In the days that followed, an unusual storm quietly swept through Marineford Headquarters.
Gion began appearing at Gern's residence with increasing frequency, always with a perfectly reasonable excuse.
Sometimes it was to "inspect the training progress of the newly appointed adjutant."Other times it was to "deliver documents from Vice Admiral Tsuru."Once, she even showed up holding a stack of books, declaring with absolute seriousness:
"Members of the Mink Tribe require supplementary cultural education."
And so, almost every time Gern opened the door, he would find Gion standing there with her usual cool expression—while Lipo would immediately light up, rush forward, and shout happily:
"Big Sister!"
Then she'd grab Gion by the hand and drag her inside to eat freshly baked carrot cookies.
Little by little, the tension in Gion's expression began to soften.
One day, without thinking, she even reached out and gently patted Lipo's drooping ears.
The moment she realized what she was doing, she stiffened and tried to put on a stern face—
—but Lipo had already leaned in happily.
"Big Sister's hands are so warm!"
Gion froze.
At the same time, gossip at Marine Headquarters began to explode.
"Have you heard? Momousagi's been going to Vice Admiral Gern's place almost every day!"
"They say she's keeping an eye on that mink girl so she doesn't steal her man!"
"But I saw her shopping with that rabbit yesterday! The rabbit even picked out a carrot hairpin for her!"
"That's nothing—I saw her brushing the rabbit's fur with her own hands!"
"No way! That has to be part of some grand strategy!"
Rumors spiraled completely out of control, eventually evolving into "The Peach Rabbit and the Furry Adjutant Love Triangle Incident."
At the bar, Kakei clutched a bottle and wept openly.
"Why… why would she choose a rabbit over me…?"
The surrounding Marines quietly scooted away as someone discreetly activated a Den Den Mushi camera.
Meanwhile, at the very center of the storm—
Inside Gern's home, Lipo was carefully pinning a freshly made matching carrot badge onto Gion's cloak.
Gion looked down at the crooked little metal carrot and muttered softly,
"It's ugly."
…Yet she didn't take it off.
Three Days Later — Marineford Headquarters
This time, the transfer order wasn't a private arrangement like before.
It was official.
"Joint Operation: Forging the Iron Wall of the New World."
Three days from now, Gern Reginald Sigmar would depart for G-3 Base in the New World—assigned directly under Vice Admiral Sakazuki.
The announcement detonated across Marineford.
"'Skyshatter' Gern is heading to G-3?!"
"And he's teaming up with Vice Admiral Sakazuki?!"
"Two monsters in one place—this is huge!"
One veteran exhaled smoke slowly."One shatters the sky. One melts the earth. The pirates in the New World are finished."
In the mess hall, officers gathered in excited discussion.
"Remember how Gern sent Sanjuan Wolf straight to the seafloor?"
"Now add Sakazuki's Absolute Justice…"
"That's not a unit—that's a natural disaster!"
But among those who truly knew them, dread replaced excitement.
Veteran graduates like Onigumo and Strawberry exchanged grim looks.
"Two extremists in one place…?"
"The New World's going to explode."
Inside Gern's Office
Gern sorted through documents while Lipo sat on the windowsill, swinging her legs and nibbling on carrot cake sent over by Zephyr's household.
"Gern, what's G-3 like?" she asked curiously.
"More rigid than headquarters. Stricter discipline. Far more dangerous," he replied without looking up."But the scenery's nice. And as a major New World stronghold, pirates are everywhere."
Her eyes sparkled. "So we get to catch lots of pirates together?"
"Yes," he said with a faint smile. "But first, you need to stop eating carrots in the middle of battle."
"That's my signature!" Lipo protested. "Every famous Marine has one!"
She leaned against his shoulder, then added quietly,"Gern… everyone's saying you and Vice Admiral Sakazuki working together will be…"
Gern chuckled and shook his head, about to respond—
When the door suddenly opened.
Gion stood there, composed as ever, holding a document.
"Big Sister!" Lipo jumped up and ran over. "Are you here to see us off?"
Gion's lips twitched slightly—she still wasn't used to the title—but she nodded."Something like that."
She stepped inside and handed the file to Gern.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru asked me to deliver this. It's the latest intelligence on pirate activity near G-3."
Gern skimmed it briefly—targets, territories, danger levels.
Then Gion spoke again, after a brief pause.
"When are you leaving?"
"In three days," Gern replied. "The fleet's already preparing."
She hummed quietly, gaze drifting toward the window.
Suddenly, Lipo grabbed her hand.
"Big Sister, why don't you come to G-3 too?"
"Huh?" Gion blinked.
"We can catch pirates together! Train together! And…"She leaned in and whispered,"Sleep together too. Your chest is softer than a pillow."
(It should be noted that ever since Gion returned, Lipo had been forcibly dragged back to her place every night to sleep.)
Gion froze.
Gern barely held back a laugh and earned a sharp glare for it.
"My duties aren't in the New World," Gion said at last."And my next assignment is approaching."
She paused, then added softly:
"But… if you ever need support, you can contact me."
Lipo's eyes lit up. "Really?! Then you have to come visit us!"
Gion didn't answer—but her gaze softened just a little.
Departure Day
At the harbor, Zephyr personally came to see them off.
Behind him stood soldiers once trained by Gern—along with one particular woman pretending to be passing by while very obviously watching from a distance.
"Don't clash head-on with Sakazuki," Zephyr warned quietly."He's stubborn, but not beyond reason."
Gern smiled. "Don't worry, Teacher. I know my limits."
Zephyr snorted. "If you did, half the messes at headquarters wouldn't exist."
"Come on," Gern shrugged. "Vice Admiral Sakazuki likes me."
"That's exactly what scares me!"
Then Zephyr turned to Lipo, his expression softening as he patted her head.
"Train well. Next time we meet, I'll be checking your Armament Haki."
"Yes!" Lipo nodded vigorously.
As they boarded the ship, young Marines gathered courage to shout:
"Vice Admiral Gern! Please teach those pirates a lesson!"
"With you and Vice Admiral Sakazuki together, G-3 will be unbreakable!"
Gern gave them a calm, confident smile.
"For justice."
Before boarding, he turned his head one last time.
Gion was still standing there, her long hair fluttering in the sea breeze, her expression composed—but her eyes never left him.
Gern raised a hand slightly, gesturing:
Go on. I'll be fine. Contact me if anything happens.
Gion blinked.
Is he… saying he'll miss me? In public…?
She turned her head away, but the faint curve at the corner of her lips betrayed her.
And thus—
The gears of fate turned once more.
Toward the New World.Toward ambition, conflict, and fire.
And toward a future that would shake the seas themselves.