“Oh dear…”
“It seems I’ll have to use ‘fatherly love’ to enlighten you.”
Seeing the situation, Dragoon felt the atmosphere solidify, and fine beads of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
To be honest, he didn't want to fight Gern from the bottom of his heart.
Because it was something he couldn't afford.
Especially the man before him was no longer the West Blue recruit who waited for guidance in Zephyr’s office decades ago.
Instead, he was a powerhouse who shook the seas under the name of “Heaven Quake,” someone who dared to confront Golden Lion, Kozuki Oden, Gringo Saint, Rayleigh, and even Roger head-on!
You should know, every one of those powerhouses could make him… sweat profusely!
Gern’s smile remained lazy, but Dragoon could feel the oppressive aura hidden beneath the calm.
Just as he was about to speak to ease the tension, a sharp voice suddenly broke the silence.
“You’ve shown a weakness, Heaven Quake!” Ivankov’s sharp voice cut through the heavy air, and his pink figure flashed like a ghost.
A cold glint shimmered between his long fingers, the syringe tracing a deadly arc in the air.
“Okama Kenpo: Floating-Caressing Fist!”
However, before his attack could reach Gern, a giant golden shield suddenly materialized, interposing itself between the two.
Sparks immediately flew where the needle tip collided with the shield’s surface.
Tesoro slowly walked out from the side, liquid gold flowing between his fingers.
“Vice Admiral Gern is talking, unwanted guests…” He raised his leg for a powerful kick, Armament Haki wrapped around it.
“Stay quiet!!”
“Bang!” Ivankov flew backward like a broken kite, crashing into the wall and leaving spiderweb-like cracks.
Before he could even struggle to get up, the liquid gold had transformed into shackles, firmly binding him.
“Hee-haw?! This gold…” Ivankov’s face suddenly changed drastically, “I can’t move, are you also a Devil Fruit user?!”
“Ivan!!” Dragoon’s pupils suddenly constricted.
Then, he glanced at Libo, who was gnawing on a carrot, and then at the sneering Tesoro, and an alarm bell rang in his heart.
“I almost forgot, these two guys’ combat power is also considerable.”
“If that’s the case…” Haoshoku aura began to emanate around him, dark red lightning arcs leaping on his shoulders.
“It seems today.” Dragoon’s voice was as deep as thunder, the majesty of the Revolutionary Army leader fully displayed at this moment.
However— “Slap!” A crisp sound exploded in the air.
Dragoon didn't even see Gern’s movement, but a burning pain shot through his left cheek, and his body uncontrollably tilted backward, plowing a furrow in the muddy ground.
“You…” Dragoon propped himself up, spitting out a mouthful of bloody saliva.
When he looked up, he met Gern’s condescending gaze.
Those eyes were as cold as an Arctic glacier.
“Hey, Dragoon.” Gern’s voice was light, yet it caused the surrounding temperature to plummet.
The slipper in his hand had been replaced by black blade eight desolations at some point, its blade wrapped in a pale white tremor.
“Crack—” Centered on Gern, spiderweb-like cracks began to appear in the air.
High-frequency vibrating particles pulsed within those cracks, each radiating a destructive aura.
“If you’re going to use Haki…” Gern slowly raised the Black Blade, its tip pointing directly at Dragoon’s brow.
“This won’t be a matter of ‘fatherly education’ anymore!”
“!!” Dragoon stiffened.
He could feel that what Gern was emanating at this moment was genuine killing intent.
As long as he dared to release Haoshoku, the Black Blade would mercilessly strike down the next second.
Looking at Gern, Dragoon was stunned.
That’s right! Gern's current stance represented his “father,” Garp, so if he fought back, the situation would completely change!
Supreme Slipper and black blade eight desolations, choose one.
He still knew which one to choose!
The great cause of revolution could not be ruined today.
“I won’t fight back, Gern.” Dragoon gritted his teeth and stood up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
His voice was calm, but his knuckles were white.
“As expected.” Seeing Dragoon’s hesitant expression, Gern’s lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile.
In the original story, Dragoon always considered the bigger picture in everything he did, so he could only “sweat,” which meant he couldn't possibly jeopardize his revolution for any small matter (including Ginny's capture, etc.).
Plus, he was currently representing Garp in hitting him!
This also meant… the current situation was a willing giver and a willing receiver!
“Why bother?” Gern shook his head and sighed, “Vice Admiral Garp is also doing this for your own good!”
He said so, but his actions showed no mercy, directly following up with an unavoidable Quake Flash connected to a fierce slap with the slipper.
“Slap! Slap! Slap!” Crisp sounds echoed one after another, creating a peculiar rhythm amidst the ruins.
And the Revolutionaries, seeing their leader enduring such pain for them, were instantly moved to tears.
“Don’t blame me, Dragoon, it actually hurts me to hit you…” Gern had a look of profound sorrow.
“It hurts my heart!” A super invincible Thomas 360-degree spinning mighty slap.
When Gern finally stopped, Dragoon’s face was already swollen, and the iconic mark was already taking shape.
“Cough cough…” Dragoon wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stood up unsteadily.
“Still going?” Gern shook his slightly numb wrist.
Dragoon took a deep breath, then suddenly showed a strange smile: “Gern, you can’t stop…”
“Slap!” Another powerful slap interrupted him.
“So much nonsense. Since you chose to take a beating, stand still quietly.”
“Gern, you can’t stop the tide of revolution!”
“Then let me see…” Gern flexed his wrist, the slipper gleaming in the sunlight and wrapped with vibrating particles.
“Can your ‘revolution’ shake my ‘justice’!”
“No, are you addicted to slapping me?!
You can’t use Devil Fruit abilities! Bastard! I’m your senior! Stop!!!”
.........
“That was satisfying! This mission is the most satisfying mission I’ve had since joining the Marine!”
After a long while, Gern stared at Dragoon for a few seconds, then suddenly turned and threw the slipper to him, clapping his hands.
“That’s it then.”
“Gern?!” Dragoon was stunned, “You… you’re not stopping me? The fact that you found me means your mission wasn’t to…”
“Stop you?” Gern turned back to glance at him, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
“I’m just here to complete Vice Admiral Garp’s mission.
As for the Revolutionary Army… others will naturally worry about that.”
Dragoon, with the slipper marks on his face, stared blankly at Gern’s retreating back, suddenly understood something, and the corners of his mouth slightly curved upward: “Thank you.”
Gern waved his hand, walking towards Libo and Tesoro without looking back: “Let’s go, mission complete.”
“Eh? It’s over just like that?” Libo blinked, her rabbit ears twitching in confusion, “Weren’t we here to capture Dragoon?”
“Who said that?” Gern rubbed her head, “We just came to ‘greet’ an old friend.”
Tesoro thoughtfully glanced at Dragoon and whispered: “Vice Admiral Gern, is this really okay? Fleet Admiral Kong might…”
“Is Dragoon severely injured?”
“Yes.”
“Then there you have it, I’ve tried my best!”
“It’s a pity…” Gern’s gaze drifted towards the distant, gradually collapsing palace, “The king of this country truly deserves to die.
So, you know how to write the mission report now, right?”
“Evidence and process are all there!” Looking at Dragoon’s face, Tesoro suddenly understood.
“Following Vice Admiral Gern, there’s truly a lifetime of learning!”
The three gradually walked away, Dragoon’s voice coming from behind them: “Gern! Next time we meet, we might be enemies!”
“We’ll see about that next time! You traitor!” Gern didn't turn back, just raised his hand and waved.
“Also, remember the marks on your face. If it’s really bad, just use red paint to tattoo them.”