Chaori truly had a knack for publicity—especially when it came to crafting explosive headlines.
Coupled with Gern's utterly shameless interview responses, the West Blue's trending headlines quickly became things like—
"Gold Roger? Give Me Two Years!" — Gern Declares War on Legends!"Why Did Shiki and Whitebeard Rise First? Were They Avoiding Gern… or Just Too Slow?""Gern: Strong People Have Two Traits—One, a Bad Memory. The Other… I Forgot."
The strategy was simple: whoever had fame, drag them out and use them as a comparison.
And surprisingly, it worked.
The West Blue hadn't produced a truly dazzling Marine rookie in a very long time, so Gern's sudden rise sent shockwaves across the sea. His name spread like wildfire, and even Morgans' newly founded World Economy News ran a rare feature on him.
Marine Headquarters — Marineford
Golden sunlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the massive office within. The words "Absolute Justice" hung boldly on the wall, glowing beneath the fading light.
Zephyr sat behind his desk, arms crossed over his broad chest. His short purple hair reflected the light with a metallic sheen as his sharp gaze rested on the document before him.
"After-Action Report: Ensign Gern Reginald Sigmar — Battle of Ashen Port."
Beside it lay several newspapers from the World Economy News, every front page bearing the same name:
"Rising Star of the West Blue! 'Heavenquake' Gern Slays 70-Million-Berry Pirate!"
Zephyr tapped his fingers lightly against the desk, eyes fixed on the report.
It detailed the massacre at Ashen Port—and Gern's decision to order the Marine flag removed from the warship after witnessing the slaughtered civilians.
And that sentence—
"Justice that arrives late is not justice at all."
A faint smile touched Zephyr's lips.
"That brat…" he muttered.
His thoughts drifted back to a year ago—to that blood-soaked battlefield on God Valley, where he had seen a boy carrying fallen comrades on his back, eyes exhausted yet unyielding.
Even then, Zephyr had known—this kid wasn't ordinary.
"Justice that arrives late…"He repeated the words softly, emotion flickering behind his hardened gaze.
Outside the window, the port of Marineford bustled with activity—soldiers hauling supplies, flags snapping sharply in the sea wind.
Suddenly, the office door burst open.
"Hahaha! Zephyr, you won't believe it! Roger slipped away again!"Garp burst in, laughing loudly, a bag of snacks crumpled in his hand, cheeks bulging as he chewed.
"That bastard ran faster than a rabbit! Sengoku sent three warships and still couldn't corner him!"
Sengoku followed close behind, rubbing his temples in exasperation."Garp, must you barge in like that every time?"
Zephyr chuckled. "What, let him get away again right under your nose?"
Garp plopped onto the sofa, crossing his legs."Hey, if he hadn't darted into the Calm Belt, I'd have smashed him into the sea!"
"Don't talk with your mouth full, you idiot!" Sengoku snapped.
Then he turned to Zephyr."So… Whitebeard. His trail went cold in the New World."
Zephyr nodded. "He's formed his own crew. Heard he's been collecting 'sons' lately. Might've returned to the Four Blues—or the Grand Line."
"Should've brought Tsuru with us…" Garp muttered.
Sengoku ignored him, his gaze drifting toward the newspaper on Zephyr's desk."Oh? That 'Heavenquake' kid from the West Blue? His name's everywhere lately."
Zephyr slid the report toward him. "Take a look."
Sengoku skimmed through it, his expression gradually sharpening.
"Solo kill on a seventy-million bounty pirate… a Logia user…"He paused at the section describing the removal of the Marine flag."He ordered the flag taken down? Interesting."
Garp leaned over, still chewing. "Why'd he do that?"
"Because the Blood Spear Pirates slaughtered the entire town before the Marines arrived," Zephyr said quietly."To him, justice that arrives too late isn't worthy of the flag."
Garp went silent for a moment—then broke into a wide grin."Hah! That's got guts! I like the kid!"
Sengoku looked up at Zephyr. "What do you think?"
Zephyr smiled faintly. "That line… it's not something a normal branch soldier would say."
He stood and walked toward the window, gazing down at the harbor.
"His record is unusual. Joined the Marines at ten. Took four years just to reach Seaman Second Class.But after the God Valley incident, he changed completely—sixteen pirate crews eliminated in a single year."
Sengoku adjusted his glasses."And his Devil Fruit… a Logia-type vibration ability. Similar to Newgate's, but fundamentally different."
"Natural vibration itself," Zephyr said quietly. "More refined than the Gura Gura no Mi. And he's only fifteen."
Sengoku narrowed his eyes."Fifteen, and already capable of killing a veteran pirate from the Grand Line… his potential is terrifying.But the World Government has concerns."
"Tch." Garp snorted. "Those old fools are paranoid about everything. As long as he's not a pirate, who cares what power he has? And the West Blue hasn't produced talent in ages! Even the academy just graduated three monsters—hah!"
Zephyr didn't respond immediately. He folded the newspaper neatly and placed it on the desk.
"I've already signed his transfer order," he said. "He'll report to Headquarters next month."
Sengoku raised an eyebrow."You're bringing him directly to HQ? Not sending him through the academy first?"
Normally, rookies from the Four Blues trained at Marineford before advancement.And Zephyr himself had been teaching there recently—especially nurturing talents like Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino.
But bringing Gern straight to Headquarters was different.
That wasn't training.That was mentorship.
Zephyr chuckled softly."I'm thirty-seven now. You two are still here, and those three monsters are rising fast… but Gern's different."
He gazed out over the harbor, posture firm as iron.
"Before he got his Devil Fruit, he was just like I was—no talent, no gifts. Just strength and will.Now that he has power… I want to see how far he can go."