At dawn the next day, a thin mist shrouded Marineford's naval harbor, and the sea shimmered like an enormous mirror.
Gern's personal warship lay moored at the pier, its hull jet-black and its masts towering, the flag of justice snapping in the morning breeze.
Lipo was already standing on deck, her rabbit ears swaying gently in the sea breeze and her pink eyes brimming with excitement.
She carried a bulging little backpack covered in carrot patterns, and for the first time, she had two carrot-shaped daggers strapped to her waist.
"Gern! Hurry up!" Lipo shouted toward the cabin. "Keep dawdling and the sun will be roasting your butt!"
"Coming, coming." Gern's lazy voice drifted out of the cabin.
He wore his justice cloak, with Black Blade: Eight Desolations hanging casually at his waist, and looked as though he was still half-asleep.
Tesoro followed him, holding a stack of documents, his brows furrowed as he clearly pondered the details of the mission.
"Hm?" Noticing the two carrot daggers at Lipo's waist, Gern frowned. "Lipo, are you planning to use Two-Sword Style now?"
"What Two-Sword Style?! Why don't I bite down on another one and call it Three-Sword Style!
"These are just in case! If I drop a dagger, I'll have a spare!
"Hmph!" Lipo pouted. "You don't understand anything, Gern!"
Seeing Lipo's angry pout, Gern scratched his head and laughed. "Haha, I forgot this is probably the first big mission for you two!"
"Rear Admiral Gern, did you only just realize that?" Tesoro sighed.
"Haha, oh, come on! No need to be so nervous! Let's go!" Gern laughed and swept his arm forward, and the warship slowly pulled away from the harbor.
Marineford's silhouette gradually blurred in the morning mist before finally disappearing beyond the horizon.
On the warship's deck,