Meanwhile, on the White Gull.

Gern looked at the Nine Snake Warriors standing ready in the distance, a slight smile playing on his lips, and turned to Tesoro, saying,

“It seems our ‘welcome ceremony’ is quite grand.”

“Vice Admiral Gern.” Tesoro gave Gern a speechless glance: “Shouldn’t we just state our intentions directly?

They really seem like they’re about to do something pointless!”

“No rush.” Gern chuckled, then raised a hand and grabbed, and in an instant, the air in front of him was crumpled like a rag.

“Buzz! Crack—” Several pale white cracks spread from his palm, and in an instant, the sea surface surged with dozens of meters high waves.

They formed a gigantic wall that blotted out the sky, casting a shadow over the entire Nine Snake Island.

At that moment, time seemed to freeze.

The female warriors of Nine Snake looked up, their pupils reflecting the overwhelming tsunami.

Their proud weapons slipped from their fingers, and sharp arrows scattered on the ground, but no one bent down to pick them up.

Because this was simply a natural disaster that human power could not contend with!

“What a joke…” A warrior’s legs went weak, and she knelt on the ground.

“A tsunami of this magnitude… will directly submerge the entire island!”

Torch Lotus’s throat was also tight, and even breathing became difficult.

She finally understood why this man could end the era of the Pirate King.

This was not a battle at all, but a natural disaster crushing mortals!

Gloriosa’s snake staff clanged as it hit the ground, and the color drained from her aged face.

“This is Heaven Quake!”

Although she had witnessed Whitebeard’s peak power many times during the Rocks era, seeing such a method again now still filled her with the same dread.

“Why can there be two of these fruits that can destroy the world…”

Just when everyone thought Gern intended to submerge Nine Snake Island directly with the tsunami, the waves suddenly stopped just as they were about to crash onto Nine Snake Island.

The water droplets from the wave crests fell like rain, turning into a vast mist that scattered, refracting colorful light in the sunlight.

“Is this a warning to me?” Torch Lotus stared fixedly at the figure on the sea.

Her nails dug deep into her palms, blood seeping from between her fingers, yet she felt nothing.

“Marine!” The next instant, Torch Lotus suddenly snatched the amplified snail from a nearby warrior, her angry roar exploding like thunder.

“Nine Snake does not welcome men! Leave immediately! Otherwise…”

“Otherwise what?” Gern’s voice did not rely on any amplification equipment.

Instead, it directly penetrated hundreds of meters through vibration, piercing everyone’s eardrums like a cold blade.

He stood at the bow, the bandages of black blade eight desolations fluttering without wind. “I’ve come to see Snake Princess.

If you don’t let me in.......”

“I’ll just have to fight my way in!”

“Arrogant!” Torch Lotus snapped.

“Who’s truly arrogant?!”

Gern grinned ferociously, clenching his hands tightly, and then—

“Boom!” His fists slammed down like heavy hammers into the air on both sides!

“Oh no!” Gloriosa’s pupils dilated in shock. Having fought in the Rocks Pirates, she was all too familiar with this sight.

This was…

Newgate, that man’s signature ability!

“Crack!!!”

In an instant, the ground of the entire Nine Snake Island vibrated wildly like fragile glass!

Coastal cliffs crumbled, giant trees in the jungle toppled, birds and beasts scattered in fright, and the entire sea seemed to be violently lifted by an invisible giant hand!

The Nine Snake Warriors stumbled and fell, their weapons, under high-frequency vibration, slipped from their hands!

The entire island tilted on the sea!

The sea surface was as if cleaved by a god, in a state of overturning, the waves solidified, as if time had stopped at this moment.

This man…

With just one punch, he turned Nine Snake upside down!

“Just as I can overturn your entire country with one punch, I can also reach out and smooth out all vibrations.”

Gern slowly withdrew his hand, and the sea returned to calm, while he himself underwent elementalization, performing molecular leap.

“So…” The next instant, Gern stood in front of Torch Lotus, looking down and saying faintly, “Now, can we talk properly?”

Looking at Gern, Torch Lotus knelt on the ground, trembling all over.

At this moment, she finally understood.

What kind of monster her sister had fallen in love with!

.......

The scene shifted, the palace hall of Nine Snake Island was brightly lit, and the boisterous sounds of a banquet contrasted sharply with the previous tension.

Torch Lotus sat at the head of the table, her face cold, her fingertips impatiently tapping the armrest.

She looked at the lively scene below, her brows tightly furrowed.

Gloriosa was smiling profusely as she poured wine for Tesoro, her tone so obsequious it was almost fawning.

“Oh dear! I didn’t realize you were here to recruit Nine Snake to become a Shichibukai?

You should have said so earlier, why cause such a big misunderstanding!”

“I didn’t expect it either…” Tesoro held his wine glass, his expression stiff, clearly unaccustomed to such an occasion.

But Libo, on the other hand, was in her element, having a great time with several Nine Snake female warriors, “Don’t touch me anymore! It tickles!”

After a while, Gloriosa, having confirmed the Marine documents, noticed Torch Lotus’s gloomy expression, sighed, and walked to her side, whispering, “You’re too nervous.”

Looking at Gloriosa in her current state, Torch Lotus, who had once followed two Empresses and witnessed their glorious moments, felt a pang of pain in her eyes.

“After Roger’s death, you’ve changed, Lady Gloriosa.” Her voice was very low, yet every word was like a knife.

“The old you would never bow to anyone.”

“You also said that was in the past.” Gloriosa was silent for a moment, complex emotions surfacing in her aged eyes.

“The current me must admit… this is no longer my era.”

After speaking, she looked towards the side hall where Snake Princess was, her voice hoarse, “Moreover, Heaven Quake came for the Snake Princess.

She’s leaving.”

Torch Lotus’s pupils suddenly constricted: “What do you mean? My sister is going with him?!”

Gloriosa pressed her shoulder, her voice heavy: “This is her choice… and Nine Snake’s opportunity.”

“Opportunity?” Torch Lotus shook off her hand, burning with anger, “How dare the Marine interfere in Nine Snake’s affairs?! I’ll find a way for my sister’s illness…”

“You can’t!” Gloriosa suddenly raised her voice, causing those around them to turn and look.

She took a deep breath, then lowered her voice, “Heaven Quake can cross the Calm Belt, can overturn an island with one punch, and even make the World Government compromise after he heavily attacked the Celestial Dragons in Sabaody…

Do you think Nine Snake has the ability to refuse such a man?

And to put it another way, right now… he is the Snake Princess’s medicine, unless you want to watch your sister die in front of you!”

Hearing this, Torch Lotus paused, then lowered her gaze and said nothing more.

At the same time, deep within the palace, in Snake Princess’s bedchamber.

Gern pushed open the heavy, carved wooden door, and the bitter scent of herbs permeated the room.

A gauze curtain hung low, vaguely revealing a slender figure lying on the bed, with a giant snake with flame-like fur and an animal skull mask coiled beside her.

“I didn’t expect you to come looking for me…” A weak female voice came from within the curtain, carrying a hint of a smile.

Gern walked to the bedside and gently lifted the gauze curtain.

The former Snake Princess was now as pale as paper, only her scattered orange long hair on the bed remained bright like flames.

Looking at her in this state, Gern was silent for a moment, then whispered, “Torch Lotus said you’re dying.”

“My sister is always so direct.” Snake Princess coughed twice, struggling to prop herself up.

“But she’s right… my time is running out.”

Gern took a document from his embrace, “The World Government can have Vegapunk treat you; he can temporarily suppress your illness.”

Snake Princess did not take the document, but instead looked directly into Gern’s eyes: “What’s the price?”

“Become a Shichibukai.” Gern said faintly, “Nine Snake Island accepts the recruitment, and you, as Snake Princess, publicly support the Marine.”

Hearing this, Snake Princess suddenly laughed, her laughter tinged with sarcasm: “If that were the case, you, a man, wouldn’t have come here personally.”

“You figured it out?”

“If you were a man who would compromise with the World Government, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with you like this.”

“Tell me!” Snake Princess stared at Gern, saying calmly, “Why exactly did you come for me?”

“Tsk, if you want to know so badly…” Gern suddenly strode forward, picking up Snake Princess in his arms.

“Then I’ll tell you, I’m here to abduct someone!”

“Abduct someone?” Snake Princess’s pale face flushed, but she weakly clutched his collar.

“So, I have no choice but to go with you?”

“That’s right, because no one can stop me.”