The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

Even bound to a pillar, he struggled to raise his head, his face filled with determination, and shouted out that eternal vow at the top of his lungs.

"I'm going to be the Pirate King!!"

The shout broke the silence like a pebble thrown into still water.

Ace immediately put down the meat bone in his hand, wiped his mouth, and met Gern's gaze with sharp eyes, declaring with his own pride: "That's right! The position of Pirate King is mine!"

Sabo glanced at his two brothers and took a deep breath. Although his dream leaned more towards freedom, he stood firmly by his brothers' side at this moment: "We will set sail together and realize our respective dreams!"

The order of their answers seemed to subtly foreshadow the future trajectories of the three brothers.

Only Luffy will carry this dream through to the end, like a faith, until his death.

Looking at these three boys with burning eyes, fearless and daring...

Gern was slightly taken aback at first, then burst into a loud laugh: "Hahahaha! Interesting! Very interesting! Pirate King..."

As the laughter subsided, he raised his glass to the three of them, but the joking tone in his deep eyes was gone.

"So, the future 'Pirate Kings'..."

"You all need to work hard to become strong enough."

"So strong...that he can beat me."

“Otherwise…” Gern paused slightly, “this ocean will mercilessly…swallow you all.”

Chapter 372: He... Arrested the Pirate King.

Just as the echoes of Guern's words were still lingering and the atmosphere in the bar remained somewhat tense, Makino, carrying a flask of liquor, stepped forward at the opportune moment.

Gently refilling Gern's empty glass with golden ale, a soft voice broke the ambiance.

"Sir, they are just children."

These words, like warm sunshine, dispelled some of the chill.

The three brothers seemed to be awakened, snapping out of Gern's warning about "swallowing the sea," and their youthful stubbornness immediately took over.

Luffy, especially, who was tied to the pillar, struggled and shouted, "I'm not afraid! When I grow up, I'll definitely beat you to a pulp! One hundred percent!!"

Ace and Sabo echoed each other, spouting all sorts of "bold words" in an attempt to dispel the palpitations they had just felt.

Gern completely ignored the children's harsh words, but turned his attention to Makino because of her intervention.

Staring at this kind and intelligent proprietress, a slight smile played on his lips, "To be able to so openly express one's dreams and be willing to give everything for them..."

This in itself is proof of a man's manhood.

“And, the beautiful Miss Makino…” Gern paused for a moment.

"I, too, bear the burden of 'justice' that I must uphold."

When the word "justice" came clearly from Gern's mouth

Makino was slightly taken aback at first, and then a look of understanding and shock flashed in her clear eyes!

But she didn't say anything, she just nodded silently, her eyes showing a hint of understanding and a trace of barely perceptible worry.

After all, it's inappropriate to talk about being a pirate in front of a navy officer.

At the same time, Gern didn't linger any longer and downed the drink in one gulp.

He then pulled out a stack of pewter bills from his pocket—enough to cover the entire meal with some left over—and gently placed them on the bar, making a crisp sound.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Makino." With that, she stood up briskly and pushed open the wooden door of the bar.

Inside the bar, Makino glanced at the stack of Berries on the bar, then at the three teenagers still chattering about how to become stronger and defeat Gern.

Her expression turned serious when her gaze fell on Ace, and she asked softly, "Ace, do you remember what I taught you?"

As she spoke, she raised her hands, elegantly interlacing her fingers to form a clear "X" shape in front of her chest.

Ace was taken aback by Makino's gesture at first, but then he understood what she meant.

This gesture represents "politeness" and means "if you have received kindness from others, you should respond accordingly".

Especially after he thought about it again, although that strange old man was very strong and also infuriating...

But they did treat them to a lavish meal, and... it didn't seem like they were really harmed.

Ace paused for a moment, then nodded vigorously and walked to the pillar.

He freed Luffy from his rubber restraints, who was still struggling, and then said to Luffy and Sabo, "Let's go, let's get out of here."

.........

Outside the bar, the streets of Windmill Village were bathed in a warm orange-red glow from the setting sun.

Before Gern had gone far, Ace's clear, youthful voice rang out behind him.

Hey! You weird old man up ahead! Wait a minute!

"Hmm? Is there anything else?" Gern stopped and turned his head slightly.

"Although I don't know if you're lying to us or if you're the old man's friend, you did treat us to a meal!"

So tell us your name, you young, eccentric old man.

"Name?" Upon hearing this, Gern feigned confusion and looked at the three teenagers who had chased after him.

"But I don't even know the names of you three little devils myself!"

"You don't need to know this!" Ace said loudly, hands on his hips, a confident smile on his face, meeting Gern's gaze.

"Because in the not-too-distant future, the three of our names will be known throughout the entire ocean! Then, you'll naturally find out!"

However, having said that, Ace seemed to feel that this wasn't enough, or perhaps it was some inexplicable impulse deep within him.

This prompted him to decide to formally announce their existence to this mysterious "strange uncle" at this moment.

The three brothers exchanged glances, took a deep breath, and pointed to themselves and their companions in turn, their voices echoing clearly through the streets of Windmill Village.

"Of course, I can tell you now!"

"Monkey D. Luffy!"

"Portgas D. Ace!"

"Sabo!"

"Remember these three names... they will surely resound throughout the ends of this sea!"

The boy's declaration was powerful and resounding, filled with boundless aspirations for the future and an unquestionable determination.

Looking at the boy's confident and radiant smile in the sunset, and hearing that incredibly familiar, timeless declaration...

Gern was stunned for a moment, then he couldn't hold back any longer and burst into a hearty laugh, even tinged with a touch of emotion.

Hahahaha! Hahahaha!

He laughed heartily, which made Luffy and Sabo stare at him in confusion, and even Ace's confident expression was somewhat shaky.

"Hey old man, what... what are you laughing at?!" Ace asked, somewhat annoyed.

"Haha...no, it's nothing..." Gern's laughter gradually subsided. He raised his hand to wipe away what might not have been tears of laughter, a gentle look of reminiscence flashing in his eyes.

"It's just... that I remembered some things from my younger days."

Some things... are things only a young person with youthful spirit would dare to do.

As he said this, images from many years ago flashed through Gern's mind...

His first promotion to Marine Headquarters occurred during a chance encounter where he faced the towering, white-bearded Edward Newgate, a figure as imposing as a mountain...

Facing his strongest self, who had drawn his sword, he stood tall and fearlessly uttered that one sentence.

[Gern Reginald Sigmar! Remember this name... it will resound to the ends of this sea!]

Time flows on, and the world changes.

The young navy officer who challenged the pinnacle of legend back then has now become the legend itself in the new era.

At this moment, the three teenagers standing in front of him are launching an attack on all the old eras, including his own, in almost the same manner.

This is a wondrous cycle, a transmission of spirit.

Gradually, Gern suppressed all his outward emotions, and his gaze returned to calm.

Looking at the three boys with burning eyes in front of him, a faint smile appeared on his lips: "I'll remember your names."

"Monkey D. Luffy, Portgas D. Ace, and Sabo."

“As for my name…” Gern paused, his tone calm and composed, “Just call me 'Gern'!”

"That's what people who know me call me."

After saying that, Gern didn't linger. He turned around, waved, and his figure gradually disappeared into the end of the windmill village street.

Ace and Luffy remained standing there, gazing at the end of the street where Gurn had disappeared.

"Gern??" Ace put his hands behind his head and casually remarked, "So that's the name of that strange young man!"

Luffy also looked in that direction, his face innocent: "Hmm! Gern! He even treated us to meat, he's a nice weird old man!"

However, Sabo, standing behind them, turned deathly pale as if struck by lightning, and swayed.

With a thud, he collapsed to the ground, his eyes glazed over as he murmured, "Gern...Gern Reginald Sigmar!"

He is Gern Reginald Sigmar!!

Hearing Sabo's dreamlike yet startled exclamation, Ace and Luffy turned around at the same time, looking at him in confusion.

Luffy tilted his head, looking puzzled: "Sabo, how do you know the weirdo's full name? He only said 'Gern'!"

Sabo abruptly raised his head, his face filled with unprecedented shock and an indescribable complex emotion.

Looking at his two still clueless brothers, his voice trembled with excitement: "Ace! Luffy!"

He is Gern Reginald Sigmar! He's Admiral 'White Scale' of the Marine Headquarters!!

“When I was at home, my parents and their aristocratic colleagues often mentioned this name for a period of time!”

Although I've never met him, I remember his name very clearly!

However… they preferred to call that man 'Tianzhen'!

“‘Skyquake’? Skyquake Gern…” Ace frowned as he repeated the ominous-sounding title.

But he was still puzzled and looked at Sabo, whose expression was unusually solemn, "Is there a problem with this?"

"An admiral...isn't that just a very powerful Marine? Like old man Garp."

Looking at Ace's still somewhat bewildered expression and Luffy's completely clueless look,

Sabo bit his lip hard, slowly raised his eyes, and looked at Ace with a heavy gaze.

Especially when he looked deeply into Ace's eyes, which were remarkably similar to those of a certain legend.

He spoke in a low, deliberate voice, almost forced out between clenched teeth, "The problem is..."

"The Pirate King... Gol D. Roger..."

"It was him...the man who just treated us to dinner and joked with us..."

"He personally arrested and imprisoned them!"

"It was him... he was the one who arrested him."

One Piece!!!

Chapter 373 I must defeat him!

"It was him... he arrested the Pirate King!!!"

Sabo's words pierced Ace and Luffy's hearts like icicles.

"The Pirate King... was arrested by him personally..." Luffy was completely stunned, his jaw almost dropped, and his eyes were wide open.

For the first time, he realized that behind the title of "Pirate King" was not just glory and dreams.

Especially in this era, the Pirate King wasn't killed off by surrendering himself, but by someone else!!!

"Eh—!!! Was the Pirate King captured by that strange young man?!"