Shame of the Navy!!
Those words seared themselves into Koby's soul like a red-hot branding iron.
When Gern threw him back to the ground, the pain in his body paled beside the crushing blow to his heart.
Koby lay slumped among the rubble, his eyes hollow and unfocused, utterly bereft.
His mouth opened and closed unconsciously as he murmured those words over and over.
"Shame of the Navy... Shame of the Navy..."
Beside him, Helmeppo had been about to help him up, but after hearing what Gern said to Koby,
his expression changed violently, and he froze in place, not daring to take another step.
As the son of a former officer within the Navy, he understood all too clearly how serious this was.
Because who had spoken those words?
The Navy Legend, foremost of Marine Headquarters' Four Admirals, New World Strategic Commander-in-Chief, master of G-10-Gern, "Heavenquake"!
The man who had personally arrested the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger,
then defeated Edward Newgate and Golden Lion Shiki in succession during this all-out war that would go down in history.
The man who had almost single-handedly ended the entire Legendary Era, bringing it to a definitive close!
At this moment, Gern's prestige, strength, and achievements had reached an unprecedented peak!
In other words, anyone with half a brain could see that once this war ended, the position of Fleet Admiral would be practically within Gern's grasp!
He would unquestionably be the Navy's future leader and symbol!
And now, this future Fleet Admiral, poised to reach the summit and wield absolute authority, had personally and publicly branded Koby with the judgment "Shame of the Navy"!
What did that mean?
It meant that as long as Gern remained in the Navy, as long as his will held sway within it,
Koby would never