Marineford.
“Gern, you bastard, even on vacation, you need to behave yourself, understand?!”
Gern walked out of the Fleet Admiral's office, holding an approval document stamped with Kong's seal—three months of vacation approved.
“It sounds like I'm some kind of unruly person.” Gern exhaled softly, a slight smile playing on his lips.
The continuous work during this period could finally come to a temporary end. He needed to relax properly and handle some private matters.
......
Sunlight spilled onto the Marineford plaza, and the sounds of unified shouts came from the Elite Training Camp in the distance.
Gern paused, his gaze drawn over.
On the training ground, a group of Marine recruits were conducting practical combat drills.
Among them, a silver-haired youth was particularly striking, with sharp eyes and white smoke swirling around him, defeating his opponent with overwhelming strength.
Gern leaned against the railing, watching this scene with interest.
“That's Smoker, a Nature Type Smoke-Smoke Fruit user, one of the standouts of this batch.” A female voice came from beside him.
Gern turned his head and saw a young woman with long pink hair, wearing a burgundy uniform, standing beside him with her arms crossed.
“Oh? Are you also from this batch?” Gern raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, but compared to that brute Smoker, Libo prefers to use strategy.” She said, her lips curling slightly.
Smoker, who had just finished his battle on the other side, seemed to notice the gaze and turned to look over.
When his eyes landed on Gern, his pupils suddenly contracted, and the water cup in his hand almost fell.
“Heaven Tremor Gern?” His voice held a hint of disbelief.
Gern smiled and waved at him.
Smoker immediately abandoned his training opponent and hurried over, his eyes burning: “It's really you! I've watched your combat footage no less than a hundred times!”
Gern chuckled: “It's not that serious, is it?”
“Of course it is!” Smoker clenched his fist, “You're the one who defeated Borsalino in the Training Camp exhibition match!
That's one of Marineford's 'monsters'!
No, you're a monster now too!”
Looking at Smoker's fanatical expression, Gern shrugged: “Those are all in the past.”
“No, that's just the beginning!” Smoker's gaze was firm, “One day, I will surpass Rear Admiral Gern and become the strongest Marine!”
Gern looked at him, suddenly finding it amusing.
This young man, like himself back then, had an unyielding flame burning in his eyes.
Even though Smoker was more qualified, he didn't know why he strengthened the king of deserters.
“Very good.” Gern patted Smoker's shoulder, “But, remember—justice cannot be achieved by brute force alone.”
Smoker frowned: “What do you mean?”
“It means, don't just focus on fighting, use your brain more.” Ann interjected from the side, her tone teasing.
Smoker glared at her, but Gern laughed.
“She's right.” Gern looked at the recruits on the training ground and slowly said, “You are the future justice of the Marine.”
.......
“It seems you're very popular.”
Just as Gern, Smoker, and Ann were chatting, a low voice came from behind them.
Gern turned around. Zephyr was standing not far away, a faint smile on his lips.
“Also, are you two slacking off?!” Zephyr's deep, authoritative voice suddenly boomed, and the entire training ground instantly fell silent.
Smoker and Ann stiffened all over, and also turned around abruptly.
Sure enough, Zephyr was standing not far away, arms crossed, his gaze under his sunglasses as sharp as a knife.
“Ze-Zephyr Chief Instructor!” Smoker immediately stood straight and saluted.
Ann also quickly saluted, cold sweat seeping from her forehead: “Reporting, Chief Instructor! We were just…”
“Just what?” Zephyr snorted coldly, “Chatting during training time? It seems I've been too lenient with you.”
Smoker and Ann instantly tensed, not daring to breathe loudly.
Gern stood to the side, a barely perceptible smile on his lips, but he didn't speak up to help them.
Zephyr glanced at them and said coldly: “Smoker, you still rely too much on your Devil Fruit ability.
But while relying on it, your Nature Type development is also very poor. Do you think you're Gern?
Also, even Gern, when he encountered a Haki master like me in actual combat back then, he couldn't even last three seconds!”
Smoker gritted his teeth: “Yes! I will train twice as hard!”
“Ann, your Marine Six Styles.......”
Before Zephyr could finish speaking, Ann decisively replied: “Understood! I will improve!”
“Since that's the case, now, get back to the training ground immediately!” Zephyr said sternly, “Add five hundred sets of physical training, and no rest until you're done!”
“Yes!!” Both replied in unison, turning and running, afraid that a moment's delay would lead to another reprimand.
Gern looked at their disheveled backs and finally couldn't help but laugh: “Teacher Zephyr, you're still so strict.”
Zephyr snorted: “These brats, if they're not disciplined, they'll never know their place.”
After speaking, he paused, then turned his gaze to Gern: “Especially that Smoker, he has good talent, but he idolizes you too much.
When he first joined, he even wanted to imitate you and challenge me to a fight!”
Gern spread his hands: “I'm not that reckless.”
Zephyr sneered: “You're even more of a troublemaker than him.”
Gern smiled noncommittally.
......
Next, Gern and Zephyr walked side by side towards a pavilion at the edge of the training camp. The sea breeze blew, carrying a salty scent.
“You've been promoted to Rear Admiral, how does it feel?” Zephyr sat down and asked directly.
“No special feeling.” Gern leaned against the railing, “Anyway, there's still just as much work.”
Zephyr snorted with a laugh: “Don't be ungrateful, kid. Many people never reach this position in their lifetime.”
Gern shrugged: “I'm not complaining.”
“Heh.” Looking at Gern, Zephyr was silent for a moment, then suddenly said: “In a few more years, my Admiral position might have to be given up.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Gern raised an eyebrow: “Teacher, I don't want to be a bodyguard for the Celestial Dragons.”
“Do you think I want to?” Zephyr shook his head with a wry smile: “But some things are not for us to decide.”
Gern didn't respond.
He knew that even though Zephyr had fewer missions these past few years, he was still frequently dispatched by the World Government to Sabaody Archipelago.
Ostensibly to “maintain order,” in reality, it was to act as temporary guards for the Celestial Dragons.
Zephyr never mentioned such missions much, but every time he returned, his face was not good.
“So, what do you need me for?” Zephyr asked directly.
Gern didn't beat around the bush either: “My vacation has been approved. I'm going out for a while.”
“Hmm?” Zephyr frowned, “Where to?”
“Private matters.” Gern's tone was calm, “I'll entrust Libo to you for this period.”
Zephyr stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed: “You kid, every time you say you have ‘private matters,’ it's never good.”
Gern also laughed: “Don't worry, I won't cause any big news this time.”
Zephyr snorted: “It better be.”
He stood up and patted Gern's shoulder: “Leave that girl Libo to me, you go take care of your business.”
Gern nodded: “Thanks, Teacher.”
Zephyr waved his hand and turned to leave, his silhouette stretching long in the setting sun.