After leaving Enel's hospital room, Gern quickly whispered a few instructions into Tesoro's ear.
Tesoro's expression instantly turned deadly serious. He nodded firmly without asking a single question.
He immediately led Toritoma, Lipo, Kuma, Hawk-Eye, and the others away, apparently to carry out an urgent order.
In moments, Gern was the only one left in the corridor.
Instead of heading to the command center, he went alone to a relatively secluded little garden inside the base.
Lush greenery filled the garden, with a simple stone table and two stone stools in the middle.
Gern sat down alone at the stone table, but, unusually, he took out two teacups and unhurriedly filled them with tea.
Then he lifted the cup before him and took a small sip. Looking at the empty stone stool opposite him, he said calmly, "Go on."
The instant his words fell-
Whoosh! Countless golden particles of light materialized above the opposite stool, rapidly tracing a human silhouette.
A moment later, Borsalino sat leisurely on that stool with his legs crossed, wearing a Marine Admiral's Justice Coat.
"How frightening~" Kizaru said in his peculiar drawl. He picked up the other cup on the stone table and blew on the steam.
"I never imagined that one trip would be enough for you to bring Dracule Mihawk completely to heel, and even get that 'Tyrant' from the Revolutionary Army to come back with you.
"Gern~ Even I can't compete with your talent for poaching people~
"So, have you given any thought to recruiting me?"
Kizaru tried to ease the tension with his usual banter while sounding out Gern's attitude.
But Gern wasn't buying any of it.
He set down his teacup and stared coldly at Kizaru. Without any pleasantries, he stripped away every pretense. "Did Sengoku send you to stop