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

Kizaru stared wide-eyed, his eyes usually half-closed, as if he were looking at an alien creature.

He stared intently at Koby, who lay on the next bed with a "tragic and resolute" expression.

The ward fell silent instantly, with only Kizaru's suppressed coughs and the background noise of the news broadcast.

A few seconds later, Kizaru finally caught his breath, wiped his mouth, and looked utterly speechless.

With an almost absurd tone, he said to Koby in a low voice:

“Mr. Garp… having a disciple like you…”

He paused, shook his head, and added...

"He's really lucky!"

The sarcasm in those words was practically overflowing.

Even the members of the Sharp Blade Squad who were originally in high spirits had strange and awkward expressions.

Just then, Gern stood up, took the sick leave application, and slowly walked to Koby's bedside.

"Marshal!" The members of the Sharp Blade Squad immediately stood at attention and saluted, their expressions solemn.

Gern simply waved his hand casually, his gaze falling on Koby's face, which was wrapped in bandages, revealing only a determined look in his eyes.

He didn't inquire about the injuries, offer any comfort, or discuss Garp's situation.

"Colonel Koby (Grand Colonel)."

"Why don't you... try to stop Mr. Teach's dream?"

"..."

Koby was taken aback, clearly not expecting the marshal to ask that question.

He opened his mouth, but was momentarily speechless. Why Mr. Luffy? Why not Blackbeard?

Because...because Mr. Luffy is a friend? A benefactor?

But Blackbeard is an even more evil pirate!

The logic swirled in his mind, but he couldn't immediately formulate a strong rebuttal.

Without waiting for his reply, Gern continued.

"It can't be because..."

He leaned down slightly and looked into Koby's eyes.

"You know, Straw Hat Luffy, even if you stand against him and try to stop his so-called 'dream'..."

"He won't really kill you."

"They might even go easy on you because of our 'friendship'."

"Right?"

Gern straightened up, his gaze calm and unwavering.

"And facing Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach..."

"You really are going to die."

"You little rascal, you really are... clever!"

"First, he turned the tables and bet Garp in the New World, then he went to stop the other man's grandson."

They're specifically targeting one whole family to fleece them!

Chapter 630 Take care of yourself~

Koby's face flushed red under his bandages in response to Gern's words.

He first glanced around in a panic at his Sharp Blade Squad teammates surrounding the bed.

I tried to seek support or recognition from them, but what I saw were complicated, evasive, and even somewhat awkward looks from my teammates.

Bellumeber hesitated, then lowered his head.

Seeing no opportunity, and having to bring someone else onto the field, Koby decisively turned his head sharply.

"No...that's not how it is!"

He tried to argue, trying to grasp at that seemingly reasonable straw.

"I...I was just following Lieutenant General Garp's instructions!"

Lieutenant General Garp... he's always been teaching us...

We must have hope for the new era and dare to question the outdated rules and authority of the older generation.

Could we even... even 'abandon' them if necessary?!

I stopped Mr. Luffy's dream because if it came true, it might bring even greater chaos!

Isn't this a way of taking responsibility for the future?!

He tried to legitimize his actions by forcibly linking them to Karp's unconventional and unrestrained educational philosophy that encouraged breaking with convention.

As Gern listened to Koby's explanation, the cold smile on his lips became more pronounced, even carrying an undisguised sarcasm.

“Are you really that obedient, my Colonel Koby?” Gern’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was as piercing as an ice pick.

"Kapp teaches you to question the rules and to value the new era."

I didn't teach you to abandon your post, act on your own, and gamble the lives of your subordinates and the overall interests of the navy with your ridiculous 'personal heroism'!

At this point, Gern's tone suddenly turned sharp. He stepped forward, his gaze like a knife, fixing on Koby's panicked eyes.

"Don't forget! You yourself... are the very cause of this tragedy!!"

“!!” Koby’s body trembled violently.

Gern gave Koby no chance to catch his breath, his speech quickening, each sentence clear and forceful, striking the deathly silence of the ward.

"If I remember correctly, Colonel Coby."

He specifically emphasized the rank of "colonel".

"You and your unit's earliest mission is: to be assigned by Vice Admiral Doll of the Navy Branch to lead a warship to Branch G-14 for routine deployment!"

"But what happened afterward..."

Encountering Gizas Burgess, the 'Fighting Champion' under the command of the Blackbeard Pirates

The battle broke out, the defeat was crushing, and you were captured—all on your own initiative! You altered orders without authorization!

He counted on his fingers, listing each point one by one, his voice echoing in the quiet ward:

"First, in the face of a sudden and powerful enemy, you did not follow the naval operational procedures to urgently contact any nearby G-series bases and request support from a vice admiral-level force!"

"Second, you did not take any tactical evasion measures and did not attempt to disengage!"

"Third, you, as a colonel and the head of the naval mission, exercised command authority far exceeding your authority."

"Issue the order directly: command the warships to engage a Yonko (Four Emperors) commander whose strength far surpasses yours head-on!!"

Gern paused, looking at Koby's increasingly pale face, his tone almost overflowing with sarcasm.

On the surface, it seems that you alone 'stepped forward' and 'sacrificed yourself,' offering to exchange yourself for a thousand ordinary naval soldiers.

What a tragic, yet beautiful reputation!

"Hero Koby, right?"

Gern's voice suddenly rose, filled with anger.

"But what was the result?!"

"The result is... a total of 344 naval personnel, including officers from headquarters, were killed or wounded!!"

Three hundred and forty-four lives! Because of your foolish command and reckless actions, they are forever lost in that sea!!

"In the end, it was all to save you, our 'hero,' that our Navy has lost even Vice Admiral Garp! His fate is unknown!!"

"Heh." Gern leaned forward, almost touching the railing of Koby's hospital bed.

"how?"

"You've taken the fame, and you've put on the 'hero' hat."

"Now we've made a huge mess, causing irreparable damage."

You think you can just casually say, "I'm going to stop Luffy's dream," and then expect us "high-level combatants" to clean up your mess?!

"!!!"

Koby was bombarded with a barrage of questions, leaving him dizzy and cold all over.

He wanted to argue, to say that the situation was urgent, and that he acted out of instinct to protect his subordinates.

But all words seem so pale and powerless in the face of the cold facts and tragic casualty figures listed by Gurn.

Gern straightened up and gave him one last look. His eyes no longer held anger, but only extreme coldness.

"I should have..."

In a chillingly calm voice, Gern uttered those final words that sent shivers down the spines of every member of the Sharp Blade Squad.

“Bring Sakazuki back from the first half of the Grand Line.”

He tilted his head slightly, as if imagining the scene:

"Let him teach you a lesson too."

"Let me show you firsthand what it means to..."

"Absolute justice."

"And, for your 'heroic act'..."

"Pay the price you deserve."

As soon as he finished speaking, Koby collapsed onto the hospital bed, and the room became eerily silent.

Even Kizaru dropped his nonchalant expression and silently pulled his curtains back up, shutting out the suffocatingly oppressive atmosphere.

Just then.

“Brubrubru… Brubrubru…”

A rapid ringing of a Den Den Mushi (a type of electric scoop) broke the suffocating silence in the ward.

Gern frowned and took out the uniquely shaped Den Den Mushi from his pocket.

Once connected, the Den Den Mushi immediately mimicked Tesoro's expression and voice.

"Marshal Gern, the Grand Inspector of the Warring States is waiting for you in your office. There is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed in person."

Gern glanced at the distraught Koby on the bed, then looked at the terrified members of the Blade Force around him.

The coldness in his eyes hadn't faded, but clearly, there were more important things for him to deal with.

"Okay, I'll be right there," he replied briefly, then hung up the Den Den Mushi abruptly.

He glanced at Koby one last time, his gaze devoid of pity or expectation.

All that remained was a businesslike indifference, as if the vehement rebuke from just moments before had merely dealt with a trivial official lapse.

Then, he turned around and left the ward, his heavy footsteps fading into the distance until they disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Only after Gern's figure completely disappeared did Koby seem to be able to breathe again.

He let out a long sigh of relief, and his tense body relaxed slightly.

Then, subconsciously, he looked around, trying to find some comfort or support.

However, what he saw plunged his heart into despair once again.

Just moments ago, his teammates from the "Sharp Blade Force" were closely surrounding his bedside, their expressions complex, yet at least still by his side.

At this moment, they subtly created distance between themselves.

They either stood by the window, retreated to the vicinity of the ward door, or pretended to tidy up medical equipment, avoiding eye contact with him.

A silent sense of alienation and scrutiny permeated the air.