When Gern left Sakazuki's residence, night had already fallen.
On the streets of Marineford, a salty sea breeze swept through, and the sound of waves gently lapping the shore echoed from the distant port.
Gern walked leisurely towards his usual tavern, hands in his pockets.
Pushing open the wooden door of the tavern, warm light and noisy chatter greeted him.
He immediately spotted Kuzan sitting in the corner.
His tall figure leaned lazily against the back of the chair, with a glass of chilling ice wine in front of him, as if he had been waiting for a while.
“Oh, isn't this our young and promising Vice Admiral Kuzan?” Gern walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
“Drinking alone so late? Don't tell me you got dumped by some girl?”
Kuzan raised his eyelids, glancing at him lazily: “Gern, you're late.”
“Late?” Gern raised an eyebrow, “I don't recall making an appointment with you.”
“Cut it out.” Kuzan scoffed, raising a hand to signal the bartender for another drink.
“Did Sakazuki drag you into another night of ranting about the World Government?”
Gern shrugged, taking the glass from the bartender and swirling it gently.
“Pretty much. 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.
“Though, 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 be doing? Slamming the table like Sakazuki?”
Kuzan stared at him for two seconds, then shook his head: “No, you're far more cunning than that guy.”
“Hey, hey, is that a compliment?”
“Think what you want.” Kuzan shrugged, his tone casual, “But, I'm more curious about something else.”
“What is it?”
“I heard you're preparing to set sail? And you even applied to Fleet Admiral Kong to go to Fish-Man Island?”
“Why not?” Gern tilted his head slightly, blinking, “I remember Fish-Man Island is also a World Government affiliated nation!
I'm a Marine, so there's no problem with me going anywhere, right?”
Kuzan: “...”
“'You're a Marine,' indeed.” Kuzan scoffed lightly, taking a sip, “But Fish-Man Island doesn't exactly welcome Marines.”
“That's why we need the banner of justice!”
“Strange, why would you suddenly be interested in Fish-Man Island?” Kuzan's gaze sharpened.
Although his posture remained lazy, his eyes seemed to want to see through Gern's true intentions.
Looking at Kuzan's eyes, Gern blinked, feigning surprise: “Wow, Kuzan, when did you start caring so much about my itinerary? Don't tell me you've been secretly keeping an eye on me?”
“Cut the act.” Kuzan's mouth twitched: “You suddenly applied for a mission to Fish-Man Island,
and even specifically bypassed the regular approval process, going directly to Fleet Admiral Kong for approval.
Especially that last line about 'the banner of justice'—that's not like you.”
“My style?” Gern chuckled, “So what do you think my style is?”
“Never doing anything without profit, a professional instigator, audacious and reckless…” Kuzan counted off several on his fingers.
Gern burst into laughter, raising his glass: “Well said! As expected of my fellow disciple, you really understand me!”
Kuzan didn't respond, just stared at him, waiting for a real answer.
After laughing enough, Gern put down his glass, his tone relaxed: “Alright, since you're so eager to know…
Fish-Man Island has beautiful coral forests, a dreamy bubble culture, and also…”
Kuzan interrupted Gern expressionlessly, spitting out: “Do you think I'd believe that?”
“Why not believe it?” Gern spread his hands, “What? Can't I have some refined pursuits?”
“Heh heh.” Kuzan's cold laugh.
“Then… what if I said it's for the mermaid ladies?”
Before he finished speaking, Kuzan's eyes suddenly changed.
The previous indifference and disdain melted away like spring snow, replaced by a scrutinizing gaze sparkling with gossip, even carrying a hint of “I knew it.”
“Hey, hey, hey! Kuzan, that's a bit much!” Gern almost knocked over his glass, “What's with that look of yours, completely devoid of doubt and instantly understanding?
At least pretend to be suspicious, you bastard!”
“Hard to say!” Kuzan shrugged, “After all, a certain someone once said he wanted a fluffy subordinate, and only brought back one.
With you like this, I have every reason to suspect your…”
“Suspect what? Merfolk are oviparous (though there's no reproductive isolation in the Pirate World).
I just heard there's a Fishman there who can use prophecy, so I'm just curious.”
“Is that so!” Kuzan sighed, half-believing, half-doubting, and rubbed his temples.
“Forget it, if you don't want to say, then don't.
However, Fish-Man Island is not a safe place.
It's the only way for pirates to enter the New World, so it's bound to be…”
“Oh? Are you worried about me?” Gern raised an eyebrow, “Or are you, Kuzan, also interested in mermaid ladies?”
“No.” Kuzan took a sip of his drink, saying blandly, “I just don't want to have to fish you out later.”
“Wow, how touching.” Gern dramatically clutched his chest, “But don't worry, I value my life very much.”
“Do you have some misunderstanding about the word 'value my life'?”
“Haha!” Gern laughed, raising his glass: “Anyway, thanks for your concern.”
The two clinked glasses, the liquor shimmering with an amber glow in the lamplight.
“So…” Kuzan put down his glass, then suddenly asked again: “Are you really just going to see mermaids? Not planning to bring one back?”
“Do you think I'm Charlotte Linlin?” Gern rolled his eyes.
One must know that at this very moment, our Big Mom has already begun her grand feat of creating nations by herself, basically giving birth every year, accepting all sorts of races without discrimination!
“Speaking of Charlotte Linlin, I heard from Senior Borsalino that Dr. Vegapunk on Egghead Island was also…”
“Really?”
“Really, really. Borsalino also said that Vegapunk really loves those belly-band vests.”
.......
As night deepened, the tavern's clamor gradually faded.
After bidding farewell to Kuzan, Gern walked alone back to his residence. The sea breeze brushed his hair, bringing a touch of coolness.
“Fish-Man Island, Neptune just became king this year, right…” Gern's lips curved slightly.
He pushed open the door to his residence. Libo was curled up on the sofa, dozing, her rabbit ears twitching gently with her breathing.
Hearing the movement, she groggily opened her eyes: “Gern? You're back…”
“Mm.” Gern ruffled her head, casually slipping an envelope into the drawer.
“We're setting sail tomorrow. Remember to contact Tesoro. He and Stella have been getting addicted to the talent show at headquarters lately.”
“Really?!” Libo instantly woke up, jumping up indignantly, “Where are we going this time?!”
“Fish-Man Island.” Gern didn't hide it, but his tone was unquestionable, “A super beautiful and pretty place!”
Libo wanted to ask more questions, but Gern interrupted her: “We have to get up early tomorrow, ask then…”
At this, Gern suddenly noticed cake residue at the corner of Libo's mouth.
“Wait, Libo, you didn't secretly eat my share of carrot cake again, did you?!”
Libo's ears instantly stiffened, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: “N-no, I didn't secretly eat it! The cake ran into my mouth by itself!”
“Libo, that one was mine.”
“Hmph! What do you mean 'yours'? That was a Sabaody Archipelago special edition that Zephyr-sensei bought specifically for me!” Libo turned her face away, but her ears twitched honestly.