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

"If we let him return to the Western Sea alive, given his contribution to supporting the Island of Gods and the wealth obtained in exchange for this sword..."

Although they might be promoted to sergeant at best, they'll eventually climb over me...

Thinking of this, Derek's smile remained bright, but his eyes had turned cold.

Gern didn't think that far ahead; he absolutely couldn't reveal his abilities in front of everyone right now.

After all, this is the Celestial Dragons' hunting ground, and he, an ordinary Marine, is on God's Island.

What would the World Government think if someone suddenly possessed Devil Fruit powers?!

It's worth noting that all six Devil Fruits that were supposed to be the reward from God's Island were stolen.

Although this one of mine should have formed naturally on the Island of Gods, but...

It would be best to go back to the West Sea first, and then make up an excuse.

"Gern, are you hurt? Come, let me help you back to the ship." Seeing that Gern hadn't moved for a long time, Derek pretended to be concerned and reached out to help Gern up.

Realizing what was happening, Gern shook his head. "No need, Warrant Officer, I can walk."

“Is that so…” Derek’s gaze fell on the black knife again, and he suddenly reached for the hilt.

"Then... then let me carry this heavy knife for you."

Almost instinctively, Gern sidestepped, the black blade trembling slightly behind him.

“Really, it’s not necessary, Warrant Officer.” Gurn’s voice was calm, but his eyes had become wary.

"There are other naval personnel who need help, let's hurry back to the warship."

Derek's smile froze on his face, and the atmosphere instantly solidified.

“You’re right.” Derek slowly withdrew his hand, a smile returning to his face, but his eyes were now completely cold.

"Okay, since you're alright, let's head back to the ship."

Seeing that Derek responded, Guern didn't bother to waste any more time and simply turned and left.

Derek, watching Gern's retreating figure, instantly lost his smile, his expression turning ferocious.

Gern Reginald Sigmar.

He had already investigated—no parents, no background, just a private first class in an ordinary branch of the Xihai Army, and the most ordinary one at that.

He joined the navy at the age of ten as a menial laborer, and only became a private after four years in the corrupt Western Sea.

Furthermore, he never participates in any pirate raids or missions, and even pays to become a support staff member.

Even if such a person dies on the battlefield, their compensation will belong to the military.

As the recommender, he is fully entitled to receive this sum of money.

That's why he sent Gern to God's Island, but he never expected that the guy would survive and even reap the benefits...

Chapter 4 Sudden Murder

The outlines of warships on the coastline of God Valley were faintly visible in the distance, their horns still sounding. The navy's time to retreat was running out...

Derek glanced at Gern, who had his back to him, his shoulders tensing slightly, and his right hand quietly slid towards the flintlock pistol at his waist.

His knuckles turned white from the force, and the veins on the back of his hand were faintly visible.

"Let's go, Warrant Officer," Gern said calmly. "The time for retreat is almost up."

He had also noticed the greedy look that Derek had just shown.

But Derek is a greedy man, so it's normal for him to have that look in his eyes when he sees himself carrying a good knife.

He didn't bother to think too much about it; after all, if they didn't retreat soon, the entire island would be wiped out by the World Government.

Gern strode forward, while Derek remained standing still, sensing that the person behind him hadn't moved.

Gurn subconsciously turned around and his gaze fell on Derek's stiff body, a strange sense of unease welling up in his heart.

"Something's wrong!"

The thought had barely crossed his mind when Derek suddenly drew his gun, his movements so fast they were almost blurry.

Sunlight refracted blindingly off the gun barrel, the dark muzzle pointed directly at Gern's heart and head!

"Bang! Bang!" Two deafening gunshots shattered the silence of the coast.

Gern's pupils suddenly contracted, and time seemed to freeze at that moment.

He watched helplessly as the lead bullet spun toward him, unable to react in time.

The moment the bullet pierced his chest, Gern, who hadn't fully adjusted to being a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, instinctively closed his eyes.

But the expected excruciating pain did not come; instead, a strange tremor occurred.

He looked down in surprise and saw ripples on his chest and forehead.

The bullet flew past without hindrance, as if it were passing through the air, kicking up a small clump of dust on the beach behind it.

“This…” Gern touched his chest blankly. The area he touched was intact, with only slight ripples of air vibrating around the bullet hole.

On the other side, Derek's expression froze, his lips trembled uncontrollably, and his hand holding the gun began to shake.

"Gern, you...you ate a Devil Fruit?!" His voice trembled with disbelief, as if he had witnessed the worst nightmare.

Gern slowly raised his head, the sea breeze ruffling the stray hairs on his forehead, revealing his eyes, which were gradually growing cold.

The initial shock had faded, replaced by a chilling calm.

"Warrant Lieutenant." His voice was soft, yet sharp as a blade, each word carrying a heavy weight.

"You want to kill me?"

Derek's face turned deathly pale instantly, and cold sweat trickled down his temples.

But soon, fear was replaced by ferocity; his features twisted into a grimace, and his eyes flashed with a mad killing intent.

"Damn brat!" he roared hysterically, his finger frantically pulling the trigger, "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A series of gunshots rang out along the coastline, startling a flock of seabirds into flight.

The bullets whistled through Gern's body—his chest, his arm, and even his head.

But each one seemed to pass through a phantom, leaving only subtle ripples of vibration in the air.

Gern stood motionless, staring blankly at Derek.

His body had a translucent quality in the sunlight, as if it were composed of countless trembling particles.

He didn't even blink when the last bullet pierced his forehead.

“Logia type…” As a branch warrant officer, Derek naturally knew about Devil Fruits.

So when he realized he couldn't kill Gern, his hand trembled violently, and the flintlock pistol fell to the beach with a "thud".

Gern did not answer.

Moreover, with each step, the sand beneath his feet vibrated unconsciously out of anger, trembling silently as if scattering in all directions in fear.

Then came the second step, the third step... Each step caused Derek to involuntarily retreat until his back hit a rock.

"Wait! Gern!!" Derek staggered backward, his eyes almost overflowing with fear, moving his hands and feet on the sand at the same time.

"Gern! Wait! This is a misunderstanding!" He waved his hands frantically, his voice pleading, his facial muscles twitching uncontrollably.

"I just... just wanted to check on you!"

“The situation.” Gern continued to approach, his expression eerily calm.

“Those shots you fired just now…” he said softly, while touching his forehead, “were not planning to let me live.”

Derek's face turned ashen, and he suddenly roared in a fit of rage, "You should have died on the battlefield of God Valley!"

Your compensation... that's enough for me to go back to Xihai and get promoted!

His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper scraping, "A nobody like you is just a waste of food to be alive!"

Why are you alive?! Do you know how much money I waste living because of a good-for-nothing like you with no parents?

Gern paused in his tracks. If he remembered correctly, his pension as a private second class in a branch was 150 million Berries.

"Compensation?" A cold, sarcastic laugh ripped through Gern. "Heh, so, my life..."

He slowly raised his hand, and a white, vibrating aura began to condense in his palm. "Is that all the money you're worth?"

Derek tried to explain, but Gurn was no longer giving him a chance.

He reached out and gently placed his hand on Derek's shoulder, a gesture as tender as a greeting between old friends.

"Why?" Gern asked in a low voice, his tone eerily calm.

Derek trembled all over, his lips moved but he couldn't utter a word.

He could feel a strange vibration coming from that hand, making his teeth chatter uncontrollably.

Guern's five fingers slowly tightened.

"Buzz." An invisible shockwave instantly pierced through Derek's body, and the shockwave even shattered the reef behind him.

Derek's pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpoints, and his mouth opened into an exaggerated "O" shape.

A trickle of blood oozed from the corner of his mouth, but there were no visible wounds on his skin.

"Ugh...ah..." Derek let out a dying beast-like whimper, his hands futilely scratching at his chest.

It felt as if all the organs inside my body had been shattered into a jumbled mess.

His eyes were bloodshot, staring intently at Gern, filled with unbelievable fear.

The next second, his knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground like a sack of mud, falling forward and burying his face in the damp sand.

Fresh blood slowly seeped from his ears and nose, spreading a dark red stain on the sand.

Gern withdrew his hand and looked down at Derek's corpse.

There was no anger, no pleasure, only a strange indifference.

He moved his fingers, feeling the lingering vibrations at his fingertips.

“So killing someone is…” he muttered to himself, “It’s that simple.”

At this moment, the sea breeze gradually picked up, and faint shouts came from the distant warships. Someone had noticed the abnormality on the shore and was rushing over.

Gern stood there, looking down at his palm.

Sunlight filtered through my fingers, casting dappled shadows on the beach.

He could feel the power flowing through his body—violent, powerful, as if it could tear everything apart.

Just minutes before, he was a private who could be betrayed and killed by his superiors at any moment.

Now, he can end a person's life as easily as crushing an ant.

"This is... power? The power to control everything and to control one's own destiny."

Gern clenched his fist, and the air vibrated in his palm, emitting a faint hum.

At that moment, the footsteps in the distance grew closer, and Derek's gunshot finally attracted the attention of the nearby navy.

"In that case, I'll trouble you to cooperate with me in putting on a show!"

Gern took one last look at Derek's body, a sudden smile appearing on his face. He then picked up the body and carried it on his back.

"After all, if I remember correctly, the person in charge of the western retreat was the Vice Admiral of the Navy Headquarters who was about to be promoted to Admiral... 'Black Arm' Zephyr!"

Chapter 5 The Disguised Hero's Name

God Valley, western naval evacuation point

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the deck of the warship, where naval soldiers busily carried the wounded, and the air was filled with the mixed smell of blood and sea salt.

"This battle is finally over..."

He had short purple hair, a resolute face with sharp features, and a muscular, muscular physique taut in a navy-style sleeveless vest.

The deep blue fabric was stretched into a full curve, and the pure white cloak billowed behind him, its "justice" swaying in the wind.

With his strong arms crossed in front of his chest, Zephyr stood at the bow of the ship, his cloak of justice fluttering in the sea breeze.