The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

On the training ground of the elite training camp, the morning training has just begun.

Zefa, with his back to the gate, was scolding several lazy recruits.

Even from a great distance, his loud voice could be heard echoing across the playground.

“Professor Zefa!” Gern stepped forward and saluted.

“Gern?” Zephyr turned around, his eyes narrowing slightly behind his sunglasses, his gaze sweeping over Lipo and Tesoro behind Gern. “You brought your little lackeys to training?”

“No, teacher.” Gern coughed lightly. “I would like to ask you, does the Navy have any craftsmen who can perform coating?”

"Coating?" Zefa's voice suddenly rose eight octaves, drawing the attention of the surrounding recruits.

He grabbed Gern's arm and pulled him to the shade of a tree.

"You're going to Fishman Island?" Zephyr's voice was low, but each word was as heavy as a hammer blow. "Now?"

“That’s right.” Gern nodded. “It has already been approved by the Air Marshal.”

Zefa's expression turned unusually serious.

He took off his sunglasses and stared at Guern with a scrutinizing gaze: "Do you know what time it is?"

"The Seven Warlords of the Sea system."

"That's right. The World Government's sudden announcement of the Seven Warlords of the Sea system is causing a huge uproar within the Navy, with all the admirals taking sides and expressing their opinions."

He pointed to Smoker, who was training at the other end of the training field, "Even these greenhorns are talking about this now!"

Kuzan and the other two also expressed their opinions, and now you're leaving headquarters to go play on Fishman Island?

(In the eyes of most people in the Navy, Fishman Island is just a peculiar tourist attraction.)

Gern did not immediately respond to Zefa's words.

In the distance, Libo was showing Tezzolo the "exploration gear" in her backpack, the two completely unaware of the tense atmosphere around them.

“Professor Zephyr,” Gern finally spoke, “do you think my staying will change anything?”

Zephyr frowned: "What do you mean?"

Sakazuki publicly opposed it, while Kuzan remained silent but his tone and attitude also expressed opposition.

Needless to say, Borsalino, with his evasive remarks and even subtle hints that he was entirely in support of the World Government for the sake of his promotion...

Gern shrugged. "So, when has the World Government ever really considered the Navy's opinion in its decisions?"

"So, of the four... Zephyr clenched his fist."

"You're the only one who chooses to run away?"

Chapter 142 Zephyr: I understand you

“No.” Gern shook his head, stood up, flicked his cloak, his gaze hardening, and his tone becoming serious.

With an expression that said "justice" can't be eradicated.

“Professor Zefa, I just chose to do something more meaningful.”

Fishman Island, as a member state of the World Government, has long been harassed by pirates. Isn't this exactly what the Navy should be concerned about?

If that's the case... where is justice? Every time I think about this, my heart aches.

Teacher, even other races need the light of justice!

A moment of silence followed.

The shouts of the new recruits during their training echoed across the parade ground, and the cries of seagulls could be clearly heard in the distance.

Just as Zephyr finished listening to Gern's impassioned speech, his brow twitched slightly behind his sunglasses.

Then, he slowly took off his sunglasses and rubbed his temples with his calloused hands.

“Something more meaningful?” Zephyr’s voice suddenly turned strange. “You just said… Fishman Island?”

“Yes, teacher.” Gern straightened his back, the black-trimmed cloak of justice fluttering in the sea breeze.

"The people there have long lived under the threat of pirates and desperately need the navy..."

A sudden burst of laughter interrupted Gern's speech.

Zefa suddenly turned around, his shoulders twitching suspiciously.

“Professor Zephyr?” Gern blinked in confusion.

Zefa turned around abruptly, his usually serious face now flushed red.

He grabbed Gern's shoulder, his voice laced with barely suppressed laughter.

"You brat... that expression you made just now... hahahaha!"

Gern stood frozen in place.

Libo, who was organizing her equipment twenty meters away, was so startled that she dropped her carrot. Tesoro was also dumbfounded.

Because those trained by Zeff... had never seen "Black Arm" Zeff laugh so out of control.

“Teacher? Teacher Zepha, please stop laughing, I’m a little scared.” Gern’s voice began to tremble.

Zefa wiped away the tears of laughter, then suddenly straightened his face.

"Pretend! Keep pretending!"

He mimicked Gern's righteous tone, "Isn't this exactly what the Navy should be focusing on?" Then he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

“Professor Zephyr,” Gern’s ears slowly turned red, “I’m serious…”

"Come on!" Zeffa slapped Gern on the back. "When did you become so interested in joining National Life?"

Then, he leaned close to Gern's ear and lowered his voice.

"Kuzan told me everything, it's all for the mermaids, right?"

"What?!" Gern looked up abruptly, meeting Zefa's mischievous gaze.

"That bastard Kuzan, I'll definitely give him a good beating sometime in the future! Damn it."

"You, you!" Zephyr stroked his chin meaningfully.

"Last time it was a furry island, this time it's Fishman Island, will it be a Sky Island next time?"

Gern's expression instantly crumbled: "Teacher, let me explain! Sky Island is possible, but Fishman Island..."

“No need to explain!” Zephyr suddenly said seriously. “Gern, you’re not the clueless kid who just arrived at headquarters back then anymore.”

As your mentor, I now fully understand the enthusiasm of young people for... ahem... 'diplomatic affairs'.

Libo suddenly appeared, her rabbit ears perked up high: "Teacher Zephyr, what mermaid? What beauty?"

"No!" Gern clutched his head in despair.

Zefa put his sunglasses back on, regaining his usual dignified demeanor, though his eyes still gleamed with the smugness of a triumphant prank: "Go on, go on, remember to bring back some local specialties."

He turned and walked toward the ship's side, then suddenly turned back and added...

"By the way, Naval Headquarters doesn't have any coating craftsmen." His tone softened somewhat.

"You'll have to go to the Sabaody Archipelago to find a coating craftsman. I'll get the paperwork approved for you."

"Thank you, teacher." Gern breathed a sigh of relief.

“It’s nothing.” Zephyr suddenly grabbed Gern’s shoulder. “Listen, whatever your quirks are!”

"uh-huh?!"

"Oh, it's a hobby...it's a hobby!"

Zefa paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "In short, Kuzan is right. You will always be my most outstanding disciple, and your teacher shouldn't interfere with you."

Upon meeting Zefa's gaze, Gern had already given up, so he nodded solemnly: "Yes, I understand, teacher."

"And..." Gern said with a forced smile, "If there's a chance... that Kuzan guy will be in real trouble."

Zephyr stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly gave a rare smile: "Hahaha."

He turned to leave, then turned back as if remembering something, "Oh, right, take good care of that little rabbit."

She came to me last night asking if mermaids like to eat carrots...."

Guern couldn't help but laugh: "I will."

Under Gern's dismayed gaze, Zephyr laughed and left, not forgetting to wink at Lipo as he went.

"Little Lipo, keep an eye on your superior, don't let him get kidnapped by a mermaid!"

The sea breeze carried Zephyr's last laugh away, leaving Gern standing on the deck, facing Libo's burning gaze and Tesoro's thoughtful expression.

When Gurn returned to Lipo and Tesoro, Lipo immediately approached them: "So? Professor Zephyr is smiling so happily because he agreed to help?"

“Bad news.” Gern deliberately put on a stern face. “We need to go to the Sabaody Archipelago to find the coating craftsmen first.”

Libo's ears drooped instantly, but quickly perked up again: "Shall we set off now? I haven't had enough fun at the amusement park in Sabaody Archipelago yet!"

Tesoro checked the shopping list his girlfriend had given him: "Perfect timing to stock up on some supplies."

Stella mentioned the specialties of Fishman Island and the Sabaody Archipelago…”

Gern looked at the two excited people, then glanced back at the direction of the training camp.

Zephyr had returned to the recruits, and his signature reprimanding voice rang out once more.

“Let’s go.” Gern turned and walked towards the warship. “Fishman Island is waiting for us.”

"Let's go! Let's go!" Lippo skipped along, "I want to buy the biggest and shiniest pearl carrot!"

“There’s no such thing.” Tesoro shook his head helplessly.

"Really? Gern."

"Of course they do! I'll have them make one for you!"

"Yay! Guern is the best to Lipo! Lipo is truly a champion of justice!"

"Major General Gern, you spoil Lipo too much!"

"Tesoro, before you say that... please put away the super long shopping list Stella gave you first, thank you!"

The sunlight shone on the three of them, casting long shadows.

The warship slowly sailed away from the port, heading towards the Sabaody Archipelago.

Behind them, the outline of Marineford gradually blurred and eventually disappeared on the horizon.

Chapter 143 Heading to Mermaid Island

In the Sabaody Archipelago, sunlight filters through the massive mangroves, casting dappled shadows.

The bubbles floated lightly in the air, reflecting a rainbow of colors.

The sounds of bustling activity at Port No. 34, the shouts of vendors and the exclamations of tourists, all blended together to create a vibrant scene.

Gern's warship slowly docked at the naval pier, on the deck

Libo could no longer contain her excitement; her bunny ears stood up high, and her pink eyes sparkled with anticipation.

She was dressed in a light navy uniform, with a pair of specially made carrot-shaped daggers at her waist, and looked very cute.

"Gern! We've arrived!" Lipo cheered, and before the warship had come to a complete stop, she leaped and landed lightly on the dock.

Her rabbit fur coat made her move with lightning speed, attracting the attention of passersby.

Tesoro followed closely behind, asking, "Is this the Sabaody Archipelago, a midway point on the Grand Line?"

He looked around and carefully folded the shopping list Stella had given him, stuffing it into his breast pocket.

Gern was the last to disembark from the warship, his black sword, Eight Desolations, casually hanging at his waist, his cloak fluttering slightly in the sea breeze.

"I'm entrusting the coating of this warship to you. Thank you for your hard work." Gern smiled at the coating shipwright that G-33 base in the Sabaody Archipelago had arranged for him in advance.

"It's no trouble at all! It's all for the Navy, and serving Rear Admiral Gern is what I should do!"

Looking at the shipwright, Gern didn't say anything more, but instead took out a bag of berths from his pocket and handed it to him.

After all, at this point, giving money is the only practical thing to do!