After dealing with Arlong, Gern Reginald Sigmar slowly straightened up. He then turned his head, his gaze shifting toward the officers of the Arlong Pirates who were frozen stiff all around him.
Kuroobi. Hachi. Chew…Fish-men who, in the East Blue, were powerful enough to run rampant without fear—yet under Gern's gaze, not a single one of them dared to move.
"Admiral Gern, we—"
"Get back to Fish-Man Island," Gern said calmly, his tone utterly devoid of emotion. "And don't think about playing any tricks."
"Because I will be speaking with Neptune and Jinbe."
The moment the names Neptune and Jinbe were spoken, Hachi and the others shuddered violently. The last shred of hope in their hearts vanished completely.
They had no doubt whatsoever that if they failed to return obediently—or harbored any other thoughts—the man before them would hold Fish-Man Island directly accountable.
And the consequences of that… were far beyond what they could ever endure.
So—
Clang!
Hachi was the first to drop his weapon, the blade hitting the ground with a sharp sound.
Immediately after, Kuroobi, Chew, and the rest of the Fish-Man crew followed suit, tossing their weapons aside. A series of crisp, chaotic clatters echoed across the orange grove.
There was no discussion. No one dared to lift their head and look at Gern again.
These fish-men, who only moments ago had been so arrogant and vicious, now fled like beaten dogs, sprinting with everything they had toward the ships anchored by the shore.
They left behind nothing but wreckage, blood, and a group of villagers still trembling in shock.
Gern didn't even watch them go.
To him, the fate of such small fry was no longer worth his attention.
Neptune and Jinbe would naturally take care of the aftermath.
So, once the fish-men were gone, Gern turned his gaze toward Bellemere, who was slumped on the ground nearby.
Noticing him looking at her, Bellemere endured the searing pain in her right hand and propped herself up with her left arm.
"Gern… Admiral…"
Her voice was hoarse as she spoke, still trying to maintain a trace of military decorum.
After all, the first—and last—time she had met Gern years ago, he truly had only held the rank of Vice Admiral.
"It's fine," Gern said. Taking a few quick steps forward, he crouched down in front of her and helped her up until they were at eye level.
"It's been a long time, Bellemere."
"It looks like you've found yourself two… rather impressive 'troubles,' huh?"
"Nami and Nojiko aren't troubles!" Bellemere replied immediately. "I love them very much."
She then turned her head aside, took a deep breath, and forced her voice to steady.
"And besides, I'm just a country woman who grows oranges now."
"Is that so?" Gern's gaze passed over her shoulder, toward the small house behind her.
There, Nami and Nojiko were still clinging tightly to each other, their big, tear-filled eyes peeking timidly—yet curiously—at him.
Especially the little one with the short orange hair. Beyond fear, there was a spark in her eyes—something lively, hard to put into words.
"It seems you've found something more worth protecting than you ever did in the Marines."
...…
Inside Bellemere's home, filled with the faint fragrance of oranges, Gern and Bellemere sat facing each other at a simple wooden table.
Bellemere's injured arm had been wrapped in clean bandages. Still, the damage to her bones and nerves would likely leave lasting effects on her mobility.
"All I have is black tea," Bellemere said, using her uninjured left hand to brew it. Her movements were clumsy but earnest as she pushed a steaming cup toward Gern.
"That's fine," Gern said, accepting it naturally.
"I really never expected… that someone like you, Admiral Gern, would come to a small place like Cocoyasi Village.But… thank goodness you did. Otherwise…"
She didn't finish the sentence, but the lingering fear in her eyes said everything.
Gern took a sip of tea, then set the cup down, his voice gentle.
"I only remembered once I reached the East Blue that you'd mentioned your hometown was Cocoyasi. So I decided to stop by.I didn't expect you'd already retired—and even have two such lovely children."
At the mention of the past, Bellemere smiled nostalgically.
"Yeah. Time really flies.Oh, right—Captain Asahi retired too. He opened a small bar at the 133rd Headquarters in the West Blue.Every day he boasts to the new recruits about all sorts of legends involving you."
The two of them drank tea together, deliberately avoiding any mention of Arlong.
Instead, they shared memories of old times, smiling in mutual understanding. The atmosphere was warm and relaxed.
Outside the window, however, three heads were stacked together suspiciously, peeking inside.
Nami.Nojiko.And Genzo, the village sheriff, wearing an expression of tense curiosity.
"Look at them, Nojiko… they're chatting so happily," Nami whispered, her big eyes sparkling."Do you think that handsome Marine uncle might be Bellemere's old boyfriend?"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
The moment Nami finished speaking, Genzo reacted as if someone had stepped on his tail. Lowering his voice sharply, he protested with an expression that screamed you kids don't understand anything.
"Do you two know what an Admiral means?!That's someone at the very top of the Marines!A 'monster'—I mean, a powerhouse—who protects the order of the entire sea!He's from a completely different world than little Cocoyasi!"
"Why not?" Nami pouted stubbornly, pointing inside the house."They look really familiar with each other! It's so natural!And Bellemere used to be a Marine too—of course they'd know each other! Maybe there is a story!"
"Nami kind of has a point, Mr. Genzo," Nojiko added softly."And that Mr. Gern… he really is handsome. And he has such presence."
Watching the two girls clearly starting to "side with the outsider," Genzo felt both anxious and helpless. He scratched his head in frustration.
It felt like the "precious cabbage" he'd guarded for so many years had suddenly encountered an unprecedented crisis.
Inside the house was the peaceful reunion of old comrades.
Outside the window was the lively whispering and gentle teasing of everyday life.
Warm sunlight filtered through the gaps between the orange trees, as if washing away all the bloodshed and darkness from before.
...…
At the very same time—while Gern was in Cocoyasi Village of the East Blue—
In the New World, on Minion Island, a tragedy woven from betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption was unfolding.
Donquixote Rosinante—code name Corazon—took the boy Trafalgar Law, who was suffering from the deadly Amber Lead disease, and seized the Ope Ope no Mi, the Devil Fruit said to grant eternal life.
Corazon succeeded.
But what he did next completely betrayed his position as a Marine—and betrayed Doflamingo as well.
He forcibly fed the Ope Ope no Mi to Law, leaving the hope of survival to a child with whom he shared no blood, yet who had given his own life meaning again.
After that, he handed Law crucial intelligence—records of the Donquixote Family's secret bases and trading routes—entrusting him to deliver it to a nearby Marine base.
But fate was cruel.
The young Law mistakenly handed the information to Vergo—one of the Donquixote Family's highest-ranking officers, who was secretly embedded within the Marines.
Vergo didn't hesitate. He opened the file at once—and instantly understood that Corazon was a Marine spy planted within the family.
Enraged, Vergo beat Corazon until he was barely alive.
Gravely wounded, Corazon fled with Law in desperation.
But surrounded by the Donquixote Family, escape was impossible.
So Corazon hid Law inside a treasure chest and used the powers of the Nagi Nagi no Mi to silence the boy's cries and sobs.
He went alone to face the Doflamingo who personally pursued him.
In his final moments, he calmly revealed the truth—
About his Marine identity.About his betrayal.About his resolve to protect Law.
Doflamingo, facing the last remaining family member he had in this world, silently raised his gun—
Just as he once had against their father.
He aimed at his only younger brother.
A moment later, the gunshot echoed across the silent snowy plain, piercingly loud.
...…
At the same time, at Marine Headquarters—Marineford—
The Marine Fleet Admiral, long known for his wisdom and composure, clutched a photograph in his trembling hands.
Tears spilled uncontrollably from his eyes.
The office was brightly lit, the harbor of Marineford bustling beyond the window—
Yet Sengoku's world, in that very moment, collapsed into endless gray.
Because he had just received confirmation…
That his adopted son—
Rosinante—
Had died.