"No."
Gern shook his head and straightened up. His cloak snapped sharply as he turned, his gaze hardening, his tone turning solemn—wearing an expression that seemed to declare that justice could never be exhausted by killing alone.
"Instructor Zephyr, I'm not running away. I'm simply choosing to do something more meaningful.Fish-Man Island is a member nation of the World Government, yet it has been plagued by pirates for years on end. Isn't that precisely the kind of place the Marines should be paying attention to?
"If we ignore that… then where does justice stand? Every time I think about it, my heart aches.Instructor—justice must shine on all races, not just humans!"
"..."
Silence fell.
Across the training field, the chants of recruits echoed rhythmically. Somewhere farther off, the cries of seagulls cut clearly through the air.
After listening to Gern's impassioned declaration, Zephyr's brow twitched beneath his sunglasses.
Slowly, he removed them and rubbed his temples with a calloused hand.
"Something more meaningful?"Zephyr's voice took on a strange tone."You just said… Fish-Man Island?"
"Yes, Instructor."Gern stood tall, the black-edged Justice coat at his cuffs snapping in the sea breeze."The people there have lived under the constant threat of pirates for far too long. They desperately need the Marines—"
"Pfft!"
A sudden snort of laughter cut straight through Gern's speech.
Zephyr abruptly turned away, his shoulders shaking suspiciously.
"…Instructor Zephyr?"Gern blinked, confused.
Zephyr spun back around. The perpetually stern face known throughout the Marines was now flushed red from holding it in.
He grabbed Gern by the shoulders, laughter trembling in his voice.
"You little brat… that look you just had… hahahaha!"
Gern froze in place.
Twenty meters away, Lipo—who had been organizing equipment—was so startled that a carrot slipped right out of her hands. Taizolo stood there, utterly dumbfounded.
After all… none of them had ever seen "Black Arm" Zephyr laugh this hard.
"I–Instructor? Instructor Zephyr, please stop laughing. You're scaring me," Gern said, his voice starting to waver.
Zephyr wiped away tears of laughter, then suddenly snapped back into a stern expression.
"Act! Keep acting!"
He mimicked Gern's righteous tone perfectly."'Isn't this exactly where the Marines should focus their attention?'"
He couldn't even finish the line before breaking into laughter again.
"Instructor Zephyr…"Gern's ears slowly turned red."I'm being serious…"
"Oh, give it a rest!"Zephyr slapped Gern hard on the back."Since when did you start caring so deeply about the welfare of allied nations?"
Then he leaned in close to Gern's ear and lowered his voice.
"Kuzan already told me. It's for the mermaids, right?"
"What?!"Gern shot his head up, staring straight into Zephyr's teasing gaze.
"That bastard Kuzan… I swear, one day I'm going to beat him half to death. Damn it."
"You, you…"Zephyr stroked his chin meaningfully."First it was the fluffy one. Now it's Fish-Man Island. What's next—Skypiea?"
Gern's expression instantly collapsed."Instructor, let me explain! Skypiea might happen, but Fish-Man Island—"
"No need to explain."Zephyr suddenly grew serious."Gern, you're not that clueless kid who first arrived at headquarters anymore. As your teacher, I suppose I now fully understand a young man's passion for… ahem… 'diplomatic affairs.'"
At some point, Lipo had crept over, her rabbit ears standing straight up."Instructor Zephyr, what mermaids? What beauty?"
"NO!"Gern clutched his head in despair.
Zephyr put his sunglasses back on, restoring his usual imposing presence—though there was still a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"Go on, go on. Just remember to bring back souvenirs."
He turned toward the dock, then suddenly looked back and added,
"Oh, right. Marine Headquarters doesn't have any coating craftsmen."His tone softened slightly."You'll need to go to the Sabaody Archipelago to find a coating artisan. I'll approve the paperwork for you."
"Thank you, Instructor."Gern let out a breath of relief.
"It's nothing."Zephyr suddenly placed a heavy hand on Gern's shoulder."Listen—whatever your… inclinations are!"
"Hmm?!"
"Oh—hobbies… hobbies!"Zephyr paused, choosing his words carefully."Anyway, Kuzan was right about one thing. You'll always be my proudest student. A teacher shouldn't interfere."
Meeting Zephyr's gaze, Gern finally gave up and nodded solemnly."I understand, Instructor."
"And one more thing…"Gern added with a stiff smile,"If I get the chance… Kuzan is going to have a very bad day."
Zephyr stared at him for a few seconds, then broke into a rare smile.
"Hahaha."
He turned to leave, then stopped as if recalling something and glanced back once more.
"Oh—and take good care of that little rabbit. She came to ask me last night whether mermaids like eating carrots…"
Gern couldn't help but laugh."I will."
As Zephyr strode away laughing loudly, he didn't forget to wink at Lipo.
"Little Lipo, keep an eye on your commanding officer. Don't let him get kidnapped by a mermaid!"
The sea breeze carried Zephyr's laughter away, leaving Gern standing on the deck, facing Lipo's blazing stare and Taizolo's thoughtful expression.
When Gern returned to them, Lipo immediately rushed up."So? Instructor Zephyr looked really happy! Did he agree to help?"
"Bad news."Gern deliberately put on a serious face."We have to go to the Sabaody Archipelago first to find a coating artisan."
Lipo's ears drooped instantly—then perked right back up."Then we leave now? I still haven't had enough fun at Sabaody's amusement park!"
Taizolo checked the shopping list his girlfriend had given him."Perfect timing to restock supplies. Stella said Fish-Man Island's specialties and Sabaody's—"
Gern looked at the two of them, brimming with excitement, then glanced back toward the training camp.
Zephyr had already returned to the recruits, his trademark scolding once again echoing across the field.
"Let's go."Gern turned toward the warship."Fish-Man Island is waiting for us."
"Let's go, let's go!"Lipo bounced along after him."I'm buying the biggest, shiniest pearl carrot!"
"That doesn't exist," Taizolo said helplessly, shaking his head.
"Really? Gern?"
"It definitely does. I'll make them custom-make one for you!"
"Yay! Gern is the best to Lipo! Lipo really is justice's companion!"
"Rear Admiral Gern, you spoil Lipo too much!"
"Taizolo—before you say that…"Gern replied dryly,"Please put away the extra-long shopping list Stella gave you. Thank you."
Sunlight bathed the three of them, stretching their shadows long across the deck.
The warship slowly departed the harbor, heading toward the Sabaody Archipelago.
Behind them, the silhouette of Marineford gradually blurred—until it finally vanished beyond the horizon.