Inside a tavern in the town of Marineford.
Because it was midday, many off-duty recruits liked to gather here for a drink. The noise of laughter and chatter filled the room, only thinning out in the far corners.
At the bar counter, Kuzan and Gern Reginald Sigmar sat side by side, looking oddly out of place amid the lively chaos.
Even so, Gern still couldn't escape being chased down for autographs. He was forced to keep signing for a solid ten minutes before the overly enthusiastic fans finally dispersed and stopped bothering him.
"A living Marine legend—your fame is even bigger than Mr. Garp's title of Marine Hero now!"
"Can't be helped."Gern rubbed his forehead, brushed back his bangs with one hand, and put on a faintly melancholic expression."Sometimes, the strong have to bear costs… that ordinary people simply can't."
"..."
"Praise you a little and you start climbing up the ladder yourself, huh?"Kuzan accepted a large mug of beer from the bartender. The instant it touched his hand, condensation formed along the glass wall.
He tilted his head back and took a deep gulp. His Adam's apple bobbed as the ice-cold liquid slid down his throat, drawing out a satisfied sigh.
Then he glanced sideways at Gern, a lazy smile tugging at his lips."Still, the last time we drank together was a few years ago, right? Back when you went to Fish-Man Island?"
Gern rested his elbow on the counter, long fingers gently swirling the glass. The amber liquid rippled softly inside.
"Yeah."He smiled faintly, a trace of nostalgia flashing through his eyes."Ever since we got promoted, we've been so busy we don't even have time to drink."
"You haven't changed."Kuzan chuckled, his gaze settling on Gern's glass."Still drinking the same strong liquor Instructor Zephyr used to like."
"Just a habit."Gern lifted the glass and took a sip."But you—since when did you start drinking beer this watered-down?"
"Ara ara… getting old."Kuzan shrugged, his tone as casual as ever, though his eyes gradually darkened."Can't handle anything too intense anymore."
He fell silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke again.
"Gern… about the Admiral position—"
Gern's hand paused briefly as he swirled the drink, then continued as if nothing had happened. He raised his eyes to Kuzan, the smile at his lips unchanged.
"What? Worried I'll fall out with you over this?"
Kuzan didn't answer right away. He took another gulp of beer instead, frost creeping from his fingertips across the mug's surface.
"I don't like this arrangement."
"Just one of the World Government's tricks."Gern snorted softly, turning his gaze toward the noisy Marines in the center of the tavern."They want to see whether we'll smash our heads bloody fighting over a title."
Kuzan studied Gern's profile, trying to read something from his expression—but Gern remained calm, even faintly amused.
"You're not angry?" Kuzan asked.
"Angry?"Gern turned back to him."Kuzan, how many years have we known each other?"
Kuzan froze for a moment, then laughed."Ever since someone went berserk in the mess hall stuffing his face… almost fifteen years now, I guess."
"Yeah. Almost fifteen years…"Gern repeated softly, his fingers lightly tapping against the glass."So do you really think I'd fight you over something like this?"
"It's different."Kuzan lowered his gaze to his beer and spoke evenly."I came to tell you this—I'm not going to compete with you for the Admiral seat.Because no matter whether it's achievements or reputation—"
He suddenly raised his mug and clinked it against the air, ice clattering crisply inside.
"You're the one who truly deserves it."
"Hey, hey… cut it out, Kuzan."Seeing Kuzan's self-moved expression, Gern blinked."What's with this dramatic self-sacrifice look?"
He laughed and lightly punched Kuzan on the shoulder."I don't believe for a second that with your brain, you can't see the catch here."
"Huh? What catch?!"Kuzan looked genuinely confused as Gern laughed.
Seeing that Kuzan didn't seem to be pretending, Gern—who had just taken a sip—promptly choked.
"Cough—wait, damn it, you really don't know?Didn't Fleet Admiral Kong explain it to you when you went to his office?"
"He did."Kuzan lifted the mug to his lips and smiled helplessly."He told me there's only one Admiral position left, and that you and I are competitors."
"..."
That's not right.
The Ohara incident hadn't happened yet. Despite his lazy exterior, Kuzan was still a hot-blooded idealist at heart.
Which meant Gern was certain—this guy must have heard the words 'you'll be competing with Gern for the Admiral seat' from Steel Bone Kong, and the instant those words landed, he rushed straight here.
He hadn't listened to a single word after that.
"Ugh…"Gern rubbed his temples.
"What's wrong? Don't worry, I really don't intend to compete with—"
"That's not something you get to decide."Gern cut him off, lifting his eyes."This so-called 'battle' for the Admiral position between you and me has to happen."
"It… it has to?"
"That's right. And no matter who wins or loses, the one who gets promoted will be you—Kuzan."
"What are you talking about?!"Kuzan slammed his hand on the counter, staring at Gern in disbelief.
Seeing his reaction, Gern smiled lightly."Because they never intended to let me become an Admiral in the first place.
Fleet Admiral Kong's original proposal—'Establish an additional Admiral position'—was rejected by the World Government.
Besides…"Gern leaned back slightly."If you were the World Government, would you dare let me become an Admiral?
Would you dare let someone who might casually slaughter a few Celestial Dragons roam freely in and out of Mariejois?"
Only then did Kuzan truly calm down, realizing how much crucial information he'd missed in his impulsiveness.
Right—from the very start, he'd been thrown off balance by Kong's一句 'you'll be competing with Gern.'All he'd thought about was coming to talk things through with Gern.
He hadn't considered anything else.
"…If that's the case, then why do we even need to fight?" he asked.
"We have to."Gern didn't explain the 'deal' he'd made with Kong. Instead, he ordered another drink and smiled."If we don't, appearances won't hold."
Then his smile turned dangerously warm.
"After all, I remember very clearly…""Someone's been spreading rumors about me these past few years—and back when you trained me, you were far too generous with that freezing wind while still holding back."
Faced with Gern's threatening smile, Kuzan chuckled. His expression relaxed instantly, the familiar lazy grin returning.
"Ara ara… I don't recall spreading any rumors at all."
He began counting on his fingers."Think about it—Minks, Fish-Men, the Amazon Lily Snake Princess…Oh, and oh—recently I heard you're planning to look for this so-called Sky Island. Now even winged ones aren't safe."
"You bas—"
"Gern!"Kuzan patted his shoulder."As your good friend, I respect your… unique tastes."
Then, imitating Gern's usual tone, he said solemnly:"After all, as you like to say—'sometimes the strong have to bear costs others simply can't.'"
"You bastard…"Gern snorted."When I get back, I won't hold back in that duel. I'll shake you into Wangwang Crushed Ice."
"Hahaha!"Kuzan burst out laughing."But if you're heading into the Grand Line to look for Sky Island, you should drop by your Snake Princess while you're at it!"
"Snake Princess?"
"Yeah."Kuzan nodded."I heard after their previous empress, Shakuyaku, 'died' from illness (fake death and escape), the new empress is Torch Lotus.
That so-called 'Snake Princess' lost the election—and seems to have fallen 'ill.'"
"Thanks."Gern nodded seriously.
"No problem."Kuzan tilted his head back and drained his mug."Honestly… I'm looking forward to fighting you at full strength."
His voice lowered."After all, in the past ten years… you're not the only one who's grown."
Hearing that, Gern froze for a moment—then suddenly laughed out loud.
He stood up, turned his back to Kuzan, and waved without looking back.
"Then get ready to be turned into crushed ice!"
"Wangwang crushed ice, huh?"Kuzan chuckled as he watched his friend walk away.
Ice crystals bloomed along the rim of his empty mug, refracting the light into shimmering, seven-colored hues.