The sea breeze gently caressed, and the flags of Marineford flapped in the wind.

Gern stood outside the Marine headquarters building, looking at the flags with a helpless smile.

“Gern,” Sakazuki’s low voice came from behind him as he also exited the elevator.

Immediately after, a heavy hand patted his shoulder, “Remember the agreement, I’ll go prepare first.”

Gern turned his head, seeing Sakazuki’s serious face, devoid of any smile.

“Of course,” Gern nodded.

Sakazuki said nothing more, only giving a cold snort as a response.

Then, his gaze swept over Kuzan and Borsalino, who were still standing by the elevator door, his brow furrowing imperceptibly, before he strode away.

Seeing Sakazuki walk away, Kuzan finally let out a sigh of relief, lazily stretching.

He stepped forward and put an arm around Gern’s shoulder, a smile playing on his lips, “Haha, Borsalino looks quite annoyed!

I didn’t expect you had this trick up your sleeve; next time, you can’t trick me!”

After speaking, he winked at Gern, then turned and walked towards the training camp, waving to Libo and Tesoro as he went.

“Let’s go, furry rabbit and golden brat! Zephyr-sensei can’t wait to drill you two.”

“Exploding head,” Libo pouted, following somewhat reluctantly, not forgetting to turn back and wave her small fist at Gern before leaving: “Gern! Be careful!”

Tesoro merely nodded silently, a hint of unwillingness in his eyes, but he ultimately followed Kuzan away.

As Kuzan’s figure gradually faded into the distance, Gern suddenly felt the air around him become subtle.

He slowly turned his head, meeting a pair of eyes full of resentment.

That’s right, it was our Salty Fish King, Kizaru, staring at him.

His lips were slightly downturned, and his whole being exuded a salty-fish-like air of decadence.

“Gern…” Borsalino dragged out his tone, his voice full of grievance,

“It’s very impolite to trick your senior like this~”

Gern’s mouth twitched: “Senior, this is for Justice.”

“Justice?” Kizaru pushed up his sunglasses, his tone even more resentful.

“I should clearly be lying on the beach of Egghead Island right now, drinking iced fruit juice, enjoying a rare paid vacation~”

“Borsalino-senior, you want paid leave, but I’m executing a mission!”

Gern sighed helplessly, turning and walking towards the port: “Let’s go, the mission is important.”

However, Kizaru’s resentment clearly wouldn’t dissipate so easily.

All the way, Gern’s ears were filled with the muttering of a certain slacker…

“Oh dear~ The weather in the New World is very bad, my skin will get sunburnt~”

“I heard Golden Lion has a terrible temper, what if he doesn’t like me? So scary~”

“Gern, do you know how low my salary is? For such a dangerous mission, I should get a raise~”

Gern: “……”

He finally understood why Kuzan ran so fast.

........

Three days later, the blue sea surface glittered under the sunlight.

A Marine-specialized reconnaissance ship cut through the waves, slowly advancing towards the Ed War Sea.

On the deck, Gern leaned lazily against the main mast, the sea breeze lifting his white justice cloak with black sleeves, revealing the casually placed black blade eight desolations.

He held a teacup in both hands, taking sips from time to time, letting out satisfied sighs, looking exactly like a retired old man.

“Oh dear~” Kizaru also leaned lazily against the ship’s rail, his eyes half-closed behind his sunglasses, the hot tea in his hand emitting wisps of white smoke.

“Gern, before we set off, who was it at the headquarters building entrance who passionately declared ‘For Justice’?”

“Oh! Borsalino-senior,” Gern showed a harmless smile, casually picking up a Daifuku.

“We had just finished a meeting then, and we were in front of the headquarters building; I had to maintain my image, you know.”

“Hahaha!” Hearing this, Kizaru suddenly burst out laughing, his sunglasses sliding down to the tip of his nose.

It was then that he realized this junior in front of him was an even higher-level ‘salty fish’ than himself.

“If Sakazuki saw you like this, tsk tsk tsk…” Kizaru drew out his words meaningfully.

“No choice, the punishment period has to end eventually. I don’t want to escort new recruits anymore,” Gern shrugged, taking another bite of the Daifuku.

“Besides, they haven’t started fighting yet. We’re just here to ‘observe’.”

“That makes sense!” Kizaru also picked up a Daifuku and savored it.

“Hmm… This specialty from Roux Island is indeed good.

After the mission, I should bring some back for Vegapunk and Sentomaru.”

“Senior, don’t relax too much,” Gern glanced at him.

“If a fight really breaks out, we still need to collect first-hand intelligence. Otherwise, Fleet Admiral Kong won’t be pleased.”

“Intelligence?” Kizaru pouted, “I think, when they start fighting, it’s best if we hide far away~”

“If you do that, Fleet Admiral Kong will deduct your quarterly bonus.”

“Tch, how much can this month’s quarterly bonus be? I don’t care about…”

“About fifty million Berries.”

“Then let’s be more ‘just,’ Gern.”

“……”

The reconnaissance ship silently entered the edge of the Ed War Sea.

To conceal their tracks, they shut down the engine, relying solely on the sea breeze to propel the ship forward slowly.

“We’re here,” Gern suddenly lowered his voice, his gaze fixed on the gradually clearer fleet outline on the distant horizon.

That was Golden Lion’s Flying Sky Pirates, densely packed ships like dark clouds pressing down, their overwhelming presence suffocating.

Kizaru finally shed his lazy expression, put down his teacup, and the look in his eyes behind his sunglasses sharpened.

“Tsk tsk tsk, almost all the cadres are present!

It seems that Golden Lion is serious this time.”

“And looking at this formation…” Gern narrowed his eyes, “They’re waiting for a rabbit, intercepting them in advance!

It seems the Roger Pirates should appear on this route.”

“So?” Kizaru spread his hands, “We can’t really go over and say hello, can we?”

After speaking, Kizaru’s expression suddenly stiffened, because someone was staring intently at him, even with an unsettling smile on his lips.

“Hey, hey, hey!” Kizaru’s tone suddenly rose, “You wouldn’t really be thinking of…

I warn you, I just said that casually!

Don’t even think about it.”