I'm at the top of One Piece

Ace tilted his head. "Really?"

"Nonsense, why don't we do a blood test to prove we're related? I'll guarantee you're my son, oops, no, we're definitely related."

Ace's eyes reddened as he looked at Mercer, then he wiped them away and sniffled.

“My name is Ace, Portgas D. Ace. If you’re not mistaken, I’m your younger brother.”

"Don't worry, we look quite alike, at least 70% alike. When I grow up a bit, when we go out into the world, I'm sure no one will object if I say I'm your dad."

Mercer patted Ace on the shoulder.

Upon hearing this, Ace disgustedly shoved Mercer's hand away and said:

"Are you ever going to stop? You only came out a few seconds earlier than me. If I hadn't let you have it, it's hard to say who's older or younger between us now."

Moses: "Want to defy me? Fine, beat me first. If you can't, shut up."

"This rule has always been in effect, I said it. Guaranteed authentic."

Ace bit his lip in frustration. Messer looked at him and patted him on the head. "Alright, come and see, I brought you a present."

Mercer took the bag from Karp's hand, opened it, and took out sets of new clothes.

There are only two seasons: autumn and winter.

The quality is very good.

"I bought it for you based on my size, but it's a size too small."

"It seems quite suitable now, you're exactly one size smaller than me."

This is to be expected. In recent years, thanks to Kureha's medicinal diet, Mercer's body has developed better than that of normal children.

Ace is definitely no match for him, so by that logic, buying one size smaller would be just right.

Mercer held up the new clothes to Ace's body, then took out two packs of cigarettes from his bag and handed them to Dadan, who was standing to the side.

"Ace must have caused you a lot of trouble."

"I didn't know if you guys smoked, but it seems I've prepared just right."

"I don't know what brands of cigarettes you usually like to smoke, so I bought two cartons of the more popular ones. I hope you like them."

Dadan accepted the cigarettes that Mercer offered her with a rose gold packaging with a broad smile.

"Not at all, Ace is quite obedient. It's normal for boys to be a little lively."

Dadan's eyes lit up when she saw the cigarette brand: "KING GROUND," and there was one carton each for men and women.

"This is a really good cigarette."

Upon hearing this, Mercer laughed and said, "I didn't know that. After all, I'm still young and don't smoke. I'm relieved to see that you like it."

Suddenly, under Moses's sweet-talking offensive, Dadan found Moses much more agreeable.

He felt that if Mercer really lived with him, he wouldn't necessarily be unable to accept it.

Garp smiled as he watched this scene; he hadn't expected Mercer to do such a thing.

"But... not bad. At least he's much more mature than that brat Ace, he deserves to be called an older brother."

At that moment, Ace whispered to Mather, "How are you doing on Drum Island in the Grand Line? Are you alright?"

This is what Karp and he said.

"It's alright, it's winter all year round. I just follow Doctor Doriel around every day to learn medicine, go hunting, and exercise. Life is pretty ordinary. It's not bad."

"Then where did you get the money to buy things? Did your doctor, Doriel, give it to you?" Ace asked curiously.

"No, some were robbed by bad guys, and others were taken by a slave ship on the way here."

Ace's face stiffened, and he looked at Messer with disbelief.

Dadan, standing to the side, suddenly felt the cigarette in her hand become somewhat heavy, realizing that she had indeed been naive.

"Little Messer, is what you're saying true? A slave ship?"

Mercer nodded: "Really, but I was doing a support role. The main work was done by Grandpa's adjutant."

Dadan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

The group chatted for a while longer, and before they knew it, it was getting dark.

During their conversation, Moses also "learned" about the Dadan family's true profession.

A gang of mountain bandits.

It wasn't as deserted as it is now; quite a few people had gone out hunting.

In the evening, when the hunters returned, they all turned into mice before a cat when they saw Karp.

Well-behaved and cautious.

After having dinner in Dadan, the four of them sat around the stove.

As for the rest of the bandits, they all kept their distance and behaved themselves, afraid of upsetting Garp.

Some went to sleep, others went out for a walk. They tried to stay out of Garp's sight.

Although Garp himself doesn't care about these things.

At this moment, Ace asked in a childish voice, "Grandpa, you promised me that when Mercer comes, you will tell us who our real parents are."

"It's time to say it now."

Garp's face showed a knowing look, and he fell silent.

"Real parents! To be honest, I really don't want to tell you this. So let me ask you, do you really want to know?"

Ace's face tightened: "Yes."

Moses: "It doesn't matter."

Upon hearing Mather's words, Garp looked completely unsurprised.

"Your mother was Portgas D. Rouge, a great mother who carried you for more than twenty months and died of exhaustion after your birth."

It was through her wisdom, her life, and every means at her disposal that you were able to be born.

The people present swallowed hard, especially Dadan, a woman, even though she had never been married.

"And your father is Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, the man who created this dangerous Great Pirate Era."

The people sitting around had a variety of expressions on their faces.

Some were shocked.

Some were terrified.

Some people don't care.

They were given ample time to process what was happening.

Garp then recounted the cause, process, and outcome of the matter, from his first encounter with Roger to their growing mutual respect, and finally to his entrustment of his son to Roger before his death.

For reasons unknown, Garp recounted everything about how he met Roger.

"This is your origin, and this is the background you've always wanted to know."

Dadan looked horrified, her words becoming agitated and somewhat incoherent: "What is all this? Garp, do you want me dead?"

Why did you have to let me know about this? Couldn't you have just told me to leave?

Upon hearing this, Garp asked in confusion:

"Shouldn't you generally avoid discussing things related to someone else's background?"

"Also, I think that as Ace's adoptive mother, you are also qualified to know these things."

"I'd rather I wasn't qualified. Should I have known such things? I'm just an ordinary bandit."

If anyone finds out, how am I supposed to live?! Ugh!! You've ruined me, you bastard Garp!!

Mercer picked at his ear, somewhat helplessly, and had to comfort him: "Don't worry, Dadan, everyone here is one of us. As long as we don't tell anyone, no one will know."

Besides, you still have Grandpa to protect you. Don't worry, Grandpa will safeguard you.

Dadan looked at Karp with teary eyes, her gaze hopeful:

"You old geezer, you're going to protect me, right? Say something!"

Karp sighed, "As long as you don't say anything carelessly, I'll keep you alive."

But if any of you tell anyone, you'll all be dead without me even lifting a finger.

At this moment, Ace looked at Mercer, his eyes filled with confusion and helplessness: "Aren't you surprised, Mercer?"

Even though he was still young, he knew about the fearsome reputation of the Pirate King Roger.

Why be surprised?

"I am very grateful to Lulu's mother. I will remember this kindness for the rest of my life."

"As for that so-called father of the Pirate King? Sorry, I don't know him. Don't bother with such troublesome matters."

"I will live the same way I did before. As for the future, we'll talk about that when the future comes."

"Just live in the moment and be happy. Why think so much about other things? Isn't that exhausting?"

"Or do you think you're something special because you're the child of the Pirate King? Do you think you have some special mission?"

Ace, you're still awake? Stop daydreaming. We're just ordinary people.

The Pirate King is also a human, perhaps just an ordinary person who is slightly stronger.

Just like Grandpa said, he died of illness.

Seeing Ace, who was completely bewildered by his string of words, Messer smiled:

"Remember, we can't decide who our parents are, but we can decide how we live our future."

"Little brother, don't get stuck on this. You're not special; you're just an ordinary person, and so am I."

Esne nodded hesitantly, and Mercer reached out and ruffled his slightly curly black hair.

“Even though you have lost your biological parents, you can still call me Dad. The eldest brother is like a father. Of course, since I’m already a father, I don’t mind being a mother too.”

"Should you call me?"