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

"I won't tell you that your uncle is taking a nap!"

Gern: "..."

"Haha!" Gern couldn't help but laugh out loud, reaching out to rub Sentomaru's head: "As expected of the world's most tight-lipped man."

"Of course!" Sentomaru smugly snorted, completely unaware that he had already leaked information.

"So what does your uncle usually like to do besides being lazy?" Gern continued to probe.

"A custom-made suit and glasses, of course!" Sentomaru answered without hesitation.

"He also complained to Uncle Punk about his low salary, saying that the Navy Headquarters were all heartless bosses!"

"That's true. Can you believe that a major general like me only earns 20 million Berries?"

Gern almost coughed from trying not to laugh; that's so typical of Kizaru.

"Hey! What are you laughing at!" Sentomaru belatedly realized he had let something slip again, and stomped his foot in anger. "Damn it! You tricked me into telling you something!"

Gern waved his hand: "No, no, you said it yourself."

Sentomaru blushed and was about to retort when a lazy voice suddenly came from behind.

"Oh my gosh~ Isn't this Major General Gern, who was recently promoted? What brings him to my workplace?"

Gern turned around and saw that Kizaru was already standing not far away.

Wearing a purple vest and a "Justice" coat, with his hands in his pockets, a light green knitted hat on his head, his eyes slightly narrowed behind sunglasses, and a signature teasing smile on his lips.

"Uncle! This navy guy is looking for you..." Sentomaru exclaimed in surprise, then covered his mouth.

"Oh no! I let it slip!"

"I'm only a few years older than Gern, so why is he the older brother and I'm the uncle?!"

Kizaru walked over and patted Sentomaru on the head: "You're still so tight-lipped."

Sentomaru hung his head dejectedly: "I'm clearly the world's most tight-lipped man..."

Gern stood up and looked at Kizaru: "Boltarino-senpai, it's been a long time."

"It's been quite a while since you almost knocked me out of breath with one blow," Kizaru said, adjusting his sunglasses.

"I heard you were promoted to major general? That's terrifying!"

Having grown accustomed to Kizaru's personality and tone, Guern shrugged: "Not as leisurely as my senior, who can even take a nap on Egghead Island."

Kizaru's smile remained unchanged: "The salary is too low, so I always have to find opportunities to slack off~"

Sentomaru: "..." (Uncle! Why did you say that yourself!)

Guern couldn't help but chuckle, but quickly became serious and said, "Actually, I came here this time to ask about what I asked through the Den Den Mushi last time."

Kizaru raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

……

On Egghead Island, sunlight streamed onto a wide-open meadow. Kizaru lay lazily on a folding chair, wearing sunglasses and holding a glass of iced juice.

"So," he took a sip of his drink and asked slowly, "you came all the way to a place like this just to ask me something?"

Gern sat on the grass nearby, flipping through the documents that Kizaru had just handed him—information about Gild Tesoro.

"Well, since you're the only senior in the entire Marine Headquarters, it's more convenient for you to check things."

"Tsk tsk tsk. Don't say things that are easy to misunderstand! I'm a Marine!" Kizaru curled his lip.

"But is an ordinary gambler and performer really worth your attention?"

Gern closed the file, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Just because it's ordinary now doesn't mean it will be ordinary in the future."

Kizaru adjusted his sunglasses and didn't ask any more questions.

Several months ago, when Gern was still at G3 base, he contacted him, hoping that he could help obtain intelligence about Tesoro from within the Navy.

Although he didn't know what this guy was up to, Kizaru still got it for him without hesitation.

"Speaking of which," Kizaru changed the subject, "you didn't come to Egghead Island just to find me, did you?"

"Otherwise what?" Gern frowned and was about to continue when he was interrupted by an excited voice.

"Oh my god! Isn't that a tremor?!"

The two turned their heads and saw a man with a huge apple-shaped head and wearing a white coat walking quickly towards them, followed by several floating mechanical assistants.

Vegapunk.

“Dr. Vegapunk.” Gern stood up and nodded slightly in greeting.

Vegapunk pushed up his glasses, looked Gern up and down, and his eyes gleamed with fanaticism: "What a rare guest!"

I was just about to study the light properties of Kizaru when you showed up.

Your vibrating particles are far more interesting than his light!

Kizaru: "..." (Hey, are you saying this to my face?)

Gern smiled and said, "Doctor, you flatter me. My abilities are not as 'shining' as those of Senior Kizaru."

Vegapunk waved his hand: "No, no, no! Vibration is very powerful. If we could fully analyze your ability, it might even overturn some existing scientific laws!"

As he spoke, he suddenly leaned close to Gern, his eyes almost touching Gern's face: "How about it? Want to cooperate with me on a few small experiments?"

"Just draw some blood, measure the vibration frequency, and do a full-body scan..."

"Doctor," Kizaru interjected lazily, "you scared him~"

Vegapunk then took a step back and coughed twice: "Cough cough, occupational disease, occupational disease."

Gern smiled slightly and said, "I'm not used to being studied! Sorry."

"Is that so? What a pity." Vegapunk didn't press the matter further after seeing that Gern had rejected him.

.......

The sunset over Egghead Island painted the entire coastline red. Gern stood on the deck of the warship, looking back at the technological island that was gradually receding into the distance.

The dinner before my departure was unexpectedly heartwarming.

Vegapunk talked enthusiastically about his research, while Sentomaru, like a little adult, served everyone rice.

Kizaru leaned back lazily in his chair, occasionally interjecting with a few sarcastic remarks.

At that moment, they were just like ordinary family and friends.

But Guin knew that one day in the future, the always smiling Kizaru would destroy all of this with his own hands.

The sea breeze ruffled his cloak, and Gern suddenly remembered what Zephyr had once told Kizaru:

Borsalino, you rely too much on your Devil Fruit power.

This statement seems to have never been about Kizaru's strength.

It's telling him—no one can catch up with the light.

Just like his Glint-Glint Fruit, Kizaru is always one step ahead, always in control, but also always lonely.

He can illuminate others with light and heat, but he is destined to have no one walk alongside him.

Perhaps that's why he was able to turn on his former comrades without hesitation.

Because from the very beginning, he stood in a place that no one could reach.

Chapter 110 Encountering a Sand Crocodile, Let's Give Him a Kick First

On the warship, Gern's fingertips gently traced the edge of the Tesoro intelligence file, the paper gleaming a cold white under the lights of the naval office.

His gaze lingered on the place name "Lyricaya Island".

The West Sea is a notorious area where the Mafia is rampant, so this island city is also a veritable gambling town, a decadent den of iniquity.

“West Sea…” A meaningful smile appeared on Gern’s lips.

He then gently closed the document, stood up, and called for the sergeant at the door to come in.

"Major General Gern." Upon hearing the voice, the sergeant immediately opened the door and stood at attention.

"Have the communications department send a flight request to headquarters." Guern tapped his fingers twice on the table. "The reason will be—'Returning Home in Triumph'."

"Returning home in glory?" The sergeant's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, but he quickly regained his professional, expressionless demeanor.

"Do we still need to specify the exact itinerary, Major General Gern?"

"We didn't have time for the coating, so we'll go to Mermaid Island to see the scenery when we come back."

First, take the World Government's cable car from Red Harbor back to the Sabaody Archipelago, then proceed to the park (first half).

"Then we'll return to the four seas..." Gern walked towards the porthole, his deep eyes reflected in the glass, "and incidentally...inspect the 133rd Branch of the Western Navy."

Gern's addition revealed a hint of understanding in the sergeant's eyes.

As Gern's direct subordinate, he knew all too well the connection between his superior and the West Sea 133rd Branch.

"Major General Gern, in that case, I'll arrange for them to proceed at full speed..." The sergeant was interrupted by Gern before he could finish speaking.

"Normal flight speed is fine."

"But that would add at least two weeks to the journey."

"It's nothing... Some things can't be rushed."

Just like his plan to find Tezzolo, he needed to patiently wait for the most opportune moment.

“That’s it. Get it done right away.” Gern’s voice suddenly softened.

"Yes, sir!" As the sergeant's footsteps faded into the distance, Gern picked up the intelligence file again.

Sunlight streamed through the porthole, making the paper almost transparent, and Tezzolo's scarred photograph stood out starkly in the light.

“Golden Emperor…” Gern murmured, his fingertip lightly touching the face of the down-on-his-luck youth in the photo, before pulling open a drawer to reveal the golden fruit.

Since we can't eat it all, why bother exchanging it for money?

Sorry, I don't have a pay-to-win system... I'd rather develop my own future "righteous" direct line of combat power.

And Gern will guarantee that Tesoro will obey.

......

In the days that followed, Gern first stopped at G-1 for resupply and had a chat with Major General Stocaberi, who was stationed there.

He's the guy who's wearing a very tall hat and will be responsible for arresting Fisher Tiger after receiving a tip-off.

Three days after leaving G-1, Gern officially received the official approval from headquarters.

The document bore Steel Bone Sky's flamboyant signature, accompanied by a line of smaller print: "No trouble during vacation."

The next morning, the warships arrived at the Red Harbor base, which was under the control of the World Government, on time.

The massive cable car, protected by a bubble coating, slowly rose, carrying the warship over the red earth continent.

When the sun shone on the deck again, they had reached the first half of the Grand Line.

"The next leg of the journey will be a long one. We will first make adjustments and resupply at Sabaody, and then head to the West Sea at full speed."

......

The ports of the Sabaody Archipelago are shrouded in a hazy morning mist, with the massive mangrove roots appearing and disappearing in the fog.

Gern stood on the deck of the warship, watching the sailors busily carrying out the final resupply work.

The sea breeze, carrying the distinctive scent of resin, brushed against his face.

To be honest, I've passed by this place twice before, but this is the first time I've really taken a good look at it.

(Once was for promotion to headquarters, and once was for returning to the East China Sea with Garp)

"Sir, the resupply will be completed within two hours," the sergeant reported with a salute.

Guern nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the other side of the harbor.

Several pirate ships of various designs were moored there, among which a three-masted sailing ship with a completely golden hull was particularly eye-catching.

The figurehead is shaped like a crocodile with its jaws wide open, gleaming dangerously in the morning light.

"That is......."