Those words finally snapped everyone out of their daze.
A woman shouted, "Lorne, it really is you!"
Another fisherman slapped his thigh and said, "That Lorne in the papers who defeated a Shichibukai really was you!"
The village chief walked forward with his cane and looked up at Lorne, his face filled with surprise and delight.
"You brat, one trip away and you've got the whole sea talking about you. How is this old heart of mine supposed to take it?"
Lorne bent down to look at the village chief and smiled. "You're still as hale and hearty as ever, Village Chief."
The village chief immediately snorted.
"None of that. Becoming a rear admiral doesn't mean you can throw your weight around in Foosha Village."
Lorne raised his hand in a half-joking salute.
"Yes, sir, Village Chief."
The surrounding villagers finally burst out laughing, breaking the tension.
Makino walked forward and looked at Lorne, her eyes slightly red.
"Lorne, you really have gotten stronger."
Looking at her gentle smile, Lorne softened his voice a little.
"Makino, it's been a while. Where are Luffy and Ace?"
Makino pointed toward Mount Colubo and said helplessly, "Luffy keeps running off into the mountains lately. Ace is building a boat by the sea. He says he's setting sail soon."
At those words, Lorne's gaze immediately turned amused.
"Ace is setting sail?"
The village chief immediately bristled with anger.
"That little brat talks about setting sail every day. He's as hopeless as Luffy. It's all that bastard Garp's fault for raising them that way!"
Lorne offered no comment on Garp. He simply turned to Ethan and said, "Leave some men to watch the ship. Not too many of the rest need to follow. Don't frighten the villagers."
Ethan immediately nodded.
"Yes, Rear Admiral."
Standing beside