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

If you encounter a truly powerful individual, such as a future Marine Admiral, monsters from the New World, or a pirate with a bounty of over 100 million...

His Logia-type abilities will no longer be an absolute advantage.

"Gern?" Asahi, seeing his silence, assumed he was contemplating promotion and immediately lowered her voice, leaning closer.

"Don't worry, I've already submitted your promotion application!"

With your current reputation and track record, headquarters cannot refuse!

"Hmm," Gern responded, turning his gaze to the window.

"Oh, right!" Asahi suddenly remembered something and excitedly slapped her thigh.

"I've already contacted a reporter from the Xihai Daily, and they'll be interviewing you tomorrow! This is a great opportunity to generate buzz!"

"An interview?" Gern frowned slightly.

“Of course!” Asahi rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness. “You are now a hero of the West Sea!”

The public needs role models like this, and the navy needs this kind of propaganda! Especially that line of yours…

At this point, Asahi cleared his throat, mimicking Guern's tone, deep and powerful.

"Justice delayed is justice denied."

"Holy crap! How are you so smart?" Asahi grinned. "That line is absolutely brilliant!"

Now the common people of the West Sea are all praising you, saying you are a true hero of the West Sea who fights for the weak!

After a moment of silence, Guern suddenly let out a cold laugh.

"They were wrong."

"Huh?" Asahi was taken aback.

“I killed Logot not for justice.” Gern’s voice was soft, yet sharp as a blade.

“I only need his head as a ‘pledge of allegiance’ for my promotion to headquarters.”

Asahi's smile froze on his face.

The office fell silent for a moment.

A few seconds later, Asahi chuckled twice and waved his hand: "Oh dear, you can't say things like that to outsiders!"

"The result is the same anyway: you wiped out the pirates and protected the civilians, that's enough!"

Gern didn't explain further.

He knew that Asahi wouldn't understand.

In this corrupt West Blue, justice has long been reduced to a slogan, and the difference between the navy and pirates is sometimes just a uniform.

But it doesn't matter.

His goal was never to be a "hero" here.

"Oh, right!" Asahi suddenly lowered his voice and mysteriously took a document out of the drawer. "Take a look at this."

Gern took the document, glanced at it, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Special Draft Order from Naval Headquarters

"This is……"

"Shh!" Asahi made a shushing gesture, looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, and then whispered, "This was personally signed by General Zephyr!"

“Zeffa?” Gern’s pupils contracted slightly.

“That’s right!” Asahi nodded excitedly. “Although the official transfer order hasn’t come down yet, the news has already spread!”

I used my connections to find out that Admiral Zephyr is very interested in your performance!

Guern's fingertips unconsciously traced the edge of the document, his heart beating slightly faster.

Finally... I've been waiting for it!

If I could get his guidance...

“However…” Asahi suddenly sighed, his expression turning complicated, “I have some bad news.”

"explain."

"The World Government... has some 'questions' about your Devil Fruit ability." Asahi lowered his voice.

"It's no wonder they're suspicious; your 'Heaven-War Fruit' does indeed look somewhat similar to Whitebeard's 'Tremor-Tremor Fruit,' a remnant of the Rocks Pirates."

“I don’t care about that kind of thing at all,” Gern smiled.

He had long anticipated this day would come.

The power of the Logia-type Heaven-War Fruit is too conspicuous for the World Government to ignore.

In particular, his Tremor-Tremor Fruit has similarities to Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit.

But what Guern was certain of was that his fruit was not a reward from the Celestial Dragons on God Island.

Furthermore, the difference between Paramecia and Logia types is quite significant, and there are also hierarchical levels among Devil Fruits.

"That's right! The World Government is just a bunch of idle bastards." Asahi chimed in with a sarcastic remark, then quickly steered the conversation back to the previous topic.

"Zeff has already noticed you at headquarters, and according to the information I've gathered..."

He is the most likely candidate to be promoted to admiral next year, at the age of 38!

He's noticed you now, but I don't think it's enough.

Seeing Asahi's serious expression, Gern remained silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled, "So?"

"Gern, don't laugh!" Asahi slapped his thigh. "It's been so long since we've had a 'Naval Rising Star' in the West Blue!"

You are now the pride of my West Sea Navy! So we need to create a huge buzz around you!

Moreover…” At this point, the short, sun-kissed man, a head shorter than Gern, raised his hand and patted Gern on the shoulder.

"I believe in your abilities, so I'm going to brag as much as I can from now on."

Watching Asahi mutter to himself, Gern didn't say anything but smiled silently.

Building momentum is about reputation, the foundation for his future promotion in the Navy... This is exactly what he wants.

“Asahi.” After a long while, Gern slowly stood up, holding the Black Blade Eight Desolations in his hand. “I will participate in tomorrow’s interview.”

"Oh? That's great!" Asahi exclaimed with delight. "Don't worry, I've made all the arrangements. The reporters will only ask positive questions, absolutely no..."

“No,” Gern interrupted him, a dangerous smile playing on his lips. “Let them ask.”

"What?" Asahi was stunned.

"Especially regarding the issue of Devil Fruit abilities," Gern's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness, "the sharper the better."

Asahi opened her mouth, but didn't react for a moment.

Gern had already turned and walked towards the door. As his hand rested on the doorknob, he slightly turned his head and left a sentence.

"Since we're going to create momentum... let the storm rage on."

He wants the whole world to remember his name!

Gern Reginald Sigma!

Chapter 16 Zephyr's Gaze

Asahi does have capabilities, especially in guiding headlines.

Coupled with Gern's extremely shameless interview answers, the top headlines in the West Sea became...

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

Why did Shiki and Whitebeard become famous first? Was it to avoid Gern's dominance, or was it a case of the early bird catches the worm?!

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

They'll focus on one person and then use whoever's currently popular as a foil.

But to be fair, Asahi's early use of sensationalist headlines actually attracted countless people.

Especially since the West Blue hadn't produced any outstanding new naval talents for a long time, Gern's unexpected rise to prominence made him famous and renowned throughout the West Blue in no time.

Even Morgans' newly established World Economic Herald published a report on it, a rare occurrence.

........

Naval Headquarters, Marinevando.

The afterglow of the setting sun streamed into the office through the floor-to-ceiling windows, making the "No Killing Justice" sign hanging on the wall shine brightly.

Zefa sat behind a large desk, his short purple hair gleaming with a cold, metallic sheen in the light. His thick arms were crossed over his chest, and his gaze was calmly fixed on the documents spread out on the desk.

Operational Report of Warrant Officer Gern Reginald Sigmar, 133rd Squadron of the Western Seas – Battle of Ash Harbor

Next to the document were several recent World Economic Herald newspapers, all featuring the same name on their front page—"Tianzhen" Gern.

"West Blue Rising Star! Navy's 'Skyquake' Gern Slays a Pirate Worth 70 Million!"

Logia-type Devil Fruit User? A Monster Recruit from the West Blue Branch!

Zefa tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, but his gaze remained fixed on the action report.

The report details the events of the Battle of Ashport, including Gern's order to lower the naval flags from the warships after witnessing the massacre of civilians.

And his statement—"Justice delayed is justice denied."

Zefa's lips curled up slightly, and a rare hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

"This kid..." he muttered to himself, recalling the boy he had seen a year ago during the retreat from God's Island, covered in blood, carrying the corpses of his comrades, his eyes tired but resolute.

He immediately realized that this young man was no ordinary person.

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

"Justice delayed is justice denied."

“Heh…” Zefa murmured the words, a rare hint of emotion appearing on his resolute face.

He put down the documents and looked out the window.

At this moment in the port of Marineford, naval soldiers were busy unloading supplies, and the flags of warships fluttered in the wind.

Just then, the office door was pushed open.

"Hahaha! Zephyr, guess what? That bastard Roger has run away again!"

A young, black-haired Garp walked in laughing, a bag of snacks in his hand and his mouth stuffed full.

"That guy runs faster than a rabbit; even three warships sent by the Warring States period couldn't stop him!"

Sengoku followed behind, rubbing his temples in exasperation.

"Karp, could you please stop making such a racket every time you come in?"

Zefa snapped out of his thoughts, a slight smile playing on his lips: "What, did he get away from you again this time?"

Garp plopped down on the sofa and crossed his legs.

"Tch, if Roger hadn't suddenly veered towards the doldrums, I would have smashed him into the ocean floor long ago!"

"Don't talk while you're eating, you bastard Garp!"

"Did Whitebeard disappear from the New World during the Sengoku period?"

Hearing Zephyr bring up the topic to him, Sengoku nodded.

"Hmm. He's started his own pirate crew, and I heard he's been particularly interested in finding his son lately..."

I wonder if they've gone back to the Four Seas or the Grand Line.

"Actually, we should have brought Xiaohe with us, boohoo..."

"You..." Sengoku, his face covered in bits of trash, ignored Garp's boasting and instead focused his gaze on the newspaper on Zephyr's desk, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh? That 'Skyquake' Gern from the West Sea? His news has been making headlines lately."

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

Sengoku took the mission document from Zefa, quickly glanced through it, and his expression gradually became serious.