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

Gion did not answer, but her gaze softened for a moment.

……

Three days later, at the naval port.

Zephyr came to see him off in person, followed by a group of soldiers who had been with Gern, and... Gion, who was hiding in the distance pretending to pass by but actually secretly observing.

“Remember, don’t confront Sakazuki head-on,” Zeff whispered. “That guy is very stubborn, but he’s not completely uncommunicative.”

Gern smiled and said, "Don't worry, teacher, I know what I'm doing."

Zephyr snorted: "You know what's good for you? Then the Marine Headquarters wouldn't have so many messes."

“No way! Besides, Lieutenant General Sakazuki likes me a lot.” Gern shrugged.

"That's the scariest thing! You absolutely mustn't be a troublemaker!"

After saying that, Zephyr turned to look at the adorable Lipo, a rare smile appearing on his face, and ruffled her hair.

"Train hard. Next time we meet, I'll be checking your Armament Haki."

“Yes!” Lipo nodded vigorously.

Before boarding the ship, a group of young soldiers mustered up their courage and surrounded him.

"Commodore Gern! Make sure those pirates are taught a lesson!"

"With you and Lieutenant General Sakazuki, G-3 will surely become the most impregnable fortress!"

Gern maintained his perfect general's smile and nodded gently: "For justice!!"

After saying that, Gern looked back.

Gion still stood in the distance, the sea breeze blowing through her long hair, her expression still aloof, but her gaze remained fixed on this spot.

Gern raised his hand, gesturing, 'Go back! Contact me via Den Den Mushi if needed.'

"Is he saying he'll miss me? In public..." Gion was slightly taken aback, then turned her face away, but the corners of her mouth turned up almost imperceptibly for a moment.

Chapter 91 Strong forces join forces

New World, G-3 Naval Base.

Since its destruction and reconstruction following the attack by the Golden Lion, it has become even more magnificent and imposing, resembling a true major maritime town!

At the naval port dock, the sea breeze carried a salty, fishy smell.

The warship slowly approached the shore, the muffled sound of the anchor sinking into the sea accompanied by the sound of waves crashing.

Gern stood at the bow of the ship, his gaze sweeping over the neatly lined-up naval soldiers on the dock, finally settling on that straight, spear-like figure.

Sakazuki stood with his arms crossed, his justice cloak fluttering in the wind, his cold face revealing no emotion.

"Lieutenant General Sakazuki actually came to the dock to greet us personally?" a G-3 soldier muttered in disbelief.

"Shh! Don't talk nonsense!" Another soldier nervously glanced at Sakazuki's retreating figure.

"But...it is indeed strange. Even when a high-ranking general from headquarters visits, the lieutenant general just waits in his office..."

"Ha, don't you know that Lieutenant General Sakazuki has only personally greeted us twice at G-3 base?"

"twice?!"

"That's right, and they're all the same person!"

As the conversation ended, the warship docked, the gangway was lowered, and Gern stepped down, followed by the bouncy Lipo.

Seeing this, Sakazuki immediately strode forward, a rare slight smile appearing on his usually hard lips beneath his military cap, his voice low and menacing.

"Gern, welcome back to G-3."

"It's been a long time." Gern smiled slightly. Since Akainu had given him so much face, he couldn't be presumptuous.

He then raised his hand in salute: "Lieutenant General Sakazuki, I'm here to report for duty."

The moment the words "Reporting in" reached Sakazuki's ears, it was as if a nerve had been touched.

His eyes lit up slightly, and an indescribable sense of satisfaction welled up from the bottom of his heart.

That sound... was even more beautiful than the wails of pirates.

Sakazuki's lips curled into an uncontrollable smile, and he raised his hand to pat Gern heavily on the shoulder.

“Excellent!” Sakazuki’s tone unusually warmed. “I’ve been looking forward to this day.”

Gern raised an eyebrow: "Oh? The lieutenant general is so eager for my arrival?"

Sakazuki snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping across the distant sea, and said calmly, "Since I was promoted to Commander-in-Chief of G-3 Base..."

Basically every week, or whenever there's an opportunity to submit anything to headquarters.

I will submit an additional transfer request to headquarters, requesting that you be transferred here.

"Huh?!" Gern was taken aback: "Every...every week? That's not it..."

“That’s right!” Sakazuki’s tone carried a hint of arrogance.

"Back then, you were worried that other generals would gossip because the procedures weren't followed, but now you don't have to worry at all!"

“I don’t need to worry…” Gern suddenly paused for a moment, then realized, “Wait, the reason you were promoted to lieutenant general!”

Incidentally, Sakazuki should have been promoted back then...

To allow the younger generation more time to mature, it's likely that Kong is planning to promote Kuzan and the other two to the rank of Major General one after another.

But our Comrade Sakazuki, in order to one day rightfully possess Gern, went to great lengths to claim credit!

The sheer magnitude of his achievements and the sheer volume of his work meant that it was impossible for Steelbone not to be given the rank of Lieutenant General!

“That’s right!” Sakazuki smiled confidently, seeing Gern’s astonished expression.

It's as if it's saying, "See? It's all thanks to me!"

“Everything is fine now.” Sakazuki sighed deeply.

"The pirates in this new world need to be completely eliminated. It's too inefficient for me to do it alone."

Having said that, he looked directly into Gern's eyes, his tone unwavering and resolute.

"But with you, Gern, everything is different."

"Heh..." Gern chuckled dryly, silently complaining to himself.

"I admit it, you, Sakazuki, are the true God of Pure Love!"

Sakazuki seemed oblivious to Gern's subtle expression and continued, "Now, just as the Marshal ordered—'we are joining forces to forge an iron wall for the new world.'"

Furthermore, when Sakazuki spoke of "forging an iron wall together," his tone revealed an almost fanatical obsession.

It's as if I can already see the future where the pirates of the New World are completely wiped out by the two of them.

Just as Sakazuki was lost in thought, Libo blinked and whispered in Gern's ear, "..."

"Gern, why does this guy in the red shirt look even fiercer than Professor Zephyr?"

Upon hearing the sound, Sakazuki's ears twitched slightly, and his gaze instantly locked onto Lipo.

Seeing this, Gern quickly coughed lightly and introduced, "Lieutenant General Sakazuki, this is my adjutant, Warrant Officer Lipo."

Sakazuki looked Lipo up and down, his brow furrowing slightly: "A mink?"

“Yes!” Libo puffed out her chest and said with a grin, “I am Gern’s ally of justice!”

"A partner of justice?!" Sakazuki paused for a moment, perhaps out of affection for the person in question.

He felt very comfortable hearing that sentence!

But as a cold-hearted person, he seems somewhat unsuited to this innocent and carefree style.

Sakazuki could only nod coldly: "Since you're Gern's adjutant, then do your job well."

Partners of justice must always stand on the side of justice.

"Yes!!" Lipo gave a standard salute to the stern Sakazuki.

"Hmm." After nodding in acknowledgment, Sakazuki turned and strode away, his cloak billowing in a sharp arc.

“Come with me, Gern. We need to develop a battle plan as soon as possible.”

Gren glanced at Lippo, shrugged helplessly, and gestured for her to follow.

Libo skipped along behind, muttering to herself, "Gern, does this old man not like me?"

Gern lowered his voice: "He doesn't dislike you, he just... dislikes everyone."

Sakazuki suddenly stopped in his tracks and said without turning his head, "I heard you."

Gern: "..."

Libo covered her mouth and chuckled.

The soldiers at G-3 base looked at each other in bewilderment as they watched this scene unfold.

"Is this a genuine sight? Lieutenant General Sakazuki is... having a casual chat with someone?"

"And Brigadier General Gern dared to joke around? Anyone else would have been warned by the Hound of the Underworld!"

"Could this be the legendary... 'strong alliance'?"

Amidst the soldiers' whispers, Sakazuki had already led Gren and Lipo into the base.

The corridor lights cast long shadows of the three men, and Sakazuki's voice echoed in the empty passageway:

"Gern, from today onwards, the 'iron wall' of G-3 will be forged by us together."

"No pirate in the New World will escape."

His tone was cold and cruel, as if he had already pronounced the death sentence on those pirates.

“Of course, Lieutenant General.” Gern’s lips curled slightly, a deep glint flashing in his eyes.

"after all……"

"Everything is for the sake of 'justice'."

Chapter 92 I, Gern, began to fan the flames!

In Sakazuki's office, the heavy curtains were half-drawn, and a faint smell of tobacco filled the air.

The sunlight streaming through the window cast a sharp streak of light on the dark wooden desk.

"Sit down," Sakazuki said curtly, then walked straight to his desk, took a thick stack of documents from the drawer, and slammed them onto the table.

Gern didn't stand on ceremony and casually sat down on the sofa, while Lippo looked around curiously.

Finally, he chose to stand behind Guern, placing his hands on his shoulders and swaying his drooping ears slightly.

"The captain of the Third Division of the Golden Lion, 'Deathstroke' David, has been killed." Sakazuki's voice remained low, as if stating a perfectly ordinary fact.

"Oh? Killed?" Gern remained expressionless, merely raising an eyebrow slightly. "That's truly... a pity."

Sakassky's sharp gaze swept across Gern's face, without any other meaning.

After all, the matter of Gern had been suppressed, and only Zephyr and Cyborg Kong among the Navy's high command knew about it.

“Regret?” Sakazuki sneered. “For the Navy, this is a good thing.”

But the problem is…” He suddenly flipped open the file and shoved it in front of Guern.

"Now, taking advantage of this incident, the forces under the Golden Lion are launching large-scale attacks on member states of the World Government, and even ordinary island villages."

Gern glanced down at the file, which was densely packed with records of recent attacks.

Merchant ships were looted, villages were burned, and naval patrol ships were ambushed... Every page was stained with blood.

“Not only that,” Sakazuki’s voice grew even colder.

"Many previously dormant pirate crews have taken the opportunity to attack our patrol ships and even openly provoke other naval bases."

Guern tapped his fingers lightly on the document, lost in thought.

He had already obtained general information from Tsuru through Gion, but it was only after seeing these detailed reports with his own eyes that he truly realized the seriousness of the problem.

The Golden Lion is just a single sentence, but the power under his command cannot be summarized in "a single sentence".