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

Whether it was his interaction with Nami, his exaggerated 'performance,' or even just letting Perona's negative ghost pass through...

"Your behavior is more like... 'playing around.'" Hawkeye pinpointed Gern's consistent attitude.

"Essentially, it's no different from Kuzan's behavior in front of Enies Lobby; he's just here to make his face known, or rather, to 'see' these newcomers in your own way."

“But…” Hawkeye’s tone suddenly turned sharp, “in front of a powerful figure who controls the entire situation, possesses absolute power, and has never truly become enraged.”

That all-out slash, intended to wound or even cut it off... that has crossed the line.

That means they see your 'tolerance' as an 'opportunity' to exploit."

He looked at Gern, his meaning clear.

You originally just wanted to tease them, establish your authority, and satisfy your perverse sense of humor.

But Zoro's slash, in your opinion, was simply a case of "I'm giving you face, but you insist on showing it off."

Therefore, as a powerful figure at the pinnacle, your counterattack just now was a necessary move to maintain your own dignity, and I can understand that.

But now that the goals of establishing authority and punishment have been achieved, it's time to stop.

As Gern listened to Hawkeye's words, the indifference on his face slowly melted away. He pursed his lips, looking somewhat annoyed as if his secret had been exposed.

He really didn't intend to do anything to these kids, especially considering Garp, Bellemere, and Kuzan (Robin).

Moreover, Zoro's strike was indeed amazing, but it also offended him.

So Gern shrugged, and the suffocating pressure emanating from him receded like a receding tide.

He glanced at the direction Zoro had sunk, then looked down at the terrified Straw Hat crew below, and lazily spoke.

"Tsk, how boring, you saw through me so quickly."

He yawned. "Alright, for your Hawkeye reputation, and for that green-haired kid who actually had some backbone and survived my kick..."

His gaze swept over the Straw Hat crew again, finally settling on the unconscious Luffy, and he gave a cryptic chuckle.

That's enough for now.

"And remember this feeling of powerlessness! If you can still continue your voyage..."

After all, the new world is far more brutal than this.

"I'm waiting for you."

After saying that, he ignored everyone else, turned around, and beckoned to Perona, who was still struggling to maintain her buoyancy.

"Let's go, little ghost."

"If I stay any longer, some old man who dotes on his grandson will get restless and come looking for trouble."

Chapter 413 "He will definitely win!"

Seeing that Gurn seemed to really intend to leave and did not make any further moves, the Straw Hat crew's tense nerves finally relaxed a little.

But this brief moment of relaxation was immediately replaced by worry for his partner.

"You damn green algae-headed bastard! Please, please don't die!!"

Sanji practically yelled it out, then immediately forgot everything else.

The figure sped off toward the sea in the direction Zoro had flown.

"Wait for me, Sanji!" Chopper cried out, "I'm the doctor!" He then transformed into his reindeer form and strode off to follow behind Sanji.

Just then, Brooke, who had been silently pondering, seemed to be struck by lightning, a flash of inspiration striking the depths of his memory.

His empty eye sockets (though they weren't actually there) suddenly "looked" at Gern's departing figure, and he spoke in his echoing tone...

"Yohohoho... I remember now!"

I remember now! This young man seems to be...

Brooke's words drew the attention of the rest of the group.

"Even earlier... from the West Blue... pirate hunters!"

"A pirate hunter?" Usopp blinked, repeating the question unconsciously, a look of confusion on his face. "Is it a pirate hunter like Zoro?"

“No, Mr. Usopp.” Brook shook his head, his knuckles clicking slightly, and his tone suddenly took on a distant, nostalgic quality as he spoke slowly.

"He's no ordinary hunter."

He was the first man on the high seas to be given the title of "Pirate Hunter"!

Or rather, this title, which struck fear into the hearts of pirates and was subsequently adopted, became...

It was because of him that he was born in the West Blue and his fame resounded throughout the entire Grand Line!

My captain didn't want to meet him either, and even said something like, "Luckily we set sail early, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to leave the West Blue and enter the Grand Line under that man's command."

Brook was born in the West Sea, so he has memories of Gern, who was a rising star in the West Sea at the time.

"But he doesn't hunt pirates like Mr. Zoro, either for a living or to hone his swordsmanship."

"His 'hunt'..." Brooke's voice deepened, as if recounting a terrifying legend, chillingly adding, "More thorough, more... chilling."

"Back then, the pirates of the West Blue, in their fear and despair, gave him this title—'Pirate Hunter'."

This is not praise, but a bloody description of his style of doing things!

Therefore, his fearsome reputation had already resounded throughout the Western Sea long before he 'slayed the golden lion' and became famous throughout the world!

"Huh??" Brooke was stunned again when the Golden Lion was mentioned. "What's the Golden Lion again..."

Looking at Brook, who was lost in memories again, the Straw Hat crew, including those who had just suffered a crushing defeat...

Nami, Robin, and Franky, who were still in a daze, were all stunned by this sudden information.

"No matter what... Super... it's so painful!"

"And..." Franky clenched his mechanical fist and said in a low voice, "What that man just said was right."

If we only have this level of power now, it's simply not enough to go to Sabaody or even venture into the New World!

They don't even have the right to stand in front of them!

At this moment, Robin slowly added, "Especially... in the New World..."

Many blurry yet extremely oppressive shadowy outlines uncontrollably surfaced in her mind.

An arrogant god, a grinning demon, a silent tyrant... and the man who just left.

“The ‘Calamities’ under that man’s command are the most terrifying.” Robin’s voice trembled slightly.

"The 'Calamity' of today no longer refers to Gern alone, but is a despairing force that he built, controls, and entrenched in the new world G-10."

He alone has already rendered us helpless; imagine what it would be like to face his equally infamous 'Calamities'...

Before he could finish speaking, the heavy tone of his words made everyone feel suffocated.

Just as the heavy atmosphere was about to crush everyone, a voice suddenly rang out.

"Hey—!!! What are you bunch of idiots so depressed about?!"

Everyone turned around abruptly and saw Sanji carrying someone on his back, completely soaked, with seawater dripping down his golden hair and suit, making him look quite disheveled.

On his back was Zoro, covered in blood, his breath so weak it was almost imperceptible, but he was definitely still clinging to life!

"Zoro... he's still alive!" Chopper, who was standing beside him, cried out with immense relief.

Sanji gently put Zoro down and handed him to Chopper, then straightened up.

Although his body was exhausted from the previous battles and rescues, his spine remained straight.

He scanned his companions, whose faces still held lingering fear and confusion, and rebuked them in a firm and powerful voice.

"Don't fucking forget! We still have that idiot rubber captain around!!"

He pointed to Luffy, who was still unconscious but whose chest was still rising and falling slightly.

"Our captain—Monkey D. Luffy! He's going to be the Pirate King!!"

Sanji's voice echoed through the ruined castle, carrying an undeniable conviction.

"He'll definitely get back up! And then... defeat that damn 'Skyquake'!!!"

These words were like a shot of adrenaline, deeply instilled in the hearts of every member of the Straw Hat crew!

Nami wiped away her tears, Usopp slapped his face hard, and Franky straightened his back.

Brook gripped his cane tighter, and Robin's tightly pursed lips relaxed slightly...

Even Chopper, who was doing his best to heal Zoro, seemed to have been injected with more power.

All eyes turned once again to the person lying on the ground.

The man, scarred yet seemingly brimming with infinite potential.

“Yes…” Nami said softly, her eyes regaining their determination, “Luffy… can definitely do it.”

Usopp took a deep breath and loudly encouraged himself, "No...that's right! Luffy is going to become the Pirate King! How can he fall down in a place like this!"

Seeing that everyone had regained their morale, Sanji, soaking wet, slumped to the ground, lit a not-too-damp cigarette, and took a deep drag.

Then, looking up at Luffy's sleeping profile, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned upwards.

"Don't worry, our silly captain..." Sanji's voice carried a hint of weariness.

"He knew from the very beginning who his opponent was!"

"Whether it's the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Marine Admirals, or even the Four Emperors..." He exhaled a smoke ring.

He will definitely win!

"No matter... who the opponent is."

Chapter 414 Finding an Old Acquaintance

Meanwhile, on the sea, Hawkeye's iconic coffin boat glided silently once again.

Perona sat atop the cross-shaped sail, her cheeks puffed out and a look of displeasure on her face.

Holding her burgundy parasol, she kept muttering complaints, calling him a "barbarian," a "rude uncle," and "unlovable."

On the deck, Hawkeye's gaze returned from the distance to Gern, who was standing at the bow of the ship, staring thoughtfully at the undulating sea.

After a moment of silence, he stepped forward and stood beside Gern, speaking calmly.

"You seem... to care a lot about that straw hat kid."

"Is there?"

"Heh." Hawkeye chuckled. "His performance, defeating two Shichibukai in a row, is quite astonishing among rookies."

But in the end, he's just a pirate with a bounty of 300 million.

There are countless guys like that on the Grand Line.

Upon hearing Hawkeye's words, Gern slowly turned his head, a meaningful smile appearing on his face.

Instead of giving a direct answer, he posed a question that sounded utterly absurd.

“Hey, Mihawk…” Gern’s lips curled into a smile, “Do you believe in… ‘becoming an emperor in two years’?”

"..."

For a rare moment, Hawkeye's perpetually icy face froze.

He wondered if he had misheard, and even slightly shifted his body to turn to face Guern, with a scrutinizing look that seemed to ask, "Are you alright?"

"Become emperor in two years? Are you kidding me! Do you even know what you're saying?"

What does it mean to become a maritime emperor? It's not just about reaching the pinnacle of strength; it requires immense power, influence enough to shake the world order, and years of accumulated experience!

Even someone as strong as Mihawk himself had to go through countless trials and tribulations to become the world's greatest swordsman.

Even someone as powerful as Gern fought his way up from the West Blue as a pirate hunter, ending the Roger era and vying for supremacy with legends like Whitebeard and Kaido.

It took more than a decade to establish the formidable reputation of "Tenjho" and give it the power to rival or even suppress the Four Emperors of the New World.

Two years? From a bounty of 300 million to becoming the emperor ruling a new world? That's simply a fantasy!

There has never been such an outrageous precedent in the history of the ocean!