The sea breeze swept through Foosha Village's harbor, carrying the scent of salt and moisture as the Dog-Head Warship slowly docked.
Gern stood on deck, gazing at the peaceful little village. Red-and-white windmills turned slowly above the rooftops, and he could faintly hear the bustle of fish shops and children playing.
"We're here!" Garp's voice boomed like thunder as he leaped off the warship.
His military boots slammed into the wooden pier, making the planks creak. "This is my hometown, Foosha Village! Hurry up and get down here, Gern!"
"Got it, Vice Admiral Garp!" Gern jumped off after him. His feet had barely touched the ground before Garp seized his arm.
"Come on! Let me broaden your horizons!"
"Foosha Village? Broaden my horizons? Do those two things really belong in the same sentence, Vice Admiral Garp?"
"Hahaha!" Garp laughed without answering. Taking advantage of Gern's inability to resist him, he simply dragged him toward the village.
At that moment, the Navy Hero was like a child eager to show off his new toy, his steps so light that he seemed like a completely different person.
"Hey, everyone!" Garp suddenly waved at a little girl with braids by the roadside. "Look who I brought back!"
The little girl timidly looked up. Her gaze lingered on Gern for a moment before she quickly hid behind her mother.
Gern's mouth twitched. "Vice Admiral Garp, you're scaring her."
"Garp, who's this...?" By then, quite a few villagers who knew Garp had begun gathering around.
"Hahaha!" Garp slapped Gern on the back so hard that he stumbled.
"Heavenquake Gern! The rising Marine star from the newspapers who landed a slash on Golden Lion!"
"Heh, hello, everyone." Gern barely steadied himself. Suddenly finding himself the center of attention, he felt his ears grow hot.
Garp's astonishingly