After releasing Bullet, Gern knew full well that the man had no interest in wearing a Marine uniform.
So he completely covered the [No. 9] scar left from Bullet's time as Soldier No. 9 in the Country of War, using heated tongs from Impel Down to brand the words "Demon" over it.
"A demon, huh?" Bullet looked at the lettering on his left shoulder and gave a cold chuckle. "I thought you'd go with the devil!"
"Because I need you to carry out a demon's justice, like a demon," Gern said calmly, setting down the tongs.
"A demon's justice?" Bullet was clearly interested, while the corners of Gern's mouth lifted slightly.
Bullet's [Demon's justice] was an extreme form of ultimate order, founded on survival of the strongest and measured by pure strength.
He joined the Marines not to protect, but to conquer; not for justice, but to prove that he was the strongest.
The concept of justice Gern gave Bullet stripped away morality, compassion, and due process entirely.
He believed the world's only truth was that the strong devoured the weak.
Thus, Bullet would neither arrest nor put anyone on trial.
His missions had only one objective: total annihilation.
And he believed the Marines' "justice" could exist only because they-Gern-possessed the greatest strength.
"You're a lot more interesting than Roger, Gern."
On the deck of the warship leaving Impel Down, Gern looked at Bullet, who stood beside him like an iron tower,
still radiating a savage aura that warned everyone to stay away, and said, "Bullet, there's something I need you to handle first."
Bullet turned his head and glanced at Gern, his eyes carrying a trace of irritation at being disturbed and his innate defiance.
"You just got me out, and you're already itching to put me to