Karasu, Head of the Household!

"Pfft-hahaha!!"

His laughter arrived before he did.

"Mercer, why are you sitting by the door?" Garp came up to the entrance, grinning. "Did you do something to upset that woman, Doctor Doriel?"

"Or did she kick you out?"

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

Mercer rolled his eyes at him and said helplessly, "If you're so capable, go inside and say that. Let's see if Doctor Doriel beats you up."

The smile froze on Garp's face. He rolled his eyes right back at Mercer and clicked his tongue.

"Guess that's not it, then. I knew it. That woman, Doctor Doriel, dotes on you so much. How could she bear to get rid of you?"

Watching Garp's expression change at lightning speed, Mercer sighed. "Grandpa, how much leave did you get this time?"

Garp's expression turned serious, then he grinned and pressed a hand on Mercer's head. "Don't worry. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll have a little more time off this trip."

"So, do you want to come back to the East Blue with me this time? It'll be the perfect chance for me to give you two some proper training."

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

"Come on, I'll go with you. It's been a long time since I've seen her, too."

Mercer got up and went inside with Garp. Just then, Kureha came down from the second floor. She looked at Garp and clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"Why are you here again? Do you have so little to do as a vice admiral?"

Garp picked his nose and grinned. "I'm just giving the younger generation more chances to grow. If I had to do everything myself, what would become of the Marines?"

Kureha rolled her eyes at him, unconcerned by his words. She'd only asked on a whim.

She looked at Mercer and said coolly, "You're going to the East Blue?"

"Yeah. I want to go have some fun."

"Fine, then go. Staying cooped up here all the time isn't good for you. It'll do you good to get out more. Besides, with Garp around, you can pretty much do whatever you want."

Mercer gave her a helpless look. "I'm not a crab. Why would I walk sideways? I'm a good kid, you know."

Kureha and Garp both gave the little brat in front of them an odd look.

Garp suddenly burst out laughing.

"Pfft-hahaha! Mercer, you just called yourself a good kid? Are you trying to kill me laughing? I don't even want to bring up some of your past exploits."

Kureha's mouth twitched, and she waved him away helplessly. "Just hurry up and get out of here."

Mercer gave a helpless sigh and went to gather his clothes from the cabinet beside his bed.

He packed the essentials into a backpack.

Then he changed into something lighter.

Once he'd packed everything, Mercer looked at Bear Cub and Karasu's family blocking the doorway.

Mercer smiled. "I'm going away for a few days. You all stay home and keep an eye on things."

Bear Cub nodded reluctantly. "Mm... You said... take me... too?"

Mercer smiled and went over to rub Bear Cub's head. "You've got a more important job. You're the family cook. What would Doctor Doriel do if you left?"

"Oh, right."

Bear Cub nodded, though he still looked unhappy.

Kureha clicked her tongue. "He wants to go with you, so just take him. It's not like I can't live without him."

"Maybe next time. Didn't you say your experiment was about to yield results? Bear Cub can help you out at home. He can at least run errands for you."

Kureha fell silent. Just as she was about to say something, Bear Cub wrapped his arms around her leg and said in his simple, clumsy way, "Bear... not go. Stay... with Mama."

Kureha couldn't help laughing. That fool really had started treating her like his mother. She didn't object again, and instead reached down to play with Bear Cub's ear.

Once that was settled, Karasu spoke in his hoarse voice. "Mercer, I go... with you."

Mercer looked troubled. "What about your wife and kids if you leave?"

Karasu replied firmly, "Kids... grown. Xiaoniu can watch them. I go... with you. I've... decided."

As head of the family, Karasu had made his decision. Crow Xiaoniu didn't say anything; she simply went over and affectionately rubbed her long neck against him.

"Xiaoniu... wait at home. I'll... watch kids. Be safe... together."

Crow Xiaoniu spoke in her hoarse voice.

What a good wife and mother!

At that moment, seeing all the birds in the room—and the bear, who could speak a little—Garp blinked in surprise. "What's going on with them?"

Mercer smiled. "I'll explain on the way."

Garp didn't mind and answered casually, "All right."

The young couple nuzzled together for a while. Before long, Karasu gently nudged his wife away with a wing, then flapped up onto Mercer's shoulder.

Mercer said goodbye to Kureha, Bear Cub, and all the birds in the house.

As they walked through the Snow Forest,

Mercer briefly explained things to Garp. Garp watched Karasu flying overhead with keen interest.

"That panda of yours is a special case, but your White-necked Crow really is smart."

The two of them chatted cheerfully as they walked. Before long, they spotted a warship moored in the river.

As soon as he boarded, Mercer spotted Bogard.

When Bogard saw him, he gave the crew some orders to prepare for departure, then came over and sized Mercer up.

"Well, well. You've gotten even bulkier since I last saw you, kid. What is it? Miss me?"

Mercer looked at him and smiled.

"It's not even dark yet, uncle. Why are you already dreaming?"

"You're still the same as ever, kid. Not cute at all."

Bogard gave him a helpless look.

Mercer just smiled. After chatting with him for a bit, he greeted the Marines he knew aboard the ship.

Then he went into the cabin with Karasu perched on his shoulder.

Once the warship left Drum Island's waters, Karasu flew through the sky, its loud, hoarse calls ringing out without pause.

Its voice made it clear how excited it was. After all, this was the first time in its life it had gone to sea, and the first time it had left the waters around Drum Island.

The warm climate surrounding them made it feel even more comfortable.

After flying around for a while, it landed on top of the warship's mast. With its chest puffed out, it scanned the surroundings with its sharp eyes, looking exceptionally majestic.

It looked just like a professional lookout.

"Where did you get that crow?" Bogard came over to Mercer by the railing on the warship's upper deck. "It's a fine bird."

Bogard watched Karasu with unconcealed envy. It had a sturdy, sleek build, its muscles taut and powerful. Its frame was elegant, its beak sharp, its claws strong, and its eyes bright and alert.

And ever since Mercer had started raising it, it had never gone hungry. It got meat at every meal, along with medicinal supplements.

It looked even more majestic now than when Mercer had first caught it.

It had even grown a little bigger.

"Jealous? Envious? Green with envy?" Mercer grinned. "Good. I raised this bird myself with great care."

"Caw~ Mercer... talking nonsense. I... naturally... talented."

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

Bogard gave Mercer an odd look and couldn't help asking, "Your crow's pretty interesting. Has it laid any eggs?

"It's so intelligent. If it has, give me one. I'll pay in Beli."

Mercer curled his lip and looked disgusted. "Karasu's a guy, and its chicks aren't for sale. Unless you take the time to win their trust and get their consent, you won't get a single feather."

Mercer had never planned to give one away, but he hadn't shut the idea down completely, either.

Hearing what Mercer said, Karasu's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

After spending so much time with Mercer, it knew that having a master wasn't bad. At least it would never have to worry about food.

But if someone wanted one of its chicks, they'd have to be a decent person, someone it approved of.

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

Fortunately, they didn't encounter any large Sea Beasts, though some smaller ones foolishly came up to challenge them.

Every one of them ended up as roasted meat in the crew's bellies.

At lunchtime,

Karasu tore into the cooked Sea Beast meat, eating until its belly was round.

There was a strange look on its face. If it had encountered one of these enormous "fish monsters" near the coast before, it would have turned and flown straight into the sky.

But now,

"Caw~ Everyone on this ship is a monster."

Mercer ate his meat and smiled. "Keep eating this kind of meat and work hard at your training. You'll grow bigger and stronger, too."

"Can a crow do that?" Karasu asked uncertainly.

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

Karasu shook its head. "Almost... got it."

Mercer nodded. "That's fine. I'll keep teaching you. Practice more, and you'll learn it. Once you do, it'll affect your digestive system, so you'll be able to eat more. The more you eat, the stronger you'll get."

Karasu's eyes sharpened, and it nodded solemnly. "Crow knows. Crow will... work hard. For wife... and kids."

It was quite the hard worker.

Bogard, who was eating nearby, twitched his lips. Mercer saw him and suddenly laughed.

"Well, well. Sometimes a person can't even measure up to a bird. Karasu's already got a whole nest of eggs, while some people haven't even kissed a woman. They're only good at talking. A master of theory! Am I right, uncle?"

Mercer rested his right elbow on the table and turned to look at Bogard with a teasing smile. Bogard's face twitched violently.

He glared viciously at Mercer.

Mercer smiled at Karasu. "Da Bao, what do you call that?"

"Lonely... dog. Old... bachelor."

A hoarse voice rang out.

The Marines in the dining room all looked over strangely. Bogard's face darkened as he ground his teeth at Karasu.

"Damn crow, do you want a beating?"

Karasu turned away, but muttered under its breath, "Two-legger... jealous of crow."

Mercer burst out laughing.

His laughter was like a bomb going off. The whole dining room erupted in laughter.

Bogard had been the highest-ranking officer in the dining room, so nobody had dared laugh at him before. But now that someone had started, the Marines no longer had any reservations.

They laughed to their hearts' content.

Bogard's lips trembled with anger. He glared viciously at Mercer, then stormed out.

Mercer blinked. Seeing that Bogard still had plenty of food left, he quickly finished his own meal and went after him with Bogard's plate.

He also added two delicious fried steaks for him.

He stepped out of the cabin.

With a moment's use of Observation Haki, he sensed Bogard on the warship's upper deck and headed over with a smile.

"What, still mad? I'll apologize, all right?"

Mercer held out the plate. Bogard saw it and accepted it with a helpless smile, then watched Mercer swipe one of the steaks.

"What's this? Taking a cut for yourself? Weren't you bringing it all for me?"

Mercer smiled. "One of them was mine from the start. I just didn't have a free hand before."

Bogard clicked his tongue, then couldn't help asking, "Seriously, you won't give anyone one of your crow's eggs?"

"No." Mercer replied, "They're Karasu's chicks, so it gets to decide. Or you can catch one yourself. I'll train it for you for free."

"Fine. I'll think about it."

Bogard ate happily. He hadn't really been angry earlier; he'd just been embarrassed, so he'd taken the chance to slip out.

He was an adult. He wasn't going to get angry that easily or hold a grudge against Mercer.

Besides, Mercer hadn't said anything untrue.

He just wasn't popular with women.

A few days later,

at around five in the afternoon,

the warship came to a smooth stop at the Foosha Village pier.

Mercer and Garp disembarked.

They headed to the village chief's house at the eastern end of the village.

As soon as they reached the entrance, they heard two babyish voices inside, followed by several thumps against the door.

Slab opened it and came out.

The moment he saw Garp, he got angry. He puffed out his mustache and glared.

"Did my front door do something to offend you? Is there really a need to do that every time you come here?"

Garp grinned and casually pushed past him as he went inside.

Mercer shrugged at Slab's dark face. "Hello, uncle."

Slab broke into a smile when he saw Mercer, but as soon as he heard what Mercer called him, his face darkened again.

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

"But you look young."

Mercer grinned.

Slab gave him a helpless look, though he seemed a little pleased, too. "Ah, whatever you say."

Mercer followed him inside.

In the living room, two-year-old toddlers played on the floor, giggling and babbling.

Garp stood nearby, cheerfully calling out the two little ones' names. When they came over, he scooped them up, one in each arm.

He rubbed his beard against one, then the other, while the two little ones repeatedly tried to squirm away from him.

Mercer watched for a while, amused himself with it, then took the fishing rod from Slab's house and went to get ready to fish.

The rocky beach.

At the same spot as last time, Mercer sat on a rock, baited the hook, gripped the end of the rod, and cast it out with all his might.

The hook traced a perfect arc through the air and landed in the sea. The bobber floated on the surface, rising and falling with the waves.

Leaning on the rod and enjoying the sea breeze, Mercer quietly savored a pleasure only anglers could understand.

The afternoon sun warmed him from head to toe, leaving him completely at ease. He couldn't enjoy this kind of comfort on Drum Island.

A little while later.

Karasu, who had circled around above the village, came down from the sky and landed on the rock beside Mercer.

Tilting his head as he watched Mercer, Karasu asked hoarsely, full of curiosity:

"Mercer, you, doing what?"

Mercer smiled, tilted his head to the side, and rubbed it against Karasu's. "Fishing, obviously. What else would I be doing?"

"Fishing. Catch, I, eat?"

Karasu's bird face looked rather aloof.

Mercer smiled. "We'll see if I catch anything. If I don't, you can go catch some shellfish on the shore and eat those."

At the mention of shellfish, Karasu looked confused. He'd never eaten any on Drum Island. It was too cold there, and he'd never even seen them.

"Shell, what, that?"

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