On the warship, Gern's fingertips gently caressed the edge of Tesoro's intelligence file, the paper gleaming with a cold white luster under the Marine office lights.
His gaze lingered on the place name "Lilac Island."
West Blue is a sea notorious for the prevalence of the mafia, so this island city is also a veritable small gambling city, a lavish pleasure-seeking paradise.
"West Blue, huh...?" A meaningful curve appeared at the corner of Gern's lips.
He then gently closed the file, stood up, and called the Sergeant at the door to come in.
"Rear Admiral Gern." The Sergeant, hearing the voice, immediately opened the door and stood at attention.
"Have the Communication Department send a sailing application to the Main Branch," Gern tapped his fingers twice on the desk, "The reason will be—'Returning Home in Glory.'"
"Returning Home in Glory?" The Sergeant's eyebrows subtly raised, but he quickly resumed his professional, expressionless demeanor.
"Do I need to specify the exact itinerary, Rear Admiral Gern?"
"We don't have time for coating, so we'll visit Fish-Man Island for the scenery on the way back.
First, we'll pass through Red Port and take the World Government's cable car up and down to return to Sabaody Archipelago, then proceed to Paradise (the first half of the Grand Line).
After that, we'll sail back to the Four Seas..." Gern walked towards the porthole, his deep gaze reflected in the glass, "And by the way... inspect the West Blue Marine 133rd Main Branch."
Gern's addition brought a flash of understanding to the Sergeant's eyes.
As Gern's direct subordinate, he knew too well the connection between this superior officer and the West Blue 133rd Branch.
"Rear Admiral Gern, in that case, I'll arrange for them to proceed at full speed..." The Sergeant's words were cut off by Gern before he could finish.
"Normal cruising speed is sufficient."
"But that will add at least two weeks to the journey."
"It's fine... Some things can't be rushed."
Just like his plan to find Tesoro, it required patience and waiting for the most opportune moment.
"That's all. Go do it immediately." Gern's voice suddenly softened a bit.
"Yes!" As the Sergeant's footsteps faded down the corridor, Gern picked up the intelligence file again.
Sunlight streamed through the porthole, making the paper almost transparent, and Tesoro's scarred photograph looked particularly stark in the light.
"Golden Emperor..." Gern murmured softly, his fingertip gently touching the face of the down-and-out young man in the photo, then pulling open a drawer to reveal the Gold-Gold Fruit.
He couldn't eat it anyway, and as for exchanging it for money?
Sorry, I don't have a 'recharge to get stronger' system... It's better to develop my future 'Justice' direct combat power.
Moreover, Gern guaranteed that Tesoro would be obedient when the time came.
...
In the following days, Gern first stopped at G-1 Base for supplies and chatted with the Rear Admiral in charge, Strawberry.
He was the one wearing a very tall hat, who would be responsible for arresting Fisher Tiger after receiving a report in the future.
Three days after leaving G-1 Base, Gern officially received the Main Branch's formal approval.
Kong's signature on the document was flamboyant, with a small line of text next to it: "No causing trouble during vacation."
The next morning, the warship arrived punctually at Red Port Base, controlled by the World Government.
The giant cable car slowly ascended under the protection of a bubble coating, carrying the warship over the Red Line.
When the sunlight once again spilled onto the deck, they had already arrived at the first half of the Grand Line.
"Next, we will have a long voyage. First, we'll make adjustments and resupply at Sabaody, then proceed at full speed to West Blue."
...
The port of Sabaody Archipelago was shrouded in a hazy morning mist, with the massive mangrove roots appearing faintly in the fog.
Gern stood on the warship's deck, watching the sailors busily carrying out the final resupply work.
The sea breeze, carrying a unique resinous scent, brushed across his face.
To be honest, he had passed through here twice before, but this was the first time he had truly observed it carefully.
(Once for his promotion to the Main Branch, and once returning to East Blue with Garp.)
"Sir, resupply will be completed within two hours." The Sergeant saluted and reported.
Gern nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping to the other side of the port.
Several pirate ships of various designs were moored there, among them a golden three-masted ship was particularly eye-catching.
Its figurehead was a Crocodile with a wide-open, bloodthirsty mouth, glinting dangerously in the morning light.
"That is..."
"That's the ship of this year's Supernova, 'Desert Crocodile' Sir Crocodile." The Sergeant immediately understood and explained.
"His current bounty is 381,000,000 Berries, a Nature Type Sand-Sand Fruit user.
He arrived at Sabaody yesterday and is said to have already killed many other pirate crews, subtly gaining the reputation of being the strongest Supernova among this generation of rookie pirates."
"Strongest, huh...?" Gern's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
If he remembered correctly, Crocodile would become famous shortly after entering the New World by fighting Bullet to a draw.
Following that, he would challenge Whitebeard and be defeated, finally responding to policy and becoming a Shichibukai.
However, this future Shichibukai was still an arrogant newcomer just starting out.
He could have ignored him—after all, he was on vacation.
But fate always seemed to enjoy playing tricks.
Just as Gern turned to go back into the ship's cabin, a commotion suddenly erupted in the port.
Accompanied by the sound of breaking glass and people's screams, a tall figure clad in a fur coat burst through the window of a tavern in Mangrove No. 24, landing steadily on the dock.
"Get out of the way! You small fry!" Crocodile spat out his cigar, his right hand already transforming into flowing sand.
Behind him, the tavern owner sat paralyzed on the ground, his face etched with fear.
Gern's footsteps halted.
"This is... troublesome." Gern sighed softly, but had already unfastened his cloak.
"Why cause trouble now, of all times?"
At the same time, Crocodile seemed to sense something, and sharply turned his head towards the warship.
When his gaze locked onto Gern, a smile immediately appeared on his youthful, arrogant face.
"Marines, huh...?" He chuckled softly, his right hand fully turned to sand.
The port instantly fell silent, everyone holding their breath.
Gern could feel the tense nerves of the soldiers behind him, and smell the suddenly heavy scent of gunpowder in the air.
"Rear Admiral Gern, he doesn't seem to recognize you..." The Sergeant asked in a low voice.
Gern waved his hand, slowly walking down the gangway.
Each step seemed precisely calculated, neither appearing timid nor overly aggressive.
"Sir Crocodile." Gern stopped ten meters from the other party, his voice terrifyingly calm.
"Leave now, and I can pretend I didn't see you."
"Pretend you didn't see me?" Crocodile paused, then burst into arrogant laughter.
"What a joke! Who do you think you are?!" As he spoke, his right hand suddenly expanded, transforming into a massive sand blade.
Seeing Crocodile make the first move, Gern's eyes completely turned cold.
He chuckled softly, and the surrounding air suddenly began to vibrate unnaturally.
"Three seconds."
"What?" Crocodile didn't hear clearly.
"I said..." Gern's figure suddenly blurred, "You can only last three seconds."
The next second, the ground of the entire port vibrated violently.
Crocodile was astonished to find his sandification ability suddenly ineffective.
No, not ineffective, but all the sand particles had lost their fluid control under some strange high-frequency vibration!
When he finally realized what was happening, Gern's size 48 foot was already right in front of him.
"Shock Justice Execution!"
"Boom!"
After a dull thud, Crocodile, touted as "this generation's newest rookie," flew out like a broken kite, crashing heavily into a mangrove tree trunk.