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

That too has now faded away, and the tides of the new era will only keep crashing in...

"If you had been sober and present at the time, and Whitebeard insisted on starting the war, what would you have done?"

Gern's eyes turned cold: "Then let's fight."

Sengoku's pupils contracted slightly, but he quickly regained his composure, patted Gern on the shoulder, and spoke in a complex tone.

"Actually, I'm really curious, what exactly is your sense of justice?"

"My justice?" Guern was taken aback.

"That's right, your justice." Sengoku's tone was decisive.

At this moment, he was 100% certain that Gern had found his own unique sense of justice.

"My justice..." Faced with Sengoku's words, Gern remained silent for a moment, looking down at his palm, where pale vibrating particles flowed between his fingertips.

Then, he suddenly chuckled softly: "If there has to be one... then it's a natural disaster."

"Justice in the face of natural disasters."

Warring States frowned slightly: "A natural disaster?"

“Yes.” Gern clenched his fist, and vibrating particles burst forth and then dissipated in an instant.

"It's as pure and unstoppable as an earthquake, tsunami, or tremor."

As he spoke, Gren looked at the soldiers drilling on the training ground, his voice eerily calm.

"Justice shouldn't be bound by so many rules and regulations."

When evil occurs, it should be utterly destroyed like a natural disaster, leaving no room for regret.

Sengoku stared at Gern's profile. "So that's why you and Sakazuki..."

“Lieutenant General Sakazuki’s justice is ‘absolute’,” Gern interrupted.

“And my justice is ‘inevitable’.”

Evil must be destroyed, just as an earthquake destroys everything in its path.

......

As Gern's figure receded into the distance, Sengoku was left standing alone on the terrace.

"Is natural disaster just...?" Sengoku murmured softly, his eyes behind his glasses gleaming with contemplation.

As a naval strategist, he keenly perceived the deeper meaning behind Gern's words.

After all, the sense of justice of someone who possesses Conqueror's Haki is never as simple as it appears on the surface.

"Justice for natural disasters" is essentially a mixture of absolute rationalism and extreme utilitarianism.

"Natural disasters" symbolize force majeure (that humans cannot prevent), indiscriminateness (not targeting any specific object), and reshaping (the changes that occur after a disaster).

In other words: the four core characteristics of Guern's view of justice

Disregarding the value of individual life

Willing to sacrifice everything for "one's ultimate goal"

And absolute equality, just as everyone is equal in the face of natural disasters...

This view of justice forms a subtle mirror image of Sakazuki's "absolute justice".

Both acknowledge the necessity of sacrifice, but their essence is completely different.

Sakazuki targets the vessel of "evil" (pirates), while Gorn seeks to destroy the entire old order itself.

The distant sea rippled with the sound of waves. Sengoku gazed in the direction Gern had gone, and suddenly realized a terrifying truth.

This young man is practicing a more radical form of justice that even Sakazuki had never imagined.

This is not simply extremism, but a complete system of natural disasters with its own logic.

Chapter 107 Promotion to Major General

Time flies, and in the year 1494 of the Haiyuan calendar, Gern's career took a turn for the better.

Over the past two years, he has successively wiped out twenty-four well-known pirate crews.

Among those arrested or killed were notorious pirates such as "The Cursed Doctor," "The Giant Battleship," "Death Knell," and "The Big Barrel."

His feat of single-handedly defeating Kozuki Oden, the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, shook the seas.

He was subsequently recalled to Marineford after completing his one-year term at G-3 base with Sakazuki.

He was promoted to Rear Admiral of the Navy Headquarters, but no specific position has been assigned to him yet.

Meanwhile, the tide of the times has been surging relentlessly over the past two years.

In the year 1492 of the Sea Calendar, news of Gern's defeat of Kozuki Oden spread throughout the world via the World Economic News.

While sailing, Gol D. Roger caught news of this Wano Country samurai in the newspaper, and the gears of fate began to turn.

In the latter half of the same year, 15-year-old Douglas Bullet encountered the Roger Pirates.

After failing to challenge Roger, he chose to join his pirate crew and continue to pursue his dream of surpassing his captain as a crew member.

Meanwhile, Shiki the Golden Lion's repeated attempts to recruit Roger failed, and the conflict between the two legendary pirate crews gradually intensified.

Golden Lion even temporarily set aside his grudges with the Navy, and the two sides engaged in several fierce battles in the New World.

At this moment, no one knows that there are only three years left before the Battle of Ed Ward, which will change the course of history, breaks out.

The year 1493 in the Haiyuan calendar became a turning point.

Roger suddenly fell ill after a fierce battle with Shiki, and it was determined that no one in the New World could cure him.

Faced with the threat of the Golden Lion Flying Pirates, the Roger Pirates were forced to withdraw from the New World.

They returned to the Grand Line to rest and recuperate, while also beginning Roger's journey to seek treatment from renowned doctors...

In the latter half of the same year, the Whitebeard Pirates received good news: Kozuki Oden and Amaterasu Toki held their wedding on the Moby Dick, and their son Momonosuke was born the following year (1494).

Meanwhile, the following month, a homeless boy named Marshall D. Teach was taken in by Whitebeard.

Of course, the year 1494 in the Sea Calendar not only saw Gern promoted to Major General, but also witnessed the tragic expedition of the scholars of Ohara.

In order to search for historical texts and uncover gaps in history, Nicole Olvia leads an expedition of archaeologists on a voyage.

Little did they know that this sacred place of learning, which had stood for eight hundred years, was already on its countdown to destruction...

........

Naval Headquarters, Marineford, Commercial Street Tavern.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the glass windows onto the wooden bar, casting an amber glow on the wine glasses.

Gern sat alone in the corner, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table, his gaze fixed on the swirling liquid in his glass.

The news of his promotion to major general had spread throughout headquarters, but he preferred to find a quiet place to have a drink rather than participate in a noisy celebration.

Just then, the tavern door was pushed open, and the wind chimes rang crisply.

"Looks like the furry adjutant isn't here?"

A familiar voice came from behind him. Gern looked up and saw Kuzan leaning lazily against the door frame, his eyes behind his sunglasses carrying a hint of mockery.

He was dressed in casual clothes, with a cape casually draped over his shoulders, and carrying an unopened bottle of wine in his hand.

“Libor went to train with Coach Zephyr.” Gern smiled helplessly and pushed a full glass of wine toward him. “Want a drink?”

"Of course!" Kuzan walked over, took the glass, leaned against the bar, took a sip, and a slight smile played on his lips.

"Congratulations! You're just a rising star from the West Sea, and you've already caught up with my rank."

"Don't even mention it." Gern rubbed his temples, his voice tinged with weariness.

"Do you know how I spent this year at G-3 base?"

"Haha, stop pretending, everyone in the Navy Headquarters knows that Sakazuki is the one who respects you the most."

Every time that guy's proposal was rejected, he would say, "Gern would have agreed to it."

This has almost become his catchphrase!

“This is different!” Gren tilted his head back, took a swig of his drink, and sighed, “Sakazuki just thinks too highly of me!”

Kuzan raised an eyebrow, waiting with interest for what would follow.

"It was pretty good at first." Gern tilted his head back and took another gulp of wine.

"Sakazuki and I wiped out all the pirates in the nearby waters, but sometimes we can't finish the job too quickly."

They didn't even see a small-time pirate with a bounty of just over a hundred million in the patrolled waters behind them.

"Isn't that great? It'll give us a break for a while."

“Easy? Hahaha!” Gern gave a desperate laugh. “That’s the problem! Bastard.”

Since there haven't been any pirates to fight, Sakazuki has turned his attention to base construction—and he's dragged me along!

"It can't be that bad," Kuzan's lips twitched slightly. "It's just some paperwork..."

"Not at all? Documentation? I can recite every single military expenditure of G-3 Base over the past two years!" Gern gritted his teeth.

"Also, do you know how terrifying Sakazuki is?"

He actually moved his desk into my office, claiming it was to "improve efficiency."

Then every morning when I open my eyes, I see that serious face, and I don't even have a chance to slack off!

"Pfft, hahaha!" Hearing this, coupled with Gern's expression, Kuzan's shoulders began to tremble: "I didn't expect that."

“Don’t laugh!” Gern gritted his teeth. “Do you know what it feels like to be looked at with that kind of ‘I believe you, Gern’ look?”

It's like his soul has been bound by justice!

Before, I could justify my mistakes with a straight face, but now, seeing his expectant eyes, I don't dare to hand in my documents even a minute late!

Gern looked indignant and resentful. "I was too perfect in his eyes."

Now that he trusts me so much, I feel embarrassed to slack off!

Kuzan wiped away the tears of laughter: "Looks like Sakazuki has found a way to deal with you."

Gern didn't reply, but silently poured himself another glass of wine and drank it all in one gulp.

Seeing this, Kuzan stopped asking and changed the subject: "By the way, what are your plans next?"

"Now that you've been promoted to major general, headquarters should be assigning you new tasks, right?"

“Who knows? I’m on administrative leave right now.” Gern shrugged.

"Also, the way Marshal Steelbone is looking at me now is like he's looking at a bomb that could explode at any moment."

"After all, you and Sakazuki almost turned the New World upside down together," Kuzan joked.

"Mr. Karp told me privately last time that if you two stayed any longer..."

G-3 base could practically become the new Naval Headquarters (it's incredibly safe).

"That's true!"

The two exchanged a smile and gently clinked their glasses together.

Just then, the tavern door was pushed open again, and a familiar aroma wafted in.

"Gern! So you were here!"

Lipo's voice was clear and melodious, and then a white figure trotted in, her pink eyes sparkling, her drooping ears swaying gently with her movements.

His cheeks were slightly flushed from training, and his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

Gern raised an eyebrow: "Is training over?"

"Yes!" Ribo nodded, then her eyes lit up when she saw Kuzan. "Mr. Kuzan! Are you here for a drink too?"

Kuzan smiled and raised his glass in a gesture of congratulations on your promotion, Chief of Staff.

Libo grinned and moved closer to Gern, taking a carrot out of her pocket and taking a bite.

"Zeff praised me today! He said my Armament Haki has improved incredibly fast!"

Gern rubbed her head: "Not bad, next time you encounter a supernova worth over 100 million, you can at least hold out a little longer."