Out on the distant waters of the Elward Sea, the Reconnaissance Ship rocked gently with the waves.
Watching Kizaru's look of distaste as he turned him down, Gern tapped his fingers rhythmically against the rim of his teacup, producing crisp little clinks.
Then he glanced sideways at Kizaru, a sly smile curling his lips.
"Borsalino, say..." Gern deliberately drew out the word.
"What else is there to say?" Kizaru turned his head, his eyes narrowing slightly behind his sunglasses.
"Or does our Rear Admiral Gern have another bold idea?"
"Just a little one!" Gern smiled at the interruption, holding up his fingers a tiny distance apart before continuing.
"Say we managed to capture either Golden Lion or Roger this time..."
"I knew it..." Gern's opening bombshell made Kizaru's sunglasses slip slightly, exposing half an eye.
"If we really pulled it off, a promotion and a raise would be the least of it." Gern leaned closer, lowering his voice to a tempting murmur.
"I heard Fleet Admiral Kong has been considering adding a position called Admiral Candidate lately. (It doesn't exist yet.)
"We're both rear admirals. We might even get to skip the vice admiral rank..."
Admiral Candidate? Does Marine Headquarters have a position like that?
But it does sound like something I've heard about.
This kid is Master Zephyr's personal student. Maybe it's possible!
The sea breeze suddenly felt gentler, and Kizaru's teacup gleamed enticingly in the sunlight.
"And besides..." Seeing Kizaru thinking it over, Gern continued his persuasion.
"With that kind of achievement, applying for six months... no, a whole year of paid administrative leave shouldn't be a problem, right?"
The words "paid administrative leave" made Kizaru's fingers tremble almost imperceptibly.
And Gern clearly saw the veteran slacker's Adam's apple bob.
"Borsalino, just imagine the sunny beaches of Maldives