At dawn the next day, the Marineford naval harbor lay shrouded in a thin mist. The sea reflected a faint, silvery glow, smooth as a colossal mirror.
Gern's personal warship was docked at the pier—jet black, with towering masts, and the Justice flag snapping crisply in the morning breeze.
Lipo was already on deck, her rabbit ears twitching with the wind, pink eyes sparkling with excitement. Her small backpack bulged with supplies, plastered with carrot patterns, and for the first time she had strapped two carrot-shaped daggers at her waist.
"Gern! Hurry up!" she called toward the cabin. "If you dawdle, the sun will be out to roast your butt!"
"Coming, coming," Gern's lazy voice replied from inside.
He stepped out, draped in his Justice cloak, Hachikō dangling casually at his waist, still half-asleep.
Tizoro followed, holding a stack of files, brow furrowed deep in thought over the mission.
Gern noticed the carrot daggers at Lipo's waist and raised an eyebrow. "Lipo… planning to do dual-wielding now?"
"What dual-wielding?! I could even bite one in my mouth for a triple-wield!" Lipo huffed, puffing her cheeks. "I'm prepared for anything—if one dagger drops, I've got a backup! Hmph! ╯^╰ You wouldn't understand, Gern!"
Seeing her pout like that, Gern scratched his head, laughing. "Haha, I forgot this is your first real big mission, isn't it?"
"Gern Major, it only just occurred to you?" Tizoro sighed.
"Ah, come on! No need to be so tense. Let's go!" Gern grinned, waving his hand, and the warship slowly pulled out of the harbor.
The outline of Marineford faded into the morning mist, eventually vanishing over the horizon.
On deck, the sea breeze ruffled their hair, the sunlight spilled across the planks in a warm golden glow.
Lipo leaned over the railing, a fishing rod in hand, her line dangling into the gently rocking waves.
"Gern," she tilted her head, ears perked and trembling with anticipation, "do you think we can catch glowing fish?"
"Only deep-sea fish glow," Gern replied lazily, leaning on the railing with his own rod. "We're still in shallow waters. But… who knows? Maybe a lost deep-sea fish wandered here."
"Then I'll keep it!" Lipo's eyes lit up. "I'll put it in my room, and I won't have to turn on the light at night!"
Gern chuckled. "Your room's already bright enough. If you add glowing fish, I'm afraid you'll be blinded awake at midnight."
They chatted idly, completely at odds with the dangerous mission looming ahead.
Tizoro, standing nearby, leafed through the files on Bondy Walde, brow tightening with every line.
"Corporal," he said suddenly, "Walde's ship, the Guya, is outfitted with far more cannons than typical pirate vessels. It's clearly meant to synergize with his Devil Fruit to produce hundredfold amplification. Can our ship withstand it?"
The corporal straightened at once. "Reporting, Ensign Tizoro! Our vessel is the latest model from headquarters, with specially reinforced armor—but if it's a hundredfold cannon barrage… some damage is inevitable."
Tizoro nodded, thinking for a moment. "Then we'll avoid a head-on cannon duel. We need to use maneuverability to flank them. Once Gern Major draws the captain's attention, we'll prioritize disabling their artillery."
"Us?" The corporal's eyes gleamed as he unrolled a chart on the deck.
"Yes, Ensign Tizoro. If we approach from this current and leverage it to speed up, we can reach their starboard side quickly…"
Tizoro listened attentively, occasionally offering suggestions. The corporal grew more and more animated, even on the verge of tears—the rare feeling of being taken seriously in mission planning was exhilarating.
Afternoon, the ship's mess hall.
Lipo plopped down opposite Gern, a plate piled high with carrot dishes.
"Gern! Look! Today's carrot stew smells amazing!" She speared a piece with her fork and held it out. "Try some!"
Gern opened his mouth, chewing thoughtfully before nodding. "Not bad."
Tizoro sat nearby, documents spread in front of him. He dipped bread into milk as he studied Walde's crew.
"Walde has four core officers," he said, pointing to the files. "Besides his elder brother Binjek, there's the fishman Sebastian, swordsman Neigen, and sniper Guiram. All strong. Once Gern Major occupies Walde, the rest are our responsibility."
"Fishman?" Lipo's ears shot upright. "Like the ones on Fish-Man Island?"
"Almost," Tizoro nodded, recalling the punch he had taken from Taige on Fish-Man Island. "Sebastian is a pure combatant, skilled in Fish-Man Karate, said to tear through a ship's armor barehanded. We can't let him into the water. Both of us are Devil Fruit users, but if one fishman goes swimming, it'll be trouble. He's priority one."
"Wow!" Lipo's eyes sparkled. "Does that mean his punches are even harder than yours, Gern?"
Gern raised an eyebrow. "Want to find out?"
"No!" Lipo shrank back immediately, muttering, "Your punches hurt too much…"
Neither of them noticed—Tizoro sighed but couldn't help smiling at Gern. Perhaps it was his presence that gave them all the courage they needed.
But Tizoro quickly grew serious again. "Anyway, we can't be careless. Walde's Devil Fruit is too dangerous. The plan must be airtight."
Gern set down his fork, wiping his mouth. "Plan's simple—find him, beat him up, bring him back."
Tizoro: "…"Corporal: "…"Lipo raised her hand: "Can I help beat him up?"
"Of course," Gern ruffled her hair. "But make sure you don't get blasted away by his hundredfold-accelerated fists first."
"No problem!" Lipo pumped her tiny fists confidently. "I'm a partner of justice!"
Evening. The sun dipped low, painting the sea golden.
Gern stood alone at the bow, Hachikō trembling faintly at his waist. He glanced at the blade, the gray-white bandages glinting eerily in the sunset light.
"What are you hiding…" he murmured, fingertips brushing the hilt.
Footsteps approached behind him. Tizoro carried two cups of hot tea.
"Gern Major, have some tea." He handed one cup over.
Gern took a sip. "Thanks."
Tizoro hesitated, then said, "Major, about this mission…"
"You planned it well, Tizoro," Gern interrupted, eyes on the horizon, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "With you here, I get to be the lazy overseer."
Tizoro remained silent for a moment, then smiled. "That's because you give me the confidence to rely on. After all, you're the one who can face the God Knights head-on."
"Hahaha!" Gern laughed. "Exactly. One little 'World Breaker'? Not enough to scare me."
The warship cut through the waves, heading toward the New World.
Seagulls circled above the masts, their cries blending with the ocean's roar—a prelude to the adventure.
At some point, Lipo bounded over, holding a giant carrot.
"Gern! Look! The cook made me a giant carrot!"
Gern raised an eyebrow. "You planning to bludgeon Walde with it?"
"Not at all!" Lipo puffed up. "It's backup rations!"
Tizoro shook his head, though a small smile tugged at his lips.
The corporal watched from nearby, a sense of relief washing over him.
"Gern Major… this is the first real mission in a long time!"