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

Luo Jie's two years at sea are nothing compared to Garp's two years at the naval academy.

You're telling me now, I'll become emperor in two years?

It would be a joke to say that Mihawk's achievement of becoming the world's greatest swordsman through a lifetime of hardship is nothing but a joke.

Therefore, Hawkeye simply chose to mute himself, feeling that even complaining was a waste of energy.

He thought that either Gurn was joking, or he had lost his mind because of Zoro's attack.

Seeing Hawkeye's "refusal to communicate" attitude, Gern couldn't help but burst into laughter and patted him hard on the shoulder.

Hahaha! Oh dear, look at your expression!

"You also think it's ridiculously fake, right?" Gern laughed until tears almost streamed down his face.

"To be honest, I also think this statement is fucking fake! It's utterly delusional! Especially considering the hardships I've faced along the way."

As he spoke, Gern suddenly stopped smiling, looked up at the sea, and said softly.

"but........"

"Who says... this is a 'new era'?"

The words "new era" made Hawkeye, who had originally intended to completely ignore the topic, slightly jolted, and he turned to look at Gern.

An unbelievable thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

The absurd assumption of "becoming emperor in two years" that Gern mentioned, who is he referring to...? Could it be...?

“Gern, the person you’re talking about…” Hawkeye’s voice carried a hint of seriousness that he himself didn’t realize.

"Could it be... Roronoa Zoro?"

"Hey, you son of a bitch..."

"I'm talking about Straw Hat Boy!"

"Straw Hat Boy, he..."

Gern didn't let Hawkeye finish speaking. Instead, he withdrew his gaze from the sea, his face returning to that enigmatic smile, and interrupted Hawkeye.

"Who knows?!"

He neither admitted nor denied it.

But that meaningful smile and evasive attitude were already an answer in themselves.

Hawkeye fell silent.

They also turned their gaze into the distance, towards the area where the Straw Hat crew was located.

Because, if... if that possibility really exists...

Then, many of them will truly have lived their entire lives in vain.

(By the way, I didn't kick Sanji because I was afraid that one kick would cause him to mutate prematurely, hahaha!)

...........

The small boat sailed in silence for a while, then Gern suddenly stretched.

"Alright, Mihawk, find a populated island ahead and drop me off."

After saying that, he pointed to Perona, whose mouth was puffed out like an inflatable pufferfish and who was radiating an "I'm not happy" aura.

"As for you, take this little ghost back to the new world. She'll be with you from now on."

"What?" Hawkeye's brows furrowed immediately, his eyes filled with undisguised disdain.

He was used to being alone, and the thought of having another chattering voice in his Western-style aristocratic home in G-10 was unbearable.

The girl is incredibly capable and annoying; just thinking about her gives me a headache.

“I refuse. You picked it up yourself, so deal with it yourself.”

Guern seemed to have anticipated this reaction, a knowing smile spreading across his face as he extended his index finger and lightly drew an "X" symbol in the air.

“Sorry, objection overruled~” Gern’s tone was dangerous. “This is a ‘friendly suggestion’ from a Navy Admiral.”

Seeing Gren's smiling, threatening demeanor, Hawkeye knew that the guy was determined to pass this "trouble" on to him.

Suppressing his displeasure, he asked instead, "What are you planning to do now?"

“Me?” Gern’s lips curled into a smirk. “To the East China Sea.”

"East China Sea?" Hawkeye was somewhat surprised. "Vice Admiral Garp shouldn't have taken any leave to go back to the East China Sea recently, right?"

He assumed that Gern wanted to visit his old friend (or rather, to provoke the naval hero).

“Not to find Lieutenant General Garp.” Gern shook his head, his gaze passing over Hawkeye and landing on the distant horizon.

In the direction of what was considered the "weakest sea," a slight smile played at the corners of his eyes.

"Instead..." He paused, his voice seeming to lower a few degrees, "he went to find an 'old acquaintance'."

"An old acquaintance?" Hawkeye repeated. Anyone whom Gern called an "old acquaintance" in the East China Sea was no ordinary person.

He quickly filtered through the possible figures in the East China Sea in his mind, but found no one who matched him.

Gern didn't offer any further explanation; he simply gazed at the azure sky.

"You..." Hawkeye was about to ask another question when Gern interrupted him.

"Alright, I'll be back in a while, and you'll find out then!"

Chapter 415 This secret of yours, I'll live on it for the rest of my life.

Just when Gern and Hawkeye parted ways in the first half of the Grand Line

On the other side, in the New World, in the waters within the G-10's sphere of influence, lies the town of Kalyak.

Bartholomew Kuma and Enel, who were in charge of this patrol and surveillance mission, had just completed a routine patrol of the town and the surrounding waters.

But just as the two were preparing to board the ship and leave, passing through a port area filled with cargo containers and sparsely populated,

The bear's massive body suddenly paused, then it turned its head slightly, locking its gaze firmly onto a figure not far ahead, leaning against the shadow of a shipping container, wearing a tattered dark green cloak.

Although the other person deliberately lowered their hood to conceal their face, their unique temperament and vaguely discernible figure still shone through.

The bear recognized the other party's identity in an instant.

“Mr. Long?!” Xiong’s heart was stirred, but his face remained calm as usual.

"How did he end up in G-10's territory? And... was he waiting for me here?"

Meanwhile, Enel, walking ahead with the golden staff casually tucked behind his neck and humming a tuneless little tune,...

Noticing the bear suddenly stop, it turned around in confusion, its expression impatient.

"Hey, kind big guy, what's wrong? Why did you suddenly stop?"

"Hurry up and let's go! I'm going to deal with that bunch of unruly pirates and properly 'welcome' the arrival of a god!!"

The bear remained silent and did not answer immediately.

Or perhaps they didn't hear Enel's voice at all, and were instead preoccupied with quickly weighing how to deal with this sudden situation.

In particular, given his current identity, and the fact that the dragon's appearance was no accident, caution is necessary.

Seeing that the bear didn't respond and instead looked hesitant, Enel frowned, took the golden staff off his shoulder, twirled it in his hand, and walked towards the bear.

It soon approached the tall bear, tilted its head, touched its chin, and looked on with an inquisitive expression.

"Hey!! You bastard..." Enel drawled out his words.

Upon hearing the sound, the bear's heart tightened. Seeing Enel suddenly pressed close to him, he panicked, trying to figure out how to explain.

Enel's next words nearly made him gasp for breath.

Enel seemed to suddenly understand something, clapped his hands, and grinned, a "I get it" expression on his face.

"No way, no way? You forgot to buy Bonnie the toy or snack she wanted again?"

Sigh, that's why kids are such a hassle!

"You pulled my ear last time too, hmph!" After saying that, Enel put on a "I can't do anything with you" expression and patted the bear's arm.

"Fine, fine, I'll spare you this 'pitiful' state."

I, being merciful, will wait for you at the port for a while.

"Hurry up, don't keep me waiting too long!" Enel said, without waiting for Kuma's reply.

He picked up the golden cudgel, continued humming a song, and swaggered off toward the main port.

Its body even shimmered with tiny electric sparks, flaunting and displaying its status as a 'mortal'.

Watching Enel's retreating figure, Kuma stood silently for a few seconds, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Unexpectedly, Enel "helped" him out of a predicament in this way, although it was completely unintentional.

So, after Enel left, the bear slowly turned his head and once again cast his gaze toward the shadow of the container.

The dark green figure had quietly straightened up at some point, and the tattooed face under the hood was raised, calmly watching him.

After a brief silence, the bear began to walk, step by step, toward the shadows.

"Mr. Long, you shouldn't be here."

"G-10's patrols are very thorough, especially Enel's Observation Haki..."

“Big Bear.” Dragon interrupted him, his gaze fixed on Big Bear beneath his hood, offering no pleasantries and cutting straight to the point.

"I need your help."

Upon hearing this direct request, Xiong's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke: "Mr. Long, you should be aware of my current identity."

I am currently in the Navy, under the command of G-10 'Disaster'.

"This isn't a matter for the Revolutionary Army!" Dragon interrupted him immediately, his tone urgent, taking a half-step forward and lowering his voice.

"It's my son. I need you... to help them."

"Mr. Long's...son?" A hint of surprise appeared on Xiong Gujing's usually expressionless face.

At the same time, I recalled the boy I saw in the windmill village years ago, who was training to go to sea.

Seeing the bear hesitate, Dorag pressed his advantage, speeding up his speech as he continued.

"Sigh, Luffy... He's made quite a stir since he set sail, but overall his life has been too 'smooth sailing'."

Now, having defeated another Shichibukai, their momentum is at its peak. Coupled with the Enies Lobby incident, the World Government is now focusing even more attention on them.

As he spoke, a hint of worry flashed in Dragon's eyes. As a father and someone who knew the dark side of the World Government, he understood the immense danger that such "attention" meant.

“Judging from their course and character, they will inevitably head to the Sabaody Archipelago next, and then attempt to break into the New World.” Dragon’s voice grew increasingly grave.

"However, the new world... is definitely not a realm they can set foot in at this stage!"

The waters here are too deep and too murky. The Four Emperors are entrenched, various powerful pirate forces are intertwined, and there's also G-10, with Guern and your forces stationed here, watching with predatory eyes.

"Going in with their current strength and condition would be like lambs to the slaughter; they'd only be torn to shreds!"

At this point, Dragon raised his head, his gaze fixed on the bear beneath his hood, and even grabbed his hand pleadingly.

"So I hope you... after they arrive in Sabaody, or before they try to enter the New World, find a way to... 'stop' them."

It's not about arresting them, but... giving them a profound lesson, letting them understand the harshness of reality.

Let them know that they are not yet qualified to enter that ultimate sea!

"Mr. Long..."

"Big Bear, only your abilities and your current status... can bring them to their senses at the right time, in your own way, and buy them precious time to grow."

This is my...unsolicited request as a father.

........

As a father himself, Xiong ultimately couldn't refuse Long's weighty entrustment. He remained silent, which could be considered as tacitly agreeing to this dangerous request.

But just as he finished his conversation with Dragon and slowly walked out of the dark alleyway filled with shipping containers...

A mocking voice suddenly rang out from behind and above him.

"Oh, all done?"