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

He's no longer the rising star of the navy we could easily manipulate! He's now the 'Skyquake,' a powerful figure in the New World, the true ruler of the 'Fifth Pole'!

"We want to take action against G-10 today, against the people he shelters, and you'll see Sengoku's reaction! The Navy won't stand idly by!"

Conversely, if Gern were to suddenly go mad and attempt to attack the World Government, do you think the Sengoku clan would follow suit? The Navy would stop him just the same!

Nasujiro's words carried a clear and cruel analysis: "In the past, the Navy was powerless to resist us, and there were only two forces in the world—the World Government and the Navy."

We can rest easy, because the Navy has no other choice.

But now, there's an extra G-10 and a Gern!

A third party has intervened, forming a stable triangle!

"The World Government, the Navy, and the G-10 are mutually restraining each other, achieving a dangerous balance!"

Any rash action by either party could trigger an unpredictable chain reaction!

We pushed too far, forcing Guern to completely side with the naval radicals, and even to break away and start his own faction.

Our excessive suppression of the navy forced Sengoku to rely more on Guern's power for self-preservation!

This balance is extremely fragile right now, but precisely because it's fragile, no one dares to break it easily!

At this point, Nasujiro subconsciously touched his chest, where his injuries had long since healed.

But the sharpness and destructiveness of Gern's "End" slash still seemed to leave a mark.

He narrowed his eyes and said in a cold voice, "Moreover... we both felt it."

Gern, he is no longer at the level of a 'general'.

He paused, then announced in an extremely solemn tone...

“Gern Reginald Sigmar is already an ‘Emperor’!”

This conclusion made Satan's pupils shrink, but recalling the battle just now, he couldn't refute it.

Nasshou no longer looked at him, turned to face the ruined land of the gods, and gave a clear order, his voice echoing through the silent ruins: "Go back and inform them!"

From this day forward, all agencies under the World Government, all member states, and especially the Celestial Dragon families...

Any matter involving the G-10's sphere of influence and its protected targets shall be regarded as a first-level special case and must be reported to superiors immediately!

No one may act without the unanimous consent of all five of us!

His gaze swept over Saint Satan, finally settling on the distance.

"Compromise... must never happen a third time."

Chapter 340: The word 'It's over'

In the new world, deep within the G-1 naval base, a coated passage leading to a secret underground port slowly opens.

The biting cold air surged out as if it were a tangible force, instantly condensing the moisture in the passage into ice crystals.

Gern stepped out first, the cold air brushing against his slightly tired but still sharp face. Looking at the scene before him, a helpless smile appeared on his lips.

What came into view was not the familiar G-1 base, but a world of ice and snow that looked like the Arctic!

The entire spacious reception plaza was almost entirely covered by a thick layer of ice, with glistening icicles hanging from the ceiling and a chilling atmosphere pervading the area.

What's even more striking are the figures frozen in ice sculptures, yet still retaining their lifelike postures.

It was his core members of G-10, the members of "Natural Disaster"!

The world's greatest swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk, remained in a slashing stance, his black sword Yoru frozen in mid-air, his eyes as sharp as ever.

The tyrant Bartholomew the Great Bear, his enormous body standing like a mountain, his hand frozen in the forward thrust.

God Enel seemed to still have faint arcs of electricity remaining around him, his face frozen with an incredulous expression.

Douglas Barrett, the heir to the devil, laughed maniacally and made a punching gesture, his violent aura seemingly about to burst forth from the ice.

Golden Emperor Tesoro, Snake Princess Torituma, Ribo, and others also transformed into ice sculptures in various combat or defensive postures, each with a different expression.

However, judging from their positions, Hawkeye and Barrett clearly fought to the very end.

The area furthest from the exit, with the thickest and most broken ice, clearly caused the greatest trouble for those who were frozen.

“Heh, Kuzan, you really are…” Gern shook his head, his tone a mix of understanding and amusement.

Before he could finish speaking, not far away, a man sitting on the ice, half of his body transformed into ice, slowly raised his head and exhaled a breath of white air mixed with icy shards.

Kuzan ruffled his slightly messy curly hair and stood up lazily: "Alala... there's nothing I can do about it."

“These two…” He pointed to the ice sculptures of Hawkeye and Barrett, “especially Barrett. Without Mr. Garp and Kizaru’s help, I alone wouldn’t have been able to calm them down.”

"That's terrifying~~" Kizaru leaned against the relatively intact wall, his hands in his pockets, and exclaimed in an exaggerated tone.

Compared to Garp and Kuzan, whose clothes were somewhat dirty, torn, and even had some ice marks,

His yellow striped suit was still spotless!

At that moment, a loud voice broke the chill.

"Ha ha ha ha!!"

Garp walked forward with a hearty laugh. His navy coat was somewhat torn, and the lining was ripped in several places, but he himself looked energetic.

Without saying a word, he grabbed Sengoku's shoulder and patted him hard, saying, "Hey! Sengoku! Is this mission finally over?"

I've already promised I'd take a vacation to see my grandson this time! You can't find another excuse to stop me!

"Get away! Garp! Don't touch me with your filthy hands!" Sengoku tried to push him away with a look of disgust, but Garp's arm was as immovable as an iron band.

Garp completely ignored Sengoku's struggles, and even stretched out his other arm to pull Gren in as well, forming a strange "three people with their arms around each other" posture.

He then stopped smiling, looked at Gern, and asked in a slightly more serious tone, "Is it over?"

The moment the question was asked, the previously relaxed atmosphere instantly froze.

Kuzan straightened up, and Kizaru also put away his nonchalant expression. All eyes were now on Gern and Sengoku.

Sengoku looked at everyone

Especially the "Cataclysmic" officers under Gern who were frozen in ice, and the battle marks on the three top naval combatants in front of them.

He took a deep breath of the cold air, his expression serious, and spoke slowly and clearly.

"ended."

These three words seemed to bring a temporary pause to the storm that swept through the holy land.

.......

At the same time, as Sengoku finished saying "It's over," the person who had been quietly following behind Gern and Sengoku...

Filled with confusion and wariness, Ginny's gaze unconsciously swept over the breathtaking ice sculptures.

Suddenly, her pupils contracted sharply, and she froze on the spot as if struck by lightning!

His gaze was fixed on the massive, mountain-like figure, still in a pushing-out posture, completely sealed within the crystalline ice.

Bartholomew the Bear!

“Big…Big Bear…?” Ginny murmured to herself, her voice trembling so much it was almost incoherent.

The next second, her pent-up emotions burst forth like a flood, instantly overwhelming her reason and pretense.

"Big Bear, dear!!!" A heart-wrenching cry shattered the frozen silence.

Ginny no longer cared about the Admiral, the Skyquake Admiral, or where she was.

Like a wounded bird that has finally found its home, she charged headlong into the ice sculpture of the bear!

She staggered along the way, almost falling, tears streaming down her face like broken beads, blurring her vision.

Ever since she was taken away from that hell by Sengoku in the Holy Land, her heart has been filled with immense unease and doubt.

She didn't understand why the Navy, the world government's agency, would rescue her, a Revolutionary Army cadre, from the Celestial Dragons.

She had even prepared for the worst; no matter what methods the navy used to interrogate her, she would never reveal any information about the Revolutionary Army or Mr. Dragon.

But... but until this moment, seeing the bear frozen here in such a fighting posture...

Seeing these powerful warriors under Gern's command who had clearly put up fierce resistance before being frozen...

She understood everything!

It's not a conspiracy by the Navy, nor a trap set by the World Government!

It was her beloved bear! It was her lover! He had come to save her!

He was the one who persuaded the "Skyquake" admiral, who dared to confront even the World Government head-on.

It may have even triggered this huge upheaval that shook the sacred land, which is why she was rescued from that hellhole!

"Big Bear... I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry... It's all my fault... I made you worry... I made you..."

Ginny collapsed at the feet of the cold bear statue, her hands futilely striking the hard ice.

Trying to feel a trace of her lover's warmth, her cries were shrill and desperate, yet also carried a great sadness and relief at having regained what she had lost.

She cried and trembled, releasing all the fear and despair she had endured over the past few days.

Chapter 341 He gave me the right to choose

At the same time, upon seeing this, Kuzan raised his hand and exhaled a wisp of cold air.

The thick layer of ice covering the cadres from the "natural disaster" began to melt and vaporize rapidly, emitting a faint hissing sound.

Soon after, Hawkeye, Kuma, Barrett, and the others were freed from their icy state.

Moving their somewhat stiff limbs, they looked at Gern and Sengoku with complicated expressions, but neither of them spoke immediately.

Meanwhile, Sengoku ignored the thawed bear, who was tightly embracing Ginny and immersed in the joy of their reunion.

Turning to Gern, his face regained the seriousness of a naval admiral, and he said in a deep voice, "Gern, this farce should come to a complete end."

Now, return control of G-1 base, which you have been 'taking over', to Lieutenant General Stolberg.

Upon hearing this, Gern picked at his ear with his little finger, then blew lightly on his fingertip, casually tossed his head, and whistled loudly: "I won't hand it over."

His answer was crisp and decisive, even with a touch of roguishness: "I personally led the team and worked hard to 'take over' this from the pirates, why should I return it?"

"What the hell are pirates?!"

"Hey! Gern!" Sengoku's temple bulged with veins. "Don't play dumb! The World Government will never allow you to control G-1, this strategic location, for long!"

Return it to Storoberry, that's an order!

“But… Marshal,” Gern drawled, putting on an expression as if he had suffered a great loss.

"This is the 'trophy' that I obtained after going through great hardships and paying a huge price!"

"If we just hand it over like that, our men will lose heart!"

"Don't go too far, Gern!" Sengoku lowered his voice, his tone carrying a warning.

"You are the biggest winner in this Holy Land incident, having gained enough 'benefits' and 'voice'!"

Don't be greedy! Wait until the high-level headquarters meeting two months from now, and your G-10 base will be ready.

In terms of scale, authority, and independence, it can basically be considered 'the Marineford of the New World'!

"Isn't that enough?!"

"Tsk tsk tsk..." Gern chuckled, took a step closer, and teased in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Hey, Marshal Sengoku, don't talk like you didn't reap huge benefits from this~"

"Securing both position and bargaining chips... that seems rather ruthless, like trying to take advantage of everyone?"

"Gern! You bastard!" Sengoku was so angry that his teeth itched, having been hit where it hurt.

Looking at Guern's stubborn and unyielding demeanor, it was clear that he wouldn't give in without some serious consequences.

He took a deep breath, as if he had made a great decision, and gritted his teeth as he whispered, "New World G-45, G-22 Branch!"

Including command of the jurisdiction and garrison! This is the bottom line! No more! Hand over control of G-1!

Just moments ago, Gern had been looking like a rogue, but his eyes lit up instantly, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face, as if he had been waiting for those words.

He decisively extended his palm: "Deal!"