"Damn it… this brat really does put on a convincing act!"
Watching Gern stand there with that righteous, solemn expression — as if every word he spoke was for the sake of the Marines' grand strategy in the New World — Sengoku almost laughed in disbelief.
If he hadn't spent more than a decade circling, negotiating, and clashing with Gern ever since taking the seat of Fleet Admiral, he might truly have been fooled by that posture of patriotic concern.
"GERN!!!"
Sengoku slammed both hands onto his desk and surged to his feet, leaning forward. His eyes blazed as he tore straight through the final layer of polite pretense.
"It's just the two of us in here. Drop the official rhetoric and the empty courtesies!"
"You think I don't know why you suddenly dragged that nuisance, the Golden Lion, Shiki, back into the picture?!"(Shiki)
So he noticed… Gern thought inwardly.
Outwardly, however, his expression barely shifted. He simply sighed and spread his hands in a half-resigned gesture.
"Three parts false, nine parts true~" he admitted in a tone that was neither fully honest nor entirely mocking.
"G-10's safety is a very real concern. I wasn't lying about that, Fleet Admiral."
"Gern." Sengoku's gaze locked onto him, heavy and unyielding. "Whitebeard's power — the Tremor-Tremor Fruit — even in his old age, is not something we can afford to ignore!"
(Whitebeard)
"Otherwise, why would I mobilize so extensively?"
A faint, cold smile crept onto Sengoku's face.
"Of course… if you refuse, then I have a simpler plan. More direct. And it won't affect your G-10 at all."
"Oh?" Gern arched an eyebrow, inviting him to continue.
"Then listen carefully."
Sengoku's voice dropped, each word deliberate.
"You, Admiral Gern, will return to the New World immediately from Marineford."
(Marineford)
"Intercept Whitebeard on his way here. Or better yet — invade his main base outright!"
"With your 'Heaven-Shaker' power, and your so-called 'Calamities,' kill him in front of his entire crew. End him on the spot — before he ever reaches Marineford."
Sengoku leaned even farther across the desk.
"Well? If I issue that order…"
His eyes narrowed.
"Everything you've meticulously calculated and waited years for — wouldn't it all collapse into nothing, Gern?"
It was a ruthless move — a blade thrust straight beneath the ribs.
Forcing Gern to choose between obedience and ambition.
For a moment, Gern genuinely looked stunned, as though he hadn't expected such a decisive proposal.
Then—
He lowered his head.
And laughed.
A low chuckle at first.
"Heh…"
Then louder.
"Hahaha…!"
"What a plan! Truly brilliant! As expected of Fleet Admiral Sengoku — the famed strategist!"
He clapped lightly while shaking his head, laughter echoing through the office.
By the time Sengoku's expression had stiffened into total disbelief, Gern finally forced down the smile that threatened to split his face.
But the sharpness in his eyes could no longer be concealed.
Tilting his head slightly, he looked at Sengoku with near-provocative calm.
"However… my dear Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
He deliberately dragged out the final syllables, enunciating each word with crystalline clarity.
"Do you truly believe…"
"In this place… at Marineford…"
"That you can command me?"
The air froze.
This was no longer subordinate answering superior.
This was a collision of authority between two titans of the Marines — each commanding immense power in their own right.
And this moment—
Was the culmination of everything Gern had spent years building.
Sengoku's authority as Fleet Admiral might dominate the first half of the Grand Line.
But once his orders crossed into the New World—
They meant nothing.
The Fleet Admiral of Marineford could not command the Supreme Strategist of G-10 in the New World.
Sengoku's fingers tightened subtly against the desk.
He met Gern's unmasked gaze — ambition burning openly within it — and understood.
The probing was over.
The disguises were gone.
The real negotiation began now.
And the bargaining chips were no longer mere troop deployments.
They were the future balance of the world itself.
"…What do you want?" Sengoku exhaled deeply and sank back into his chair.
The man before him was exactly what he himself had once been in the eyes of Kong.
If you did not give him what he sought—
He would take it.
(Kong)
Watching Sengoku's posture shift, Gern calmly stacked the teacups on the desk, one atop the other.
Then he spoke softly.
"I think…"
"Marineford should be in the New World."
...
It was a long time before the heavy wooden doors of the Fleet Admiral's office finally opened again.
Gern stepped out, expression composed.
Tesoro, who had been standing guard outside the entire time, immediately approached.
"Admiral Gern…"
"Mm."
Gern did not slow his stride. His tone was steady.
"Proceed according to the original plan."
"I will attend Marineford's public execution."
Tesoro's eyes sharpened. He paused for a single heartbeat before falling into step beside him, ready to receive further orders.
As they walked, Gern began issuing instructions. His voice was not hurried, yet every word carried decisive weight.
"Send word to our people embedded within Kaido's territory. Have them start spreading rumors."
(Kaido)
"Embellish them. Exaggerate. Make sure that 'big mud loach' develops an irresistible interest in this so-called banquet of top-tier power at Marineford."
"He loves chaos. He worships strength. Give him a reason he cannot ignore."
"Inform Snake Empress Toritoma and Hawkeye Mihawk to stir up some noise in the New World."
(Dracule Mihawk)
"Pick a few overactive pirate crews and slaughter them cleanly. Muddy the waters."
"Make that old fox Wang Zhi of Pirate Island smell something off and flee early again — just like last time. Don't let him and the other great pirates exploit the chaos."
"As for Red-Hair…"
A cold curve formed at Gern's lips.
"He cares too much about face. Styles himself a guardian of balance."
(Shanks)
"At a spectacle like this, he'll show up on his own. No need to invite him."
"And BIG MOM…"
Gern's gaze turned glacial.
(Big Mom)
"Notify Enel and Bartholomew Kuma."
(Enel)(Bartholomew Kuma)
"Have them personally make a trip to Totto Land."
(Totto Land)
"No stealth. No concealment. Clear objective."
"Direct assault."
"Hunt down her Sweet Commanders."
"Find them. One by one."
"If you can kill them, kill them."
"If not, beat them until fear sinks into their bones."
"Make it plain to that old woman who's spent decades pampering herself on Cake Island…"
Gern stopped walking.
He turned, eyes sharp as drawn blades, and delivered the final line with absolute, overwhelming confidence — the kind that looked down upon the seas themselves.
"Even if I move… even if I leave the New World…"
"No one dares touch my G-10."
"If anyone reaches out—"
"I'll cut off their hand."
"If BIG MOM so much as twitches…"
"Her Totto Land—"
"I don't mind paying it an early visit."
"At worst, I'll cripple her before coming back."
Tesoro listened to the seamless chain of ruthless, precise orders, his heart shaking at Gern's audacity.
This wasn't mere defense.
It was proactive deterrence through overwhelming aggression.
Gern intended to make every potential enemy understand one thing—
Even if he personally stood at Marineford—
The sky over the New World would still belong to "Heaven-Shaker" Gern.
"Understood. I'll arrange everything immediately."