Everyone loves a Foxy Grandpa, alright. You can't blame Merle for that any more than he can blame Taako for Pan getting vored by one of Merle's many suitors.

The explanation leaves Merle with way more questions than he had before, which were none, by the way. He had none questions. He was fully ready to accept his chill island boy lifestyle without a second thought, because this is all a dream and he's fully prepared to wake up at any moment.

"Wait, what? Slow down, what islands? There's a god here? In my dreams?" Merle was kinda talking more long term than this being a recent thing, but holy shit. Maybe this is the answer to all his problems.

"...Are they hiring?"