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

Spandam knew very well that this man had always outwardly obeyed but inwardly defied the World Government's orders, not only publicly humiliating the Celestial Dragons but also provoking the mobilization of the Knights of God.

But the result was... the World Government lost face and was ultimately forced to compromise.

In other words, Gern is a complete scourge among the CP agents who serve the World Government!

“Vice Admiral Gern…” After a moment’s hesitation, Spandam took a half step forward, his voice extremely low, as if afraid of being overheard by the surrounding navy, “We… have finished registering here.”

"Hmm?" The newspaper shifted slightly, revealing a pair of cold eyes.

Then, Gern propped himself up and asked, "How are you? Is anything wrong?"

“Uh…” Spandam’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

As a seasoned veteran, he naturally understood the meaning behind those words.

If he says "yes," perhaps Guern will use this as an excuse to make a fuss.

If he says "no"... then the following orders will likely cause this vice admiral to completely break off relations.

But the World Government's mission must be completed, after all, he is paid by the World Government, not the Navy.

So Spandam gritted his teeth and forced a fake smile.

“They… all meet the criteria.” He paused, then added, “Therefore, according to the World Government’s order…”

"What order?"

"Leave no one alive."

When the last four words were uttered, the air in the square seemed to freeze.

In the distance, the pregnant women under centralized supervision seemed to sense something; some began to sob softly, and the cries of babies could be heard intermittently.

Meanwhile, the naval soldiers present unconsciously looked at Gern, as if waiting for a signal.

Gern slowly folded the newspaper and casually tossed it onto the table beside him.

The movement was very light, yet it instantly soaked Spandam's shirt back with cold sweat.

"Oh?" Gern's voice remained calm, even tinged with a hint of languor. "Are you sure there hasn't been a 'misjudgment'?"

"Or rather, Spandam, are you sure you haven't missed anything?"

“Of course!” Spandam’s forehead was covered in more cold sweat as he forced a dry laugh. “Our CP9 screening never goes wrong!”

Gern did not respond, but slowly stood up, which made Spandam subconsciously take half a step back.

"Since there are no problems, let's proceed," Gern said calmly.

"Really? No! I'll give the order right now!"

Spandam felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly turned around to wave to the CP agents.

The agents immediately drew their weapons, the cold muzzles pointing at the unarmed women and children.

At this critical moment

"Boom!!!" A blinding bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking precisely the open space between the CP agents and the crowd!

The ground was instantly scorched black, smoke and dust billowed up, and the agents were so frightened that they staggered backward.

"Shut up!!" Enel's irritable voice rang out.

And somehow he was already standing next to Gern, the golden staff slung over his shoulder.

"A bunch of ants, chattering away, disturbing God's peace!"

“Lieutenant General Gern…” Spandan was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, stammering, “No… it wasn’t you… you said you were carrying out orders?”

"Huh?" Gern frowned, then smiled, and immediately half-squatted down.

"Tsk tsk tsk." He raised his hand, pinched Spandam's cheek, and then patted it.

"You don't think I'm giving you orders, do you?"

Spandam: "..."

"This is an order from the World Government!" Spandam shouted, mustering his courage. "You two had better think this through!"

"Sorry, gods are not bound by rules." Enel sneered, pointing his golden cudgel directly at Spandam's nose: "If you dare to make another sound, I'll chop you down too!"

Gern glanced at Enel, a slight smile playing on his lips. He didn't stop him, but simply walked slowly towards the crowd.

The pregnant women held their babies tightly, their eyes filled with fear and pleading.

"My lord!" a young mother cried out, trembling. "Please... my child is only three months old. He can't possibly be the Pirate King's child. I don't even know him..."

Gern raised his hand to interrupt her, then turned around to face all the naval soldiers, his voice calm but unquestionable: "Everyone, listen to my command."

The naval soldiers immediately stood at attention, their eyes fixed firmly on Gern.

“Escort these women and children back home,” Gern said calmly. “Mission accomplished.”

“Lieutenant General Gern!” Spandam’s eyes widened suddenly as he screamed, “You are disobeying the World Government’s orders!! You are trampling on the authority of the World Government!”

"Sorry, I don't have any orders from the World Government here!"

“Because this island is adorned with…” Gern glanced sideways at the flags fluttering above the plaza, speaking each word carefully.

"It is the Navy's 'justice'."

“You…” Spandam’s Adam’s apple bobbed, cold sweat soaking the back of his shirt. “You…you really aren’t afraid at all…”

"Afraid?" Gern suddenly laughed, a laugh that sent a chill down Spandam's spine. "On this sea, I am the authority."

"Or rather, if you have the ability..." Gern casually rested his right hand on the hilt of the Black Blade Eight Desolations, his tone suddenly turning cold.

"Let that good-for-nothing Grimm Saint come again!"

The last sentence was like a thunderclap, and the entire square fell silent instantly.

The naval soldiers straightened their backs unconsciously, their eyes burning with fervor.

Spandam, as if all his bones had been removed, staggered back two steps, his face ashen.

"This is too much trouble!" Enel suddenly burst into a maniacal laugh: "Gern, your justice doesn't need debate. Let me just say it directly..."

His raised golden staff instantly triggered a celestial phenomenon, "Let thunder greet us!!"

"Boom!!!" Dozens of lightning bolts struck each CP agent precisely, and in the blinding light, Spandam's comical appearance, slumped on the ground, was rendered pale.

Enel glared at the charred bodies scattered on the ground, his eyes flashing with dangerous lightning.

"To kneel or to ashes... that is the 'freedom' God has given you."

Given Enel's current mindset, he doesn't care at all about the Marines' awe of Gern.

Because in his distorted perception, both Gern and himself were "gods".

If they can defeat Gern in the future, all the power and status of this naval legend will be in "God's" hands.

“Look closely, Spandam.”

"What flies here is always the justice of the navy."

Chapter 236 At least the Navy is still the Navy!

The Grand Line, a blockaded island port.

The smoke of battle had not yet cleared when Enel idly played with the arcs of electricity dancing on his fingertips, while the charred bodies of more than a dozen CP agents lay scattered at his feet.

“What boring ants,” he yawned, “even their screams are all the same.”

Gern stood at the edge of the dock, the sea breeze lifting the word "Justice" on his cloak.

Behind him, naval soldiers were escorting women and children back to town, and everyone who passed by unconsciously cast a look of awe at him.

"Report!" A communications soldier hurried over and said in a low voice, "Lieutenant General Gern, we just received an urgent telegram from headquarters. Admiral Sengoku requests your..."

“Ignore it,” Gern interrupted, tapping the hilt of the Black Blade Eight Desolations lightly with his fingertips. “Execute according to the established plan.”

……

Marineford, Naval Headquarters, Admiral's Office.

Steel Bone stood by the window, his back to Sengoku, his gaze fixed on the harbor of Marineford through the glass.

"Marshal Kong," Sengoku said angrily, "sending Gern on this mission was a mistake from the start."

"And most importantly! He actually hung up on me, a full thirty times!"

After saying that, Zhan Guo sat down on the sofa in a huff, his brows furrowed.

"Air Marshal, you know perfectly well that, given Gern's personality, he would never act according to the World Government's orders."

Sending him on this mission will only exacerbate the rift between him and the World Government!

"A rift? Heh." Marshal Kong suddenly turned around, his eyes sharp as he sneered.

"From the moment the World Government rejected Gern's proposal to become an admiral, it became impossible for them to coexist peacefully!"

The Warring States period was taken aback.

"Warring States Period." Kong walked to the desk and slammed his fingers on the surface. "You think I don't know what you're thinking?"

You worry that Gern's actions will worsen relations between the Navy and the World Government, but I'm telling you... that's precisely what's necessary!"

"Necessary?" Sengoku frowned even more deeply.

“That’s right.” Kong took a deep breath, his tone softening. “Because I’m doing this for you.”

"For me?" Sengoku was stunned. "General Kong, let's not talk about such ambiguous things between us."

Steel Bone Sky: "..."

"Ahem, it's June 1499 now, and I only have a few months left in my term!" (The term of the Steelbone Air Force Admiral ends in the year 1500 of the Sea Calendar)

"Marshal Kong..."

"In a few months, the Navy will be your era!" Kong sat back in his chair, his gaze deep.

"No faction within the navy can become too powerful; there needs to be checks and balances."

I have no doubt about your methods.

But a 'buffer zone' is also needed between the Navy and the World Government.

"You mean..." Sengoku's pupils contracted slightly.

“Gern is that ‘buffer point’,” Steelbone Kong said in a deep voice. “He belongs neither to the doves nor the hawks.”

His 'Calamity' faction operates independently of the traditional naval system.

The world government fears him, yet has no choice but to rely on his power.

The navy also needs someone who dares to challenge the world government.

"So..." Sengoku remained silent for a long time before finally saying slowly, "You deliberately sent Gern to carry out this mission?"

"Sengoku, you are the future Fleet Admiral, and you need to understand..." Kong didn't answer directly, but simply said...

"Some contradictions must exist."

In an instant, thick clouds surged past the office's floor-to-ceiling windows, as if pushed by an invisible hand, slowly swallowing the blazing sunlight.

The indoor light suddenly dimmed, and shadows crept onto Zhan Guo's face, making his expression appear even more somber.

His keen political sense detected another extremely dangerous signal in Gang Gu Kong's words!

“So, Marshal Kong…” Sengoku slowly raised his eyes, a cold glint flashing across his glasses in the dim light.

His voice remained steady, yet carried an undeniable sharpness: "Can you explain this?"

"What is meant by the 'Catastrophe' faction, which is independent of the traditional naval system?"

The air condensed.

Steel Bone Hollow's pupils contracted slightly, and a bead of cold sweat slid down silently.

consternation.

Glad.

There was even... a sense of relief.

Sure enough, the strategist I had my eye on is now fully prepared to take over the navy!