"Senior Borsalino," Gern's voice dropped, turning heavy and cold, "are you trying to stop me?"
Borsalino pushed his sunglasses up slightly. The chaotic reflections of the laboratory's flickering lights danced across the lenses.
"How frightening~ Look at that killing intent of yours."
"Still… if it's to protect something as important as this…"
Before the sentence could even finish, his body abruptly dissolved into a streak of golden light.
In an instant—almost like teleportation—he appeared at Gern's flank. A razor-sharp kick, moving at the speed of light, swept straight toward Gern's waist.
"Speed… is weight. Tell me, how long has it been since you were kicked by light?"
Gern's reaction was astonishingly fast.
The moment Borsalino moved, Gern had already altered his stance.
He withdrew Eight Desolations, pressing the blade downward in one smooth motion while his left arm bent upward. His elbow—coated in dense Armament Haki—slammed forward to meet the blazing kick head-on.
BOOM!!!
A deep, explosive impact thundered through the laboratory.
This time, it was a pure clash—Haki against Haki, body against body.
A circular shockwave burst outward, rattling the floating holographic projection screens nearby. Their displays flickered violently as streams of data began scrolling in chaotic, garbled patterns.
Gern's body swayed slightly, the floor beneath his feet cracking apart once more.
Meanwhile, Borsalino used the recoil to flip backward lightly, landing with effortless elegance. The tip of his shoe tapped the ground with a soft click.
"Tch."
Gern shook his slightly numb left arm, his sharp gaze locking onto Borsalino.
"So you're determined to interfere after all."
"Can't be helped."
Borsalino spread his hands casually. His tone remained relaxed, but more and more golden photons began to gather around him. His entire presence turned hazy and unstable, as though he might dissolve into particles of light at any moment—or strike from any direction.
"After all, protecting Dr. Vegapunk and this island… was one of the 'assignments' you personally gave me."
"So, Gern-kun… how about giving me some face and stopping here?"
"Face?"
Gern snorted coldly and deliberately glanced toward Vegapunk.
"I refuse. What are you going to do about it?"
"That would be very scary!"
Borsalino clicked his tongue and also glanced toward Vegapunk.
"Back when we fought one-on-one, we nearly shattered an entire island…"
"If we start fighting now, then this place will probably—"
"Heh."
Gern cut him off with a cold laugh, instantly catching the cue.
"—we'll end up sinking Egghead!"
The moment the words fell, countless white cracks began appearing in the air itself, like fractures in invisible glass.
At the same time, Borsalino's body began to elementalize into light.
"Enough!"
Just as expected, Vegapunk's voice suddenly cut through everything.
"Stop. If you keep fighting… everything here—including what you came for—will be completely destroyed."
"The Authority Chip… I'll give it to you."
Vegapunk's voice sounded dry and tired as he lifted his head.
"As for the Mother Flame, have your people transfer it to Marine Headquarters or G-10 yourself. Do whatever you want."
After saying that, he ignored the two of them entirely, turned around, and walked straight out of the laboratory.
Once Borsalino confirmed that Vegapunk had gone far enough away, the serious, official expression on his face vanished instantly.
He adjusted his sunglasses again and leaned close to Gern, lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear.
"Gern-kun, five days off. You said it yourself~"
Gern rolled his eyes at him irritably and lowered his voice as well.
"Shut up. He hasn't gone that far yet!"
Though he sounded annoyed, the corner of his mouth curled ever so slightly. He nudged Borsalino lightly with his elbow.
"But honestly… you're pretty good at acting.
That whole 'protecting critical research assets' performance just now? Even I almost believed it."
Hearing that, Borsalino raised his chin proudly and elegantly straightened the collar of his slightly rumpled yellow-striped suit.
"Well~ experience from years of slacking off on the job, you know! You have to make it look like you tried your best—without actually risking your life. That's a very deep art~"
"Alright, that's enough bragging."
Gern's smile faded as he scanned the wrecked laboratory around them. His tone returned to its usual calm authority.
"You've got your leave. Now get lost.
As for the mess that's left…"
He paused, glancing around the devastation with mild disdain.
"…Sentomaru is probably going to have another headache."
"Then many thanks for the Supreme Commander's compassion toward his subordinates!"
Borsalino immediately took advantage of the situation, grinning widely. He already looked like a man reclining on a beach chair at some tropical resort.
"In that case, I'll just report myself as 'injured in the line of duty' and go recuperate for a while~"
Before the sentence even finished, his body dissolved completely into golden photons.
The particles faded slowly into the air, leaving behind only drifting specks of light—and Gern, standing there shaking his head helplessly.
Gern remained alone in the ruined laboratory.
He looked around slowly, his gaze eventually settling on the spot where Vegapunk had been standing earlier. His eyes narrowed slightly as he murmured to himself.
"Old fox… next time, you won't get away with it so easily."
With that, he turned and strode toward the exit.
However—
Just as he took his third step, his body abruptly halted.
He didn't even turn his head.
Only his eyes moved—sharp as a hawk's—shooting toward a corner ahead to the left.
A corner that appeared completely empty, save for a few faint sparks of escaping energy.
Buzz.
Without the slightest hesitation, Gern raised his right hand and clenched it toward that direction.
The air in front of his palm instantly filled with pale cracks, like glass shattered by an overwhelming force.
The terrifying vibration power did not spread outward. Instead, it condensed into an invisible crushing force that seized the space itself.
"Come out."
Gern's voice was ice-cold, filled with unmistakable killing intent.
"Otherwise… you won't have the chance to speak."
"Stop! Stop! Stop—!!"
A hurried female voice immediately rang out from the distorted air.
Then, like ripples spreading across water, the light there warped and twisted.
A figure was forcibly revealed from some kind of optical camouflage. She stumbled forward a step, looking rather disheveled.
She had a fiery, voluptuous figure paired with a cute freckled face. Her twin ponytails, styled in loose waves, swayed slightly with her flustered movements.
A pair of goggles rested on her head. She wore a dark cropped top that exposed her midriff beneath a light, thick jacket. Dark gloves covered her hands.
Below that, she wore nothing but a pair of underwear, boldly leaving her long legs on display—those legs fitted into the DOM boots invented by Vegapunk.
She was none other than York, Vegapunk's "Desire" satellite.
At the moment, she patted her impressively full chest, still shaken, her expression lingering with fear as she waved her hands quickly.
"Don't attack! I'm on your side—well… at least I'm not your enemy!"
After speaking, York's large eyes cautiously glanced at Gern's raised hand.
The overwhelming pressure from that instant just now had made her genuinely feel the shadow of death.
Gern slowly lowered his hand. The oppressive aura around him lessened slightly, though his gaze continued to scrutinize the suddenly appearing York.
His voice revealed neither anger nor friendliness.
"Vegapunk's… satellite, huh?"
"Why were you hiding?"
"And what exactly do you want?"