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

She claimed to have been on a ship with her father and said she was the woman he once deeply loved.

Then he brought along a big, dumb guy who claimed to be his father's 'own son' and wanted to inherit his father's estate.

"I reckon that idiot's brain is only the size of a walnut, but his strength... does have some of the old man's when he was young."

"So, before he got here, he had already killed sixteen captains who were originally under his command, and was recognized by the World Government as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

“And his purpose in coming here…” Marco’s voice turned completely cold, “was simply to take away Father’s Murakumogiri.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding air seemed to freeze.

Gern could clearly sense that the killing intent emanating from Marco was far colder and more resolute than it had been during the battle.

It wasn't just to protect Whitebeard's belongings, but also to defend Whitebeard's final dignity and not allow any villains to defile it.

Gern didn't continue to rub salt in the wound.

The defeat was inevitable, annihilation was a fact, and the former dynasty had fallen apart. There was no point in dwelling on it.

He looked at Marco, who was feigning composure but was actually filled with grief and indignation.

At this moment, stripped of his phoenix aura, he looks more like a retired old doctor guarding a grave in his hometown.

There's an inexplicable sense of déjà vu between him and Rayleigh, the old man who does coatings in Sabaody Archipelago, who seems to be in the same boat.

“Take me to see ‘them’,” Gern said, his voice calm, offering neither comfort nor pleasantries, simply stating a matter of course.

“Them…” Marco paused slightly, pushed up his glasses, and the light reflected from the lenses concealed the complex emotions that flashed across his eyes.

He knew who Gern was referring to.

Those three tombstones stand side by side on the back slope of Sphinx Island, facing the sea.

At that time, the Marineford War had ended. Garp held Ace's body, tears streaming down his face, wanting to take Ace back to his hometown, Windmill Village in the East Blue.

But then, Gern stepped forward, stood in front of Karp, and said something.

"Let this child who has never experienced fatherly love lie beside the father he finally acknowledges and for whom he is willing to give his life."

In a single sentence, it pierced through all appearances and went straight to the heart of the matter.

What Ace sought throughout his life was perhaps not the bloodline destiny of becoming the Pirate King, but rather the fatherly love of Whitebeard, as vast as the ocean, which encompassed everything about him.

Ultimately, at Gern's insistence, Whitebeard, Shiki, and Ace were buried together on Sphinx Island.

Let these two legends of the old era and a young flame who ignited the fuse of a new era with his life rest together in this place.

“Come with me.” Marco paused for a moment, then turned and walked toward a high slope facing the sea at the back of the island.

Gern followed, and the two walked in silence across the grass that had been ruffled by the sea breeze, until they reached the high slope.

The sea breeze here becomes long and lingering, carrying a salty and damp scent, as it brushes against the three simple stone tablets standing side by side on the slope.

Marco stopped a dozen steps away from the cemetery; he did not go any further.

He simply nodded slightly to Guern, indicating that he should go over there himself.

Sunlight streamed through his slightly worn glasses, obscuring his eyes; only his tightly pursed lips betrayed a hint of restraint.

Without saying much, Guern walked alone toward the three tombstones.

They stand there silently, just as their owners did in life, each carrying its own legend and weight.

At Ace's grave, his iconic orange cowboy hat and his dagger are leaning diagonally.

On Whitebeard's tombstone, the massive naginata, Murakumogiri, is deeply embedded in the earth, its huge tsuba (handguard) seemingly still silently proclaiming the dignity of being the "strongest."

At the final resting place of Shiki the Golden Lion, the famous swords "Sakura Ju" and "Kureki" stand intertwined.

Although it can no longer cleave the sky, it still exudes an aura of untamed arrogance.

These relics are both tombstones and monuments.

When Guern walked to the grave, he did not stand to mourn, but casually sat down on the ground, his movements as natural as if he were visiting some old friends.

The sea breeze ruffled the hair on his forehead and brushed against the cold stone tablet.

He paused for a moment before speaking to the tombstone, as if in casual conversation, his voice low yet clearly blending into the sounds of the wind and waves:

"Sorry, I've been busy for a while."

These words were spoken lightly and without any embellishment.

But as soon as she finished speaking, an indescribable pang of sorrow suddenly rushed into her nasal cavity and eyes.

He thought he had long since calmed down and packed away those turbulent emotions into the "garbage dump of the past".

But when he actually sat here, facing these people who had fought him to the death, or whose lives had been indirectly ended because of him...

The loneliness and sorrow of "old friends passing away one after another, like leaves falling in the wind" still surged up uncontrollably, so heavy that it almost suffocated him.

He seemed to see Whitebeard's towering figure in his final moments, hear Shiki's arrogant and infuriating laughter, and recall his first meeting with Ace...

The tides of time surged by, sweeping away so much, leaving him alone standing at the forefront, with only these three cold stone tablets before him.

Gern raised his hand, pressed hard against his temples, took a deep breath, and forcibly suppressed his turbulent emotions.

Then, sitting quietly, his back to the vast sea and sky, he appeared exceptionally lonely.

What's the deal with Chapter 504? Soloing Big Mom?!

The New World, ruled by the Yonko Charlotte Linlin, is the Kingdom of Totto Land, comprised of 34 unique islands.

At this moment, Gern is sitting outside a dessert shop on Candy Island.

As its name suggests, the island is filled with an almost viscous sweet aroma, a blend of caramel, cream, chocolate, and countless fruit flavorings.

With Big Mom's tea party about to take place, the entire Candy Island is like a super-sized candy factory that's been injected with adrenaline.

Pastry chefs "kidnapped" from all over the world are extremely busy, developing flavors ranging from the usual strawberry and vanilla.

From "volcanic lava spicy flavor" to "deep sea bubble salt flavor" that sounds pretty crazy, there's something for everyone.

Not only Candy Island, but also the surrounding Cookie Island, Cheese Island, and Fruit Island all scrambled together, all to satisfy the queen's outrageously picky palate.

After all, everyone knows that when Big Mom goes on a "food craving" spree, she becomes ruthless and her house-destroying ability is comparable to ten Kaidos.

It was a nightmare for the residents of the world and her children.

..........

On a street in Perolin, Guern, wearing an ordinary sun hat, sat on an outdoor seat in front of a dessert shop.

A cup of hot cocoa sits before me, and I hold a delicately shaped piece of candy in my hand. I leisurely sip my hot drink and enjoy my dessert.

His eyes subtly swept over the busy residents around him.

To be honest, he was a little surprised.

Because the people on Candy Island didn't have the bitter, resentful look he had imagined in the faces of the "dessert slaves."

Instead, it exudes a mysterious sense of satisfaction, as if "I am creating happiness."

Children roll around in piles of candy, and couples share freshly baked gingerbread men.

The whole scene was so harmonious it looked like some kind of "utopia" promotional video.

"BIG MOM's World of Warcraft, it's really something..." Gern muttered to himself, picking up the piece of candy and taking a bite.

He had only recently gained a deeper understanding of the unique operating model of the World Trade Center through some channels.

Trading lifespan for protection and pleasure.

All the residents of the 34 islands pay their dues twice a year, each time receiving a month's worth of lifespan.

Moreover, during the transaction, you will completely forget the memories and feelings of having your lifespan taken away.

So what do you get?

A sanctuary of Emperors, a safe haven in the New World, with almost free food, lodging, and services within the Kingdom of Worlds.

And, when the cravings of middle-aged women inevitably flare up...

Her children will prioritize dispersing the crowds, protecting ordinary residents, and minimizing casualties.

"Isn't this the ultimate retirement home that every office worker dreams of, with 'all-inclusive meals, accommodation, and safety'?" Gern thought to himself as he sipped his hot cocoa.

Trading a future you can't perceive for a tangible present.

They trade vague notions of "time" for immediate "safety" and "pleasure."

Is it cruel? It's hard to say.

Especially when compared to another well-known pattern in Guern's memory...

The reality of the 996 work schedule means that working overtime every day is equivalent to surrendering 13 days of waking time and health, which adds up to 156 days a year, more than five months of lifespan.

Moreover, my body was truly worn down, and every bit of fatigue and stress was unforgettable.

In contrast, the World Kingdom system comes at a clear and "forgotten" cost, but in return it provides instant gratification and security.

The system's costs are vague and accumulate continuously, resulting in ever-increasing housing prices, depleted family wealth, and a body that may break down at any time.

Which is more "cruel"? Guern couldn't be sure.

At least here, the residents' faces clearly show "happiness".

Over there, there is more anxiety, exhaustion, and confusion about "what am I living for?"

"A utopia where all races live together in harmony, and Big Mom still managed to achieve that."

Just as Gern finished his sigh, a long shadow fell over the table in front of him.

A tall, thin man wearing a top hat and a light yellow long coat stood before him. His most striking feature was the protruding mouth...

A long, scarlet tongue that hangs down to the chest, and the iconic candy cane.

He is the eldest son of Charlotte Linlin, one of the Four Emperors, and the resident administrator of Candy Island.

Minister of Sweets – Charlotte Perospero.

"Pero-ri~" Perospero spoke in his unique, slightly sticky voice.

The candy cane in his hand tapped lightly on the ground, making a crisp sound, while his eyes scrutinized Gern with great interest.

“What an unexpected distinguished guest…” Perospero licked his lips with his long tongue, his tone tentative.

"The famous 'Tianzhen' is leisurely eating candy on my Candy Island."

Seeing that he had been found out, Gern sighed helplessly, stuffed the remaining half of the candy into his mouth, slowly finished his hot cocoa, and then looked up at him.

"So, how did you find out about me?"

Being recognized by Marco at the Sphinx was one thing, but on this bustling Candy Island, he believed he had disguised himself fairly discreetly.

Surely Perospero's Observation Haki isn't strong enough to be comparable to Enel's mind network that covers the entire island?

Seeing Gern's confusion, Perospero licked his lips with his signature long tongue, letting out a "Perospero~" laugh with a hint of smugness.

"General Gern, you may not know much about Mother's Kingdom."

He continued to tap the candy-covered ground gently with his cane, making a crisp tapping sound.

“Here, the permanent population of each island is fixed, and almost everyone in the neighborhood knows each other.”

"So, whether there's one more person or one less person, it's as noticeable as having one more or one less cherry on a cake."

After all, Mom's principle is...

"We welcome all who come, but do not tolerate those who leave."

He deliberately emphasized the last eight words, his tone carrying an unquestionable sense of rule.

Beneath this sweet land lies extremely strict population control; any outsider who sets foot here will almost certainly not escape the eyes of the local authorities.

It was almost inevitable that a stranger with such a unique aura as Guern would be discovered.

“So…” Perospero’s tone shifted abruptly, his previously relaxed manner turning serious and wary, and his grip on the candy cane tightened unconsciously.

"Admiral Gern, can you tell me about yourself, the highest-ranking officer in the Navy Headquarters, and now the Grand Admiral of the New World Navy?"

What brings you, alone, to our Candy Island of the World Kingdom?

The air seemed to freeze, and the sweet noise around us seemed to have been silenced.

Despite Perospero's efforts to remain calm, his slightly tense body and the way he gripped his cane betrayed his inner anxiety.