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

Libo puffed out her cheeks: "I don't want to just 'tough it out'! I want to become stronger!"

"Tsk tsk tsk." Kuzan looked at the two of them and suddenly smiled meaningfully.

"It seems your 'adjutant' is even more troublesome than Sakazuki."

Before Gern could speak, Libo glared at Kuzan: "Mr. Kuzan, what do you mean by that?"

Kuzan raised his hands, feigning innocence: "It's nothing, I just think... you two are a good match."

Libo was taken aback, her ears turning slightly red, then she angrily grabbed Gurn's sleeve: "Gurn! Mr. Kuzan bullied me!"

Gern glanced helplessly at Kuzan, who was already laughing so hard his shoulders were shaking.

"Alright, stop teasing her." Gern stood up, picked up his coat, and said, "Let's go, it's time to go back."

Libo nodded and skipped after him, not forgetting to turn back and make a face at Kuzan before leaving.

Kuzan smiled as he watched them leave, then finished the last sip of his drink alone, muttering to himself:

"It's so good to be young... Wait, how old am I?!"

"I'm young too, damn it, it's definitely because I've been spending too much time with Mr. Garp."

Chapter 108 Vacation

Naval Headquarters, Marinevando.

"Gern, you bastard, even on vacation you need to behave yourself, you hear?!"

Gern walked out of the Marshal's office, holding a document stamped with a steel-bonded blank seal—approval for a three-month leave.

"It's as if I'm some kind of restless person." Gern exhaled softly, a slight smile playing on his lips.

This period of non-stop work can finally come to a temporary end. He needs to relax and take care of some personal matters.

......

Sunlight streamed onto the headquarters plaza, and in the distance, the elite training camp echoed with synchronized shouts.

Gern paused, his gaze drawn to the direction.

On the training ground, a group of naval recruits are conducting live-fire exercises.

Among them, a silver-haired boy stood out, with sharp eyes and white smoke swirling around him, defeating his opponent with overwhelming strength.

Gern leaned against the railing, watching the scene with great interest.

"That's Smoker, a Logia-type Devil Fruit user with the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, one of the best in this year's competition." A female voice came from beside me.

Gern turned his head and saw Tina, a young woman with long pink hair and wearing a burgundy uniform, standing next to him with her arms crossed.

"Oh? You're in this year's class too?" Gern raised an eyebrow.

“Well, but compared to Smoker, that brute, Tina prefers strategy.” As she spoke, a slight smile appeared on her lips.

Smoker, who had finished his battle on the other side, seemed to notice the gaze and turned to look.

When his gaze fell on Gern, his pupils contracted sharply, and he almost dropped the water glass in his hand.

“Tianzhen Gern?” His voice carried a hint of disbelief.

Gern smiled and waved at him.

Smoker immediately abandoned his training opponent and strode over, his eyes burning with intensity: "It really is you! I've watched your fight videos at least a hundred times!"

Gern chuckled: "It can't be that bad, can it?"

“Of course!” Smoker clenched his fist. “You’re the one who beat Borsalino in the training camp exhibition match!”

That's one of the 'monsters' of the Marine Headquarters!

No, you're a monster now too!

Seeing Smoker's fanatical expression, Gern shrugged: "That's all in the past."

"No, that's just the beginning!" Smoker's gaze was resolute. "One day, I will surpass Rear Admiral Gern and become the strongest Marine!"

Gern looked at him and suddenly found it amusing.

Just like his younger self, this boy had an indomitable spirit burning in his eyes.

Smoker is clearly more qualified, so I don't know why the deserter king is being strengthened.

“Very good.” Gurn patted Smoker on the shoulder. “However, remember—justice is not achieved by brute force.”

Smoker frowned: "What do you mean?"

"It means, don't just focus on fighting, use your brain more," Tina interjected, her tone teasing.

Smoker glared at her, but Gern laughed.

“She’s right.” Gern looked at the recruits on the training field and said slowly, “You are the future justice of the Navy.”

.......

"Looks like you're quite popular."

Just as Gern and Smokertina were chatting, a deep voice came from behind them.

Gern turned around and saw Zephyr standing not far away, a faint smile on his lips.

"And what, are you two slacking off?!" Zefa's deep, authoritative voice suddenly boomed, and the entire training ground fell silent instantly.

Smoker and Tina froze, turning around abruptly.

Sure enough, Zefa was standing not far away, arms crossed, his gaze behind sunglasses as cold as a knife.

“Ze, Chief Instructor Zefa!” Smoker immediately stood up straight and saluted.

Tina quickly saluted, cold sweat beading on her forehead: "Reporting, Chief Instructor! We were just..."

"Just what?" Zephyr scoffed. "Chatting during training? Looks like I've been too lenient with you guys."

Smoker and Tina tensed up instantly, not daring to breathe.

Gern stood to the side, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips, but he didn't say anything to help.

Zephyr glanced at them and said coldly, "Smoker, you're still relying too much on your Devil Fruit ability."

However, while relying on it, his development of natural elements is also extremely poor. Do you think you are Gern?

Furthermore, even Gern, when he encountered a formidable opponent like me in actual combat, couldn't last even three seconds!

Smoker gritted his teeth: "Yes! I will train twice as hard!"

"Tina, your Naval Six Styles..."

Before Zefa could finish speaking, Tina decisively replied, "Understood! I will improve!"

"In that case, get back to the training ground right now!" Zefa shouted sternly. "Add another five hundred sets of physical training, and you're not allowed to rest until you finish them!"

"Yes!!" the two replied in unison, turned and ran, afraid of being scolded again if they were a step too slow.

Looking at their disheveled backs, Guern finally couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Professor Zephyr, you're still as strict as ever."

Zefa snorted: "These brats, if we don't teach them a lesson, they'll never know their place."

He paused, then turned his gaze to Guern: "Especially that Smoker, he's talented, but he idolizes you too much."

When I first joined, I even wanted to imitate you and have a fight with you!

Gern shrugged: "I'm not as reckless as him."

Zefa scoffed, "You're even more of a troublemaker than him."

Guern smiled noncommittally.

......

Then, Gern and Zephyr walked side by side to a pavilion at the edge of the training camp, the sea breeze carrying a salty, damp scent.

"You've been promoted to major general. How does it feel?" Zefa sat down and asked directly.

“Nothing special,” Gern said, leaning against the railing. “The workload is still the same.”

Zefa chuckled: "Don't be ungrateful, kid. Many people never reach this position in their entire lives."

Guern shrugged: "I didn't complain."

“Heh.” Looking at Gern, Zefa remained silent for a moment, then suddenly said, “In a few years, I might have to give up my position as general.”

"Hey, hey, hey!" Gern raised an eyebrow: "Teacher, I don't want to be a bodyguard for a Celestial Dragon."

“You think I want to?” Zepha shook his head and chuckled. “But some things are beyond our control.”

Gern didn't respond.

He knew that even though Zephyr hadn't been on many missions in recent years, he had still been frequently transferred to the Sabaody Archipelago by the World Government.

Nominally, they were "maintaining order," but in reality, they were serving as temporary bodyguards for the Celestial Dragons.

Zefa rarely mentioned this kind of mission, but every time he returned, he looked rather unwell.

"So, what do you want from me?" Zephyr asked directly.

Guern didn't beat around the bush: "My leave has been approved, and I'm planning to go on a trip."

"Hmm?" Zephyr frowned. "Where to?"

“It’s a personal matter,” Gern said calmly. “I’m entrusting Lipo to you for the time being.”

Zefa stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed: "You kid, every time you say you have 'private business,' it's never anything good."

Guern laughed and said, "Don't worry, this time there won't be any big news."

Zephyr snorted: "That had to be for the best."

He stood up and patted Guern on the shoulder: "Leave Lipo to me, you go and do your thing."

Gern nodded: "Thanks, teacher."

Zefa waved his hand, turned and left, his shadow stretching long in the setting sun.

Chapter 109 Egghead Island

Three days later, in the New World, on Egghead Island.

Guern's warship slowly docked at the temporary port on the edge of the island.

He stood on the deck, gazing at the technological island under construction before him, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes.

Towering mechanical towers pierce the sky, massive steel bridges connect various areas, and countless automated machines shuttle back and forth on the construction site, emitting a regular humming sound.

The air was thick with the smell of engine oil and metal, and occasionally the muffled sound of an experimental explosion could be heard in the distance.

"That Vegapunk guy... he really built an incredible place." Gern muttered to himself. Just as he stepped onto the island's ground, his Observation Haki detected a movement.

"Stop! Who are you? Why are you here!" A childish yet aggressive voice came from the side.

Gern turned his head and saw a short, stocky little boy staring at him.

The boy was shirtless, with a huge knot around his waist and red shorts on his lower body. He was holding a wooden axe in his hand and looked as if he were facing a great enemy.

“Senmomaru?” Gern raised an eyebrow, recognizing the little guy who would become the “Captain of the Science Unit” in the future.

"How do you know my name?!" Little Sentomaru took a half-step back warily, holding his axe horizontally in front of his chest.

"Tell me! Are you a pirate?!"

“Pirates wouldn’t dare come here!” Gern chuckled, turning to the side to fully reveal the Justice Cloak behind him.

"So, who do you think I am? Sentomaru-kun."

Little Sentomaru stared at the word "Justice" on the cloak, blinked, and then carefully examined Gern's cuffs.

The black trim is different from Kizaru's yellow.

"The same navy officer as Uncle?" he asked, tilting his head.

“Smart.” Gern, who was already the average height of an admiral, crouched down, trying to make his line of sight level with Sentomaru.

"So, can you tell me... where your uncle is?"

"I'm the world's most discreet man!" Little Sentomaru immediately puffed out his chest, looking proud.