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

Standing on the deck, Gern unconsciously stroked the hilt of his knife, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, his thoughts drifting to the far future.

“Golden Lion…Flying Pirates…” he muttered to himself.

To be honest, he really wouldn't chase after "Deathstroke" David, or rather, he wouldn't clash with the Flying Pirates.

After all, the golden lion without the ship's rudder stuck in its forehead is truly incomparably strong.

The ability of the Float-Float Fruit, top-tier three-color Haki, and a dual-sword style swordsman!

This peak strength, coupled with a group of powerful subordinates

Even in this era, Gern couldn't help but subconsciously believe, or rather, couldn't shake this perception.

That's right, the Flying Pirates are now far more terrifying and powerful than the Roger Pirates...

After all, the Battle of Etwal, which would happen a few years later, was not just a matter of several large ships surrounding Roger's small boat.

Instead, it would be a massive attack by pirate crew members with bounties of at least 10 billion, joining forces with Shiki to take down the Roger Pirates!

"It seems the new world is more interesting than I imagined."

Chapter 42 What?! Akainu likes me!

On the deck of the warship.

"Captain Guern." The sergeant behind him strode over and saluted.

“Hmm.” Gern nodded. “What did headquarters say? Are we going to sail as usual, or are there other arrangements?”

"Headquarters ordered us to change course and transfer 'Split Island' Dogg to New World G-3 Base."

“Is that so…” Gern frowned.

It seems the Marine Headquarters is still worried about running into Shiki's Flying Pirates.

That makes sense, though. If even the third-ranking officer of someone else's pirate crew has encountered this, then other possibilities cannot be ruled out.

"However, G-3 base?" Gern frowned slightly as he snapped out of his thoughts. The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.

So he turned his head and asked, "Who's stationed over there now?"

The sergeant straightened his back and answered in a loud voice, "It is Colonel Sakazuki."

“Sakazuki…” Gern repeated the name softly, a cold, handsome figure instantly appearing in his mind.

The future Navy Admiral "Akainu".

Thinking of this, Gern's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile: "Our workaholic Akainu, huh? Interesting."

Seeing that Gern's expression was unusual, the sergeant cautiously asked, "Captain, do you know Colonel Sakazuki?"

"Wait a minute, we'll get to know each other then, won't we?" Gern smiled slightly, offering no further explanation, and simply waved his hand.

"Inform the entire ship to change course and proceed to G-3 base."

"Yes!" The sergeant saluted and turned to leave.

Gern's gaze returned to the sea, but his thoughts had already drifted far away.

Sakazuki, one of the Navy's three "monsters," is known for his "absolute justice" and ruthless methods.

Of course, nowadays people prefer to call him "the Navy's number one workaholic".

It must be said that extreme involution is also a kind of victory!

While others clock out, he clocks in and works overtime; while others slack off and drink tea, he accumulates military merits as if they were performance targets.

While Kuzan and Borsalino are likely to remain at the field officer level for another year, this guy is already close to reaching the brigadier general level...

Even more outrageous is that G-3 base is one of the few strategic strongholds the Navy has in the New World.

The fact that the higher-ups were willing to let him stay there for an extended period shows just how terrifyingly efficient he is.

He never even used the eight vacation opportunities that officers at the Navy Headquarters rank have a year.

At least in Gern's eyes, this is probably the ultimate form of "Roll King"!

Sakazuki: "Rest? That word doesn't exist in my dictionary! Only someone like Borsalino would want to rest!"

.......

Several days later, the warship slowly entered the port of G-3 base.

On the warship, Gern stood at the bow, his gaze sweeping over the heavily fortified naval fortress.

The towering walls, the dark gun emplacements, and the stern faces of the patrolling soldiers all demonstrate the iron-fisted spirit of this place.

"That's definitely his style," Gern muttered to himself, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Behind him, the sergeant strode forward, saluted, and reported.

"Captain Gern, the prisoner 'Splitter' Dog is ready to be handed over. Colonel Sakaski is waiting at the dock."

"Oh?" Gern raised an eyebrow. "He came in person?"

"Yes, Captain."

"That's something I didn't expect. I thought he would be waiting for me in his office..." Gern chuckled, after all, his rank was three levels lower.

So Gern straightened his justice cape and strode toward the edge of the deck.

On the other side, beside the naval port, Sakazuki, wearing a navy overcoat over a shirt, crossed his arms, his gaze cold and hard beneath the brim of his hat.

Several elite naval personnel stood behind him, and the atmosphere was so tense that even the sea breeze seemed to freeze.

As the warship docked, Gern was the first to jump off and land safely.

He then looked up at Sakazuki and gave a standard salute, "Colonel Sakazuki."

Sakazuki's gaze lingered on Gren for a moment, then he nodded slightly: "Captain Gren."

Although his voice was deep and hoarse, the corners of his mouth, unusually, lacked their usual coldness and instead turned up slightly.

This is... approval?

Seeing this, Gern was slightly surprised, but quickly recovered.

The other party has probably already seen his resume, especially his "radical methods" against pirates during the past two years while following Zephyr.

Sure enough, Sakazuki's next words confirmed Gern's guess.

Sakazuki took a small step forward and said in a deep voice, "I admire your style."

"Is that so?" Gern smiled. "I thought that not many people in the Navy Headquarters would agree with my approach."

"Ha, only the weak fear the iron-blooded." Sakazuki sneered.

"Pirates are pirates; only by eradicating them completely can evil be ended."

When Akainu said this, his tone was firm and unwavering, but Gern could still see undisguised admiration in his sharp eyes.

Well, Sakazuki clearly sees him as one of his own kind.

“It seems we’re on the same page.” Gern shrugged, then gestured to the soldiers to bring Dog over.

Doge was bound by sea stone handcuffs, covered in injuries, and his eyes were unfocused.

Sakazuki gave him a cold glance and waved his hand, saying, "Take him away and interrogate him thoroughly."

"Yes, sir!" The naval soldiers immediately stepped forward and roughly dragged Dog away.

Gern watched this scene thoughtfully: "You plan to pry information about the Golden Lion out of him?"

Sakazuki didn't answer directly, but instead asked a question.

"You've fought him before, what do you think of his strength?"

"A bounty of 360 million is highly questionable," Gern scoffed.

"However, his Crack-Crack Fruit is quite interesting."

Sakazuki nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with Gern's assessment.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly spoke: "Headquarters is paying close attention to your performance."

"Oh?" Gern raised an eyebrow. "Is it a compliment or an insult?"

“The Navy doesn’t need indecisive soldiers.” Sakazuki’s tone softened slightly, a rare occurrence.

"At least I think... your methods are very efficient."

Gern was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled. He hadn't expected that their young Akainu would show him such goodwill.

So Gern said, half-jokingly, "I'm truly flattered."

Sakazuki didn't reply, but simply turned and walked away: "Come with me."

Gern followed, and the two walked into the base one after the other.

The naval soldiers along the way made way for them, their eyes filled with awe.

"I heard you and Professor Zephyr have differing philosophies?" Sakazuki suddenly asked.

Gern paused slightly, then resumed his composure: "It's just a difference in ideology. He advocates 'no killing,' while I..."

"And you chose to solve the problem in the most direct way."

Sakazuki interrupted him, his tone carrying a hint of agreement, "Zeff is too idealistic. His choice not to kill pirates is something I cannot agree with."

Gern glanced at him sideways, not expecting Sakazuki to be so blunt in his assessment of Zephyr.

However, this is also in line with Akainu's personality.

After all, in his eyes, justice is absolute and allows no compromise whatsoever.

"So, how long do you plan to stay at G-3 base?" Sakazuki suddenly asked.

“Headquarters hasn’t given me any further instructions.” Gern shrugged. “What, you want to keep me?”

Sakazuki paused, turned to look at him, his gaze intense, and even his speech quickened.

"If you're willing, G-3 base needs combat power like yours."

Gern narrowed his eyes and smiled: "Sounds like recruitment?"

“Just stating the facts.” Sakazuki’s tone remained cold and hard, but Gern could sense that the man’s attitude had shifted from goodwill to enthusiasm.

Damn it, all that talk was just what you were waiting for!

You're such a workaholic, if I worked under you, I'd be exploited to death!

Thinking of this, Gern didn't directly agree, but he didn't refuse either; he just smiled.

But those present were all naval professionals, and they could understand this subtle difference.

So Akainu just sighed and said...

"Gern, your personality really suits my taste." After saying that, he turned and walked into the base without looking back.

Chapter 43 Don’t love me, there’s no result

However, not long after the two were about to enter the G-3 base...

Sakazuki stopped again and turned to face Gern.

Sakazuki is a straightforward man. Although Gern's answer just now rejected him, he really likes Gern.

Especially in this era of "moderate justice," when one's own justice is perceived as "ruthless."

If it had always been just one person, it would have been fine, but now there's this guy, Gern.

It's like suddenly encountering a like-minded companion on a lonely road.

So, after a moment's hesitation, Sakazuki decided to try another method, and his tone unusually carried a hint of... enthusiasm.

"Captain Guern, since you're interested in learning about G-3 base, I can give you a detailed introduction to the efficiency here."

"Huh? When did I become interested?" Gern was taken aback, then after a long pause, he said, "Efficiency?"

“Gern is like me. If I use the G-3 base system I created to attract him, maybe it will work.” Thinking this, Sakazuki nodded proudly.

“G-3 base is one of the Navy’s most elite outposts in the New World, and our mission completion rate is as high as 98.7%, far exceeding that of other outposts.”

Gern: "...Oh?"