Gern's flippant remarks infuriated Golden Lion so much that he lost all interest in bantering.
He took a hard drag on his cigar, forced down his anger, and asked bluntly,
"Cut the crap! Where are we going next? I don't have time to stand around enjoying the sea breeze with you."
"Oh?" Gern raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on his face. "Does that mean... you've already decided
to become my right-hand man, Golden Lion?"
Hearing Gern bring up the subject again, Golden Lion did not answer immediately. Instead, he lowered his eyes slightly, the cigar smoke obscuring his expression.
He no longer rejected the idea outright or flew into a rage as he had before.
Instead, he quickly and seriously reassessed the forces Gern currently commanded.
For the past twenty years, he had lain low in the East Blue. Though he seemed cut off from the world, he had actually devoted most of his energy to gathering intelligence on Gern.
Of course, this wasn't love.
Now, that intelligence unfolded in his mind like a vivid painting:
Gern himself: Marine Admiral "White Kirin," wielder of the "Heavenquake" Devil Fruit, Peak Physical Arts inherited from Garp and Zephyr, mastery of all Three Types of Haki at their peak, bearer of Black Blade: Eight Desolations...
His strength needed no further explanation. He had long stood firmly at the pinnacle of these seas, an undisputed "King"-level existence!
His core subordinates, Calamity:
Dracule Mihawk: the World's Greatest Swordsman, unfathomably powerful, with universally recognized Emperor-Class combat strength.
Douglas Bullet: the "Devil's Heir," Peak Physical Arts, wielder of the Combine-Combine Fruit, all Three Types of Haki, peak Armament Haki, and likewise possessing Emperor-Class strength.
Gern's forces were not simply one Emperor with two commanders.
They were the terrifying lineup of one "King" leading two "Emperors"!!
The