I'm at the top of One Piece

"You're cursing at me again? You're the one being difficult. Don't go, stop right there."

After slapping her, Moses randomly picked a direction and started walking towards it.

Ace caught up and tried to fight back, but he couldn't hit her no matter what he did. It was as if Mather had eyes in the back of her head, dodging her attacks perfectly every time.

The two of them, bickering and teasing each other, disappeared from the house and headed into the forest.

Dadan opened his mouth, intending to say "It's dangerous in the forest," but seeing the bison being butchered in front of him, he didn't say anything.

Strolling through the lush forest, sunlight filters through the leaves, casting patches of light on the ground around you.

As the two walked, Moses used his axe to chop away the branches of trees that blocked their path.

Ace was a little envious of Mercer's strange axe, and kept glancing at it with his eyes along the way.

Boys like to play with knives and sticks.

Not to mention, it's a cool-looking axe.

Moses pretended not to see it.

The mountains and forests are covered with lush grass and leaves.

Rich in species.

really.

Not long after, Moses discovered a herb in the forest.

This is a depression with a sizable pond surrounded by dense reeds.

Do you know what that is?

Mercer pointed to the reeds and asked Ace.

“Isn’t that just a reed?” Ace rolled his eyes and said, “Don’t treat me like an idiot.”

Mercer smiled and walked over, grabbing a few reeds and pulling them out, mud and all.

Pointing to the rootstock, which resembles bamboo joints, he said, "Reed rhizome is a common herb with properties of clearing heat and detoxifying, stopping vomiting, and promoting urination. Juice it."

While Ace was still confused, Messer dropped the reed he was holding and led him to continue wandering in the forest.

Every now and then he would find some common herbs and clearly explain their effects. As time went by, Ace's face showed some irritation.

finally,

Ace grabbed Mercer's arm, glaring at him and demanding, "Mercer, what exactly do you want?"

Stopping his movements, Mercer looked at him with pity and shook her head.

"My foolish brother, haven't you figured out what I'm doing yet?"

Ace's eyes flickered, and he looked at Messer with a stubborn expression.

She reached out and tugged at his face, saying amidst his flustered expression, "Of course, I'll teach you some wilderness survival skills."

"Although Dadan and the others can keep you from starving, there are some things they can't teach you."

"In the next few years, when you get a little older, given your personality, you will definitely go hunting in the forest. But there are many poisonous things in the forest, so teaching you these things is just to help you save yourself."

It would be incredibly foolish to need an antidote later, only to find that you don't recognize it at all.

Ace fell silent. Mercer sighed and rubbed his head.

“We might not be together for a long time, so you have to live well,” Mercer laughed. “You’re my little brother, and I don’t want to suddenly hear that you’re dead one day.”

Ace shook his head, shoving Mercer's hand away, and glared at her with a smug look on his face, saying:

"You're the one who's going to die. Mount Colbo is very safe. You're the one who's going to die. I've heard that the Grand Line is a sea that eats people."

"You don't want to hang up."

Moses nodded and said with a smile:

"Then let's all live well and freely."

Ace nodded emphatically, and then began to listen more attentively as Mercer introduced the various herbs to him.

time flies.

The sky was getting dark.

The two emerged from the forest and arrived at Dadan's house.

The lights were already on inside, and a rich aroma of meat filled the air.

Mercer's eyes lit up, and he said to Ace, "Let's go, let's go eat meat."

Ace nodded emphatically, his face full of anticipation and joy.

inside the house.

As soon as you enter, you see Garp sitting in the main direction.

Seeing the two return, Garp took a bite of a piece of beef and laughed loudly, "Messer, I heard you were the one who hunted the bison. Not bad, you're worthy of being my grandson."

"Ace, you need to work harder too. Wasn't I right? Mercer is much stronger than you."

Kap laughed heartily.

Ace's face turned red with anger. "You old geezer, why are you being so nosy?"

Garp's face darkened, and he angrily pointed at Ace, cursing, "You brat, I'm your grandpa! How dare you call me an old man?"

"Ugh, I'm so angry! Mercer, don't stop me! I'm going to beat up that Ace guy today!"

Mercer found a place to sit down, picked up a large piece of cooked meat and bone and started eating, saying without looking up, "Do as you please, as long as you don't kill me."

Garp was even angrier.

Ace, looking smug, squeezed next to Mercer and started eating the meat.

"You can beat me up all you want, but let me eat my fill first."

Garp laughed in anger, turning his rage into appetite, eating and laughing as he cursed:

"You heartless little brat, call me grandpa when you need something, otherwise you're just a stinking old man."

……

The happy times lasted for a week. Every morning, Garp would "disappear" and then return just before evening.

During this time, Messer asked General Karp to return the fishing rod from the warship to the village chief's house.

Every morning when he gets up, Mercer takes Ace for a run and helps him improve his breathing.

After breakfast.

So I took him into the mountains to teach him various survival skills in the wild, how to use some tools, and to find food along the way.

Climbing trees to raid bird nests.

Go down into the river to catch fish and shrimp.

Various wild vegetables and fruits.

Or perhaps edible insects like scorpions living in the crevices of rocks.

break off both ends.

Grilling sterilizes the food.

With his ability to identify things, Moses is practically an encyclopedia of the wild.

From morning till night.

Like Garp, he also returned home close to nightfall, bringing with him the prey he had hunted.

Have dinner together, chat, then wash up and go to bed.

A week later,

morning.

After finishing breakfast, Mather and Garp said goodbye to Ace.

"Grandpa's vacation is almost over, and he has to go back to work at the Navy Headquarters. That's all for now."

"Don't miss me, Ace," Mercer said with a smile, looking at Ace's reluctant eyes.

"Oh, right, here, this is for you as a gift."

Moses took the axe and axe sheath from his waist and handed them to Ace.

"Give it to me?" Ace's face lit up with joy at first, then he frowned. "If you give me your weapon, what will you use?"

"It's nothing, it's not a famous sword or anything, just a regular refined weapon. I'll have someone forge another one later."

Moses waved his hand. "This multi-purpose axe is for you to use for self-defense. Don't refuse anymore, just take it."

Ace nodded, his eyes slightly red, and sniffed. "Okay, see you next time."

Mercer smiled and waved. "Yeah, see you next time."

And Garp left in a dashing manner.

along the way.

Mercer and Garp walked together in the forest, breathing in the fresh scents of nature.

"What do you think of Ace?"

Hearing the voice beside him, Moses thought for a moment and said:

"She is thoughtful and shy, but can be stubborn at times. She is a good child."

Garp smiled and agreed.

"Yes, he's a good kid, but his weakness is his stubbornness, just like your father. Sometimes he can be unusually obstinate."

But you, Moses, are different; you're not as stubborn as they are.

However, for you, Mercer, apart from those you care about, you don't really care about anyone or anything else.

Garp thought to himself.

Garp didn't know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.