At the same time, seeing the scene unfold, Kuzan casually raised a hand and exhaled a thin breath of cold air.
The thick layers of ice encasing the "Heavenly Calamity" officers began to melt and sublimate rapidly, releasing faint hiss–hiss sounds as white vapor drifted upward.
Before long, Hawk-Eye, Kuma, Bullet, and the others broke free from their frozen prisons.
They flexed their stiffened limbs, their gazes turning complex as they looked toward Gern and Sengoku. Yet, as if by unspoken agreement, none of them spoke immediately.
On the other side, Sengoku ignored Kuma—who had just thawed and was now holding Ginny tightly in his arms, completely immersed in the joy of reunion.
Turning to Gern, Sengoku's expression returned to the stern gravity befitting the Fleet Admiral of the Marines. His voice dropped, heavy and decisive.
"Gern. This farce ends here."
"Now, return the control of G-1 Base that you've been 'temporarily overseeing'… back to Vice Admiral Strawberry."
Gern heard this, hooked his pinky into his ear, then casually blew on his fingertip. He tilted his head and let out a sharp, loud whistle.
"Nope."
The refusal was crisp and unapologetic—almost shameless.
"I personally led the operation and worked my ass off to 'take over' this place from pirates," he said lazily. "Why should I give it back?"
"What the hell do you mean pirates?!"
"Hey! Gern!" Sengoku's temple twitched violently. "Stop playing dumb! The World Government will never allow you to hold G-1 long-term—it's a strategic stronghold! Hand it back to Strawberry. That's an order!"
"But~ Fleet Admiral," Gern dragged out the words, putting on an exaggerated, deeply wronged expression.
"This is a 'trophy' I paid an enormous price to obtain! If I just hand it over like that, my subordinates' hearts will go cold!"
"Don't push it, Gern." Sengoku lowered his voice, warning clear beneath the restraint.
"You're already the biggest winner of the Holy Land incident. You've gained more than enough benefits and leverage."
"Don't get greedy. Once the Headquarters High-Level Conference concludes in two months, your G-10 base—its scale, authority, and autonomy—will effectively be acknowledged as the Marineford of the New World."
"Isn't that enough?!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk…" Gern chuckled, leaning closer. His voice dropped to a whisper only Sengoku could hear.
"Come on, Fleet Admiral. Don't act like you didn't walk away with massive gains too~"
"Stabilized authority, bargaining chips in hand… acting like this just makes you look kind of ruthless, trying to grab all the benefits for yourself."
"Gern, you bastard!" Sengoku growled, teeth grinding as he was hit squarely in the sore spot.
Looking at Gern's utterly shameless, unmovable expression, Sengoku knew—without paying a price, there was no chance this guy would budge.
He took a deep breath, as if steeling himself, then clenched his teeth and spoke in a low voice:
"New World branches G-45 and G-22."
"Along with their jurisdictions and garrison command authority."
"That's the bottom line. Not one inch more."
"Hand over G-1."
The moment those words left his mouth, Gern's eyes lit up.
The scoundrel's grin snapped into place instantly, as if he'd been waiting for exactly this. He extended his hand decisively.
"Deal."
Watching Gern switch expressions faster than flipping a book, Sengoku felt an overwhelming wave of exhaustion. He slapped Gern's hand away irritably.
"Get lost! Vice Admiral Tsuru will handle the specifics with your people after the meeting!"
"Tsuru's coming to negotiate? Sengoku, are you trying to screw me?!"
"She's your senior! Watch your mouth!"
"...…"
...
The warship slowly departed G-1's harbor.
From the deck, Sengoku cast one last glance back at Gern standing on the shore. His expression was complicated, and in the end, he called out with genuine gravity:
"Gern! For the next two months, keep your head down! I'm begging you!"
"And two months from now—the Headquarters High-Level Conference—you must attend in person. Don't pull another disappearing act!"
"Yeah, yeah, got it." Gern waved him off casually.
Only after the warship vanished beyond the horizon did he stretch deeply, bones popping with a series of sharp cracks.
He was just about to turn and call over Tesoro to discuss plans for the newly acquired G-45 and G-22 branches—
—when he saw Bartholomew Kuma approaching, Ginny's hand held firmly in his own.
Kuma's massive frame made Ginny look especially safe beside him.
Stopping before Gern, Kuma's face held an expression of heartfelt gratitude unlike anything he'd ever shown before. He bowed deeply.
Ginny followed, bending at the waist as well.
"Mr. Gern… thank you," Kuma said, his deep voice sincere and heavy with emotion. "I will never forget this debt."
Gern looked at them, a faint smile touching his lips. His tone, however, was calm and straightforward—free of courtesy or self-congratulation.
"It's nothing, Vice Admiral Bartholomew Kuma."
"It's something I promised you."
"Vice Admiral?" Ginny snapped her head up at the title, her gaze darting back and forth between Gern and Kuma, shock and confusion written across her face.
"Kuma… you… you joined the Marines?! Then… what about Mr. Dragon…?"
Kuma opened his mouth to explain—
—but Gern spoke first.
His gaze settled calmly on Ginny, yet his words cut like cold steel, carving open the cruel reality beneath.
"Ginny. Listen carefully."
"I saved you for one reason only—because you are the family of Vice Admiral Bartholomew Kuma. Nothing more."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"As for the 'Mr. Dragon' you mentioned…"
"The moment Kuma voluntarily called my Den Den Mushi and asked me to intervene—he made his choice."
"What choice?" Ginny asked instinctively, her brow tightening.
Gern's voice remained flat, yet every word struck mercilessly.
"His choice was this—tacitly allowing you, along with the unborn child in your womb, to remain in the Holy Land."
"To become living specimens in the Five Elders' laboratories…"
"Or to be reduced to playthings for those brain-dead Celestial Dragons."
"Do you understand?"
The words hit Ginny like a sledgehammer.
She froze in place, her face draining of all color. Her lips trembled, but no rebuttal came.
Because she knew—
What Gern said was exactly the fate that had awaited her.The fate already in motion.
If Kuma hadn't reached out to Gern…If Gern hadn't dared to strike the Holy Land itself…
She didn't even dare imagine where she would be now.
Gern didn't wait for her reaction. He turned away and walked toward Tesoro, Hawk-Eye, and the others waiting nearby, waving his hand casually.
"Let's go. Time to head back. Too many messes to clean up."
"Gern! Gern!" Lipo bounced over, grabbing his left hand and blinking up at him eagerly. "Was the Holy Land fun? Was it dangerous?"
Gern habitually ruffled her hair. "So-so. Easy enough to handle."
"Handle what?" Toritoma smoothly wrapped around his other arm, her soft voice pressing close as she buried his arm into her warm embrace.
"Yahahaha! You should've taken this god with you!" Enel crossed his arms, lightning crackling through his hair. "Let those insects witness true divine might!"
"Give me a break," Bullet snorted. "Says the guy who got frozen into an ice sculpture first."
"You bastard—how dare you belittle a god?!"
Hawk-Eye carried Yoru on his back, gazing calmly into the distance. "Hero Garp's physical combat… is indeed worthy of respect."
Nearby, Tesoro covered his face, laughing helplessly. "You think you had it bad? Lipo and I rushed in and got flash-frozen by Aokiji into background scenery."
Listening to the chaotic chatter around him, Gern's lips curved unconsciously.
Kuma watched the backs of Gern and the Heavenly Calamity members as they walked away. After a moment of silence, he lowered his head.
Turning to Ginny—still lost in shock and haze—he offered a smile filled with gentleness and resolve, tightening his grip on her hand.
"Let's go, Ginny."
"Don't think about it anymore."
He paused, his voice soft yet powerful.
"Mr. Gern… gave me the right to choose a very long time ago."
"Kuma… dear, you…"
"He never forced me."