The next day, night quietly fell over Marineford.
The town's streets were brightly lit, some people hurrying along while others took their time.
At the harbor, Gern, who had returned ahead of the others because he had been at Impel Down, had not even had time to go home before Kong urgently summoned him here.
"Magellan wouldn't actually stoop to tattling, would he?"
Gern pondered it along the way, quietly working out what excuse he could use to bluff his way through.
Before long, he reached the door and took a deep breath.
"Fleet Admiral Kong, Bullet broke free on his own!
"He's pretty strong, after all. It took everything I had to restrain him again!
"As for Magellan, you really shouldn't just take his word for it..." Gern was halfway through speaking when he pushed the door halfway open and immediately sensed the oppressive atmosphere.
Through the gap, he saw Kong staring straight at him, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's.
Gern's heart tightened. The smile on his face vanished in an instant, and he silently pushed the door open and entered.
"I knew you wouldn't summon me this late over some little thing at Impel Down."
Gern wore his usual flippant smile, but when his gaze swept over Kong's grave expression, he let it fade.
He walked straight to the sofa, dropped onto it, and spread his hands. "Go on. What is it?"
Kong sat behind his desk, his hands clasped beneath his chin.
"Gern, the World Government rejected the proposal to promote you to Admiral.
"Not only that, they also proposed having you and Kuzan..."
For a time, the only sounds clearly audible in the room were Kong's voice and the ticking of the wall clock.
Before long, Kong had patiently explained the entire situation.
Yet