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

"Bear, thank you..." the old woman smiled kindly.

"You're welcome. Don't get it wet after it's bandaged."

"If you need any farm work, you can come find me." Xiong's voice was deep and gentle.

Gern stood not far away, quietly watching this scene, a slight stirring in his heart.

"Just like I remember...unbelievably gentle." Thinking this, Gern slowly walked forward.

Xiong noticed the movement and slowly raised his head. The man in front of him was dressed in black casual clothes, with his hat brim pulled low, and a knife wrapped in white cloth was hanging at his waist.

"Hello, is there anything I can help you with?" Xiong stood up, his tall figure casting a shadow that completely obscured Gern.

His physique, which should have exuded a powerful aura, combined with his gentle tone and smile, somehow gave people a feeling as warm as a spring breeze.

Looking at the bear, Gern paused for a moment, then gave a casual smile: "I heard there's a doctor here who can absorb people's pain, so I came to take a look."

Upon hearing Gern's words, Bear blinked and then gave a sincere smile: "Ah, yes... but you don't look like a sick person."

Next, Gern lied and claimed to be an ordinary tourist, and the bear naively believed him.

He then spoke warmly with Gern and took him back to the church where he lived.

Gern walked into the church and looked around.

Herbs and bandages were laid out on the simple wooden table, and several old medical books were piled in the corner.

The wall was covered with children's crooked doodles, depicting the bear's kind, smiling face.

"Do you live here alone?" Gern asked.

“No.” Xiong shook his head but didn’t mention Ginny’s name. Instead, he continued…

"This was originally an abandoned church, but later... it took in some homeless people."

The bear's voice was soft, but Gern knew that this was the bear's true... "original" home.

However, if others don't say it, just take it as an admission.

Then, Gern's gaze swept over the sleeping old man in the corner, the child curled up in the blanket, and finally settled on the bear's face.

"You absorb their pain every day?"

"Yes, as long as I can do it."

"Aren't you tired?"

Xiong shook his head and gave a gentle smile: "Compared to their suffering, my exhaustion is nothing."

Gern stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly chuckled, “What a… stupid answer.”

The bear paused for a moment, but wasn't angry; instead, he seemed confused: "Mr. Gern, do you know me?"

Instead of answering directly, Gern walked to the window and looked outside.

In the distance, several ragged children chased a lame stray dog ​​through the mud.

"Have you never thought about leaving here?" he suddenly asked.

"Leave?" Xiong seemed a little confused, but still stepped forward to check on Gern's body.

After all, in his mind, Gern was just a patient who had come to him because he had heard about his abilities.

Since he is a patient, he must have some kind of problem that other doctors cannot handle.

If his Devil Fruit ability could help him... he would help.

“The world is vast. Beyond the South China Sea are the East China Sea, the West China Sea, the Grand Line… and even further afield.” Gern turned around and looked directly at him.

Xiong paused, remained silent for a moment, and then said softly, "But... the people here need me."

As Guern stared at him, he suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.

This boy, despite having experienced the hellish escape from God Valley and the life of slavery after the death of both his parents, still chose to live on in the gentlest way.

Even now, facing someone whose identity is unknown...

They would all choose to use their Devil Fruit abilities to help, without worrying at all about how much pain they would suffer.

Bear is simply—so gentle it's infuriating.

“You saved them, and then what?” Gern’s voice was low. “Their suffering is gone, but the world will continue to torment them.”

Hunger, disease, oppression... can you keep going?

The bear's fingertips twitched slightly, but quickly relaxed again.

"I may not be able to finish it." He raised his head, his eyes calm and firm. "But as long as I can do it, I will keep doing it."

Gern was speechless.

The sunlight slanted across the bear's face, gilding its features with a faint golden edge, like a silent declaration.

Despite possessing the power to blast everything away, they choose to bear the suffering of others.

"Mr. Gern, do you train regularly?" Bear, unaware of Gern's thoughts, continued with his medical appointment.

"You only have some minor strain on your body, and you must have had a serious injury not long ago..."

However, there's no need to worry.

"I can use these pain bombs..." Before Xiong could finish speaking, Gern suddenly interrupted.

"Bear, if you were to travel, where would you like to go?"

Chapter 59 If you were to travel, where would you like to go?

"Bear, if you were to travel, where would you like to go?"

This sudden question startled the bear, who seemed not to have expected Gern to ask such a question.

"Travel?" He blinked, looking at Guern with some confusion. "I really haven't thought about that."

"Is that so?" Gern smiled, his gaze sweeping over the simple yet cozy furnishings of the church.

There was burnt bread on the wooden table, herbs that the bear had gathered from the forest were piled up in the corner, and several patched clothes hung on the wall.

"Your home is very cozy. Is it a girl with you?" Gern smiled slightly.

"Uh..." The bear, who secretly liked Ginny, couldn't help but avoid Gern's teasing and changed the subject.

“Mr. Gern, I am content with my current life and have no plans to travel.”

The Paw-Paw Fruit is a very powerful ability; Guern himself was inclined towards this Devil Fruit back then.

Unfortunately, perhaps because the world of One Piece anchors the characters' fates, he still missed out.

However, on the other hand, Kuma, who has now eaten the Paw-Paw Fruit, will also be a formidable fighting force in the future.

Furthermore, as he climbs the ranks within the navy, he will inevitably need to establish his own faction of justice in the future.

In this respect, rather than trying to win over existing people within the Navy, Gern prefers to recruit people from outside to build his own faction.

Especially now that the prophet's abilities are available, he can intercept many decent guys, like the bear in front of him.

As for Kuma joining the Revolutionary Army? Gern believed it was entirely due to the coincidence of Ivankov and Ginny at the time.

He doesn't actually have any opinions of his own; he just wants to help others.

Besides, it doesn't matter who I help, so I might as well help myself.

At least when the bear needs help the most, I won't just sweat!

"Big Bear, Big Bear!" Just then, Ginny's voice rang out from outside the door.

"Grandma gave me some freshly baked bread! Come and have a taste!"

"Looks like she's back." Gern's lips curled up slightly; he could feel Ginny's liveliness and cheerfulness even through the door.

"Big Bear! I'm back!" Ginny's footsteps were light and quick, and with the creak of the wooden door being pushed open, her figure appeared in the doorway.

Her long pink hair swayed gently with her movements; 17-year-old Ginny had blossomed into a graceful young woman.

Her bright eyes and radiant smile make her look full of energy.

However, when she saw Gern standing next to the bear, her smile froze and she stopped in her tracks.

"Ginny?" Bear noticed her unusual behavior and turned around in confusion.

Just as I was about to step forward to greet her, I saw that Ginny's face had turned pale and fine beads of sweat were seeping from her forehead.

"You, how did you get here?!" Ginny's voice trembled slightly as she pointed at Gern, her eyes filled with wariness and fear.

“Ginny?” Bear was stunned. He looked at Ginny, then at Guern, completely bewildered.

Gern, however, maintained a faint smile, as if he had anticipated Ginny's reaction.

“Ginny, do you know Mr. Guern?” Bear’s gentle voice rang out in the church, and his broad hand gently rested on Ginny’s shoulder.

Ginny's pupils contracted sharply, her fingertips trembled uncontrollably, and her gaze was fixed on Gern's ambiguous smiling face.

“Big Bear, stay away from him…” Ginny’s voice was taut like a taut bowstring.

“He’s a Navy Headquarters Lieutenant…” Ginny’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

"Two months ago, the 'Tenjhin' appeared in the newspaper... who severely injured the Golden Lion with a single blow!!"

The air solidified instantly.

Big Bear didn't have the habit of reading newspapers, but when he learned of Gern's identity as a naval officer, his body visibly stiffened for a moment.

Because he and Ginny were escaped slaves of the Celestial Dragons!

“Haha…” Gern casually turned the brim of his hat around, a playful smile curving his lips.

"I never expected my reputation to be so widespread in a place like the South China Sea?"

"The publicity efforts from the World Economic Herald are truly exceptional."

Seeing Gern's movements, Ginny suddenly dashed in front of the bear.

Her slender arms were outstretched like a mother animal protecting her cubs, and her voice trembled with suppressed emotion: "What exactly do you want? Do you feel a sense of accomplishment from hunting down runaway slaves?"

Gern watched Ginny's tense expression and suddenly chuckled.

Then, he slowly and deliberately removed his hat, revealing his full face: "Relax, I'm currently..."

Guern deliberately dragged out the word, "On vacation~"

As Ginny spoke, her gaze swept over the two of them, and Ginny involuntarily shivered.

Unfortunately, all her knowledge of Guern came from those exaggerated news reports.

According to the newspaper, Gern was capable of severely injuring the Golden Lion with a single blow!

It should be noted that in this era, the three words "Golden Lion" symbolized the pinnacle of combat power.

Who wouldn't be afraid of such a dangerous guy?!

"Well, let's get to know each other again?" Gern gave a slight bow, performing an exaggerated gentlemanly gesture.

“Kind Mr. Bartholomew Big Bear, and…” His gaze settled on Ginny, “Miss Joelie Ginny.”

Upon hearing Ginny say their full names, Ginny's breath caught in her throat.

Being able to accurately call out their full names means that the navy already had intelligence on them.

...

At the same time, Xiong's gaze fell on Ginny's trembling shoulders, and the fear in her eyes pierced his heart like a thorn.

"I can't let Ginny be scared, I have to protect her!" The moment this thought exploded in his mind, the bear's body moved.

His tall figure suddenly passed Ginny, his fleshy palm gleaming with a faint light, the air compressing within his palm.

"It's very impolite..." Xiong's voice was deep and firm, "but please leave!"

His palm slammed into Gern's chest with a force capable of instantly sending a person flying for days!

However, just as the ball of flesh was about to touch Gern—

"Bang!" A black, armor-colored index finger casually pressed against the bear's palm.

The air froze for a moment.

"Sorry, I don't want to experience traveling, you know?" Gern's lips curled into a slight smile.