Cub nodded reluctantly, looking unhappy.

Kureha pouted. "If he wants to go with you, just take him. It's like I can't live without him."

"Let it go this time. Didn't you say your experiment was about to yield results? Bear Cub can help you around the house, he can run errands for you."

Kureha was silent for a moment, and just as she was about to speak, she saw Bear Cub hugging her leg, his big, simple face saying, "Bear, not go, home, mother, together."

Kureha was suddenly at a loss whether to laugh or cry. He had really recognized her as his mother. She didn't object further and reached out to playfully pinch Bear Cub's ear.

Seeing that matters here were settled, Karasu rasped, "Mei, I, go, with you."

Mercer felt a headache coming on. "What about your wife and kids if you leave?"

Karasu said firmly, "Child, big, Niū watch, only, I go with you, I deci,ded."

As expected of the head of the household, when Karasu spoke, Crow Xiaoniu didn't say anything, but just leaned in, nuzzling affectionately with her long neck.

"Niū, home wait for you, child, I look after, safe, one."

Crow Xiaoniu said in a raspy voice.

What a devoted wife and mother!

At this moment, seeing the room full of birds, even Bear could speak simple sentences. Garp blinked, his eyes wide with surprise. "They...?"

Mercer smiled. "I'll tell you on the way."

Garp didn't mind and casually said, "Alright."

Watching the young couple's tender moment, Karasu gently pushed his wife away with a flap of his wing and flew onto Mercer's shoulder.

Mercer and Kureha, Bear Cub, and a house full of birds bid farewell.

Walking through the snowy forest.

Mercer and Garp spoke briefly. Garp looked curiously at Karasu, who was flying in mid-air.

"Your panda is a special case, but your White-necked Crow is truly intelligent."

The two walked and chatted merrily, and soon saw a warship docked in the river channel.

Upon boarding the warship, they immediately spotted Bogard.

Seeing Mercer come aboard, Bogard gave some instructions for departure and walked up to examine Mercer.

"Tsk tsk, you've gotten stronger again since I last saw you. What? Have you missed your old uncle?"

Mercer looked at him and smiled.

"It's not even dark yet, why are you dreaming, uncle?"

"You little brat are still the same as ever, not cute at all."

Bogard looked helpless.

Mercer just smiled, chatted with him for a few sentences, and greeted the Marine soldiers he knew on the ship.

Then he entered the cabin with Karasu perched on his shoulder.

After the warship left the waters of Drum Island, Karasu flew in the sky, its hoarse and clear cries echoing incessantly.

Its voice conveyed great excitement, being its first time at sea and its first time leaving the vicinity of Drum Island.

The warm climate all around made it feel comfortable both physically and mentally.

After flying for a while, it landed on the top of the warship's mast, chest puffed out, surveying its surroundings with majestic bird eyes.

It looked just like a professional lookout.

"Where did you get that crow?" Bogard came up beside Mercer at the railing on the top deck of the warship. "This bird is quite good."

Bogard looked at Karasu with envy. Karasu had a strong physique, its body currently tensed and compact, exuding power, with a graceful bone structure, sharp beak and claws, and a pair of piercing eyes.

And after being raised by Mercer, it never lacked food or drink, eating meat every meal, along with medicines and supplements.

It looked even more majestic than when it was first caught.

Its size had even grown a bit.

"Envious? Desirous? Jealous?" Mercer chuckled. "That's right, this guy is my carefully cultivated treasure."

"Caw~ Mercer, lying, my, own, talent, good."

Karasu turned from the top of the mast and mocked Mercer, "Caw caw caw caw~"

Bogard looked at Mercer with a strange expression and couldn't help but say, "Your crow is quite interesting. Does it lay eggs? If so, give me one. Belly is not a problem."

Mercer curled his lips in disdain. "Karasu is a male. His offspring are also not for sale. Unless you spend time to win them over and gain their consent, you won't even get a feather."

Although Mercer had no intention of giving them away, he didn't close off all possibilities.

Karasu, atop the mast, heard Mercer's words, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in its bird eyes.

Having been with Mercer for a long time, it knew that having a master wasn't bad, at least it wouldn't worry about food and drink.

But if they wanted its offspring, they had to have good character and be someone it found pleasing.

Life at sea was always monotonous. They crossed the Calm Belt and entered the East Blue sea.

Luckily, they didn't encounter any large Sea Beasts, but some small, fearless ones came to provoke them.

However, they were all turned into roasted meat and ended up in everyone's bellies.

Lunchtime.

Karasu tore into the cooked Sea Beast meat with gusto, its belly bulging.

There was a subtle expression on its bird face, as if encountering such a large "monster fish" in coastal waters before, it would have immediately flown into the sky.

But now, "Caw~ everyone on this ship is a monster."

Mercer ate his meat and smiled. "Eat more of this meat in the future, and train harder. You'll grow and become stronger too."

"Can crows do that?" Karasu sounded a little unconfident.

Mercer smiled. "Have you learned the Breathing Technique I taught you?"

Karasu shook its bird head. "Almost, the meaning."

Mercer nodded. "It's okay. I'll teach you. You'll learn it if you practice more. Once you learn it, you can influence your digestive system. You can eat more, and eating more will naturally make you stronger."

Karasu's eyes sharpened, and it nodded seriously. "Crow knows, Crow will, try hard. For, wife, children."

Quite ambitious.

Bogard, who was eating nearby, twitched at the corner of his mouth. Mercer saw this and burst out laughing.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Humans, sometimes they're not even as good as a bird. That bird has already laid a nest full of eggs, and some people haven't even kissed a woman's face.

They're only good with their mouths, masters of theory! Am I right, Uncle?"

Mercer leaned his right elbow on the dining table, turned his head, and looked at Bogard with a smile. Bogard's face twitched violently.

He glared fiercely at Mercer.

Mercer looked at Karasu and smiled, "Karasu, what did you call that?"

"Single dog, old bachelor."

A hoarse voice sounded.

The Marine soldiers in the dining hall all looked over strangely. Bogard's face immediately turned pitch black, and he bared his teeth at Karasu.

"You damn crow, do you want a beating?"

Karasu averted his eyes but also muttered softly, "Two-legged beast, jealous of a crow."

Mercer immediately burst out laughing.

Mercer's laughter was like an ignited bomb, and the entire dining hall erupted in laughter.

Originally, due to Bogard's rank and status, he was the highest in the dining hall, and no one dared to laugh. But now that someone had broken the ice, there were no more reservations.

Laugh to your heart's content.

Bogard's lips trembled with anger. He glared fiercely at Mercer and then stormed out.

Mercer blinked. Seeing that Bogard had left a lot of food behind, he quickly finished his own and then took Bogard's food to find him.

He even added two more delicious grilled steaks for him.

He exited the ship's cabin.

Using Observation Haki for a moment's Perception, he found Bogard on the top floor of the warship. Mercer smiled and walked over.

"What? Still angry? I can apologize, can't I?"

Mercer handed over the meal tray. Bogard looked at it and helplessly took it with a smile. He then watched Mercer take another piece of steak.

"What? Taking a kickback? Wasn't all this for me?"

Mercer smiled, "There was supposed to be a piece for me, I just didn't have a hand free earlier."

Bogard pouted and couldn't help but say again, "Seriously, you're really not giving away those eggs your crow laid?"

"Not giving them away," Mercer said. "Those are Karasu's chicks, he makes the decisions. Or you can go catch one yourself, and I'll help you train it for free."

"Alright then. I'll consider it."

Bogard ate with relish. He wasn't actually angry just now; he just felt a bit embarrassed, so he took the opportunity to run out.

As an adult, he wouldn't get angry so easily, nor would he argue with Mercer.

Besides, Mercer hadn't said anything wrong.

It was just that he had poor luck with women.

A few days later.

Around five in the afternoon.

The warship docked steadily at the Foosha Village pier.

Mercer and Garp disembarked.

They arrived at the village chief's house at the east end of the village.

As soon as they reached the door, they heard two childish voices from inside. After knocking loudly, Slab opened the door.

As soon as he saw Garp, he was furious and glared with bulging eyes:

"My door didn't offend you, did it? Is this necessary? You do this every time you come."

Garp chuckled and pushed him aside, walking in.

Mercer shrugged at the scowling Slab, "Hello, Uncle."

Slab's face lit up when he saw Mercer, but as soon as he smiled, he heard Mercer's address, and his face darkened further.

"Little Mercer, I'm only a few years younger than Garp, I'm also a grandfather."

"But you look young."

Mercer said with a grin.

Slab looked helpless, but also a little pleased. "Eh, whatever you say."

Mercer entered the house with him.

In the living room, two two-year-old toddlers were playing on the floor, giggling.

At this moment, Garp stood by, happily calling out the names of the two little ones. When the two little ones came over, he scooped them up one in each arm.

He rubbed his beard against this one, then that one, constantly dodging as the two little ones recoiled in disgust.

Mercer watched for a while, played with them briefly, then took a fishing rod from Slab's house and went to prepare for fishing.

Reef Beach.

Still in the same spot as last time, Mercer sat on a reef, baited his hook, and forcefully cast the rod.

The hook cut a perfect parabola through the air before landing in the sea, the float bobbing on the surface with the ocean's swell.

Leaning on his rod, Mercer enjoyed the sea breeze, quietly savoring the pleasure that only anglers could understand.

Feeling the afternoon sun on his skin, his whole body felt warm and incredibly comfortable. This kind of comfort couldn't be found on Drum Island.

A moment later.

Karasu, who had been circling the village from the air, descended and landed on the reef beside Mercer.

Tilting his head, Karasu looked at Mercer and asked curiously in his hoarse voice:

"Me, what, you doing?"

Mercer smiled and tilted his head back, rubbing against Karasu's head. "Fishing. What else would I be doing?"

"Fish, catch, I, eat?"

Karasu's bird-face was incredibly haughty.

Mercer chuckled. "We'll see if I catch anything. If not, you can catch some shells on the shore and eat those."

Hearing about shells, Karasu looked confused. He hadn't eaten any on Drum Island; it was too cold, and he hadn't even seen any.

"Shell, what, that?"

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