The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

Barrett slowly raised his head, his pupils fixed on the rabbit girl in front of him who had been sent flying by his punch not long ago, his brows furrowed.

"I wanted to kill you before." His voice was low and husky, with a hint of coldness. "And this is your attitude now?"

"It's okay, it's okay!" Lipo waved her hand, the carrot dangling from her fingertip.

“I heard from Gern that you are now a ally of justice! A ally will never hurt another ally!”

"Partners...won't hurt partners?" Barrett repeated, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "Heh."

His eyes glazed over for a moment.

"partner"?

What a ridiculous phrase.

Barrett once naively believed that as long as he was strong enough, he could gain recognition and have true companions.

But the result?

It's nothing but betrayal, betrayal, and damn betrayal.

During his time as a boy soldier, he was brutally branded with the number "9," a label uttered by those high-ranking officers.

He was nothing more than "the ninth bullet in Douglas's army."

A killing tool that can be fired at any time.

Even so, he still foolishly regarded the man who gave him his surname as his father.

The results of it?

When he was invincible on the battlefield, when his strength began to threaten that man...

The knife that was supposed to protect his back instead pierced his heart from the angle of his deepest trust.

He still remembers that rainy night, when blood mingled with rainwater and spread through the mud.

That man's cold gaze was more deadly than any bullet on the battlefield.

If it weren't for fate's cruel twist, which allowed him to unexpectedly gain the power of the Fusion Fruit on his deathbed...

He had long since buried his anger and bewilderment forever on that battlefield steeped in betrayal.

Later, during the Roger Pirates era, he finally found a new goal.

Sea breeze, strong liquor, laughter, and an ever-burning bonfire on the deck.

He thought that this time he would finally have a captain worth following.

How could you say you were completely unmoved during the entire journey?

how is this possible.

He was simply used to being taciturn and to using his fists instead of words.

When Reilly patted him on the shoulder and laughed, when everyone was pulling him into drinking contests and fooling around, when Roger stood at the bow of the ship and reached out his hand to him...

In those moments, he truly believed that he was one of them.

But the result?

That night, the sea was so calm it was suffocating.

Roger leaned against the ship's railing, the moonlight casting a long shadow over him.

"I'm going to die." A casually stated statement.

"If you want to leave, then leave."

What is this?!

He had been on board for so long, fighting with everything he had every time, even willing to die for this man.

In the end, in Roger's eyes, he was always just a "challenger"?

A passerby who can be said goodbye to at any time?

Isn't this a betrayal sharper than swords?!

“Hey, big guy?” Suddenly, Lippo’s voice pulled him back to reality.

Barrett snapped out of his daze and found her still holding the carrot, her eyes gleamingly clear.

"..." He was silent for a moment, then coldly turned his head away. "I don't eat carrots."

"Is that so?" Libo blinked, and then green light emanated from her left hand.

To Barrett's astonishment, the user used the healing fruit's power to heal Barrett's injuries.

"You... never mind." Barrett opened his mouth, about to say something unpleasant.

But seeing Libo's serious expression, he finally sighed, closed his eyes, and said nothing more.

A moment later

"Eh—?" Libo pouted, but quickly smiled again. "Then come find me when you want to eat!"

She skipped and hopped away, her silhouette as light as a breeze.

Barrett stared at her retreating figure, then glanced at the healed wound on his chest with a complex expression.

A partner will not harm a partner...

ridiculous.

But why... did those words make him inexplicably irritated?

Not far away, Gern leaned against the ship's railing, with Black Blade Bahuang resting on his shoulder, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Tezzolo walked up to him and whispered, "Looks like Barrett isn't so easy to 'tame'."

“Tam him?” Gern chuckled. “No, I don’t need to tame him.”

His gaze was deep as he looked toward the distant horizon.

"I just need to make him understand"

This time, he will not be betrayed again.

……

The warship slowly sailed away from the waters off Lulutak Island, the sea breeze carrying the smell of gunpowder across the deck.

Tesoro stood at the ship's railing, his gaze fixed on Barrett, who was bound by seastone chains.

The latter was imprisoned in a specially made cage, yet it still held its head high, defiant and unruly.

“Lieutenant General Gern, this guy is indeed a formidable force,” Tesoro said calmly, his voice so low that only Gern beside him could hear.

“If we can really bring him into our faction, even if he doesn’t like to talk, just by standing behind us, the sense of intimidation he exudes will be very strong.”

Upon hearing this, Gern smiled, and the scabbard of the Black Blade Eight Desolations gently tapped the deck, producing a dull sound.

“That’s true,” he said, narrowing his eyes slightly as he gazed at the distant horizon.

"But I didn't entirely intend to send him to Impel Down; it was just... a casual matter."

Because of the upcoming power transition period in the Navy, I really need a voice.

"A period of power transition?" Tesoro raised an eyebrow, thoughtfully stroking the ring.

"You mean the news that Marshal Steelbone Air Force is about to be promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the entire army?"

“That’s right.” Gern’s voice was soft, but carried an undeniable authority.

"It is almost certain that Zhan Guo will succeed as marshal, but the position of general is still uncertain."

"Sakazuki, Kuzan, Borsalino... and me." He paused, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

"I believe the world government won't let me sit in that position easily."

Therefore, I need to make good use of this point to exchange for some practical rights for myself.

For a moment, silence fell on the deck, with only the sound of waves crashing against the hull echoing in the air.

Libo poked her head out of the cabin again, her furry ears twitching slightly: "Lieutenant General Guern, Tesoro, what are you talking about?"

"It's nothing." Gern turned around, ruffled her hair, and said in a relaxed tone.

"I was just thinking about how many carrots I should buy for you when we get back."

Libo's eyes lit up, but then she narrowed them suspiciously: "Liar! You guys looked very serious just now."

Tesoro couldn't help but laugh out loud: "You found out." He shrugged.

“We’re discussing how to get some stubborn guy to listen to us.” He glanced meaningfully at Barrett as he spoke.

Barrett snorted and turned his head away, but the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

Gern smiled, his gaze fixed on the gradually clearing outline of the Marine Headquarters in the distance, and said in a low voice.

"The game of thrones has begun, and we... cannot fall behind."

Chapter 213 The "Welcome" from Impel Down

推进城

The warship slowly docked at the port, its dark steel gates opening slowly in the cold sea breeze like the fangs of a giant beast.

Gern stood at the bow of the ship, his black sword, Bahuang, hanging diagonally at his waist, the gray bandages fluttering slightly in the damp air.

Behind him, Barrett was bound by sea stone chains, but he still held his head high, his expression still defiant.

Immediately afterwards, two figures slowly walked out from behind the gate.

On the left is Magellan, the current deputy director, who is enormous, resembles Satan, and has a gloomy gaze.

On the right is Warden Shiryu, who is smoking a cigar, wearing a white warden's uniform, and with the famous sword "Rain" at his waist.

The two are now the absolute pillars of Impel Down!

Magellan stepped forward first, nodded slightly, and said in a deep voice, "Lieutenant General Gern, thank you for your hard work."

The warden went to Mary Geoise, so I've come to greet the prisoners on his behalf.

“Is that so…” Just as Gern was about to nod, Shiryu’s voice came over.

"Oh my, isn't this 'Legendary Navy' Vice Admiral Gern?" Shiryu exhaled a puff of smoke, a wicked smile spreading across his face, his voice filled with exaggerated admiration.

"What an honor to witness the arrest of the great man who is the 'Pirate King'!"

It's a pity I wasn't there when you escorted Roger last time.

Shiryu spoke in an exaggerated tone, like a street thug, and even bowed slightly.

He made a fake bow, but the sarcasm on his lips was undisguised.

Seeing this, Gern did not respond, but simply looked at him indifferently.

Seeing that Gren ignored him, Shiliu had no choice but to straighten up, exhale a smoke ring, turn his gaze to Barrett, and his smile gradually turned sinister.

"This is the 'Devil's Heir'? Tsk tsk tsk, it doesn't look like much at all."

Barrett's pupils contracted slightly, but a cold smile slowly crept onto his lips.

Shiliu continued pacing, circling Barrett and scrutinizing him, his tone flippant: "I heard you used to be Roger's crew member?"

What? You can't even protect your own captain? Now you're being escorted here by the navy like a dog?

Magellan frowned: "Shiliu, watch your words."

Shiryu shrugged, feigning innocence: "I'm just telling the truth, Magellan."

He turned to look at Gern, his smile chilling. "Lieutenant General Gern, don't you agree?"

After all, you even easily captured the 'Pirate King'.

This kind of trash... shouldn't even be worthy of your drawing of a sword, right?

He deliberately emphasized the word "easy," as if implying that Guern's achievements were nothing more than luck.

Gern remained silent, but his fingers tapped lightly on the hilt of his sword, his eyes growing cold.

Seeing that Gren still didn't respond, Shiliu's smile became even more unrestrained.

"But that makes sense! After all, who would be bothered by killing some lowly bastard?"