In sea circle calendar 1489, the Elite Training Camp officially launched, and simultaneously, there were personnel changes at Marineford.
Tsuru was promoted from Rear Admiral to Vice Admiral, but her duty was transferred to the Marine Staff Headquarters, where she served as Deputy Chief of Staff, maintaining her Vice Admiral rank.
The following year, sea circle calendar 1490, Sakazuki, the workplace overachiever, accumulated the most merits and was promoted three ranks.
He was promoted from Headquarters Captain to Headquarters Vice Admiral, serving as the Chief of G-3 Base in the New World, stationed there long-term!
Kuzan was promoted two ranks from Marine Captain to Headquarters Rear Admiral, serving in the Headquarters Mobile Force (responsible for supporting major missions).
Borsalino was also promoted two ranks to Headquarters Rear Admiral and transferred to the Scientific Defense Force (guarding Vegapunk) to assist the scientist Vegapunk.
At the same time, on the last day of 1489 transitioning into 1490, a major event also occurred among the World Nobles.
Homing Saint of the Donquixote family decided to abandon his Celestial Dragons status and leave Mary Geoise with his wife and two sons.
A year later, in sea circle calendar 1491, Gern, due to the G-3 Golden Lion attack incident and his victory over Borsalino in the training camp exhibition match as the sole winner,
coupled with his military achievements and background perfectly aligning with the training camp's publicity plan, was specially approved for a four-rank promotion.
He was promoted from Headquarters Lieutenant to Headquarters Rear Admiral and appointed as the New World Patrol Commander.
And at the age of 20, he became the fastest-promoted flag officer in Marineford history!
Meanwhile, the Roger Pirates, who had reached the final island of the Log Pose, Water Seven, but found it wasn't the final island, were still searching for the Poneglyphs.
In the same year, the Whitebeard Pirates unexpectedly went to Wano Country, and ‘Samurai’ Kozuki Oden joined them.
And as soon as he set sail, with the terrifying record of sinking four warships and slaying two Headquarters Vice Admirals in a single day, he was given a bounty of 1,870,000,000 Berries.
Kaido, Big Mom, Evil King, Crescent Hunter, Red Earl, and other familiar great pirates began to become active.
Gekko Moriah, Crocodile, and other new-generation pirates began to emerge...
...
New World, Caswen Island.
The warship lay quietly anchored at the island's edge, sea breeze carrying a salty scent sweeping across the deck.
On the island, an eerie silence prevailed, the dense forest covered in gray-white mycelium, as if the entire island was quietly consumed by some organism.
"Rustle—" Amidst the subtle sound of the mycelium wriggling, a figure slowly walked out.
Gern, draped in a coat of justice, emerged from the mycelium thicket, dragging a man by his hair with his left hand.
The man's body was entwined with mycelium, his skin covered in strange spore marks, his eyes rolled back, having long lost consciousness.
"Tsk tsk tsk." Gern looked down at his left hand; the mycelium still coiled around his arm like a living thing, attempting to corrode his skin.
"Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit, if you had developed it a bit stronger, it would have been very troublesome for me!"
As he spoke, Armament Haki swept across like black lightning, and the mycelium instantly turned to ash under the Haki's crushing force, scattering into the air.
"Rear Admiral Gern!" A Marine soldier hurried forward, and when he saw the figure being dragged out, his voice involuntarily trembled.
The ‘Curse Doctor’ who struck fear into the hearts of Marines in the New World was now being dragged behind their own Rear Admiral like a dead dog.
"Th-this... is this the 'Curse Doctor' Samuel Chronos, with a bounty of 1,140,000,000 Berries?"
"Mm." Gern casually tossed the man onto the beach, kicking up a cloud of sand.
"A Mushroom-Mushroom Fruit user, a troublesome guy." Gern said, then kicked the limp body with his foot.
"Take him back, send him to the nearest Marine base, and have Kuzan personally escort him to Impel Down, and remember to bring Sea Stone handcuffs, don't let his spores spread and escape."
"As expected of the man who could defeat Rear Admiral Borsalino back then..."
The soldiers looked at Gern, who spoke calmly and had not a single scratch on him, and everyone subconsciously swallowed.
One must know, this was the 'Curse Doctor' Samuel Chronos, with a bounty as high as 1,140,000,000 Berries!!
"It's our greatest fortune to be on missions with Rear Admiral Gern." The most senior private in the squad lowered his voice.
"You haven't seen how other generals treat their subordinates...
Only Rear Admiral Gern would rather face an entire pirate crew alone than see us get hurt."
"Rear Admiral Gern~"
"Hurry up, no need to be moved!" Gern waved his hand.
"Yes!!" The Marines quickly stepped forward, handcuffed Samuel with Sea Stone handcuffs, and dragged him onto the warship.
"Looks like we can have some quiet time again..." A Sergeant opened his logbook and wrote in a calm tone:
【sea circle calendar April 1491, Rear Admiral Gern captured the pirate 'Curse Doctor' Samuel Chronos, with a bounty of 1,140,000,000 Berries.】
After recording, the officer looked up and asked, "Rear Admiral Gern, shall we return as planned?
Admiral Zefa called earlier, requesting you return to Marineford as soon as possible to attend..."
"A social gathering?" Gern's mouth twitched, and he directly waved his hand to interrupt, "No thanks, my patrol mission isn't over yet."
The officer looked troubled: "But Admiral Zefa said this time it's a special arrangement by Marineford for flag officers to get acquainted.
It concerns Marine internal unity, and as a newly promoted Rear Admiral and the face of the Elite Training Camp, your absence might..."
"Unity?" Gern scoffed, turning to look at the sea, "How could I not know what Teacher Zephyr is thinking?"
He certainly knew Zephyr's intentions.
Ever since he was promoted to Rear Admiral, and Zephyr knew he wanted a furry subordinate, Zephyr had been trying every trick in the book to "tie" him to Marineford.
It was either meetings or social gatherings, and he even called it "cultivating Gern's leadership qualities," but in reality, he just wanted him to stop running around.
But how good is a furry subordinate? Isn't it good to have Carrot, who practices both loli and mature styles, as a subordinate?
I just want a cute Carrot!
So Gern would actively apply for New World patrols whenever he had the chance.
Besides pursuing pirates, the more important reason was—I haven't found my Mokomo Dukedom yet!
Of course, Gern's departure was predicated on Gion also not being at Marineford.
After all, he would be very happy to socialize with Gion, the number one beauty of Marineford.
Seeing his Rear Admiral like this, the officer still wanted to persuade him, but Gern had already raised his hand to stop him.
"Reply to Teacher Zephyr, tell him that pirates are rampant in the New World, and the patrol mission is urgent; justice cannot be stopped.
As for the social gathering he mentioned, if Gion isn't there, I won't be either..." Gern shrugged.
"Let him go find Borsalino; that guy is very idle in the Scientific Unit."
"..."
"No! Add another sentence after that, tell Teacher Zephyr: How can one settle down while pirates are not eliminated?"
The officer hesitated, but finally could only bow his head and respond, "Yes."
"Alright." Gern looked at the distant horizon, "Continue the course, next stop..."
"Report!" Before Gern could finish speaking, a communicator suddenly rushed onto the deck, his face solemn.
"Rear Admiral Gern, an urgent distress signal has been received from the nearby sea!
A G-14 Unit warship has been attacked by the great pirate ‘San Juan Wolf’ San Juan Wolf, coordinates 132° East longitude, 28° North latitude!"
Gern raised an eyebrow: "San Juan Wolf?"
San Juan Wolf is now known as a "moving natural disaster," a monster whose 180-meter height and body size, when lying down, are comparable to a small island.
His bounty even exceeds 1,500,000,000 Berries, making him one of the most vicious great pirates in the New World.
"That's right." The communicator added, "The G-14 Unit warship is severely damaged.
The opponent seems... to be moving towards Caswen Island!"
"Coming here?" Gern's lips slowly curled into a cold smile, "Interesting."
Immediately after, Gern turned and walked to the warship's railing, placing one hand on the hilt of black blade eight desolations.
"All hands, turn to the distress coordinates!"
"Yes!" The warship quickly changed course, breaking through the waves, and sped away.
Teacher Zephyr, now you have no reason to rush me back, right?