In sea circle calendar 1500, the pulse of the great sea trembled violently, and the torrent of the era swept everyone's destinies forward.
At the beginning of the year, Kong issued a transfer order, assigning Gern and his 'Calamity' faction to the New World, granting them absolute command autonomy.
This directly placed the 'Calamity' faction squarely in front of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Like a Sword of Damocles hanging over the head of the 'World's Strongest' man.
Thus, in just a few short months, Gern and Whitebeard clashed in the New World no less than fifty times!
However, not long after Gern's fleet arrived in the New World, a world-shaking surprise attack broke the balance.
The Solitary Red, 'Red Count' — Patrick Redfield, one of the last remaining powerhouses of the old era, unexpectedly launched a solo attack on Fleet Admiral Kong, who was patrolling near Marineford, catching everyone off guard.
For five days and five nights, the battle between these two peak powerhouses raged, finally ending with Kong's defeat and severe injuries…
However, the exhausted Red Count also failed to escape and was apprehended by the arriving Garp and taken to Impel Down.
At the same time the incident occurred, the World Government's reaction to the Marine power transition was breathtakingly swift.
Kong was promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the entire military while still in a coma, and Sengoku directly donned the Fleet Admiral's coat and took command at Marineford.
And on the seventh day after Sengoku took office, the world-shattering 'Ohara Incident' occurred!
The 'poneglyph exploration team' that Gern had secretly let go years ago met with a catastrophic end.
The fleet led by Vice Admiral Jaguar D. Saul blasted the exploration ship to pieces, with only Nico Olvia surviving.
And when CP agents found decisive evidence among the remains and belongings of the crew, the World Government officially launched a Buster Call fleet to surround Ohara.
At the same time, Marine Vice Admiral Jaguar D. Saul, upon witnessing the World Government's torture of Olvia and hearing Spandine's conversation with the World Government, began to have doubts about this 'justice'!
So the Giant Race leader rushed towards Ohara with Olvia, but only arrived in time to witness his homeland turn to scorched earth under cannon fire.......
And as the chilling aura that froze Saul had not yet dissipated, Kuzan gazed at eight-year-old Robin escaping in a small boat, ultimately turning away and tacitly allowing this betrayal.
That day, Sakazuki's flames, which shelled the refugee ship, not only incinerated Saul's passion but also froze Kuzan's last illusions of justice.
Months later, before the ashes of Ohara had settled into the seabed, Vegapunk met Dragon in the ruins, who had also come to pay his respects.
The two talked all night under the shattered Tree of Knowledge.
At dawn, Dragon left with the resolve to inherit the will, and two months later, during the complete liberation of Sorbet Kingdom,
He met Kuma and Ginny, and both joined the Revolution through Ivankov's introduction.
Thus, the Revolutionary Army was officially established, and its flag fluttered in the sky of the great sea for the first time.
Meanwhile, in the deepest level of Impel Down prison,
Golden Lion, at the cost of severing his legs, broke free from the Sea Stone shackles, retrieved his two swords, and shattered the so-called 'impenetrable walls'.
After leaving Shiryu with a scar through his chest, he soared into the sky.
And amidst all the chaos, a crying infant in Garp's arms was quietly sent to the East Blue.
The name Portgas D. Ace, along with his origins, was deeply buried in the dense forests of the Goa Kingdom, in the mountain bandit Dadan's cabin.
In this year, the old era shed its last drop of blood, while the stirrings of the new era were already deafening.
...........
In sea circle calendar 1501, January, Marineford, the Marine Headquarters, was still shrouded in the solemn atmosphere of the new leadership.
“Bang!” The heavy door of the Fleet Admiral's office was unceremoniously pushed open, hitting the inner wall with a dull thud.
Gern strode in, wearing a justice cloak with black-trimmed cuffs, a nearly provocative smile on his face.
He held a document in his hand and walked straight to the large Fleet Admiral's desk, slapping it down in front of Sengoku with a “thwack.”
“Fleet Admiral Sengoku,” Gern's voice carried undisguised mockery, “Isn't this a bit off?
You give me an Admiral position, then cut my independent fleet, independent sortie rights, and independent execution rights!
Isn't this deal a bit too much like bullying?”
Seeing Gern, Sengoku, who was sitting behind the desk, visibly paused, then slowly closed the document he was reviewing.
He looked up, his gaze calm and unruffled, pushing up the frog-shaped glasses on his nose.
“Gern.” His voice betrayed no emotion, “My willingness to leave you the most core 'independent decision-making' and 'independent appointment' powers within 'subordinate autonomy'
is already a full consideration and respect for Commander-in-Chief Kong's final order before his departure.
You must understand that the position of Admiral signifies higher responsibility and a broader perspective, not unlimited freedom of action.”
“Furthermore…” He paused, his tone hardening slightly.
“Leaving your New World front-line post and returning to Headquarters without any notice is, in itself, a serious breach of discipline!
What about the pressure from the Whitebeard Pirates? If they make a move while you're away, who will bear that responsibility?”
“Don't worry,” Gern scoffed, casually pulling up a sofa and sitting down, crossing his legs.
His eyes, however, suddenly turned cold, like arctic ice, piercing directly at Sengoku.
“The wounds I left him before I left won't heal that quickly!
He won't have the energy or the inclination to make any big moves for a while.”
Sengoku did not doubt Gern's words; after all, Gern's clashes with Whitebeard the previous year had dominated headlines for an entire year.
Seeing Sengoku about to speak again, Gern leaned slightly forward, his gaze fixed on Sengoku, and asked, word by word: “Don't try to change the subject, my Fleet Admiral Sengoku.”
“…”
“You made a deal with those five old geezers from the World Government, didn't you?
Otherwise, how could they so 'readily' agree to my promotion to Admiral?
You exchanged my autonomy in front-line operations for a more stable power structure for your Fleet Admiral's throne,
and the World Government's temporary peace of mind regarding 'troublemakers' within the Marine? This deal, for you, is truly a sure win.”
The air in the office seemed to freeze.
Hearing this, Sengoku's face darkened, and the hand resting on the desk clenched slightly.
“Gern!” he reprimanded, his voice carrying the authority of a Fleet Admiral, “Watch your words and your stance!
Promotion to Admiral is recognition of your strength and merits, and the corresponding power adjustments are for the overall coordination and balance of the Marine!
There is no dirty deal in this as you imagine!”
“Is that so?” Gern's sneer grew wider, clearly not believing the official rhetoric.
“My power is being reduced, and the one who ultimately benefits, who can better implement your will, isn't that you, Fleet Admiral Sengoku?”
“Gern!” Sengoku again intensified his tone, but seeing the other's unyielding, clearly bargaining posture, he knew that mere suppression was meaningless.
So he took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed his anger, and softened his tone slightly, with an almost compromising implication.
“Even if, as you say, some adjustments are not ideal for you,
I will compensate you in other areas.
Moreover, the authority and resources of an Admiral are far beyond those of a Vice Admiral.”
Upon hearing the word “compensation,” the provocative smile on Gern's lips instantly transformed into a subtle upward curve of a plan succeeding, as if he had been waiting for that very sentence.
“Oh? Compensation?” He leaned back into the sofa, his posture once again becoming lazy.
But his eyes remained sharp, and he threw out his condition in a flat tone.
“Alright! Then I want people.”
“Want people?” Sengoku was visibly stunned, his tense expression relaxing slightly, almost imperceptibly letting out a sigh of relief.
If it was just about wanting people, then it was still within the rules of the Marine system; it was simply an exchange of interests.
Thinking this, Sengoku agreed almost without hesitation, nodding with the characteristic generosity of a Fleet Admiral allocating resources.
“You can. Pick any Vice Admiral from Marineford…” Before he finished speaking, Gern's voice cut him off,
dropping a name in a calm tone that was enough to freeze the air in the entire office.
“I want… Douglas Bullet.”