Three days later, at Marineford's 133rd Branch in the West Blue.
Inside the Branch Chief’s office, Asahi was excitedly rubbing his hands, the fat on his face squeezed into a ball by his exaggerated smile.
“Hahahaha!!”
He excitedly spread open a newspaper, which prominently featured Gern’s back standing amidst the ruins of Ashen Port, with a striking headline:
“New Star of the West Blue! Marine “Heavenly Quake” Gurn Single-handedly Slays Seventy Million Berries Worth of Pirates!”
“Gern! Did you see it?!” Asahi slapped the table excitedly, making the water in his teacup splash out, especially with his own interview photo next to the newspaper.
“Now the entire West Blue is talking about you! I believe Marineford must have already started paying attention!”
Gern leaned by the window, his gaze calmly sweeping over the newspaper.
Outside the window, on the branch’s training ground,
The new recruits were frantically training, their eyes occasionally glancing in his direction, filled with fanaticism.
In the year since Gern obtained his Devil Fruit, his basic training was the same as theirs, so his strength hadn’t improved much at all.
If it weren’t for the powerful Devil Fruit ability, he would have died in the battle at Ashen Port…
“Gern?!”
“I just killed a pirate, that’s all.” Hearing Asahi’s words, Gern, who had come back to his senses, said indifferently.
“A pirate?!” Asahi’s eyes widened, “That was ‘Blood Spear’ Logot, with a bounty of sixty-nine million Berries!
A ruthless character who came back from the Grand Line!
Do you know that a feat of this level is enough to promote you to a commissioned officer even in Marineford!”
Gern didn't respond, only looking down at his palm.
His palm was slightly pale, and the Tremor particles were as pliable as mud under his control.
He won that battle, but it also exposed a fatal weakness—the lack of Haki.
Although Logot’s Armament Haki was only rudimentary, it could still wound him.
If he encountered true powerhouses, such as future Admirals, monsters of the New World, or pirates with bounties over a hundred million Berries…
His Nature Type ability would no longer be an absolute advantage.
“Gern?” Asahi saw his silence and thought he was contemplating the promotion, so he immediately lowered his voice and leaned closer.
“Don’t worry, I’ve already submitted your promotion application!
With your current fame and achievements, Marineford can’t possibly refuse!”
“Hmm.” Gern responded, his gaze turning to the window.
“Oh, right!” Asahi suddenly remembered something and slapped his thigh excitedly.
“I’ve already contacted reporters from the West Blue Daily; they’ll be here tomorrow to interview you! This is a great opportunity to build momentum!”
“Interview?” Gern frowned slightly.
“Of course!” Asahi rubbed his hands, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness, “You are now the hero of the West Blue!
The public needs such a role model, and the Marine needs such publicity! Especially that one line of yours…”
At this, Asahi cleared his throat and imitated Gern’s tone, low and powerful:
“Justice that is too late… does not deserve to be called justice.”
“Holy crap! How are you so smart?” Asahi grinned: “That line is absolutely brilliant!
Now the civilians of the West Blue are all praising it, saying you are a true hero of the West Blue who fights for the weak!”
Gern was silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a cold laugh.
“They are wrong.”
“Huh?” Asahi was taken aback.
“I didn’t kill Logot for justice.” Gern’s voice was soft, yet as sharp as a blade.
“I just needed his head as my ‘certificate of allegiance’ for my promotion to Marineford.”
Asahi’s smile froze on his face.
Silence filled the office for a moment.
A few seconds later, Asahi let out two dry laughs and waved his hand: “Oh, this kind of talk can’t be said publicly!
Anyway, the result is the same, you eliminated the pirate and protected the civilians, that’s enough!”
Gern didn’t explain further.
He knew Asahi wouldn't understand.
In this corrupt West Blue, justice had long become a slogan, and the difference between Marine and pirates was sometimes just a uniform.
But it didn't matter.
His goal was never to be some “hero” here.
“Oh, right!” Asahi suddenly lowered his voice, mysteriously pulling out a document from his drawer, “Take a look at this.”
Gern took the document, glanced at it, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
“Marineford Special Summons”
“This is…”
“Shh!” Asahi made a shushing gesture, looked left and right to confirm no one was eavesdropping, then whispered: “This was personally signed by Admiral Zefa!”
“Zephyr?” Gern’s pupils contracted slightly.
“Exactly!” Asahi nodded excitedly, “Although the official transfer order hasn’t come down yet, internal news has already spread!
I used my connections to find out that Admiral Zefa is very interested in your performance!”
Gern’s fingertips unconsciously rubbed the edge of the document, his heartbeat quickening slightly.
Finally… it’s here!
If he could receive his guidance…
“However…” Asahi suddenly sighed, his expression becoming complicated, “There’s some bad news.”
“Speak.”
“The World Government… has some ‘questions’ about your Devil Fruit ability.” Asahi lowered his voice.
“It’s no wonder they suspect, your ‘Heavenly Tremor Fruit’ and Whitebeard’s ‘Tremor-Tremor Fruit’ from the remnants of the Rocks Pirates are indeed a bit similar.”
“I don’t care about such things at all.” Gern smiled.
He had long anticipated this day.
The ability of the Nature Type Heavenly Tremor Fruit was too conspicuous; the World Government couldn't possibly ignore it.
Especially since his Tremor and Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit had similarities.
But Gern was certain that his Devil Fruit was not the Celestial Dragons' reward on God Island.
Moreover, the difference between Paramecia and Nature Type is significant, and there are also higher and lower ranks among Devil Fruits.
“That’s right! The World Government is just a bunch of idle people.” Asahi also echoed the complaint, then immediately pulled the conversation back to the previous topic.
“Now that Zephyr at Marineford has noticed you, and according to the information I’ve gathered,
He is the most likely to be promoted to Admiral next year, a 38-year-old Marineford Admiral!
Now that he has noticed you, I still think it's not enough.”
Looking at Asahi’s serious expression, Gern was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled, “So?”
“Gern, don’t laugh!” Asahi slapped his thigh, “How long has it been since our West Blue produced a ‘Marine New Star’!
You are now the pride of our West Blue Marine! So now we need to create a huge buzz!
And…” At this, Asahi, who was a head shorter than Gern, raised his hand and patted Gern’s shoulder.
“I believe in your strength, so next, I’m going to boast like crazy.”
Watching Asahi’s soliloquy, Gern said nothing, only smiling silently.
Building momentum means fame, the foundation for his future promotion in the Marine… This was exactly what he wanted.
“Asahi.” After a long time, Gern slowly stood up, black blade eight desolations in hand, “I will attend tomorrow’s interview.”
“Ah? That’s great!” Asahi exclaimed, “Don’t worry, I’ve already arranged it; the reporters will only ask positive questions, absolutely no…”
“No.” Gern interrupted him, a dangerous curve on his lips, “Let them ask.”
“What?” Asahi was stunned.
“Especially questions about the Devil Fruit ability.” Gern’s voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness, “The sharper, the better.”
Asahi opened his mouth, not reacting for a moment.
Gern had already turned and walked towards the door; as his hand rested on the doorknob, he slightly tilted his head and left a sentence:
“Since we’re creating momentum… then let the storm come even more fiercely.”
He wanted the whole world to remember his name!
Gern Reginald Sigma!