Asahi's ability was undeniable, especially when it came to headline guidance.

Coupled with Gern's incredibly shameless interview answers, the most popular news headlines in West Blue became...

"Golden Roger? Wait for me, Gern, for two years!"

"Why did Golden Lion and Whitebeard become famous first? Was it to avoid Gern's sharp edge or were they just early birds?!"

"Gern: Strong individuals often have two characteristics? One is a bad memory, the other... I forgot."

The main idea was to pull whoever was most famous recently to be a foil.

But surprisingly, Asahi's early "clickbait" strategy really did attract countless people.

Especially since West Blue hadn't produced any remarkable Marine newcomers for a long time, Gern's breakthrough rise instantly made his fame and reputation resound throughout West Blue.

Even Morgans's recently established World Economic News published a long-awaited report.

........

Marineford, Marineford.

The lingering glow of the setting sun streamed through the French windows into the office, illuminating the hanging characters "Absolute Justice" on the wall with a brilliant sheen.

Zephyr sat behind a large desk, his short purple hair glinting with a cold, metallic luster in the light, his strong arms crossed over his chest, his gaze calmly fixed on the open document on the table.

"Warrant Officer Gern Reginald Sigma of West Blue 133rd Branch Action Report — Ashen Port Battle"

Next to the document were several recent newspapers from the World Economic News, their front-page headlines all featuring the same name without exception — "Heavenly Quake" Gurn.

"West Blue's New Star! Marine 'Heavenly Quake' Gurn Single-handedly Slays Seventy Million Beri Pirates!"

"Nature Type Ability User? The Monster Rookie of West Blue Branch!"

Zephyr's fingertips tapped lightly on the desk, but his gaze remained on the action report.

The report detailed the entire Ashen Port battle, including Gern's order to take down the Marine flag from the warship after seeing the slaughtered civilians.

As well as his words — 【Justice that arrives late is not worthy of being called justice at all.】

Zephyr's lips curved slightly, a rare hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes.

"This kid..." he murmured to himself, his mind recalling the young man he had seen a year ago during the retreat from God Island, covered in blood, carrying the corpses of his comrades, his eyes weary but resolute.

At that time, he already felt that this young man was not simple.

And now, Gern's performance once again confirmed his judgment.

"Justice that arrives late... is not worthy of being called justice at all."

"Heh..." Zephyr softly repeated the phrase, a rare trace of emotion appearing on his resolute face.

He put down the document and looked out the window.

At the Marineford port, Marine soldiers were busy transporting supplies, and the flags of the warships flapped in the wind.

Just then, the office door was suddenly pushed open.

"Hahahaha! Zephyr, guess what? That scoundrel Roger slipped away again!"

Garp, with his black hair, walked in laughing, clutching a bag of snacks, his mouth stuffed full.

"That guy runs faster than a rabbit! Sengoku sent three warships and still couldn't corner him!"

Sengoku followed behind, rubbing his temples helplessly.

"Garp, can you please not make such a commotion every time you come in?"

Zephyr collected his thoughts, a slight smile on his lips: "What, did he get away from under your nose again this time?"

Garp plopped down on the sofa, crossing his legs.

"Tch, if Roger hadn't suddenly turned into the Calm Belt, I would've hammered him into the seabed already!"

"Don't talk when you're eating, you idiot Garp!"

"Sengoku, has Whitebeard's trace disappeared in the New World?"

Hearing Zephyr shift the conversation to him, Sengoku nodded.

"Hmm. He's formed his own pirate crew, and I heard he's been particularly fond of looking for sons lately...

I wonder if he ran back to the Four Seas or the Grand Line."

"Actually, we should've brought Tsuru, boo hoo..."

"You..." Sengoku, sprayed with snack crumbs, was too lazy to bother with Garp's boasting. His gaze fell on the newspaper on Zephyr's desk, and he raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? That 'Heavenly Quake' Gurn from West Blue? His news has been spreading like wildfire lately."

"Hmm." Zephyr pushed the document to Sengoku, "Sengoku, take a look."

Sengoku took the mission document from Zephyr's hand and quickly scanned it, his expression gradually becoming serious.

"Single-handedly slaying a pirate with a bounty of sixty-nine million... Nature Type ability user..."

When he saw the paragraph where Gern ordered the flag to be taken down, his finger paused slightly: "Take down the Marine flag? This kid... is interesting."

Garp leaned over, still chewing senbei: "Take down the flag? Why?"

"Ashen Port was completely massacred by the Blood Spear Pirates. When the Marines arrived, the entire town had already been reduced to ruins." Zephyr's voice was low.

"Gern believes that justice that arrives late is meaningless, and not even worthy of flying the Marine flag."

Garp's smile faded for a moment, and he was uncharacteristically silent for a few seconds, then he grinned: "Hey, he's got guts! I like it!!"

Sengoku, however, looked up at Zephyr, his eyes questioning.

"What do you think? Sengoku." Zephyr asked with a smile.

Sengoku was silent for a moment, then chuckled softly: "Interesting, those words don't sound like something an ordinary branch soldier would say."

"Indeed." Zephyr stood up and walked to the window, overlooking Marineford's port.

"His resume is also very special... Joined the Marines at ten, only promoted to Private First Class after four years,

but suddenly rose after the God Island battle, eliminating sixteen pirate crews within a year."

"However..." Sengoku pushed up his glasses, his gaze sharp.

"His Devil Fruit ability... Nature Type Tremor-Tremor Fruit?

It's a bit similar to Newgate's Tremor-Tremor Fruit, but fundamentally different."

"The elemental vibration of a Nature Type is purer than the Tremor-Tremor Fruit of a Paramecia." Zephyr said in a deep voice, "And, he's only fifteen."

Sengoku narrowed his eyes slightly: "At fifteen, he can single-handedly kill a pirate who returned from the Grand Line with a bounty of nearly seventy million. His potential cannot be underestimated.

However..." He paused, "The World Government seems to have some reservations about his ability."

"Those guys are always suspicious." Garp snorted disdainfully, "As long as he's not a pirate, who cares what his ability is!

Besides, how long has it been since West Blue produced a new recruit! The Navy School also recently graduated three new monster recruits! Hahahaha."

Zephyr didn't reply, simply folding the newspaper and placing it back on the table: "I've already signed his transfer order; he'll report to Marineford next month."

Sengoku raised an eyebrow: "Report? Zephyr, are you going to personally ask Fleet Admiral Kong for him?"

You should know that new recruits from the Four Seas like Gern usually study at the Navy School for a period after being promoted.

Moreover, Zephyr has been frequently lecturing at the Navy School for the past year or two, clearly showing an interest in nurturing new talent.

Just like the three recent monster recruits, Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino, were cultivated by Zephyr intermittently at the Navy School.

But for Gern to report directly to Marineford is completely different!

Zephyr wants to take Gern directly under his wing! A student and a disciple are completely different in nature!

"Haha! I'm already 37, I'm not like you guys." Zephyr stood up and walked to the window, his back as straight as a pine tree.

"Although I have you two now, and the new generation has those three monster students.

But Gern... I've investigated his file. Before he got his Devil Fruit, he was just like me when I was young.

He was an ordinary person with no other talent except being a bit strong.

Now that he has gained the ability of a Devil Fruit, since he has the capital for promotion, let me personally guide him well."