Meanwhile, Kuzan raised a hand at the sight and exhaled a wisp of cold air.
The thick ice covering the Calamity officers rapidly began to melt and vaporize with faint hisses.
Before long, Hawk-Eye, Kuma, Bullet, and the others were freed from the ice.
They stretched their stiff limbs and looked toward Gern and Sengoku with complicated expressions, but all tacitly refrained from speaking just yet.
Meanwhile, Sengoku ignored the newly thawed Kuma, who was tightly embracing Ginny, lost in the joy of their reunion.
He turned to Gern, his expression regaining the gravity of a Fleet Admiral, and said sternly, "Gern, it's time to put an end to this farce.
"Now hand control of G-1 Base, which you've been 'managing on our behalf,' back to Vice Admiral Strawberry."
Gern picked his ear with his little finger, lightly blew on the fingertip, then casually tossed his head and gave a loud whistle. "No."
His reply was blunt and decisive, with a touch of shamelessness. "I personally led my men and worked damn hard to 'take over' this place from pirates. Why should I give it back?"
"What fucking pirates?!"
"Hey! Gern!" A vein bulged on Sengoku's forehead. "Don't play dumb! The World Government will never let you keep control of a strategic stronghold like G-1!
"Give it back to Strawberry. That's an order!"
"But, Fleet Admiral..." Gern drew out the words, looking as though he had been terribly wronged.
"This is a 'prize of war' I went through hell and paid a huge price to get!
"If I just hand it over, my men will lose heart!"
"Don't push your luck, Gern!" Sengoku lowered his voice in warning.
"You've already come out the biggest winner from this whole Holy Land incident. You've gained more than enough tangible benefits and influence!