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

As he spoke, his gaze swept across Ace's face, which was filled with resistance, as if he were examining a sample that did not meet the expectations of the experiment.

"If I remember correctly! That old man with the white beard beat this kid up thoroughly first, and only after he subdued him did he reach out to recruit him..."

The process is pretty much the same..."

He compared his own steps to Whitebeard's actions, carefully reviewing them.

Completely overwhelming (√)

Subdue (√)

Send an invitation (√)

Yes, the steps are exactly the same!!

"But why is it that he can get a son with just a simple reach, while I only get looks that say I'm an idiot when I reach out?"

Gern frowned more and more, completely baffled.

Then, he first looked down at his own neat and handsome clothes (even though he wasn't wearing the Justice Cloak).

I also felt my physique, which had been tempered and strengthened, and my temperament, which was as steady as a mountain (in my opinion), as I had experienced many hardships.

"Could it be... that I lack that so-called 'fatherly quality'?"

Guern muttered to himself uncertainly, even beginning to wonder if his years of scheming had made his aura too sharp and not "kind" enough.

But then he shook his head, offered another hypothesis, and looked sharply at Ace, as if he had found the key to the problem.

"Or is it that... Ace's need and desire for fatherly love... isn't enough?"

When Gern said this, he sounded very serious, as if he was genuinely considering whether to intensify his "physical persuasion" efforts.

Or take other measures to "stimulate" Ace's need for fatherly love.

At this moment, Enel, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't help but burst out laughing, almost dropping the apple pie in his hand.

Even the usually silent bear twitched almost imperceptibly in the fingers holding the cocoa cup, thinking...

"Why don't we go back and talk to Ginny, and have her talk to Toritoma and Lipo?"

After all, Mr. Guern is of fatherhood at that age.

As Ace listened to Gern's unvarnished and outrageous analysis, and watched him earnestly contemplating how to "radiate fatherly love," his temples throbbed with anxiety.

Unable to hold back any longer, he slammed his fist on the table, stood up abruptly, and roared, "Bastard!! Who would need your fatherly love?!"

And another thing! Don't treat me like some pitiful little brat who needs a father's love!! My name starts with my mother's name!!

Gern's thoughts were interrupted by his roar. He looked up and saw Ace's face turn red with anger.

"Oh, okay! I understand!"

It's not that I don't need or crave fatherly love enough!

"Haven't they suffered enough beatings yet?!"

Chapter 389 He Owes You

The four left the restaurant and stood in the square in the center of town.

Guern leisurely picked his teeth with a toothpick, looking relaxed like he was taking a stroll after a meal.

Immediately afterwards, he stretched out his arm and, without saying a word, pulled Ace, who still had a disgruntled "don't touch me" expression on his face.

With his other hand, he casually pointed to the iconic flag fluttering in the wind in the center of the square.

"Do you know him?" Gern asked casually.

"I know him." Ace was forced to look up, frowned, glanced at the Red-Haired Pirates' skull and crossbones flag, and replied irritably.

"The banner of the Four Emperors, 'Red-Haired' Shanks. What's going on?"

"It's nothing." A meaningful smile played on Gern's lips; he didn't answer directly.

Instead, he turned his head and whispered something to the silent bear beside him.

Then the bear nodded expressionlessly.

The next moment, under the gaze of Ace and Enel, who was idly picking his ears...

Transparent, fleshy bubbles appeared on the bear's enormous paw, and then it faced itself.

A soft "pop!"

The bear's massive body vanished instantly, leaving no trace, only a small ripple in the air.

Three minutes later.

With another soft "pop," the air distorted slightly, and Xiong's figure reappeared behind the three of them as abruptly as when he had disappeared.

At the same time, in his large palm, he was holding a neatly folded, but clearly brand-new, pirate flag.

Bear silently handed the flag to Gern.

Gern took the flag, didn't even look at it, and casually shoved it into the arms of Ace, who was in a daze and whom he was holding.

Here, take it.

Ace instinctively took it, feeling the pristine texture of the fabric.

So he looked down in confusion, unfurled the flag, and his eyebrows shot up, his face filled with astonishment.

This flag is the symbol of his Spade Pirates!!!

“This…you…” Ace suddenly looked up at Gern, completely baffled as to what this guy was up to.

Gern didn't give him a chance to ask questions, and tightened his grip on his shoulder.

With his other hand, he pointed again to the red-haired pirate flag fluttering in the center of the plaza, and said in a lighthearted tone, almost encouragingly.

"Go, burn it."

"Huh??" Ace's pupils dilated in shock.

But Gern acted as if he hadn't seen Gern's shocked expression and continued to issue orders.

"Then, hang your flag up."

Ace: "???"

He was completely stunned, his brain almost shut down, and he opened his mouth, barely managing to find his voice: "No, what... what do you want to do?!"

This is the territory of one of the Four Emperors! You want me to burn his flag?!

Did that damn admiral want him to commit suicide?! Or was he trying to use someone else to do his dirty work?!

Seeing Ace's expression that seemed to say, "Are you crazy or am I crazy?", Gern's smile only grew more "amiable."

He patted Ace on the shoulder, his tone carrying an inexplicable sense of self-righteousness, and comforted him, "Don't worry, don't feel pressured."

He paused, then, meeting Ace's utterly bewildered gaze, slowly uttered that earth-shattering statement.

He owes you.

Ace: "Huh???"

What do you mean he owes me? What does he owe me?! Are we even that close?!

Looking at Ace's bewildered face, Gern nodded in satisfaction, feeling that his logic was perfectly sound, and patiently explained:

"Let me tell you, Shanks, that kid, grew up in Roger's pirate crew."

Roger really... no, he liked him the most, and often taught him!

Ace nodded absentmindedly; he really didn't know anything about things from that old era!

"That's right!" Seeing Ace nod, Gern clapped his hands and looked at Ace with a "Isn't it obvious?" look.

"So, in other words, isn't that equal to..."

Shanks, isn't he the 'possessor of Roger's fatherly love'?

He shrugged, his conclusion resounding: "He 'stole' your father's love, now you burn one of his flags and hang up your own."

It's perfectly reasonable and only right!

He deserved it, he owed you!

Ace: "…………"

His hand holding his pirate flag trembled slightly.

Looking again at Gern's face, which seemed to say "Praise me as a logical genius," and then at the red-haired pirate flag fluttering in the wind in the square...

Then, look down at the brand-new spade flag in your hand...

A tremendous, absurd sense of powerlessness, enough to overwhelm all reason, mixed with a bewildered "What the hell is this logic?", left him frozen in place.

He felt that staying with this guy named Gern would eventually drive him crazy.

However, Gern's robber logic of "possessing fatherly love" was like a tangled mess stuffed into Ace's mind.

Although it's absurd, outrageous, and completely untenable... for some reason...

At this very moment, amidst the chaotic thoughts stirred up by Gern, Ace strangely found a foothold.

"That man... the guy he likes?"

The moment that thought crossed my mind, an unnamed fire of resistance and rebellion suddenly ignited within me.

He didn't want any connection with that Roger, and consequently, he instinctively felt a sense of rejection towards the guy that man "liked."

"Since it's what he likes... then I'll hate it!"

The idea was simple, direct, and even somewhat naive, but it perfectly matched Ace's chaotic yet stubborn state of mind at that moment.

Guern's words were like a seed that fell by accident into this soil full of rebellious spirit, and instantly took root and sprouted.

Despite his confusion, Ace, being an action-oriented person, has an amazing ability to execute once he finds a direction (even if it's crooked).

He stopped looking at Guern's sly and amused smile, turned his head sharply, and fixed his gaze on the red-haired pirate flag fluttering in the center of the square.

The confusion in his eyes was replaced by a resolute "whatever, let's do it first" attitude.

"Hmph!" Ace snorted coldly, his right arm instantly transforming into elemental form, with blazing flames roaring and condensing!

The surrounding islanders initially just watched these few outsiders with a unique air of curiosity.

At that moment, seeing the black-haired youth's arm suddenly transform into a towering flame, with a terrifying heat wave sweeping out, they immediately let out a terrified scream!

"Fire Fist!!!" Without the slightest hesitation, Ace roared, and the blazing white pillar of fire, which had gathered immense power, slammed into the top of the flagpole like a roaring dragon!

"BOOM!!!" The deafening explosion echoed over the town square!

The sturdy flagpole snapped and melted instantly under extreme heat and impact!

That red-haired pirate flag, symbolizing the authority of the Four Emperors and protecting this island.

Before everyone's eyes, it was completely engulfed by the raging flames, turning into black ash and sparks that filled the sky and scattered everywhere.

The scorching heat made Ace's clothes flutter wildly as he watched the flag burn, his face expressionless.

Flames erupted from beneath his feet, propelling him into the air, where he executed a nimble somersault.

He precisely grasped the charred remains of the flagpole.

He landed steadily, without even glancing at the terrified crowd around him, and handed over the brand-new [item/mask].

With a "whoosh," the flag of the Spade Pirates, representing his own will, was forcefully hung on the top of the broken pole that had taken the place of the original flag!

A black flag with a white skull, a playful smile, and the symbol of spades, hangs on the island belonging to the Four Emperors, Red-Haired Shanks.

Facing the sea breeze, it flutters freely!

Ace landed back on the ground, his chest heaving slightly, looking at the flag that belonged to him.

A complex emotion welled up inside me, an indescribable mix of rebellion, exhilaration, and a touch of trepidation.

He carried out that bastard Gern's orders, announcing his arrival in this extreme way, and... provoking that man's "beloved".

Seeing this, Gern stroked his chin with satisfaction and smiled at Enel and Kuma beside him, saying, "See? I told you this kid has good comprehension."

Enel rolled his eyes, too lazy to comment on this twisted educational method.