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

The newspapers in his pocket were carelessly tossed out, densely packed like falling snowflakes!

"Is it being printed all over the sea?! But the war ended about a month ago! How can there still be more...?" Sengoku muttered, looking at the scale of the distribution.

"Has Morse discovered some earth-shattering news again? Is Blackbeard dead?" Gern wondered as well.

After all, such a nationwide printing event is a top-level event, such as: Gorn's slaying of Shiki and obtaining the name 'Celestial Tremor', the birth of the Four Emperors of the New World, the establishment of the G-10 as the Fifth Pole, the Marineford War, etc...

Therefore, this unusual scene is by no means ordinary!

Almost instinctively, Gern and Sengoku simultaneously raised their hands and each precisely caught a newspaper that drifted down in front of them.

My gaze quickly swept over the bolded, enlarged, and sensational headline and body text, but only for a few seconds...

The pupils of the two men, who were both seasoned veterans of the navy, were simultaneously wide open in shock!

......

[World Economic Herald Special Issue: Authoritative Release from World Governments]

The front page headline was prominently printed in gold lettering.

Divine Conferment! The Pinnacle of Legends! "Skyquake" Gern, General White Scale, is bestowed with the supreme honor of "Supreme Guardian of the World Government" and "Legend Terminator"!

"Given that Admiral 'Skyquake' Gen Reginald Sigmar recently ended the era of Whitebeard and Golden Lion in the All-Out War, bringing the legendary era to a complete end!"

The unparalleled achievements made in the Marineford War, defending absolute justice! Their great deeds resounded throughout the world!

"By the unanimous decision of the Five Elders, the highest authority of the World Government, Admiral Gern is hereby granted an unprecedented and supreme honorary title."

The Supreme Guardian of the World Government and the Legend Terminator!

Such honors are unprecedented and unparalleled, symbolizing their indelible contribution to world stability!

"His status and glory will be comparable to, or even surpass, that of the former 'Naval Hero' Monkey D. Garp!!"

But what's even more shocking is yet to come:

"To demonstrate their merits and promote justice, the World Government has decided to hold a grand award ceremony, broadcast live globally, in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise!"

"At that time, the esteemed supreme ruler of the World Government will personally attend to confer the medal upon General Gern and witness this historic moment!!"

..........

It wasn't suppression, but rather an extremely clever act of flattery to kill!

Instead of taking measures to suppress Gorn due to his prestige and threats, the World Government adopted an almost obsequious attitude.

They elevated him to a divine status, deeply binding him to the "world government" with unprecedented honors and titles and a grand ceremony broadcast globally, putting him on the hot seat!

"Gern, they've made their move." Sengoku looked up at Gern.

"Yes! They've made their move." Gern gripped the newspaper tightly, his fingertips tightening slightly, without uttering a word.

The Five Elders' "backup plan" has arrived!

Especially considering that the Navy and the World Government are not yet perfectly separated...

Such a dazzling and ruthless move!

Chapter 487 Tell the whole world what I want to say!

In the days that followed, the "praise-to-kill" strategy did not stop despite Guern's silence.

Instead, it intensified, like an intricately woven, invisible net, enveloping everything layer by layer.

The world government continues to control the World Economic Herald.

The text is filled with lengthy praise for Gern's "heroic bravery" and "achievements" in the Battle of Marineford.

He was portrayed as a near-invincible war hero, a legend.

At the same time, in every enthusiastic hymn, a key premise is deliberately and repeatedly emphasized.

Under the wise leadership and overall command of Fleet Admiral Sengoku...

[Thanks to the well-developed combat system of the Naval Headquarters and the strategic planning of Fleet Admiral Sengoku...]

General Gern's victory was inevitable; it was the culmination of collective wisdom and powerful proof of Marshal Sengoku's skillful leadership!

These seemingly insignificant statements have an extremely clear purpose.

This cleverly tied Gern's personal achievements and prestige to Sengoku and the old naval command system, thus minimizing the prestige of his post-war actions.

They attempted to interpret Gurn's victory as that of an "outstanding executor within the system" rather than a "leader who disrupted the system."

At the same time, the media machine has officially started operating at full speed!

A more covert and insidious undercurrent began to quietly surge within the navy, especially among the lower and middle-ranking officers and soldiers.

Some carefully crafted "concern theories" have begun to circulate in certain circles.

"Admiral Gern's strength is indeed a pillar of the Navy, but such great power is also a double-edged sword..."

"Marineford is now in dire need of reconstruction, and at this crucial time of rebuilding, it needs more highly respected figures like Marshal Sengoku."

Only with an experienced elder in charge can the overall situation be managed reliably and all parties be balanced.

"General Gern is certainly a hero, but as a commander-in-chief, one needs to consider not only military force, but also politics, logistics, and balance..."

Perhaps he's still a little too inexperienced and not yet ready to take over the entire navy?

These remarks, seemingly objective and rational, and filled with a sense of "crisis," are actually in the hearts of the grassroots naval personnel.

This cleverly sowed the seed of doubt that "Gern is strong, but not yet suitable to be a commander."

Moreover, public opinion will not stop, because it has room for both Aokiji's faction and Akainu's faction to exploit it, so for a time both factions almost supported this view.

However, amidst this undercurrent of public opinion, the most active and zealous supporters...

On the contrary, it was Coby who was personally denounced by Gern as "the shame of the Navy"!

Perhaps in an attempt to salvage their reputation, or perhaps genuinely misled by rhetoric emphasizing the "preciousness of life" and the "greater good," they chose to remain silent.

Or perhaps he simply wanted to stand in opposition to Guern to prove his own "correctness."

Kobi became the most active propagator and supporter of this "theory of concern" and "theory of maintaining stability during the Warring States period" among the lower-ranking soldiers.

His scarred and aggrieved face, along with his "outspoken" demeanor, captivated some of the new recruits who were also weary and fearful of war.

For a time, this combination of "overt praise and covert suppression," "binding and dividing," and "infiltration at the grassroots level" from the world government was undeniably vicious.

.........

East China Sea, Windmill Village, Sea Cliff

Garp, who was on "administrative leave," didn't stay in Makino's tavern, but instead sat alone on the edge of a familiar sea cliff.

Looking down at the waves crashing against the rocks, holding the latest World Economic News report in my hand

The text was filled with praise for Gern and news that the World Government was about to award him a medal.

Looking at the meticulously crafted language and the familiar operating mode, Garp showed no trace of pride or joy.

Instead, it was a calm acceptance of the world's ways, even tinged with a hint of mockery.

Then, he loosened his grip on the newspaper, letting the sea breeze curl the paper up like a useless withered leaf.

It was left to tumble and fall into the surging waves below, where it was swallowed up in the blink of an eye.

Garp gazed at the sea and sighed deeply, his voice carried on the sea breeze.

"Sure enough... it's the same old trick!"

His thoughts seemed to drift back decades to the Battle of God Valley, which changed his destiny.

At that time, he was also struck by a sudden and enormous honor. The halo of "naval hero" was instantly bestowed upon him, and he was elevated to a god-like status by the world government.

"Back then... after God Valley, that's how they elevated me to the status of a 'naval hero'."

He muttered to himself, as if speaking to his past self, or perhaps warning someone far away in a new world.

"At first, I had no idea what this meant. I just thought... with this title, we might be able to better protect the navy and deter pirates."

A complex emotion flickered in his eyes—a self-mockery of his past naiveté, and a sense of helplessness at being unable to control his own destiny.

But only later did I realize that... I had already been put on hold by this 'name'.

Even if you hate those bastards in the World Government, you can't openly oppose them.

Because you are a 'hero' recognized by the world government and known throughout the world, you represent a symbol of 'justice'!

All resistance ultimately amounts to nothing more than... refusing a promotion—a trivial, self-comforting act of defiance.

Garp turned his gaze toward the New World, as if he could see Gern being treated in the same way.

He murmured softly, his voice low yet carrying a heavy weight.

“Gern…”

"You little rascal... don't let yourself be misled!"

This admonition, coming from a "hero" who was once bound by the same methods for his entire life, is full of warnings and expectations from someone who has been through it all.

He knew better than anyone what intricate shackles were hidden beneath that seemingly glorious crown.

........

New World, G-10 Base

With the date of the medal-awarding ceremony announced by the World Government drawing ever closer, the eyes of the entire ocean are focused on it.

At the eye of the storm, at G-10 base, the atmosphere was neither as somber nor as frenzied as outsiders might have imagined.

Gurn himself had entered a state of quiet anticipation, like an actor about to take the stage, calmly awaiting the arrival of the world-renowned "honor ceremony".

Inside the office, Tesoro looked worried as he glanced at the composed Gern and couldn't help but step forward to speak.

"General Gern, the World Government's attempt to flatter and kill is clearly malicious!"

Are you... really not worried at all? Mary Geoise is their territory after all, what if..."

What he was worried about was a trap, that the world government might suddenly launch an attack during the ceremony, or use this opportunity to lay a trap.

Upon hearing this, Gern turned his gaze away from the window and looked at Tesoro. Instead of appearing serious, he revealed a meaningful smile.

"Worrying is useless, Tezzolo."

They weren't foolish enough to suddenly attack and kill me; besides, I wasn't the only one present.

In other words, the die is cast, and there's no turning back!

After speaking, Gern stood up, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the busy yet orderly G-10 port.

“And I think…” Gern’s lips curled up, “that’s not bad either!”

"Huh?" Tesoro was taken aback, not understanding what Gern meant.

How could it be "not wrong" when faced with such an obvious trap and media manipulation?

Gern slowly turned around, his eyes blazing: "They want to elevate me to a pedestal, bind me with honor, and place me under the spotlight."

My every move is exposed to the sunlight, subject to the so-called 'righteous' scrutiny..."

"They wanted to use this globally broadcast ceremony to announce to the world that I, 'Skyquake' Gern..."

Still a 'compliant' general under the World Government, my achievements are inseparable from their 'recognition' and 'granting'.

Gern chuckled coldly, his tone laced with sarcasm, then sighed softly, "But they forgot..."

"When the spotlight shines on me, the person controlling the microphone may not necessarily be them!"

"They want to use this ceremony to put shackles on me."

And I... can take advantage of this stage they built themselves, a stage that the whole world is watching..."

"Tell the whole world what I want to say!"

"General Gern..."

"Tezzolo, anyone can use a soft knife, it's just a matter of whose 'knife' hurts the most!"

Chapter 488 Everyone knows they should go, but no one dares to go.

Meanwhile, in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, at the Hall of Power