After piecing together the crucial information, Gern's grave expression quickly faded, and he regained his composure.
His gaze returned to Luffy, but he did not ask for further details about Blackbeard.
Instead, he abruptly changed the subject and asked a crucial question.
"Where's Vegapunk?"
Those few words instantly tightened the atmosphere, which had only just eased at the revelation that he was "not an enemy."
Luffy's expression immediately sobered, and he straightened his back.
Although his strength had not fully recovered, his eyes were resolute.
At the same time, he remembered Vegapunk's plea on the cloud platform.
He remembered the promise he had casually made because he thought the man's "head looked funny."
["Take you with us? Sure! Sounds pretty fun anyway!"]
To Luffy, a promise was a promise.
Since he had agreed to take Vegapunk away,
until Vegapunk himself changed his mind or clearly said he no longer needed his help,
Luffy would do everything in his power to fulfill it.
"Sorry, weird old guy."
Luffy did not mention York's betrayal, nor did he explain Vegapunk's current predicament or the danger he faced.
He simply stated his position, calmly and directly.
"If you came here to take Old Man Apple away..."
Luffy paused, looking Gern straight in the eye.
"I won't hand him over to you."
The atmosphere shifted slightly at those words.
Gern narrowed his eyes.
Robin, Franky, and Brook immediately tensed again, instinctively taking defensive stances.
After all, their captain's words meant they could clash at any moment with the unfathomably powerful Fleet Admiral before them.
For a moment, silence settled between the two sides.
The sea breeze swept through the ruins, stirring fine dust with a mournful howl.
A few seconds later, Gern spoke slowly.
"If I wanted to..."
His gaze swept over Luffy, then over