"Speaking of which," Jonathan chuckled,
"I did hesitate for a moment at first.
Captain Adkin's report suggested Longinus might be seventeen or eighteen."
Longinus blinked, then quickly understood.
"Maybe it's because I act older than I look.
Even the older kids in town like to call me 'big brother.'
But, Rear Admiral Jonathan—how were you so sure it was me?
Just because of my name?"
"Of course not."
Jonathan shook his head.
"The speed and strength you showed earlier…
Even some Headquarters colonels who specialize in martial arts can't achieve that.
I doubt our sea could produce two strongmen with the same name in such a short time."
Jonathan thought to himself:
Even I couldn't block a bullet bare-handed at that distance
without using Tekkai or Armament Haki.
Is the Navy finally about to get a monster with a body like Kaido or Big Mom?
(Even Garp bleeds when Morgan blindsides him—most martial artists don't have bodies as absurdly durable as Kaido or Big Mom.)
Longinus replied with just the right amount of humility,
"Compared to Vice Admiral Garp or former Admiral Zephyr,
I still have far, far to go.
I must continue tempering myself through justice."
Jonathan froze for half a second—
then burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahahaha!
So you aim to become an Admiral, do you?
Good!
Young men should have grand dreams and ambitions.
I hope that next time we meet,
you are still walking the path of justice,
still fighting forward without wavering."
With that, Rear Admiral Jonathan turned and left,
his Marines marching behind him.
The crowd slowly dispersed—
but excitement lingered in the air,
and whispers of "the two heroes" began to spread.
A small girl remained nearby,
clutching a nearly-wilted bundle of flowers.
Her big, bright eyes looked at the two men
before she timidly extended the bouquet toward T. Penn.
"Uncle Penn, Brother Longinus…
thank you for saving me.
These flowers are for—
ah!
They got crushed?"
Her face scrunched, eyes glistening.
T. Penn panicked.
"D-did I hurt you?
D-did I step on something just now?"
Longinus crouched down,
resting a gentle hand on the girl's head.
"I like your gift very much.
It carries your gratitude and your tears.
It's the most precious gift I've received this year."
"R-really?"
Her tears stopped instantly, hope shining in her eyes.
"Of course it's true.
Now hurry home—your family is probably worried sick."
"Mm!"
The little girl nodded hard.
"Brother Longinus, Uncle Penn—thank you!
You're the best people in the whole world!"
She skipped away, singing softly.
Penn stared after her with a dumb, blissful smile—
the kind that, in another world,
might have gotten him arrested as a suspicious person.
After a long while, Penn snapped out of it.
He clutched the crushed flowers tightly and stammered,
"Um… L-Longinus…
c-could I…
could I keep this?
I… I don't have much money,
but I'll work hard and repay you!"
"Of course.
No need to be so formal.
They were meant for you.
If not for you holding on earlier,
things might not have lasted long enough for me to step in."
Longinus smiled, warm and carefree.
"Longinus… brother…"
Penn's eyes watered.
"You're a truly good man!"
His voice trembled as he carefully tucked away the crushed bouquet,
as if it were a priceless treasure.
"This is… my third one.
The third gift I've received in my entire life…"
Longinus felt a faint ache in his chest.
He finally understood
why Penn desperately wanted to join the Marines.
Why he tolerated those nobles punching and kicking him
without striking back.
Penn lived his whole life behind an unchosen mask—
a monstrous face that made others recoil.
No matter how many good deeds he did,
few would ever look past that first instinctive fear.
From what he'd seen today,
Penn had definitely helped many people.
But only three—three, in nineteen years—
had ever offered him a gift in thanks.
He lived in quiet suffering.
That's why he yearned so fiercely
for a Marine coat of justice.
Not for power—
but for acceptance.
To be seen.
To be welcomed.
To be respected.
Longinus had always known this world was unfair.
Penn was the proof—
a man who had to work ten times harder
to receive one-tenth of others' warmth.
Longinus extended a hand.
"Let's introduce ourselves properly.
My name is Longinus.
I'm twelve.
From Fallen Leaf Town in the Grand Line."
His expression was gentle—
but his mind was sharp.
Someone like Penn—
insecure, fragile, but deeply kind—
only needed a little kindness
to form a bond of absolute loyalty.
Malleable hearts produce the purest devotion.
"M-my name is T. Penn.
I'm nineteen.
From Baileaf City in the South Blue."
Penn looked overwhelmed.
A man like Longinus—
powerful, confident, radiant—
belonged in the center of the world's attention.
Someone like Penn…
belonged in the shadows.
Or so he had always believed.
Longinus blinked.
This guy really looks… old.
If Penn had claimed to be thirty-nine, he'd have believed it.
Fortunately, Longinus was in full control of his expressions—
not a flicker of rudeness leaked through.
Instead, he smiled warmly again.
"The South Blue, huh?
A dreamy sea—full of strange tales and legends.
I've heard that even griffins appeared there once."
Mentioning his homeland made Penn light up instantly,
that invisible wall between them melting away.
"You know about the griffin legend?
It actually appeared near my hometown once!
I even saw it with my own eyes!
But later, some terrifying pirates captured it…
It became part of their private collection."
"Let's not dwell on unpleasant things."
Longinus waved a hand.
"Penn, you're also signing up in two days?"
"Yes!
I don't have grand goals like you, Longinus—
I just want to become a Marine.
To protect people's smiles.
To be accepted…
to be respected…"
His voice trembled with sincerity.
"Then let's go together."
Longinus offered.
"We're new to this place.
It'll be good to have a companion."
"R-really?"
Penn's lips quivered.
"Of course.
We fought side by side—
that makes us friends."
"F-friends…"
Penn repeated, dazed.
For him,
that word had always been a distant dream.
Suddenly, the nineteen-year-old—
who looked like a man in his forties—
burst into tears like a small child.
"Longinus… brother…
thank you…"