New World, Punk Hazard.
Punk Hazard is located not far from the Red Continent. It takes half a day to reach it on an escort ship.
Karl stood by the railing, sipping coffee and watching as prisoners were sent to the island one by one.
Looking back, he remembered that this was his last time here before.
"These prisoners are sent here to become test subjects in experiments, right?" he asked.
Karl glanced at Smoker. "What else?"
Smoker sneered contemptuously. "Huh, I know the world government always loves conducting some inhumane experiments."
"Why are you so concerned? They're just a group of pirates who committed crimes. It's simply a good opportunity to make use of them, isn't it?"
"Better than taking civilians for experiments right away, right?"
Smoker, probably feeling unwell again, rasped coldly, "Easy for you to say, but what if the world government asks you to take civilians for experiments? Will you do it or not?"
"First of all, the situation you're describing is unlikely. Secondly, even if I really did have to carry out such an assignment, I would not hesitate to catch them."
"Hmph! In your eyes, civilians' lives aren't as important as the mission, right?"
Karl shook his head. "Of course not. As the saying goes, those at the top will come up with countermeasures, and those at the bottom will develop their own policies."
— You've been asked to take civilians, and you take civilians? I'll catch a group of pirates and claim they're civilians, is that wrong?
Smoker widened his eyes, looking at Karl in disbelief. Damn, is that even possible?
— Are you sure that's possible?
Karl arrogantly replied, "I'm a commander, I can do what I want. The reason you can't come up with methods like this is that you've always been a subordinate and never had the right to resist!"
— Of course, that's the case now.
Suddenly, Smoker became very angry, feeling both irritated and satisfied inside. He was irritated that in the past, he was so stubborn, arguing over right and wrong instead of making the wrong right.
He was satisfied that Karl was truly worthy of being Karl. He learned another trick from him and would no longer feel so helpless and furious when encountering a similar situation in the future.
— Reporting to Major General Karl, the prisoners have been delivered. Can we return home?
— Return! Just take us back to Marineford!
— Yes!
A day later, the escort ship arrived at Marineford, and Karl disembarked with Smoker.
— It's already late. Go and get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow morning on the ship
Smoker nodded: "What's the mission this time?"
"You'll find out when the time comes!"
The next day, at nine in the morning, in the Fleet Admiral's office.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Warlord Boa Hancock has returned to Amazon Lily. What about the mission on Fishman Island, what do you think..."
Sengoku sighed: "Alright! I'll leave this mission to you! But don't overdo it. It doesn't matter if you can't uncover anything. Just consider it a vacation on Fishman Island."
"Remember, you only have a month. Whether you find anything or not, you must return to me. Do you hear me?"
Karl smiled: "Of course, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I'm on it!"
Upon returning to Marineford sea Harbor, the sea stone ship was already docked at the port, and Ain and Smoker were ready to depart.
"You're finally here. What's the mission this time?"
"We'll discuss it once we're on board!"
Under Nelson's command, the ship left the port and headed towards the Sabaody Archipelago.
"Can you tell me now?"
Karl nodded, invited Ain and Smoker into the lounge, and immediately said, "Our mission this time is to go to Fish-Man Island to uncover the true cause of Princess Otohime's death."
"Fish-Man Island? Princess Otohime?"
Ain was the first to speak, "I remember Princess Otohime was killed by pirates on Fish-Man Island. Is there some hidden story?"
"Yes! I remember reading the news back then! Because of that incident, Fish-Man Island's attitude towards humans is now unfriendly! Why are we going there?"
Smoker said he didn't understand. All three are capable people! If something goes wrong on the way, the entire army could be wiped out!
"Stop, don't be so nervous. Actually, I'm just going to Fish-Man Island for a vacation and to see if I can find any clues."
"It doesn't matter if we can complete the mission or not."
Ain raised his lower lip and said, "But we are all capable people. What if we encounter an accident on the way to Fish-Man Island..."
Before he could finish, Karl interrupted, "You don't need to worry about that. See?"
He showed Karl the route map and continued, "This was given to me by Fleet Admiral Sengoku." They say the Sea Knight Jinbe handed it over to the Navy when he became a Shichibukai.
Smoker looked closely and sighed with relief: "That's quite good. With this route map, the risk of traveling to Fish-Man Island is much lower. Not too high."
Knock-knock-knock!
"Reporting to Major General, we've arrived at Island 66 of the Sabaody Archipelago, and the base commander, Brigadier General Gregory, is waiting for you!"
"Understood!"
Karl got up from the sofa, fastened Shusui and Raven to his belt, and the raven, Raven, perched on his shoulder.
"Let's go!"
Upon disembarking, Karl saw a tall man with a stern face, a long beard, and a large axe on his back, looking very fierce.
"Hello, Major General Karl! I'm Gregory, nice to meet you!"
Karl instantly put on a facade of a smiling boy and chatted amiably with Brigadier General Gregory.
"By the way, let me introduce them, this is Major Ain, and this is Major Smoker, both are my aides."
"Hello, hello!"
After a brief introduction, a few people entered the Navy branch's guest room.
"By the way, Greg, how long will it take to coat my ship?"
Gregory thumped his chest and said: "Don't worry, I've already ordered the shipwright to be informed in Sabaody. Your ship will be ready in two days at the most!"
"That's good." Then I'll count on you for the next two days, Greg.
Gregory waved his hand lightly: "You're too courteous. We're all in the Navy. It's a small matter!"
"Then I won't disturb you, Greg. We'll just go have some fun in Sabaody!"
"No problem. By the way, islands 1 through 29 are lawless zones. Better be cautious."
Smoker frowned: "This is so close to the Navy headquarters. How can there be places not governed by the Navy?"
Karl patted Smoker on the shoulder, signaling him not to say too much.
"Let's go!"
Upon leaving the Navy branch, Karl said to Smoker: "Things here run very deep. It's not as simple as you think!"
Smoker responded with confusion: "But this place is so close to the Navy headquarters!"
"You just need to know that the current situation in Sabaody is the result of a compromise between several forces."