In the smoke-filled square, Dragoon’s heart sank, and his fingers unconsciously tightened.
“Trouble…”
He knew Gern’s strength better than anyone.
The top destructive power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, the sharpness of the black blade eight desolations, the oppressive feeling of Haoshoku…
If Gern were to act now, among the Revolutionary Army present, besides himself, probably no one would leave alive!
Dragoon’s gaze quickly scanned the surroundings, calculating the retreat route.
At the same time, he lowered his voice and said to Ivankov beside him, “Prepare to retreat. If a battle breaks out, prioritize protecting the civilians.”
“Heaven Quake, huh…” Ivankov’s expression was solemn, clearly recognizing Gern as well. “Heh-ha! This is truly the worst situation!”
Dragoon took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, then looked directly at Gern, his voice low.
“Gern… I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“What?” Gern’s lips curled slightly, his hands in his pockets, his tone lazy but with an undeniable sense of oppression.
“Old friends meeting, unwelcome?”
Dragoon did not relax his guard; he knew Gern’s “laziness” was just a facade.
Once this man became serious, the entire city could collapse under his Tremor.
“Are you here to capture me?” Dragoon asked in a deep voice, while secretly mobilizing his Haki, ready to fight at any moment.
Gern did not answer immediately but looked around, his gaze sweeping over the civilians holding weapons, the injured Revolutionary Army soldiers, and the palace still burning in the distance.
Finally, his gaze returned to Dragoon, and he chuckled softly: “If I were here to capture you, do you think you’d still be standing here talking to me?”
Dragoon frowned deeply, rapidly thinking about Gern’s intentions.
Meanwhile, Gern slowly drew the black blade eight desolations, the gray-white bandages disintegrating inch by inch, revealing the jet-black blade.
Dragoon’s muscles instantly tensed, and the surrounding Revolutionary Army soldiers also raised their weapons, the atmosphere becoming tense.
However, Gern merely lightly tapped the ground with the tip of his blade, pursed his lips, and said calmly, “Dragoon, you’ve changed quite a bit!”
Dragoon was silent for a moment, then finally spoke: “It’s not that I’ve changed, but that I’ve finally seen this world clearly.”
“Oh?” Gern raised an eyebrow, “So, you’re going to be a ‘revolutionary’ now?”
“I’ve just found my true ‘justice’!!” Dragoon sneered.
“Justice delayed is justice denied—you said that, Gern.”
Dragoon took a step forward, his dark green cloak flapping in the wind.
“The current World Government is corrupt beyond belief, the Celestial Dragons arbitrarily trample on the dignity of civilians, and the nobles of the allied nations leech off the people’s wealth…
Such ‘justice,’ are you still willing to wield your blade for it?”
Gern did not answer immediately but raised his hand, signaling Libo and Tesoro to step back.
“Dragoon.” Gern’s voice was calm, yet carried a subtle complexity.
“Tsk tsk tsk, the old you would never so directly invite a Marine to join the Revolutionary Army.”
“Because I’ve seen the truth!” Dragoon spread his arms as if to embrace the entire battlefield.
“The Marine is merely a puppet of the World Government. True justice needs to be fought for by the people themselves!
So… Gern, join me!
With your strength and ideals, we can completely change this world!”
Gern’s gaze swept around. In the ruins, civilians held crude weapons, their eyes gleaming with hope.
The Revolutionary Army soldiers had resolute expressions, as if they had already seen the dawn of victory.
Seeing this, he was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled softly: “Dragoon, your ideal is noble, but your method is too naive.”
“Naive?” Dragoon frowned deeply.
“Can overthrowing an old world guarantee that the New World will definitely be better?” Gern retorted.
“Are the ‘people’ you speak of truly ready to welcome the changes you bring?
The most terrifying thing is that the dragon-slaying hero… will eventually become a wicked dragon!”
“Heh.” Dragoon’s eyes were sharp as knives: “Should we let injustice continue to exist just because we fear failure?
Gern, this isn’t your style!”
“My style?” Gern shook his head, “I’m just a Marine; my duty is to maintain order, not to create chaos.”
“Order?” Dragoon sneered, “Your so-called order is nothing but a fig leaf for oppressors!”
The confrontation between the two made the surrounding air seem to freeze. The Revolutionary Army soldiers nervously gripped their weapons, and Libo and Tesoro also tensed their nerves.
Just then, Gern suddenly sighed and pulled an object from his in arms.
It was a crude shoe sole, with the four crooked characters “Love Education” carved along its edge.
“Almost forgot the main business.” Gern shook the “Supreme Great Shoe Board” in his hand, a playful arc forming on his lips.
“This is a ‘symbol of paternal love’ that Vice Admiral Garp asked me to bring you.”
Dragoon’s expression instantly froze: “Father?”
“He said…” Gern’s figure suddenly vanished, and the next second he had flashed in front of Dragoon, his left hand suddenly lashing out.
“Getting married without inviting your old man? Is that proper?! Bastard!”
“Slap!!!”
A crisp sound echoed across the square. Dragoon was sent flying by the shoe board, and a clear shoe print instantly appeared on his left cheek.
The Revolutionary Army soldiers were dumbfounded, and even Tesoro couldn’t help but rub his forehead: “As expected, he made a move…”
“You…” Dragoon touched his stinging cheek, the shock in his eyes gradually turning into a helpless smile.
“After all these years, he’s still the same…”
“Paternal love is like a mountain, you know.” Gern put away the shoe board, his tone a bit lighter.
“But Dragoon, have you truly made up your mind? There’s no turning back on this path.”
Dragoon took a deep breath, his expression becoming firm again: “I have never been so clear-headed.
Gern, even you cannot shake my resolve.”
“I received Garp’s ‘greeting’.” Dragoon said coldly.
“But right now, I don’t have time to play these father-son games with you.”
“Play?” Gern’s smile gradually faded, his eyes sharpening, “Do you think I’m playing?”
The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point.
Libo blinked, muttering softly: “Tesoro, aren’t we here to fight? How did it turn into a chat?”
“Say less.” Tesoro rubbed his forehead, pulled out a carrot, “Eat a carrot yourself first!”
“Gern, I don’t want to fight you.” Dragoon took a deep breath, his dark green cloak moving without wind.
“Move aside. The people of this country need freedom, not continued enslavement.”
“Freedom?” Gern scoffed, “Can freedom gained through war truly be as you wish?”
“It’s better than sitting idly by!” Dragoon suddenly raised his hand, and a strong wind surged, “Since you insist on blocking…”
“Wait.” Gern suddenly interrupted him, pulling out a Den Den Mushi from his pocket, “Before we start fighting, someone wants to talk to you.”
Dragoon: “What the hell are you even here for?!”
“Burururu, burururu…” The Den Den Mushi slowly opened its eyes, mimicking a scarred, resolute face—Garp.
“Dragoon!” Garp’s roar came from the Den Den Mushi.
“You unfilial son! Getting married without inviting your old man, and now causing a revolution here?!”
Dragoon: “…”
Gern smiled and shook the Den Den Mushi: “Want to answer?”
Dragoon was silent for a moment, then suddenly turned around: “All troops, listen up! Continue advancing! The palace must be taken before sunset!”
“Hey! You brat! How dare you ignore me?!” Garp’s roar echoed across the battlefield.
“Gern, hit him hard for me! Hit him crazy with the shoe board!!”
“It seems…” Gern sighed, putting away the Den Den Mushi.
“It seems, I can only use ‘physical persuasion’.”