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

"Don't worry, I'm just going to take a look." Gern chuckled and patted the sergeant on the shoulder. "If there's any real danger, I'll leave immediately."

The sergeant wanted to persuade him further, but Gern had already turned around and taken a step toward Elephant.

Pale white vibrating particles appeared beneath his feet, and his body slowly floated into the air.

"The warships are yours to take. Take them to the nearest naval base for rest and recuperation," Gern said without turning his head. "I'll be back."

"Yes, sir!" The sergeant straightened his back and gave a solemn military salute.

Before the sergeant could say anything more, Gern had already leaped into the air, creating a ring of pale white shockwave ripples beneath his feet.

As Gern activated his Air Step, his figure flickered continuously in the air, leaving a faint shockwave in the void with each step.

It was as if he was stepping on invisible stairs, rushing towards the elephant's back.

The sergeant watched as Gern's figure gradually disappeared into the distance, and sighed helplessly.

Immediately afterwards, he turned to the soldiers and ordered: "Attention! Change course and proceed to the nearest naval base!"

“But Sergeant, aren’t we going to wait for Brigadier General Gern?” a young soldier couldn’t help but ask.

“We can’t stay here.” The sergeant shook his head. “This is the waters of the New World! If we stay too long, without Brigadier General Gern in command, we’ll be sitting ducks.”

..........

Meanwhile, Guern had already climbed to an altitude of several hundred meters.

And as the altitude increased, the sea breeze became increasingly fierce, but his steps remained steady.

Vibrating particles erupted rhythmically beneath his feet, providing him with a continuous source of propulsion.

“This size…” Gern exclaimed as he ascended, “No wonder it can travel on the sea for thousands of years.”

As he got closer, he gradually saw the scene on the elephant's back more clearly.

Dense forests cover the broad ridge, revealing the outlines of buildings and roads, as well as wisps of smoke rising from chimneys.

This country, established hundreds of years ago, has not yet been destroyed by the subsequent drought, and is therefore filled with harmony.

“The Furry Principality…” Gern squinted and quickened his pace.

Just as Gern was descending and landing, a dark shadow suddenly darted out of the forest and attacked him at an astonishing speed!

"Moonwalk? No, this is..." Gern's pupils contracted slightly, his Observation Haki instantly locking onto the opponent.

Just then, the dark figure gradually became clear in the sunlight!

A white-haired, blonde bunny-eared girl flipped through the air, her drooping ears dancing in the wind, and the tip of her snow-white tail drawing a graceful arc.

Using the momentum of her jump, she managed to change direction three times in mid-air.

Finally, it landed steadily on a branch in front of Gern, its pink pupils gleaming with a cunning light.

"Ha, hairless stranger, you've trespassed on Crescent Village's territory."

"Trying to steal my carrots?" She tilted her head, the bronze earring on her left ear jingling, and toyed with a short sword engraved with a carrot pattern in her hand.

Upon seeing this rabbit-like fur-bearer, Gern was taken aback and blurted out instinctively, "Carrot?"

Upon hearing Gern's words, the girl's ears perked up instantly, her tail bristled, and she performed a backflip, leaping onto a higher branch to glare down at him.

“Who’s Carrot?! My name is Lipo—Lipo Hope, who can jump to the moon!” She angrily flung three daggers at Gern’s feet, which landed precisely in front of him.

"Stealing from my carrot patch is one thing, but calling me by the wrong name is another. Next time, it won't just be a warning!"

Gern raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Interesting... It seems there's more than one rabbit in Zou that bites."

"You little radish thief!" Libo sneered, suddenly swooping down from the tree branch, her short sword aimed straight for Gern's throat!

Gern's Observation Haki had already anticipated her movements. He slightly shifted his body, and the short sword grazed past his collar.

Libo missed her attack, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, but she didn't stop moving at all. The moment she landed, she used the momentum to spring up, her legs kicking like springs towards Gern's chest.

"Not bad speed." Gern chuckled, raising his right hand slightly, and vibrational particles condensed in his palm, forming an invisible barrier.

Libo's kick struck the barrier, sending shockwaves through the air and sending her flying. However, she skillfully adjusted her position in mid-air and landed steadily on a tree branch.

"Hmph! You've got some skill!" Libo shook her slightly numb feet, her eyes gleaming with even stronger fighting spirit.

Gern didn't give chase, but watched her with interest: "In the current Woolful Principality, Nekomamushi and Inuarashi are probably with Oden on Whitebeard's ship, and Roger hasn't landed either..."

"That means the current Duchy of the Wool is in a period of pure curiosity about everything (without any allegiance to anyone)!"

Thinking of this, Gern paused, his gaze becoming profound: "Those who retain the simple nature of animals, especially when it comes to loyalty, are truly unparalleled!"

(Note: Even after the country was destroyed, no one revealed Raizo's identity.)

Libo tilted her head, seemingly not understanding what he said, but quickly assumed a fighting stance again: "Stop talking nonsense! Let's go again!"

Gern smiled and raised his hand to signal a ceasefire: "I'm not here to fight, Lippo Hope."

"Then what are you doing here?" Libo stared at him warily.

"I was looking for you." Gern smiled slightly.

"Eh~" Gern's words, "Looking for you," caused Ribo, who had instantly teleported in front of Gern, to brake abruptly by pushing off the ground with both feet. Her two large, droopy ears, characteristic of the lop-eared rabbit, tilted slightly upwards.

"Did you come here to see me?!"

Chapter 76 Almost Got Killed Alone

"Are you really here to see me?" Libo was a little confused when she heard that Gern had come to see her.

She tilted her head, her pink pupils flashing with confusion while she herself was secretly thinking...

"If this person in front of me really is here to see me, then haven't I misunderstood him?"

The fur-bearers, with their pure hearts, are frighteningly innocent...

Thinking of this, she circled around Gren, her petite 168cm frame appearing exceptionally small next to the 221cm tall Gren.

The lop-eared rabbit's distinctive long ears swayed gently with her movements.

Libo's brow furrowed slightly when her gaze fell on the cloak of justice behind Gern.

"I recognize those two words on this cloak; that brat Pedro said them..."

Libo pointed to the white cloak, her voice slightly confused, "It looks like... Justice?"

It's important to understand that at this time, apart from a few people who knew about the outside world, most of the furry tribes were completely ignorant of it.

This is why Nekomamushi and Inuarashi went on an adventure and ended up in Wano Country where they were almost captured and roasted.

"Want to know who I am?" Gern asked, a slight smile playing on his lips.

“Mmm-hmm!” Lipo nodded frantically.

"Watch closely!" Gern hissed, then suddenly leaned down, striking an exaggeratedly childish pose.

He clenched his right fist and swung it like a Kamen Rider transformation, his justice cape fluttering in the wind, and shouted:

"That's right! I am the hero of justice—Gern!!"

Meanwhile, far away in Marineford, at the Naval Headquarters, the Naval Academy...

Zephyr, who was giving a lesson to new recruits when he had no mission, suddenly sneezed, frowned, and muttered to himself with a gloomy expression.

"That bastard Gern, don't think that just because you captured two pirates worth over a billion, you can make me approve of your hiring of some furry lieutenant..."

……

Back in the furry duchy, Libo watched Gern's exaggerated pose.

"A hero of justice, Gern?!" Suddenly his eyes lit up, and his droopy ears perked up: "Amazing! So you're not the carrot thief!?"

“That’s right.” Gern, without batting an eye, straightened up, shrugged, and spoke in a relaxed tone.

"Besides, with my abilities, do I really need to steal your carrots, Lipo?"

Recalling their brief exchange, Libo realized she had indeed misunderstood the other person and scratched her head sheepishly.

He then reverted to his lively personality, patting Guern's arm in a very familiar manner.

"I never thought I'd make a mistake!" she said with a grin.

Then he suddenly jumped up and hugged Gren, rubbing his face against hers (a special greeting among the Mink tribe), showing no trace of his previous hostility.

"But if you are a hero of justice, why did you come to the Hairy Principality?"

“Because…” Just as Gern was about to explain his purpose in coming to the Woolly Duchy, his stomach suddenly made a loud protest—“Grumble!”

Lippo's ears perked up instantly, and her pink eyes widened: "Ah! You're hungry?!"

"Ahem." Gern coughed lightly, trying to cover up his embarrassment: "I jumped all the way up here, and it took a lot of effort..."

"Oh, I see!" Libo blinked, then suddenly broke into a bright smile. "You should have said so earlier!" She grabbed Gern's wrist and shook it excitedly.

"Come on! I'll take you to get something delicious! Consider it an apology for the misunderstanding earlier!"

Guern was surprised by Lipo's quick change of attitude and couldn't help but chuckle: "Then I'll gladly accept your offer."

However, just as he took a step, a crisp "crack" sound came from under his feet.

When Gern looked down, he realized that he had accidentally stepped on a carrot that was half-buried in the soil.

"..."

The air solidified instantly.

Libo's smile froze on her face, her gaze slowly moving downwards until it finally settled on the broken carrot.

“My…carrot…” Her voice trembled slightly, her droopy ears slowly stood up, and the fur on her tail stood on end.

Sensing something was wrong, Gern quickly lifted his foot: "Sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"How dare you step on my carrot!!!" Lippo's voice suddenly rose, trembling with anger.

The next second, her figure transformed into a white lightning bolt, lunging towards Gern!

"Wait! I can explain..." Before Gern could finish speaking, Libo tackled him to the ground.

.....

On the way to Crescent Village.

"This is so fake." Gern touched his neck, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, and he swallowed hard, muttering to himself.

"Did my Observation Haki and Elementalization fail just now? Damn, I almost got one-on-one killed by that rabbit!"

He still felt lingering fear when he recalled the moment Lipo pounced on him in a huff.

If it weren't for his quick thinking, using vibrations to make all the carrots in the entire carrot field "jump" out...

I'm afraid I'll have a few more hickeys on my neck now.

"Hey, what are you daydreaming about?" Lipo's voice pulled him back to reality.

She hopped around, tilting her head to look at Gern, her long, drooping ears swaying gently with the movement.

A bright smile graced his face, as if his outburst of anger had never occurred.

Looking at her like this, Gern couldn't help but laugh and said, "You mink people's temper really comes and goes quickly."

“Of course!” Libo proudly raised her chin and put her hands on her hips. “We’re all the most straightforward people!!”

As she spoke, she patted Guern's arm and said enthusiastically, "Alright, what happened earlier is over."

I'll take you to the village and let you taste the most delicious food!

"Okay, okay, okay!" Gern nodded, about to follow, but Libo suddenly pressed against him again, blinking her big eyes and asking curiously.

"By the way, how did you make all the carrots in the field jump out by themselves?"

“Well…” Gern smiled mysteriously, raised his hand, and a faint vibration particle condensed at his fingertips. “This is my ability; I can control vibrations.”

"Wow!" Lipo's ears perked up instantly, her eyes sparkling. "So they were shaken out by you?"

"Pretty much," Guern shrugged. "I just shook the soil slightly, and the carrots loosened on their own."

Libo nodded thoughtfully, then took another step closer and smiled slyly: "So if I bite you again next time, can you still make the carrot jump out by itself?"

Gern: "..."

The rabbit's thoughts jumped faster than her actions.

“Libor, I think we can find a more peaceful way to get along,” Gern tried to guide her.