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

On the deck, Roger stood at the bow, his hands gripping the railing, his gaze fixed intently on the gradually calming sea in the distance.

Rayleigh walked to his side, his golden hair still dripping with water.

"We were really lucky." He patted Roger on the shoulder and laughed, "If it weren't for that sudden tsunami, we probably would have really been defeated by the Golden Lion."

Roger did not respond immediately.

Instead, he remained silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed deeply, and then grinned.

"Rayleigh, this tsunami... I owe him quite a favor! Haha!"

Rayleigh frowned, keenly sensing the hidden meaning in Roger's words: "What do you mean?"

“Rayleigh.” Roger turned around, leaned against the railing, and his eyes flickered with a complex light.

"Didn't you notice? A calm sea doesn't suddenly produce huge waves..."

Rayleigh's pupils contracted, and he instantly understood Roger's meaning.

"You mean..."

Rayleigh recalled the scene when he fought against Gern.

Its vibrations, even more powerful than Whitebeard's, were more than enough to trigger a massive tsunami.

“Yes, that’s right.” Roger nodded, his tone unusually serious. “That wasn’t a naturally formed tsunami.”

"Roger, are you referring to that brat from the navy?" Rayleigh's expression grew serious. "But why did he save us?"

Roger shook his head, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon: "Who knows? Maybe he has his own plans."

At this point, Roger paused, then suddenly laughed again, "However, debts always have to be repaid."

Next time we meet, I might have to buy him a drink!

Rayleigh sighed helplessly: "You're quite carefree."

Roger laughed heartily and patted Rayleigh on the back: "Anyway, having more debts is never a bad thing! Besides..."

His eyes suddenly sharpened.

"Maybe that guy really does want to arrest me all by himself?! Hahaha!"

Chapter 139 After the Waves

The year 1495 of the Haiyuan calendar is destined to be recorded in history.

In that year, the gears of fate began to turn faster, and the tides of the times swept across the entire Grand Line.

At the beginning of the year, the Navy's rising star "Skyquake" Gern was defeated in a fierce battle with Roger, a duel that showed the world the true strength of the future "Pirate King".

At the same time, it also made Gern realize the gap between himself and the King level.

However, the irony of fate is that, months later, it was this very same defeated general who indirectly saved the Roger Pirates.

In the waters of Adwall, facing the massive fleet led by Shiki the Golden Lion to encircle and suppress them...

The massive tsunami triggered by Guern became Roger's turning point, allowing him to escape from a desperate situation.

This epic battle, later known as the Battle of Adwall, completely reshaped the landscape of the New World.

The once-mighty Flying Pirates suffered heavy losses in this battle.

Golden Lion himself suffered a severe head injury and fell from his position as one of the three legendary pirates.

In the latter half of the same year, the Roger Pirates' adventures continued.

They obtained the crucial historical text from the young Charlotte Linlin, but struggled to decipher its secrets.

This predicament led Roger to turn his attention to the Kozuki clan of Wano Country, and he began to set his sights on Kozuki Oden of the Whitebeard Pirates!

Meanwhile, Barrett, the "Devil's Heir" on the ship, collapses in despair upon learning that Roger is terminally ill and will soon die.

Having realized he could never defeat Roger in his lifetime, he launched his final challenge on Cuya Island.

After his defeat in the challenge, he officially disembarked and left, ending his bond with Roger.

Then, the year 1496 of the Haiyuan Calendar officially began, and the wheels of history continued to roll forward.

In a personnel reshuffle at Naval Headquarters, Borsalino and Kuzan were promoted to vice admirals, while Guern retained his rank of rear admiral due to punishment for acting without authorization...

On the high seas, the Roger Pirates encountered the Whitebeard Pirates, and after a battle...

Roger begged Whitebeard to ask Kozuki Oden to join him in finding and deciphering the Poneglyphs.

Also at the beginning of this year, Crocodile encountered Barrett, who was wandering alone.

So a challenge was issued, and the two remained evenly matched, earning the nickname "Sand Crocodile" widespread fame throughout the New World!

In the same year, within the Hall of Power in Mary Geoise, the World Government was brewing a plan that would reshape the landscape of the oceans.

The prototype of the Seven Warlords of the Sea system has already emerged!

The World Government is preparing to invite powerful pirates to join its ranks in order to balance the power in the first half of the Grand Line.

This move caused a huge uproar within the Navy...

........

Naval Headquarters, Marineland

Inside Akainu's residence, a cool breeze blew. Sakazuki sat on the sofa, clutching a document tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.

His brows were furrowed, and his eyes burned with fury.

"Gern, look at this!" Sakazuki slammed the file on the table, his voice low and suppressed.

"The World Government actually wants to implement some kind of 'Seven Warlords of the Sea' system!"

Inviting those damned pirates to become legal raiders? That's utterly ridiculous!

Gern sat opposite him, holding a cup of hot tea, the rising steam obscuring his expression.

He took a small sip of tea, his gaze calmly sweeping over the contents of the document. Then he put down the teacup and slowly said, "Sakazuki, calm down."

"Calm down?!" Sakazuki suddenly stood up, slamming his fist on the table, making the teacup jump.

"The Navy exists to eliminate pirates! Now we're supposed to cooperate with them? What kind of justice is that!"

Gern did not respond immediately, but looked up at Sakazuki with a deep and complex gaze.

After a moment of silence, he said softly, "Since the World Government has already notified us, it means they don't take the Navy's opinions seriously."

"So what!" A ruthless glint flashed in Sakazuki's eyes.

"We can unite with other generals to oppose this absurd decision!"

"Admiral Sengoku, Zephyr, and even Vice Admiral Garp—they would never agree!"

Gern shook his head, a helpless smile playing on his lips: "Sakazuki, you're too naive."

What world governments need is a balancing tool, not our opinions.

They had already made the decision; informing us was just a formality.

Sakazuki's breathing became heavy, and he stared intently at Gren, as if trying to see something in his eyes.

After a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "Are we just going to compromise like this?"

Are we just going to let those pirates continue to commit evil under the guise of legality?

“Compromise?” Gern chuckled, his eyes gradually turning cold. “No, I’m just telling you the reality.”

The world government no longer trusts the navy's power; they need new 'tools' to maintain the balance.

He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the pond in the courtyard, his voice low and meaningful.

"Sakazuki, have you ever wondered why the World Government would suddenly propose such a system?"

Sakazuki frowned: "What do you mean?"

Gern turned around, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Because they were afraid."

They feared that the navy's power would gradually slip out of their control, and that we 'monsters' would one day threaten their rule.

"So they chose to cooperate with pirates?" Sakazuki clenched his fist, the power of his Magma-Magma Fruit causing his arm to glow with a dark red light.

"This is blatant betrayal!"

“Betrayal?” Gern sneered. “No, this is just a game of power.”

What world governments need is not justice, but stability.

And we are nothing more than a knife in their hands.

Sakazuki fell silent, the anger in his eyes gradually being replaced by a deeper emotion.

He slowly sat back on the sofa, his voice hoarse: "Gern, what exactly are you trying to say?"

“Heh, I just wanted to tell you…” Gern walked back to his side, patted him on the shoulder, his tone calm yet carrying a hint of seduction and familiar stoking.

True justice should not be bound by anyone.

"If the World Government is corrupt, then..." He paused, his eyes sharp as swords.

"Perhaps we should consider who is truly on the side of 'justice'."

Sakazuki looked up abruptly, his pupils contracting slightly: "You...."

“Oh! Of course, I was just suggesting a possibility,” Gern interrupted him with a slight smile.

"After all, our justice should not be defined by others."

The bamboo buckets in the yard, filled with water, rattled loudly. A flicker of struggle crossed Sakazuki's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination.

“Gern, I will remember what you said today and I will not tell anyone.” He stood up, his voice low and firm.

"But in any case, my sense of justice will never waver."

Pirates are pirates, no matter what they wear, I will wipe them out completely!

Gern looked at him, his smile deepening: "This is the Sakazuki I know."

He raised his teacup and gently tapped Sakazuki's fist: "A toast to the ever-burning flame of justice."

Chapter 140 Preparing to visit Fishman Island

It was late at night when Gern left Sakaski's residence.

On the streets of Marineford, the sea breeze carries a salty, damp scent, and in the distance, the sound of waves gently lapping against the shore echoes from the harbor.

With his hands in his pockets, Guern slowly walked toward his usual pub.

Pushing open the wooden door of the tavern, you are greeted by warm lights and noisy chatter.

He spotted Kuzan sitting in the corner at a glance.

The tall figure leaned lazily against the back of the chair, a glass of chilled wine in front of him, as if he had been waiting for a while.

"Hey, isn't this our young and promising Lieutenant General Kuzan?" Gern walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down, a teasing smile on his lips.

"Drinking alone so late? Did some girl dump you?"

Kuzan raised his eyelids and glanced at him lazily: "Gern, you're late."

"Late?" Gern raised an eyebrow. "I don't recall making an appointment with you."

"Come on," Kuzan scoffed, gesturing to the bartender for another drink.

"Did Sakazuki spend another night cursing the World Government with you again?"

Gern shrugged, took the glass from the bartender, and gently swirled it.

"More or less. He's quite dissatisfied with the 'Seven Warlords of the Sea' system."

"Heh, as expected." Kuzan took a sip of his drink, the ice cubes clinking crisply in the glass.

"However, I didn't expect you to be so calm."

"Oh?" Gern looked at him with a half-smile. "So what do you think I should do? Sakazuki slam my fist on the table like that?"

Kuzan stared at him for two seconds, then shook his head: "No, you're much more cunning than that guy."

"Hey, is that supposed to be a compliment?"