Gern leaned against the broad backrest of his chair, watching Kizaru, who sat sunk into the sofa opposite him, wearing his usual lazy look.
"So, after all this beating around the bush..." Gern's voice was quiet, but every word rang clearly through the silent room.
"The unstable element Fleet Admiral Sengoku is truly worried about, the one he thinks needs to be kept 'under watch,' isn't the pirates...
It's me, isn't it?"
Kizaru smiled without answering, his expression still hidden behind his brown-tinted sunglasses.
When Kizaru remained silent, Gern leaned forward and tapped his fingers against the polished tabletop, producing a soft tap, tap, tap.
It sounded like a countdown-or a warning.
"He's worried that this 'problem Admiral,' who just finished fighting Whitebeard and still reeks of bloodlust..." A faint, mocking smile tugged at Gern's lips.
"Might see that shipment of 'Heavenly Tribute,' worth enough to rival a nation's wealth,
And suddenly decide I've found the funding to rebuild G-10. Or maybe I'd simply want to make trouble for the World Government and do something... utterly lawless."
He paused there. "So what does he do? He sends you here.
Rather than 'escorting' the Heavenly Tribute, you're here to 'watch' me.
To make sure I don't actually go mad and sink that treasure ship carrying the Heavenly Tribute into the sea, along with the World Government's dignity."
"Heh. Am I right?" Gern gave a cold chuckle before softly adding, "My senior, Borsalino?"
Faced with words that all but tore away every pretense and laid the heart of the matter bare,
Kizaru neither admitted nor denied it. He merely reached out at his leisurely pace, picked up the exquisite teapot on the table, and poured himself a cup of hot tea.
Then he lifted the cup, blew gently over it, and took