Inside a tavern in Marineford Town, it was midday, and off-duty recruits enjoyed gathering there for a drink, their boisterous voices momentarily confined to a corner.

Kuzan and Gern sat at the bar, seemingly out of place amidst the surrounding noise.

Despite this, Gern was still chased for autographs, and it took over ten minutes for the fervent fans to disperse and stop bothering him.

“A Marine legend, even more famous than Mr. Garp, the Marine Hero!”

“No choice!” Gern ran a hand through his hair, pushing his bangs back, revealing a melancholic expression.

“Sometimes, the strong always have to bear a price that others cannot.”

“…”

“I praise you a little, and you start climbing higher, don’t you?” Kuzan took a large glass of beer from the bartender, and the moment he took it, condensation formed on the glass.

He tilted his head back and took a gulp, his Adam’s apple bobbing, the icy liquid sliding down his throat, followed by a satisfied sigh.

Then he looked sideways at Gern, a lazy smile on his lips: “However, the last time we drank together was a few years ago when you went to Fish-Man Island, wasn’t it?”

Gern rested his elbow on the table, his slender fingers gently swirling the glass, the amber liquid rippling subtly within.

“That’s right!” He smiled faintly, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes: “Since getting promoted, we’ve been so busy we haven’t even had time to drink.”

“You haven’t changed.” Kuzan chuckled, his gaze falling on Gern’s glass: “Still like this strong liquor that Zephyr liked to drink.”

“Just a habit.” Gern raised his glass and took a sip.

“But you, when did you start drinking this watery beer?”

“Oh, dear… I’m getting old, can’t handle anything too stimulating.” Kuzan shrugged, his tone still casual, but his eyes gradually deepened.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke: “Gern, about the Admiral position…”

Gern’s motion of swirling the glass paused slightly, then returned to normal, as he looked up at Kuzan, the smile on his lips undiminished.

“What, are you worried I’ll fall out with you over this?”

Kuzan didn’t answer immediately, instead taking another gulp of his drink, frost spreading from his fingertips to the glass.

“I don’t like this arrangement.”

“Just a trick by the World Government.” Gern scoffed, his gaze turning to the boisterous Marines in the center of the tavern.

“They want to see if we’ll fight tooth and nail for a title.”

Kuzan stared at Gern’s profile, trying to read something from his expression, but Gern’s demeanor remained calm, even with a hint of playfulness.

“Aren’t you angry?” Kuzan asked.

“Angry?” Gern turned his head, “Kuzan, how many years have we known each other?”

Kuzan was startled for a moment, then chuckled: “Since someone started eating like crazy in the cafeteria, it’s been almost fifteen years, hasn’t it?”

“Yes! Almost fifteen years…” Gern repeated softly, his fingertips gently tapping the glass.

“So, you think I’d fight you over something like this?”

“It’s different.” Kuzan looked down at his glass, saying flatly: “I came to you today to tell you that the Admiral position… I won’t compete with you for it.

Because whether it’s based on merit or reputation…” Kuzan suddenly raised his glass, making a toasting motion in the air, ice clinking crisply in the glass.

“You, my friend, truly deserve it!”

“Whoa, whoa… Stop it, Kuzan.” Looking at Kuzan’s self-congratulatory expression, Gern blinked.

“What’s with this self-congratulatory look?”

After speaking, Gern gently patted his shoulder and laughed.

“I don’t believe that with your brain, you wouldn’t see the trick behind it.”

“Huh? What trick?!” Looking at the laughing Gern, Kuzan showed a bewildered expression.

Seeing Kuzan’s seemingly unfeigned reaction, Gern, who had just taken a sip of his drink, choked directly, “Cough, cough, wait! Oh my god, you really don’t know?

No, when you went to the office, didn’t Fleet Admiral Kong tell you?”

“He did!” Kuzan raised his glass to his lips, smiling helplessly.

“He told me there was only one Admiral position left, and that you and I were competitors.”

“…”

No, the Ohara incident hadn’t happened yet, and while Kuzan appeared lazy on the surface, he was a truly hot-blooded young man at heart.

So, Gern was sure that Kuzan must have heard Kong say that he and Gern would compete for the Admiral position.

And the moment that first sentence dropped, this guy just ran to him, without even listening to the rest of it!!

“Sigh!” Thinking of this, Gern rubbed his temples.

“What’s wrong? Don’t worry, I really didn’t intend to compete…”

“This isn’t something you can decide.” Gern looked up and interrupted: “This so-called Admiral competition between you and me must happen.”

“M-must happen?”

“That’s right, and no matter who wins or loses, it will be you, Kuzan, who gets promoted.”

“What do you mean by that?! Gern.” Kuzan, in a moment of excitement, couldn’t help but bang on the table, staring at Gern with a questioning look.

Seeing Kuzan’s expression, Gern chuckled softly, “Because they never intended for me to be an Admiral.

Fleet Admiral Kong’s initial proposal for ‘Establishing Additional Admiral Positions’ was rejected by the World Government.

Besides, if you stood in the World Government’s shoes, would you dare let me become an Admiral?

Would you dare let a guy like me, who might kill a few Celestial Dragons at any moment, freely enter and exit Mary Geoise?”

Only then did Kuzan calm down, realizing how much crucial information he had missed in his impulsiveness.

That’s right! From the very beginning, he had been carried away by Kong’s words, “You will compete with Gern for the position.”

All he could think about was finding Gern to clarify things, completely failing to consider other possibilities. Now that he realized it…

“But if that’s the case, then why must we fight…”

“We must fight, otherwise, it’ll be a loss of face.” Gern didn’t elaborate on his “deal” with Kong, but instead ordered another drink and smiled.

“After all, I remember very clearly…” Gern showed a harmonious smile.

“Someone’s rumors over the years and the unsparing, yet held-back, cold wind during my training back then!”

Seeing Gern’s threatening smile, Kuzan chuckled softly, his expression instantly relaxing, and his familiar lazy smile reappeared.

“Oh, dear… I never said I spread rumors, you know!

Think about the Mink Tribe, the Fishman, and the Snake Princess of Amazon Lily.

And, and… I recently heard that you’re even planning to search for the so-called Sky Island; now you’re not even letting those with wings off the hook.”

“You f***ing…”

“Gern!” Kuzan patted Gern’s shoulder, “As a good friend, I respect your special hobbies.

After all, as you said…” He mimicked Gern’s usual tone: “Sometimes, the strong always have to bear a price that others cannot.”

“You, my friend, when I return, I won’t hold back in that duel! I’ll definitely turn you into a crushed ice pop.”

“Hahaha!” Kuzan laughed, “But if you’re going to the Grand Line to find Sky Island, you might have a chance to see your Snake Princess!”

“Snake Princess?”

“That’s right, I heard that after their previous Empress Shakky passed away (a fake death to escape), the current Empress is Boa Hancock.

That ‘Snake Princess’ wasn’t chosen, and she seems to be ‘sick’.”

“Thanks.” Gern nodded.

“You’re welcome.” Kuzan tilted his head back, draining his glass, “Actually… I’m really looking forward to fighting you with all my might.”

His voice deepened, “After all, in the past decade, you’re not the only one who has grown.”

Hearing this, Gern was startled, then burst into laughter.

Immediately after, he stood up from his seat, and with his back to Kuzan, waved his hand: “Then get ready to become a crushed ice pop!”

“A crushed ice pop, you say?” Kuzan looked at his friend’s departing back, chuckling softly.

Ice crystals bloomed on the rim of the glass, refracting a rainbow of colors.