Three Days Later — New World, Egghead Island
Gern's warship slowed to a halt as it docked at a temporary harbor on the edge of the island.
He stood on the deck, gazing at the technological island still under construction before him, a flicker of amazement flashing through his eyes.
Towering mechanical spires pierced straight into the clouds. Massive steel bridges connected the island's various zones, while countless automated machines moved back and forth across the construction sites, emitting steady, rhythmic hums. The air was thick with the scent of engine oil and metal, and from time to time, dull experimental explosions echoed from somewhere deeper within the island.
"Vegapunk… that man really did build something outrageous," Gern muttered to himself.
Just as he stepped onto the island's ground, his Observation Haki suddenly caught a disturbance.
"Hey! Stop right there! Who are you?! Why are you here?!"
A young but forceful voice rang out from the side.
Gern turned his head and saw a short, stocky little boy glaring at him.
The boy was bare-chested, a massive rope knot tied around his waist, red shorts hanging loosely below. In his hands, he gripped a wooden axe, holding it like a weapon as if facing a mortal enemy.
"Sentomaru?" Gern raised an eyebrow, immediately recognizing the kid who would one day become the Captain of the Science Unit.
"How do you know my name?!" young Sentomaru took half a step back, raising the axe across his chest defensively."Speak! Are you a pirate?!"
"Pirates wouldn't dare come here," Gern chuckled, deliberately turning to the side and fully revealing the Justice coat draped across his back.
"So then—who do you think I am, Sentomaru-kun?"
Sentomaru stared at the bold kanji for Justice on the coat, blinked, then carefully examined the trim on Gern's sleeves.
Black edging—different from Kizaru's signature yellow.
"…A Marine like old man?" he tilted his head and asked.
"Sharp kid."Gern, already possessing the average height of a future admiral, crouched down so his gaze was level with the boy's.
"So… could you tell me where your old man is right now?"
"I'm the man with the tightest lips in the world!" Sentomaru immediately puffed out his chest, pride written all over his face."There's no way I'd tell you he's slacking off and taking a nap!"
Gern: "..."
"Hahaha!" Gern burst out laughing and reached out to ruffle Sentomaru's hair."Impressive. Truly the man with the tightest lips in the world."
"Of course!" Sentomaru snorted smugly, completely unaware that he had already spilled the secret.
"So," Gern continued casually, pressing his advantage,"besides slacking off, what else does your old man usually like to do?"
"Custom suits and glasses, obviously!" Sentomaru answered without hesitation."And complaining to Uncle Punk that his salary's too low, saying Marine Headquarters are all heartless slave drivers!"
"That part's true," Gern muttered, barely holding in his laughter."Can you believe a Headquarters Rear Admiral like me only gets twenty million Berries a year?"
Gern clenched his teeth so hard he nearly choked—that was absolutely Kizaru's style.
"Hey! What are you laughing at?!" Sentomaru finally realized he'd messed up again and stomped his foot angrily."Damn it! You tricked me into talking!"
Gern waved his hands innocently."No, no. You said it all on your own."
Sentomaru's face turned bright red as he was about to argue—when a lazy, drawn-out voice drifted over from behind them.
"Oh my, oh my~ Isn't that newly promoted Rear Admiral Gern?What brings you all the way to my workplace, hm~?"
Gern turned around.
Kizaru had appeared at some point not far away.
Purple tank top. Justice coat draped loosely over his shoulders. Hands tucked into his pockets. A light-green knitted cap perched on his head. Behind the sunglasses, his eyes were half-lidded, and that familiar teasing smile hung at the corner of his mouth.
"Old man! This Marine big brother was looking for you—" Sentomaru shouted excitedly, then suddenly clapped his hands over his mouth."Ah! Crap! I said it again!"
"Why is he 'big brother' and I'm 'old man' when I'm only a few years older than him?" Kizaru muttered.
He walked over and gently tapped Sentomaru on the head."You really are as 'tight-lipped' as ever."
Sentomaru drooped."I'm supposed to be the man with the tightest lips in the world…"
Gern stood up and faced him."Long time no see, Senior Borsalino."
"Indeed~ Ever since you nearly knocked the breath out of me with a single hit, it has been a while," Kizaru said as he adjusted his sunglasses."I hear you've been promoted to Rear Admiral? How frightening~"
Already used to Kizaru's tone, Gern shrugged."Not as impressive as you, sir—still able to nap on Egghead Island."
Kizaru's smile didn't change."Pay's too low. Gotta find time to slack off somehow~"
Sentomaru: "..."(Old man! Why would you say that yourself?!)
Gern laughed, then quickly grew serious."Actually, I came to ask about something—the matter I contacted you about earlier through the Den Den Mushi."
Kizaru raised an eyebrow."Oh?"
...
Egghead Island.Sunlight poured over a wide stretch of grass.
Kizaru lay lazily on a folding chair, sunglasses on, a cup of iced juice in hand.
"So," he said after taking a sip, voice unhurried,"you came all the way here just to ask me about that?"
Gern sat nearby on the grass, flipping through the file Kizaru had just handed him—information on Gild Tesoro.
"Yes. In all of Marine Headquarters, you're the easiest person to get this kind of information from."
"Tsk tsk tsk. Don't say things that sound so misleading~ I'm still a Marine, you know," Kizaru pouted slightly."But really—just an ordinary gambler and stage performer. Is he worth this much attention?"
Gern closed the file, a faint smile lifting his lips."Ordinary now doesn't mean ordinary forever."
Kizaru pushed up his sunglasses and didn't ask further.
Months ago, when Gern was still stationed at G-3 Base, he had contacted Kizaru and asked him to quietly retrieve Tesoro's internal records. Though he had no idea what Gern was planning, Kizaru had casually taken care of it anyway.
"Speaking of which~" Kizaru changed the subject."You didn't come to Egghead Island just for me, did you?"
"Otherwise?" Gern frowned and was about to continue—when an excited voice suddenly cut in.
"Ohhh! Isn't that Ten-shin?!"
The two turned their heads.
A man with a massive apple-shaped head, wearing a white lab coat, strode toward them, several floating mechanical assistants trailing behind him.
Dr. Vegapunk.
"Dr. Vegapunk," Gern stood and gave a small nod.
Vegapunk adjusted his glasses and examined Gern from head to toe, his eyes burning with fanatic curiosity."What a rare guest!I was just planning to study Kizaru's light properties, and then you show up.Your vibration particles are far more interesting than his light!"
Kizaru: "..."(Hey, hey—do you really have to say that right in front of me?)
Gern smiled lightly."You flatter me, Doctor. My ability isn't nearly as 'dazzling' as Senior Kizaru's."
"Nonsense! Vibrations are extraordinarily powerful!" Vegapunk waved his hands excitedly."If I could fully analyze your ability, it might even overturn some existing scientific laws!"
As he spoke, he suddenly leaned in close, his eyes almost pressing against Gern's face."Well? How about cooperating on a few small experiments?Just a blood sample, measuring vibration frequencies, maybe a full-body scan—"
"Doctor," Kizaru drawled lazily, cutting in,"you're scaring him~"
Vegapunk finally stepped back, coughing twice."Ahem. Occupational habit, occupational habit."
Gern smiled apologetically."I don't really have a habit of being researched. Sorry."
"Is that so? What a shame," Vegapunk said, but didn't push the issue further.
...
As the sun set, Egghead Island was bathed in crimson light.
Standing on the deck of his warship, Gern looked back at the technological island slowly fading into the distance.
The farewell dinner before departure had been unexpectedly warm.
Vegapunk spoke animatedly about his research.Sentomaru, acting like a little adult, diligently served food to everyone.Kizaru leaned lazily against his chair, occasionally tossing in a teasing remark.
For that brief moment, they felt like nothing more than ordinary family and friends.
But Gern knew—
Someday in the future, that ever-smiling Kizaru would personally destroy all of this.
As the sea breeze brushed against his justice coat, Gern suddenly remembered something Zephyr-sensei once said to Kizaru:
"Borsalino, you rely too much on your Devil Fruit."
That sentence had never truly been about strength.
It was a warning—that no one could ever catch up to light.
Like the Glint-Glint Fruit itself, Kizaru was always one step ahead, forever unhurried, forever out of reach—and forever alone.
He could illuminate others with his light.
But he was destined to never walk beside anyone.
Perhaps that was why he could strike down former comrades without hesitation.
Because from the very beginning—
He had been standing somewhere no one else could ever touch.