In front of the Marineford building, Gern was about to enter when Zephyr stopped him.
"Teacher?" Gern halted.
"Don't think you can fool your way through just because you're back, kid," Zephyr snorted, lowering his voice. "Fleet Admiral Kong's office isn't that easy to get into.
He's not just calling you over for an award."
Gern smiled slightly, "I know."
Zephyr stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly reached out and pressed on his shoulder. "Remember, no matter what you say, don't admit anything.
Especially about David, don't mention a single word."
Gern was visibly stunned when Zephyr brought up David.
"Do you think I don't know your temperament? Anyway, because of this,
the Flying Sky Pirates' influence has caused chaos in the affiliated countries, and the World Government is pressuring us daily."
Gern nodded, "Understood."
"Good that you understand." Zephyr's gaze softened, turning to Libo, who was gnawing on a carrot nearby. "I'll take this girl back first.
Remember, no matter what Kong says, you have to hold your ground."
"Say hello to Lina for me." Gern watched Zephyr leave, and the smile on his face vanished the moment he turned around.
He straightened his collar and strode towards the white building that symbolized the highest authority of the Marine.
.........
Marineford, Fleet Admiral's Office
When Gern stepped into the Fleet Admiral's office, Kong was standing with his back to him, looking out of the massive floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the panoramic view of Marineford.
Sunlight streamed through the glass, shining on his epaulets, reflecting a cold gleam.
"Report," Gern stood at attention, his voice calm.
Kong slowly turned, his sharp gaze sweeping over Gern's face, then he pointed to the sofa. "Sit."
Gern nodded, walked directly to the sofa, and sat down, his posture relaxed yet respectful.
Kong picked up the document on the table, casually flipped through a few pages, and a slight smile played on his lips. "It seems our Admiral Zefa's 'accomplice' is back."
Facing Kong's teasing, Gern smiled slightly. "Those were just jokes."
"Just jokes, huh..." Kong gave Gern a deep look, then chuckled lightly, saying no more.
Instead, he brought the conversation back to the main topic. "You did very well this time, effectively curbing the arrogance of the New World pirates.
After all, San Juan Wolf and the Curse Doctor are both troublesome individuals."
"Just happened to run into them," Gern shrugged, his tone indifferent, and slowly said,
"So, suddenly interrupting my mission this time, it shouldn't just be to have me keep an eye on Golden Lion, right?"
"Heh heh," Kong chuckled softly, his tone flat. "What do you think?"
Gern looked sideways, his gaze calmly meeting Kong's.
"Since the Fleet Admiral asks that, I presume there are other arrangements?"
Kong did not answer immediately. Instead, he walked to the desk, picked up a document, and handed it to Gern. "Take a look at this first."
Gern took the document, quickly scanned it, and frowned slightly. "Golden Lion's Third Division Commander, 'Death Knell' David? Do you need me to capture him?"
"Stop pretending," Kong's voice suddenly turned cold. "You took down David, didn't you, Gern?"
The air in the office seemed to freeze for a moment.
"Heh heh," Gern gently placed the document on the coffee table, his expression still calm, even with a hint of appropriate confusion,
as if Kong was just asking a question he knew absolutely nothing about.
"Why would the Fleet Admiral think that?" Gern even raised a polite smile at the corner of his mouth.
"There was no such thing in the mission report summary I submitted."
Kong watched Gern in silence for a second.
No panic, no hesitation, not even a change in his heart rate.
He had to admit that this young man in front of him was not only powerful but also had excellent psychological fortitude.
"Intelligence shows traces of Marine ship activity near the last known location of David."
Kong leaned forward, hands braced on the desk, pressing closer to Gern. "And at that time, only your Marine ship was patrolling that sea area."
"And if I'm not mistaken, you went to Mokomo Dukedom after destroying David's ship."
"Fleet Admiral, you can't just make baseless accusations," Gern chuckled. "New World pirates run rampant, and David has more enemies than just the Marine.
It could have been Whitebeard, Roger? Or other great pirates! After all, pirates are also competitive."
"I indeed have no evidence; these are all just my conjectures," Kong narrowed his eyes and smiled.
After all, all the Marines who went out with Gern had a consistent story, and even turning one of them wouldn't make any difference.
Coupled with the vast sea and David, who was likely eaten by fish by now, there really was no evidence to prove that Gern did it.
Kong was silent for a moment, then suddenly straightened up and sneered, "You are very clever, but some things cannot be hidden."
Gern did not reply, simply watching Kong quietly.
"However..." Kong changed the subject, took out a new document from the drawer, and threw it in front of Gern.
"This time, I can pretend I didn't see it."
Gern raised an eyebrow, picked up the document, and opened it, finding a new mission directive.
"He is, after all, the Third Division Commander of the Flying Sky Pirates, and Golden Lion cannot remain inactive," Kong walked back to the window and said, his back to Gern.
Gern closed the document, his gaze deep. "Fleet Admiral Kong, this is Golden Lion!
Don't you know about my history with him? If I go, it'll only make things worse!"
"I'm not asking you to confront Golden Lion, but to deal with the issues caused by the pirate crew under his command."
"But that..." Gern was about to continue speaking, but Kong interrupted him.
"I believe you are capable of handling this matter, and these are problems you yourself caused.
In short, you must calmly and properly bring this matter to an end."
"......."
Gern saluted and turned to leave.
As he reached the door, Kong suddenly called out to him again, "Gern."
"Does the Fleet Admiral have any further instructions?" Gern turned back.
Kong's gaze was profound. "Remember, the Marine needs loyalty, not personal heroism."
Gern's footsteps paused slightly at the doorway. With his back to Kong, a cold sneer appeared on his lips. "Loyalty? You telling me that is more like it."
Kong's brows furrowed instantly. "What did you say?"
"I said I'll handle everything," Gern waved his hand and pushed the door open, walking out.
The hallway lights cast a long shadow behind him. As he walked, he opened the mission document in his hand, and his pupils suddenly contracted when he saw the transfer order.
The document clearly stated: 【Effective immediately, Rear Admiral Gern is transferred to New World G-3 Base, with Vice Admiral Sakazuki as his direct superior.】
"G-3 Base? Vice Admiral Sakazuki?"
"You Mama's..." Gern's knuckles turned white. "So this is what your 'loyalty' means? Damn it.
And me and Akainu, the two of us? Quiet? Calm? Proper? Heh heh."
.....
Meanwhile, in the office, Kong contentedly picked up his teacup and softly said to the air, "Young men should learn discipline from Sakazuki.
I believe that under Sakazuki's leadership, all the problems caused by the Flying Sky Pirates' affiliates will be 'properly' handled."
At this moment, the Fleet Admiral had yet to realize what would happen when he confidently put the two most extreme individuals into one base...