Just as everyone thought Gern had torn off the medal
because he was ready to burn every bridge and declare war, and most had even bent their knees, ready to flee at the first opportunity...
Gern's expression abruptly changed, becoming incredibly excited, with a hint of being overwhelmed by the honor!
The sudden change bewildered everyone, including Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, who stood right before him.
Gern raised the medal he had torn off and faced the camera, his voice brimming with sincerity as he declared emotionally,
"Thank you to the World Government! Thank you to the Five Elders for your recognition!"
Then, before anyone could react, his voice suddenly rose, charged with stirring passion.
"But this supreme honor does not belong to me alone!!"
"Because..." Gern's gaze swept over the Marine officers below the stage, over the live broadcast camera, and over the countless Marine soldiers watching the broadcast.
"It belongs to every Marine comrade who fought bravely, shed blood, and gave their life in the Paramount War!
It belongs to the 'justice' we defended together!"
Then, beneath countless astonished gazes, Gern abruptly closed the hand holding the medal and clenched it hard!
With a faint, muffled crunch, the medal forged from special metal, subjected to the terrifying power of the tremors in his palm,
was instantly crushed into a handful of fine metal and gemstone dust. He then opened his hand,
letting the dust that represented the "World Government's Supreme Guardian" drift on Mary Geoise's breeze into the Holy Land's cold air.
"So I, Gern, will never keep this glory for myself!!"
"It will belong to... the entire Navy!!!"
As those words fell, Gern's right hand, which had just crushed the medal and was still coated in dust,
came down with a smack! The slap was forceful, more