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

Looking at the heavy expression on Gern's face, so similar to that of the former strategist Sengoku, one could see the weariness and exhaustion from managing such a massive organization.

Kizaru seemed to have discovered something extremely interesting; the smile that had just faded returned to his face.

Moreover, it was even more radiant than before, even carrying a hint of undisguised schadenfreude.

"Eh, that's strange~" Kizaru tilted his head and said in his distinctive tone, "Even though I sit in an office every day..."

The person buried in mountains of documents is the Warring States Marshal, and your capable subordinate Tesoro should be too!

He counted on his fingers, listing Gern's "leisure": "Look, look, you can still leisurely drink tea here, and you can even go to find one of the Four Emperors to 'relax' all by yourself."

Why is he wearing an even more suppressed expression than when he handled the O'Hara incident?

Kizaru found it increasingly amusing, especially when he thought about Sengoku's current situation: "On the contrary, Sengoku-san, he spends all day in the Fleet Admiral's office these days."

Officially, he's helping you with government affairs, but compared to before, it's super easy for him!

"Guess what happened when I went to report on my work last time?"

On the back of the coat of justice he was wearing, where the word 'justice' should have been embroidered, he had replaced it with the word 'retirement'!

Day after day, even though he's still sitting in the marshal's seat, he wears brightly colored beach shirts, drinks tea, and reads the newspaper—living a life more comfortable than a vacation!

Seeing Kizaru's heartless and deliberately provocative behavior, Gern rolled his eyes at him in annoyance.

Too lazy to argue with him about these superficial things, his tone was weary.

“Because he was just working, working in the truest sense of the word.” Gern paused.

“Stamping, signing, and handling routine procedures... these are just the ‘work’ at the execution level.”

"Eh? Isn't this also work, Genn-kun~" Kizaru blinked, seemingly not fully understanding: "And it's a very demanding job."

“It’s different.” Gern shook his head, seeing in him the Sengoku the Buddha who once treaded on thin ice in his position as Marshal.

“In the past, every decision and judgment made by the marshals of the Warring States period required careful consideration and weighing of the pros and cons of all parties.”

His indecisiveness was not due to incompetence.

Rather, it's because there are too many things to consider and too many things to worry about, often leading to exhaustion and mental strain.

That weight stemmed from a responsibility to the future of the navy, to the lives of countless soldiers under its command, and a grasp of the delicate balance with the world government.

At this point, Guern's voice lowered, carrying a sense of empathy: "And now... all he needs to do is stamp and sign."

Important decisions, strategic direction, potential crises, future plans...

These truly mentally taxing and risky "thoughts" are no longer a burden for him.

Gern didn't say anything more, but Kizaru understood instantly when he saw the complicated and indescribable expression on his face.

All the pressure, all the risks, and all the heavy burdens of standing at the highest point, taking a holistic view, and being responsible for it have been completely transferred.

At this moment, it is just as the saying goes: those who bear the risks themselves will find it difficult to make a move!

Previously, it was the Warring States period that bore the risk and weight of "not being able to make a move easily".

Now, having taken over the reins of power, Guern has, without exception, taken on this burden that is enough to crush an ordinary person.

He seemed to have gotten rid of the tedious tasks and gained the freedom to act, but the strategic choices and risks that truly belonged to the "chess player" and concerned the fate of the entire organization were firmly tied to him alone.

Kizaru's smile gradually faded, and unusually, he stopped teasing him. He simply picked up his slightly cooled tea, took a sip, and smacked his lips.

"Power, how strange~~"

Chapter 521 A Smile and Wild Shepherd

Just as the atmosphere between Gern and Kizaru became heavy and silent due to the difficulty of making a move, the Den Den Mushi that had been quietly waiting on the small round table...

Suddenly, a "blurring" sound rang out, and then its eyes snapped open; the shape and color of its shell changed rapidly.

It simulates a bearded man wearing round-framed glasses, with his chin tied in a ponytail, but with an angry expression!

The Den Den Mushi mimicked the Sengoku period's exaggerated expression of puffing out his beard and glaring, emitting a voice: "Hey! You bastard Gurn!"

"Stop lounging around doing nothing. There's something important that needs your immediate attention and attention!"

Looking at the Den Den Mushi's incredibly lifelike expression, Guern rubbed his temples with a headache, his tone somewhat perfunctory.

"What is it now, my Warring States Marshal?"

I remember that all the important documents that I was supposed to personally approve have already been processed, right?

Isn't the rest just a matter for you, sir, to "stamp"?

"You brat!" The veins on the forehead of the Den Den Mushi-simulated Sengoku seemed to bulge out in a grid pattern. "It's the World Military Draft!"

"That old bastard Zepha is already waiting for you at the temporary training ground in New Marineford!"

The World Government's candidates have completed the preliminary selection process, and two individuals have been shortlisted; their strength appears to be quite formidable!

Sengoku's tone became slightly more serious: "One is called Ikkyou, and the other is called Aramu."

Based on preliminary tests and observations, the strength they both displayed... seems sufficient to fill the vacancy of a general!

Momousagi and Chaton, those two general candidates, have already fought against them, and both of them lost!

Therefore, the substitute cannot fill this vacancy for the time being.

"Now you need to go there in person to make a final confirmation of the quality and potential strength of these two guys."

After saying that, Sengoku paused, "After all, now you are the real 'Fleet Admiral' who makes the decisions in the Navy!"

For personnel appointments at this level of combat capability, no one's approval matters except yours!

"Tsk!" Upon hearing this, Gern immediately curled his lip, his face clearly showing "trouble" and "don't want to do anything."

I was just about to find an excuse to refuse, for example

"I trust Professor Zephyr's judgment" or "It's a small matter for you and Professor Zephyr to decide"...

Unfortunately, Sengoku on the other end of the Den Den Mushi had already anticipated Gern's prediction and didn't give him a chance to speak.

He immediately threw out his trump card, threatening in a desperate move: "You can't refuse! Do you hear me, Gern!"

"If you dare say 'no' even once, if you dare to shirk this responsibility..."

The Warring States period's voice suddenly rose, carrying a resolute tone that said, "If I'm not doing well, neither should you."

"I'm dropping everything right now! And I'm going to find that old bastard Garp right now!"

We're going straight to Donghai Windmill Village to go fishing!

Documents? Let whoever wants to approve them approve them! You see if I dare!!

Gern: "..."

He held the microphone, his expression instantly froze, and he almost couldn't catch his breath.

He could picture Sengoku dragging Garp along, the two old men carrying fishing rods, leaving a table full of documents behind in the Marshal's office as they made a dashing exit...

The scene was too beautiful for him to imagine.

Faced with this precise strike at a weak point, a threat that was no longer that of a marshal but rather a "retired old man," even "Skyquake" Gern could only remain speechless and choked with emotion.

After a long pause, he finally managed to squeeze out a single word through gritted teeth: "Okay."

"That's more like it!" The Den Den Mushi impersonating Sengoku gave him a "you know what's good for you" look before abruptly hanging up the phone.

“Brut—” Gren sighed helplessly as he looked at the silent Den Den Mushi.

Kizaru tried his best to keep a straight face, but the twitching corners of his mouth betrayed the fact that he was trying his best to suppress laughter.

"It seems..." Kizaru picked up his teacup, concealing a smile, "that your title of 'Fleet Admiral' isn't all about prestige after all~"

Gern glared at him irritably, stood up, and straightened his Justice Coat.

"Let's go, Borsalino-senpai."

"Huh? Do I have to go too?"

"Nonsense!" Gern snorted. "As a Marine Admiral, isn't it your job to assess the abilities of your new colleagues? Trying to slack off? No way!"

"Also, have Mihawk and Barrett finished their match at the training ground? Come over when they're done."

"Tsk, it's a pity Enel isn't here, otherwise he would have been the most suitable person to test people! Sigh~"

........

New World, the former site of the Navy G-2 branch, now the New Marine Vando.

On a bench on one side of the temporary training ground, sat a man with a calm demeanor.

She had short black hair, a tall stature, and wore a simple light purple kimono with a dark purple sash.

He had a neatly trimmed mustache, his eyes were closed, and there was a prominent "X"-shaped scar on the left side of his forehead.

The scar even extends to cover his eyes, hinting at the fact that he is blind.

Holding a staff-sword at this moment is none other than Yi Xiao, a powerful warrior recruited through the World Conscription.

Opposite him, another man, equally tall and strong with long legs, presented a completely different picture.

His upper body is bare, showing off his well-defined muscles, and the left side of his body is covered with a striking tattoo of "Shikawa Shinju".

High-set eyebrows, downturned eyelids, slightly thick lips, and a head of slightly messy dark green curly hair; he wore sunglasses and had a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

He exuded a wild and untamed arrogance, a true wild herdsman from the South China Sea.

"Hey, you blind man!" Huang Mu exhaled a smoke ring, his tone filled with impatience and arrogance.

"Is that general named 'Bai Lin' coming or not? Do we have to wait for him? He's got quite the airs!"

He grinned and said to himself, "You know, when he comes, if I just defeat him outright..."

Then shouldn't I take over his position as "Grand Admiral of the New World Navy"?

Hehe, making an exception and getting him promoted directly isn't out of the question!

Faced with Huang Mu's arrogant words, Yi Xiao kept his eyes closed and simply replied, "He is very strong."

"Strong?" Huang Mu chuckled as if he'd heard a joke, pointing to himself with his thumb.

"Former General 'Black Arm' Zephyr, I heard he was also his teacher!"

Didn't they also fall to us? As for the other two general candidates, Momousagi and Chaton? Tsk tsk tsk..."

He seemed to recall some interesting rumor, his tone becoming even more flippant: "I heard that the woman codenamed 'Peach Rabbit' with a spider tattooed on her thigh..."

Seems like she's General Bai Lin's ex-girlfriend? Her strength... well, it's just so-so, haha!

Aramaki, a previously unknown figure within the World Government's member states, is actually a top-tier powerhouse.

In this global recruitment drive, he decisively defeated former General Zephyr and two general candidates.

The sudden contrast in strength and fame made him somewhat arrogant, and his arrogance was unparalleled for a time.

Not far away, Zephyr, who was standing on the sidelines with his current disciples Binz and Ain, responsible for the initial reception and observation, happened to hear Huang Mu's arrogant and personally attacking remarks.

Zephyr himself was wearing sunglasses and had a calm expression, revealing neither his emotions, but Binz and Ain next to him instantly erupted in chaos.

"That bastard! What nonsense is he spouting!" Ain's pretty face flushed red with anger, her hands clenched into fists.

I am extremely angry about Aramaki's slander of Gern and his mention of Gion's (Momosato's) privacy.

"Damn it! They're too arrogant!" Binz gritted his teeth.

As a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user, his ability is essentially similar to that of Aramaki's Logia-type Devil Fruit, the Forest-Forest Fruit, both of which involve manipulating plant growth.

However, in their initial encounter, he was completely overwhelmed by Huang Mu's absolute power and the elemental advantage of his nature-based abilities.

Hearing the opponent belittle their side like this, both old and new grudges surged up in their hearts, making them feel extremely aggrieved.

Chapter 522 Two Completely Different Kinds of Justice

After Binz and Ain finished complaining, they suddenly turned to Zephyr and said, "Zeffer, say something!"

Hearing his two disciples' disgruntled complaints, Zephyr turned his sunglasses-clad face towards them.

Seeing the sulking Ain and the gritting-teeth Binz, he not only didn't get angry, but instead let out a gentle laugh.

“Hahaha…” Zefa shook his head. “Young people are often hot-blooded and a little arrogant, which is normal.”

After saying that, he stepped forward, patted Binz on the shoulder, and gave Ian a reassuring look.