Meanwhile, Gern and Mihawk had already left Area 13 and strolled into Mangrove Tree Area 49 of the Sabaody Archipelago.
The surroundings here were noticeably cleaner and prettier, consisting mainly of sightseeing spots and specialty shops.
The scent of desserts drifted through the air, and leisurely tourists and crowds shopping for souvenirs were everywhere.
Holding the thin intelligence file Shakky had given him, Gern leafed through it with his head lowered.
He stopped outside a cutely decorated ice cream shop and absentmindedly joined the line.
Hawk-Eye stood beside him, his sharp brows drawing together slightly as his gaze passed over clearly printed terms such as "North Blue" and "Donquixote Family."
He really could not understand why Gern had suddenly taken an interest in a local tyrant in that remote corner of the North Blue.
Indeed, in Dracule Mihawk's eyes, the current Doflamingo was nothing more than a "local tyrant" entrenched in the North Blue!
"So you went out of your way to leave the New World this time," Hawk-Eye began, his voice as cool as ever, though tinged with curiosity.
"Because you're planning a trip to the North Blue? To deal with this so-called 'Joker'?"
Even now, he still thought Gern had brought him along to settle some personal grudge.
After all, the declaration on Fish-Man Island had already demonstrated as much, but the current situation did not quite seem to fit.
Gern, meanwhile, had just reached a crucial part of the report. Hearing Hawk-Eye's question, he gave an instinctive "Mm," then suddenly caught himself.
He raised his head from the file and looked at the puzzled Mihawk, momentarily stunned.
Then, as though he had only just remembered something vitally important, he slapped his forehead and gave an exceedingly sheepish grin.
"Ah! Right! I forgot to tell you! Hehe!"
His