Teacher, I gave you my answer long ago

Marineford, a tavern.

Gern sat at the bar, the boyishness gone from his face, pouring himself a drink.

But the moment he filled his glass, a layer of frost appeared on it out of nowhere.

"Hey, lonely fellow. Booze tastes better chilled." A familiar, lazy voice came from beside him.

Gern's lips curved slightly, and he did not look up. "Kuzan, your entrances haven't improved one bit."

The tall man in a Marine coat sat down beside him and helped himself to the bottle without the slightest hesitation.

"Can't be helped. Mr. Garp only has eyes for Roger. Working alone, I naturally finish my missions a little faster."

Kuzan poured himself a drink as he spoke, then tapped his glass against Gern's.

"Gern, your reputation hasn't been so great lately! You used to be 'Air Quake' Gern. Now you're the Beheading Demon."

Gern's quiet spell over the past two years had made people forget him for a time.

There was also another reason: Zephyr...

In the four years since the God Valley Incident, Rocks's shadow had vanished completely, and the seas had entered the age of three legends.

The Whitebeard Pirates, the Flying Pirates, and the Roger Pirates stood as the three dominant powers.

Golden Lion's Flying Pirates had the greatest influence. Whitebeard held dominion over his own region, while Roger was like a free-roaming wind, claiming not an inch of territory.

The Marines should have counterbalanced them with their own three titans-Sengoku, Zephyr, and Garp-but Zephyr's prime had slipped away like an ebbing tide.

Now, he could no longer face those three supreme powers of the sea head-on. He could only hold the lesser pirate forces in check...

"The first stage was getting promoted to Headquarters. The second was honing my Haki..." Gern stared at his glass as the frost quietly melted.

"Now the second stage is over. It's time to take the third step."

And in that third stage, he needed to break free of Zephyr's wings!

That was why he completely disregarded Zephyr's wishes.

The first reason was to stop history from repeating itself and keep Zephyr's family from suffering retaliation at the hands of pirates.

The second was to force Zephyr to sever that binding cord himself...

Or, to put it more harshly, I need to be done with this stepping stone so I can go further! At that thought, Gern drained his glass in one gulp.

"Speaking of which." Gern abruptly changed the subject and refilled his glass. "Of the Marines' legendary three monsters, you're the only one I know.

"Sakazuki and Borsalino..."

"Those two are complete opposites." Kuzan smiled as well. "Sakazuki's an absolute work fanatic. He stationed himself right at the G-3 base in the New World.

"And don't even get me started on Borsalino. You know about the Marine Science Unit, right?"

"Sure. It was only formed a few years ago."

"Exactly. That guy went straight there! It's practically a paradise for slackers." As Kuzan spoke, a trace of envy even flickered in his eyes.

"But he has to be ready to answer the Celestial Dragons' summons at any time," Gern added, swirling his glass.

"Tch, that does spoil it." Kuzan pursed his lips, then suddenly slung an arm around Gern's shoulders.

"Still, we should call it 'four monsters' now! Including you, the youngest of the bunch."

"Me?" Gern raised an eyebrow.

"Who else? I heard before I came here. You're going to be taking independent missions."

"Independent missions?!" A gleam flashed through Gern's eyes. "Aren't I Teacher Zephyr's adjutant?"

"When I came back to report on my mission, I saw the Fleet Admiral sign your appointment papers." Kuzan tipped his head back and drained his glass, dropping a bombshell as his throat bobbed.

"So, starting today, you're a lieutenant reporting directly to Headquarters, no longer Teacher Zephyr's adjutant."

The bottom of the glass struck the bar hard, its lingering ring buzzing in Gern's ears.

"It worked..." Gern murmured.

Under Kong's administration, Marine Headquarters' promotion system had been as strict as iron law. The merits behind every promotion were calculated meticulously, regardless of strength or background.

Even men like Kuzan and the other two, whose strength had reached Vice Admiral level, were still only Marine Headquarters Colonels.

To climb higher, they had to command missions independently to build the reputation and military merit that would lay the groundwork for their future.

In the tavern's dim yellow light, Gern's lips slowly curled upward.

At last, the first rung on the ladder of military merit and reputation had appeared beneath his feet.

(A little jab here at a certain future "hero" who went from chore boy to Headquarters colonel in two years.

Bear in mind that Gern took nearly five years just to reach lieutenant, while the future Three Admirals were only colonels at this point.

As for Zephyr, he took ten whole years to become a corporal!)

Night lay heavy over Marineford, its streets quiet beneath the dim yellow glow of streetlights.

Gern strolled along the stone-paved road toward his home.

The conversation in the tavern still echoed in his mind.

Independent missions, reporting directly to Headquarters, leaving my role as Zephyr's adjutant... Everything is moving according to plan.

Yet when Gern rounded the final street corner, his steps faltered slightly.

A tall figure stood silently on the stone steps outside his door. His short purple hair remained motionless in the night breeze, and his sunglasses reflected the cold moonlight.

"Teacher... Zephyr?" Gern blinked, his tone unchanged. "What brings you here so late?"

Zephyr did not answer immediately. He merely watched him in silence, his gaze sharp as a blade.

Only after a long while did he speak. "Just got back from the tavern?"

"Yeah, I happened to run into Kuzan." Gern smiled and pulled his key from his pocket. "That guy still loves stealing other people's food as much as ever."

"Is that so." Zephyr's voice was low, betraying no emotion. "Then he must have told you already."

The sound of the key sliding into the lock rang unusually clear in the silent street.

Gern opened the door and stepped aside. "Would you like to come in for a while, Teacher Zephyr?"

Zephyr did not move. He remained on the steps, the moonlight stretching his shadow until it almost swallowed Gern whole.

"Gern." Zephyr suddenly spoke, his voice heavy as though a mountain weighed upon it. "Why?"

He still wanted to ask his student in person.

Gern's hand paused on the doorknob, and he tilted his head slightly. "Why what?"

"Why did you kill them?" Zephyr's fists tightened slightly. "Those pirates who surrendered-you could have sent them to Impel Down. You could have..."

"Could have let them live?" Gern interrupted, his tone so calm it bordered on indifference.

Zephyr's pupils contracted slightly.

Gern turned and looked straight into Zephyr's eyes. "Teacher Zephyr, do you remember the question you asked me in your office when I first arrived at Headquarters three years ago?"

"...What question?"

"You asked me why I joined the Marines." Gern's lips curved slightly. "My answer back then was...

"To become stronger, and also... to find an answer."

The night breeze swept past, stirring a few fallen leaves.

"What answer?" Zephyr unconsciously repeated his response from all those years ago.

"My justice."