Gern naturally had no idea of the turmoil he had stirred in the three boys' hearts, or the shocking lesson he had taught them after leaving Foosha Village.
His next destination was not far away, so he rented a small fishing boat at Foosha Village's docks, paid a generous amount of Beli, declined the boatman's kind offer to accompany him, and sailed toward his destination alone.
Four days later, the fishing boat slowly docked at Fish Merchants' Harbor in Cocoyasi Village in the East Blue.
Gern hopped effortlessly onto the wooden dock. He had barely set foot on solid ground, with no chance yet to take a good look at the seemingly peaceful village, when the Den Den Mushi in his pocket began ringing, "Buru Buru Buru."
Gern took out the Den Den Mushi wearing a miniature Marine Cap, deftly answered the call, and spoke in his distinctive, slightly lazy and narcissistic drawl.
"Hello, hello~ This is the handsome, dashing, and mighty Gern. Who might be look-"
"Gern!!! You bastard!!!" Before he could finish introducing himself, the Den Den Mushi's face twisted into a mask of rage.
Immediately afterward, Sengoku's all-too-familiar roar erupted from the receiver like a volcano, making the Den Den Mushi shudder three times.
"Where the hell have you run off to now?! Huh?!"
"You're the New World Strategic Commander-in-Chief and the highest authority at G-10! Instead of staying put and holding down your territory, you've gone missing on me again?!
"Do you have any idea what kind of trouble those lawless pirates could cause without you keeping an eye on the New World?! You little brat!!"
Faced with Sengoku's furious bellows, Gern merely picked at his ear. "Relax, relax. Nothing's going to get out of hand.
"It's not like I left the place unattended. Tesoro, Bullet,