Once everything was confirmed, Gern Reginald Sigmar left his office and headed deeper into G-10 Base, toward the small internal garden.
The afternoon sun filtered through sparse branches, scattering dappled light across the grass.
On a bench in the garden sat Bartholomew Kuma, quietly reading a thick, heavy Bible.
Despite his massive frame, there was an unusual serenity about him. He was dressed in a black clerical coat personally sewn by his wife, Ginny. He wore no hat, revealing neatly combed brown hair that flared slightly at the sides, almost like bear ears.
On the Bible's hard cover, clearly visible, was a small, slightly faded imprint of an infant's footprint.
It was the very first footprint left behind when Bonney was born.
Kuma had preserved it forever using his own special method, turning it into one of his most cherished keepsakes.
Seeing Kuma in such a peaceful state, Gern unconsciously slowed his footsteps.
But Kuma's Observation Haki was far from weak. He sensed the approach instantly, lifted his head, and behind his round glasses, his eyes curved with gentle warmth as he greeted him first.
"Mr. Gern."
Ever since formally joining G-10 after the 'Holy Land Incident,' these years of stability had allowed Kuma to fully settle into his new life.
He had a beloved wife, Ginny, and an adorable daughter, Bonney.
He could also use his abilities from time to time to help the islands under G-10's protection, or act as a kind of chaplain for Marines—healing wounds and easing pain.
A life of wife, child, and warm hearth, while still being able to practice his own compassion—
To Kuma, this was a happiness he had once never dared to dream of.
And as always, he proved through his actions that gentle people shine with warmth no matter where they stand.
"Mr. Gern, is there a mission?" Kuma asked, carefully closing the Bible and holding it to his chest before standing up, already wearing the posture of someone ready to be deployed at any moment.
"Mm." Gern nodded. "Barrett is out on patrol. Mihawk, as usual, went off to cross swords with other masters of the blade out at sea.
Lipo has another assignment, Toritoma and Tesoro each have their own duties and can't be moved right now, so—"
"So!!!"
Before Gern could finish, an extremely arrogant, drawn-out voice exploded from the sky, accompanied by a blinding flash of lightning!
"BOOM—KRAAAACK!!"
A blue-white bolt of divine lightning crashed down from the heavens, striking the open ground directly in front of Gern and Kuma with pinpoint accuracy.
As the lightning faded, Enel emerged—white headscarf, long earlobes hanging to his shoulders.
One hand rested on his hip, the other casually picking at his ear with his pinky, his posture radiating absolute disdain for all living beings.
In his trademark, nasal, overbearing tone, he proclaimed:
"Therefore, you require the descent of a god!!
Mortal—accept this god's grace with gratitude! Wahahaha!!"
Gern stared at the man who never failed to make a show of his entrance and rubbed his temple in resignation.
Kuma, on the other hand, maintained his gentle smile. He had long since grown used to Enel's antics.
"Hey! Enel!!" Gern reached out and grabbed the so-called god by the ear, yanking hard as he scolded him.
"How many times do I have to tell you—elemental high-speed movement is forbidden inside the base, especially entrances like that!
Do you have any idea how much it costs to maintain the garden plants?!
Damn it, this all comes out of my private funds!!"
"Ah—stop, stop!!"
With his ear being tugged, Enel's expression twisted completely out of shape. It took a while before he finally managed to break free.
Clutching his reddened earlobe with one hand, resting his golden staff on his shoulder with the other, he snorted coldly.
"Hmph. How could mortals possibly comprehend the steps of a god?"
"So," he said lazily, "who is it this time that needs to be 'educated' for not knowing their place?
This god just happens to be bored lately."
Gern didn't answer him immediately. Instead, he turned back to the calm Kuma and finished the sentence Enel had interrupted:
"One of the Four Emperors. The Red-Haired Pirates."
"Huh?" Enel froze for a moment. "Red-Haired Shanks?! The guy who beat Barrett?
Didn't think the day would come when this god would help Barrett get revenge!"
As he spoke, Enel—despite wearing no shirt—somehow produced a Den Den Mushi camera and started recording the moment.
Kuma, standing to the side, simply nodded calmly, without the slightest hesitation.
"I understand, Mr. Gern."
For him, protecting the peaceful life he now shared with his family—and safeguarding the many islands under G-10's protection—was reason enough to fight.
This was Kuma's justice within the ranks of Heaven's Calamity—
A justice of protection.
...…
One week later.
New World—on the main deck of the Spade Pirates' flagship.
Ace sat cross-legged at the bow, his hat brim pulled low, fingers unconsciously tapping against his knee.
In his mind, he replayed the scene of his fight with Lipo again and again.
After all… this was already his twenty-first defeat.
"Damn it… is it really impossible to even touch the corner of her clothes…?"
"Hey, Ace!"The voice of Deuce, the ship's doctor and vice-captain, snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Stop drilling yourself into a dead end!" Deuce said as he hurried over, clutching a stack of freshly received intelligence reports.
Before Ace could respond, Deuce slapped the papers straight into his arms.
"Look at this. The latest intel—we can stop worrying about how to challenge that terrifying rabbit woman for now!"
"Hm?" Ace picked up the reports and skimmed through them quickly.
The pages clearly showed intelligence that had been cross-verified through multiple channels:
[Supreme Commander of G-10 Base, Marine Headquarters Admiral "White Qilin," departed his core sphere of influence approximately one week ago.Destination unknown.Accompanying personnel include "Tyrant" Bartholomew Kuma and "God" Enel.]
Seeing the news of Gern leaving G-10, Ace froze for a split second—
Then a grin, mixed with excitement, spread rapidly across his face.
"That's great! In that case, we can just—"
"Ace!!!" Deuce interrupted him sharply, his tone serious as he pointed at Gern's name on the report.
"Have you thought this through?!
Skipping that woman and going straight for him?
This guy is a Marine Headquarters Admiral!In the insane seas of the New World, he's someone who can make all four Emperors hesitate just by existing!
One man holding back four Emperors—this isn't a joke!!
To be honest, with our current strength, challenging him means you don't have even the slightest chance of winning!"
Other Spade Pirates who had gathered nearby—navigator Skall, gunner Mihal, and the rest—nodded in agreement.
They had all witnessed Lipo's overwhelming strength firsthand.
And Gern—the man who commanded such a monster—was unfathomable by comparison.
Facing his crew's concern, the smile on Ace's face faded briefly. He fell silent for a moment.
But soon, that familiar confidence—bordering on recklessness—returned in full force.
He stood up, adjusted the orange cowboy hat on his head, eyes sharp beneath the brim.
His left hand opened slightly, flames flickering between his fingers.
"That's exactly why I have to fight him!" Ace declared, his voice firm and unwavering.
"Only by standing in front of him and throwing my punch can I know how far apart we really are!
Only then can I see clearly what kind of monster I need to chase with my life from here on out!"
As he spoke, Ace looked first at Deuce, then at every single one of his companions.
"If we don't even have the courage to challenge someone because we're afraid of losing, then why set sail at all?
Why become pirates? Why talk about becoming Pirate King?!"
The unreasonable yet unmistakably Ace-like speech instantly blew away the heavy atmosphere on deck.
"Sigh…" Deuce was the first to react, letting out a helpless sigh before breaking into a smile and shaking his head.
"What a complete idiot of a captain…"
"Hahaha! Well said, Captain!"
"To hell with Admirals—let's fight first and talk later!"
The crew's passion ignited instantly.
Because… this was their captain.
Portgas D. Ace—the strongest rising star of the next generation,the man with a 500 million Beli bounty,Fire Fist Ace.
And truth be told, this was exactly who Ace had always been.
After all, in the timeline where Gern never existed, Ace had charged into the New World just as recklessly—challenging both Kaido and Whitebeard head-on.
"All right!" Ace said with fiery enthusiasm, sweeping his arm toward the sea.
"Change course! Gather all intel on Gern's movements!
This time—he's our target!"
"Aye aye, Captain!!!"
As his helmsman adjusted the course, Ace stood at the bow, gazing out at the vast ocean, silently declaring in his heart:
Gern… wait for me. I'm coming.
Little Bonney… really is so very small.