Three days later, World Economic Journal Headquarters.
"President Morgans! Emergency news! A shocking major event!"
A staff member stumbled through the office door, his clothes still stained with wet ink, and slammed an urgent telegram onto the desk.
Morgans was leisurely puffing on a cigar, casually unfolding the telegram.
The next second, his pupils suddenly constricted, the cigar slipped from his beak, and sparks splattered onto the carpet.
"This... this is impossible! How long has it been since the Edwal Sea Battle? Now..."
He abruptly stood up, his feathers bristling, his wings trembling violently, his voice almost hoarse.
"Rear Admiral Gern publicly assaulted a Celestial Dragon in Sabaody Archipelago?! And left one crippled and one disabled?!"
The entire office instantly fell into a dead silence; all the reporters and editors stopped their work in unison, their eyes wide, as if they had heard an Arabian Nights tale.
"Quick! Print an extra edition immediately! Front page headline! This news must be printed in newspapers worldwide!" Morgans was so excited his voice almost cracked, his wings flapping wildly.
"The Marine attacking a Celestial Dragon, and the Shichibukai system has just taken shape, hehe, this will be the most imaginative and world-shaking news of this century!"
The news simply could not be contained.
In just one day, the whole world was in an uproar!
Marine "Heaven Quake" Rear Admiral Gern Brutally Beats Celestial Dragon! World Government Enraged!
World Government Announces Shichibukai System, Marines Take Opportunity to Vent Discontent?
Celestial Dragons Attempt to Enslave Marines, "Heaven Quake" Strikes with Heavy Fists!
This incident was later referred to as—Celestial Dragon Incident No. 23!
...
At the same time, Fish-Man Island, Fish-Man Street.
Fisher Tiger clutched the newspaper in his hand, his knuckles white from the force.
Gern's stern face was prominently printed on the front page of the newspaper, with the chaotic scene of Sabaody Archipelago in the background, and the headline was glaringly eye-catching:
Marine "Heaven Quake" Rear Admiral Gern Brutally Beats Celestial Dragon! World Government Enraged!
"Is this guy... crazy?" Tiger murmured in a low voice, his throat dry.
He suddenly looked up and shouted to Arlong and Hachi beside him, "I'm going to Ryugu Palace!"
Arlong glanced at the newspaper, his saw-like nose twitching, and sneered, "Heh, human infighting, what does it have to do with us?"
"Shut up!" Tiger uncharacteristically exploded in rage, veins bulging under his crimson skin, "You don't understand what this means!"
Hachi tremblingly handed him his jacket, his six arms flailing in a panic: "Tiger, Tiger Boss, the ship is ready..."
Tiger snatched the jacket and strode towards the Fish-Man Street exit.
Gern's words from Sea Forest echoed in his mind:
"Goodwill needs strength to protect it."
And now, that man had declared his "strength" to Fish-Man Island in the most extreme way.
Ryugu Palace, Throne Room.
Neptune sat on his throne, the newspaper in his hand trembling slightly.
Queen Otohime stood beside him, her hands covering her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"Your Majesty Neptune..." The chief guard rushed in, about to report Tiger's arrival, but saw that Tiger had already strode into the hall, also clutching a newspaper.
Their gazes met, and the air froze for a moment.
"You saw it?" Neptune slowly spoke, his voice deep.
"Yes, and if we estimate the time," Tiger nodded, "he attacked the Celestial Dragons directly after leaving Fish-Man Island."
Otohime tremblingly picked up the newspaper and softly read the headline:
"'Marine Rear Admiral Gern Severely Injures Two Celestial Dragons Citing Self-Defense' ... Is... is this true?"
"Absolutely true." Neptune sighed, his dragon-whisker-like beard trembling slightly, "The news agency's report won't be false, and besides..."
He pointed to the small print in the corner of the newspaper, "Even the World Government's statement acknowledges the existence of a 'conflict.'"
Tiger stared intently at Neptune: "He's showing his resolve for our alliance."
Neptune was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Yes, in the most insane way." He looked up at Tiger, a glint of sharpness in his eyes.
"But he proved that his 'justice' dares to shake even the Celestial Dragons."
Otohime put down the newspaper with a worried expression: "But by openly provoking the World Government like this, will Rear Admiral Gern..."
"Don't worry." Neptune interrupted her, his finger gently tapping the armrest of the throne, remembering what Gern had told him before leaving, and smiled slightly.
"The World Government would never dare to easily touch him due to his connections within the Marine."
Tiger frowned: "But the Celestial Dragons will never let this go."
"So what?" Neptune suddenly stood up, his tall figure casting a shadow.
"Don't forget, he is 'Heaven Quake'.
And... when a person possesses absolute strength and holds overwhelming reason, everyone will stand behind him!!"
........
Marineford, Marine Headquarters.
"Gern!!!" Kong smashed his desk with a punch, his roar echoing throughout the entire building, startling even the seagulls outside into scattering.
Sengoku sighed, rubbing his forehead, the documents in his hand already crumpled into waste paper: "This kid... he really doesn't think things are big enough."
"He hit them well! Those pigs should have been taught a lesson long ago!"
Garp sat on the sofa, chewing loudly on senbei, mumbling indistinctly.
"They actually wanted to capture Libo. If I had been there, I would have acted too!"
"Garp!" Kong glared, "Do you know what this means?! The World Government has ordered the Marine to immediately hand over Gern!"
"Hand him over? Heh heh." Zephyr sneered, his eyes sharp beneath his sunglasses.
"Why? Gern acted in self-defense. The Den Den Mushi recordings and the eyewitnesses from Sabaody G-33 Base are all there!"
"But he attacked a Celestial Dragon! And..." Kong gritted his teeth.
"You call smashing a Celestial Dragon's head into his neck self-defense?!"
"Isn't it?" Zephyr stood his ground, "Marine Regulation Article 37 explicitly states that any act of attacking a flag officer gives the officer the right to retaliate!"
"Zephyr!"
"Kong!!" Zephyr angrily slammed his hand on the table, calling him by his name.
"We are the Marine! Do the Celestial Dragons now have the right to casually attack our people?
Libo is a Headquarters Ensign! I personally recorded her file back then!
Furthermore, what does it mean for the Celestial Dragons to suddenly attack the Marine now?!
They released the Shichibukai system without consulting us a few days ago, and now they've attacked Gern and two others who were on leave. What does this represent?!"
At this point, Zephyr's tone softened, yet became even colder:
"Or are you... now also being ridden on the neck by the Celestial Dragons?!"
Faced with Zephyr's questioning, Kong was speechless, veins throbbing on his forehead, especially when he looked up and realized that at this moment,
Even Sengoku, who usually supported him the most, was now on the opposing side.
"Do you all believe we can't hand him over?!"
The entire room fell silent.
"I have just one thing to say." Zephyr put on his Justice cloak, "If the World Government dares to send people to touch my disciple..."
He turned and walked towards the door, his voice as hard as steel:
"I, Marine Headquarters Admiral Zephyr, will be the first to act!"
"And, I believe... I won't be the only one to act!"
As his voice faded, Zephyr pushed the door open and exited.
And behind him, the future three Admirals, Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino, all stood up simultaneously.
"My apologies, Fleet Admiral." Borsalino slightly curved his lips, "Although I'm a corporate slave, I don't want to be promoted to a literal slave~"
"Gern is not wrong." Sakazuki snorted coldly: "If the World Government dares to send people, my 'Justice' will not compromise."
Kuzan put his hands in his pockets, uncharacteristically agreeing with Sakazuki: "I'm the same as Teacher Zephyr."
Saying this, the two who were usually at odds walked side by side, their backs resolute.
First the Shichibukai system, then the Celestial Dragons' private attempt to capture Marines as slaves.
This time, the Marine will absolutely not compromise!
Because this is no longer just a matter of handing over a person or not.
In everyone's eyes, Gern's actions were nothing less than the Marine's most direct form of resistance!
"Those who carry firewood for the multitude must not be allowed to freeze to death in the snow."
Finally, only Sengoku remained in the office.
He stood at the door, looked back at Kong, and said calmly yet firmly:
"Fleet Admiral Kong, whether it was an accident or something else..."
At least, at this point in time, Gern represents 'everything the Marine stands for.'"
"Zephyr is right, this time... 'we' cannot stand on your side."