Gern brought Dracule Mihawk and Bartholomew Kuma back to the G-10 Main Base as fast as he could.
Tesoro and Toritoma, who had received word, were already waiting at the base entrance.
The two breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Gern return unharmed, but their attention soon shifted to the taciturn stranger behind him, who stood even taller than Bullet (Kuma was 6.92 meters tall).
"The Revolutionary Army's 'Tyrant,' Bartholomew Kuma? Why is he here? And why did he come back with Admiral Gern?"
Tesoro, who handled most of the G-10 Base's operations, clearly recognized Kuma.
After all, no organization could afford to neglect intelligence gathering.
Though full of questions, both Tesoro and Toritoma keenly sensed the aura still lingering around Gern.
Wisely, they asked nothing and immediately went to meet him.
"Admiral Gern!"
"Gern!"
Gern gave them a slight nod without slowing his steps, not even offering a greeting.
He headed straight for the Medical Room deep within the base, taking Hawk-Eye and Kuma with him at a brisk pace.
Tesoro and Toritoma exchanged a glance and immediately followed.
The group passed through the corridors in silence, the atmosphere oppressively grim.
As they pushed open the Medical Room's metal door, the pungent smell of disinfectant and the faint glow of life energy greeted them.
Lipo was wholly focused on maintaining Enel's treatment, her small face etched with exhaustion.
But when she saw Gern enter, she still managed a reassuring smile. "Gern, you're back..."
"I'm back." Gern hurried to Lipo's side and gently ruffled her hair, his voice unusually soft. "Thank you for all your hard work, Lipo.
Go get some rest. Leave this to me."
Lipo nodded obediently, withdrew the healing green light she had been continuously channeling, and stepped aside.
Without the steady infusion of life