Three days later, West Blue Marine Branch 133.
Inside the branch chief's office, Asahi was rubbing his hands excitedly, the layers of fat on his face bunching together as his exaggerated grin spread wider and wider.
"Hahahaha!"
He slammed a newspaper open on the desk. Printed boldly across the front page was Gern's backlit figure standing amid the ruins of Ashen Harbor.
West Blue Rising Star! Marine 'Heavenquake' Gern Slays Seventy-Million Pirate Alone!
"Gern! Did you see this?!" Asahi slapped the desk so hard the tea in his cup sloshed out. Right beside the headline was a large photo of Asahi himself being interviewed.
"The entire West Blue is talking about you now! I guarantee Marine Headquarters has already taken notice!"
Gern leaned against the window, calmly skimming the newspaper.
Outside, on the training grounds, recruits were pushing themselves to exhaustion, sneaking glances in his direction with feverish admiration in their eyes.
In truth, Gern knew better than anyone that over the past year, his training had been no different from theirs. His fundamentals hadn't improved much at all.
If not for the overwhelming power of the Heavenquake Fruit, the one lying dead at Ashen Harbor would have been him.
"Gern?"
"Just another pirate," Gern replied flatly after coming back to himself.
"Just another pirate?!" Asahi's eyes bulged.
"That was 'Blood Spear' Lugart! Sixty-nine million Beli! A man who came back alive from the Grand Line! Do you have any idea what that means?!"
"Even at Headquarters, that level of achievement is enough to promote someone straight into the officer ranks!"
Gern didn't answer. He lowered his gaze to his palm.
The vibration particles gathered obediently, like fine dust responding to his will.
He had won that battle — but it had also exposed his most dangerous flaw.
He had no Haki.
Lugart's crude Armament Haki had still managed to injure him.
If he faced a true monster — future admirals, New World beasts, pirates with bounties over a hundred million — his Logia ability would no longer be an absolute shield.
"Gern?" Asahi mistook the silence for contemplation of promotion and immediately leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"Don't worry. I've already submitted your promotion request. With your fame and record, Headquarters won't reject it."
"Mm." Gern acknowledged softly, eyes still on the training yard.
"Oh, right!" Asahi suddenly slapped his thigh.
"I've already contacted reporters from the West Blue Daily. They'll be here tomorrow to interview you. This is the perfect chance to build momentum!"
"An interview?" Gern frowned slightly.
"Of course!" Asahi rubbed his hands together, eyes gleaming.
"You're a hero now! The people need a symbol, and the Marines need publicity — especially that line of yours…"
He cleared his throat and mimicked Gern's tone, deep and heavy.
"'Justice that arrives late is not justice at all.'"
"Damn, you're a genius!" Asahi laughed loudly.
"That line spread everywhere! Civilians are calling you the true hero of the West Blue!"
Gern was silent for a moment, then let out a cold chuckle.
"They're wrong."
"Huh?" Asahi froze.
"I didn't kill Lugart for justice," Gern said quietly, his voice sharp as a blade.
"I needed his head. It was my ticket to Marine Headquarters."
Asahi's smile stiffened.
The office fell into silence.
A few seconds later, Asahi laughed awkwardly and waved his hands.
"Ah, that kind of thing can't be said out loud! The result is what matters. You killed pirates and protected civilians — that's enough."
Gern didn't explain further.
Asahi wouldn't understand.
In the corrupt West Blue, justice had long since become a slogan. Sometimes, the only difference between pirates and Marines was the uniform they wore.
But it didn't matter.
He never planned to be a hero here.
"Oh, one more thing." Asahi suddenly lowered his voice and pulled a document from his drawer.
"Take a look at this."
Gern glanced at it, his eyes narrowing.
Marine Headquarters Special Recruitment Order
"This is…"
"Shh." Asahi pressed a finger to his lips and glanced around.
"This was personally signed by Admiral Zephyr."
"Zephyr?" Gern's pupils contracted slightly.
"That's right!" Asahi nodded eagerly.
"The official transfer order isn't out yet, but internal news has already spread. Admiral Zephyr has taken interest in you."
Gern's fingers unconsciously traced the edge of the document, his heartbeat quickening.
At last.
If he could receive Zephyr's guidance…
"But…" Asahi sighed, his expression turning uneasy.
"There's bad news too."
"Say it."
"The World Government has… questions about your Devil Fruit."
He lowered his voice even further.
"Your Heavenquake Fruit resembles Whitebeard's Quake-Quake Fruit a little too closely."
"I don't care," Gern said calmly.
He had expected this.
A Logia with vibration authority was impossible to ignore, especially with similarities to Whitebeard's power.
But Gern was certain of one thing — his fruit was not a Celestial Dragon reward from God Valley.
And the difference between a Paramecia and a Logia was fundamental. Devil Fruits had hierarchies.
"Exactly!" Asahi scoffed.
"The World Government just likes sticking its nose everywhere."
Then he quickly returned to the main point.
"Zephyr has noticed you, yes — and from what I've heard, he's likely to be promoted to Admiral within the year. Thirty-eight years old, a Headquarters Admiral."
"But I still think it's not enough."
Seeing Asahi suddenly grow serious, Gern smiled faintly.
"So?"
"Gern, don't laugh!" Asahi slapped his thigh.
"How many years has it been since the West Blue produced a Marine star? You're our pride now!"
"We need to push this hard. Build momentum!"
He patted Gern's shoulder with a conspiratorial grin.
"I trust your strength. So I'm going to exaggerate everything."
Gern simply smiled.
Reputation was power.
This was exactly the foundation he needed for his future climb through the Marines.
"Tomorrow's interview," Gern said after a pause, standing up with Black Blade Eight Desolations in hand.
"I'll attend."
"Yes! Perfect!" Asahi cheered.
"Don't worry, the questions will all be positive—"
"No," Gern interrupted, the corner of his mouth lifting into a dangerous smile.
"Let them ask."
Asahi blinked.
"Especially about my Devil Fruit," Gern continued softly.
"The sharper the better."
Asahi opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Gern had already turned toward the door. His hand paused on the handle, and he left one final sentence behind.
"If we're going to build momentum… then let the storm come."
He intended to make the entire world remember his name.
Gern Reginald Sigma.