Inside the warship's lounge.
Ding—
[Allies Don't Fight Allies 2/7] — Quest Complete.
Rewards Obtained:
Active Skill: Shadow Sight
Observation Haki Enhancement Card ×5
Karl nodded in satisfaction.
Moria really is a great guy.
Mihawk should take notes—this is how you act when you're a Seven Warlord.
"Use all Observation Haki enhancement cards."
With that, Karl's Observation Haki jumped straight from LV2 to LV4.
"Mm… a little stronger again."
A two-level jump at once felt very different. Karl could clearly tell his sensing range had expanded—
250 meters? 300?
He wasn't sure of the exact figure, but within that radius, even subtle movements were sharply defined.
"Oh right—this thing too."
He turned on the light and looked at his shadow on the floor.
"Split."
A strange force rippled.
Karl's shadow shrank slightly, and in his hand appeared a black mass about the size of an apple—the portion he'd just separated.
"Success or failure… this is it."
Shadow Sight was described as working on objects.
Raven was both a weapon and a living being—would it work?
Only one way to find out.
Karl pressed the shadow mass onto Raven's hilt.
The black mist melted into the blade…
Nothing seemed to change.
To test it, Karl slowly closed his eyes.
—
The world shifted.
He was suddenly seeing himself, standing inside the room.
This perspective was—
Raven's.
"Raven, bird form."
"Gah-gah~"
The raven tilted its head, preening its feathers, apparently unaware of anything unusual.
"Raven, go fly around outside."
"Gah—!"
Raven flapped its wings and soared out through the doorway.
Karl remained seated, eyes closed.
The viewpoint changed again.
Outside, Nelson was discussing something with the navigator.
Some soldiers were cleaning, others patrolling—everyone busy with their tasks.
The sea was still foggy, though far lighter than the oppressive mist back near Thriller Bark.
Karl opened his eyes.
That had felt like playing full-dive VR.
Because of Raven's unique nature, Karl could even perceive sound and motion feedback.
At this point, Raven was basically a remote-controlled clone, one that ignored distance entirely.
"…Interesting."
Karl nodded in satisfaction.
Raven's utility had just skyrocketed.
Still, today's biggest prize was the one he'd been thinking about all along—
Black Blade: Shusui.
"Mm. A bit heavier, but nothing serious."
Shusui weighed slightly more than Raven, but was about 5 centimeters shorter in length.
Its blade featured a chaotic, reverse clove-hamons, with black-purple steel and jagged crimson patterns.
After a few test swings, Karl found it surprisingly comfortable—and undeniably handsome.
Most importantly—
It was already a fully forged black blade.
Unlike Raven, which would need to grow through continuous battle, Shusui was maxed out from the start.
Though… considering how black it already was, even becoming more of a black blade probably wouldn't look much different.
Click.
Karl sheathed Shusui and hung it at his waist as a permanent sidearm.
That meant he was technically a dual-wielding swordsman now…
Probably.
"Captain, we've exited the Florian Triangle. Where to next?"
Karl rubbed his chin.
"What's the nearest Marine branch?"
Nelson pointed at the chart.
"Closest one is Marine Branch 048."
"Good. We'll resupply there. After that, notify Impel Down—
White Wolf Walff is to be transferred in."
"Yes, sir."
At Branch 048, Karl and the garrison commander—Rear Admiral Nasr—exchanged some obligatory professional flattery.
White Wolf Walff was temporarily incarcerated at the branch prison.
During resupply, however, a logistical Marine quietly slipped away, met with a local reporter, and sold the footage of Karl vs. Mihawk—then returned unnoticed.
Karl knew nothing of this.
After all, he was either slacking off, or on his way to slack off.
Who had time for such trivial matters?
After one day's rest, the warship set sail again—
Next target: Gale Pirate Crew, total bounty just over 100 million Beli.
Small fry.
"Captain, today's newspaper—your name's in it."
Karl blinked.
My name?
He inhaled sharply when he saw the headline:
"Marine Swordsman Karl vs. World's Greatest Swordsman Mihawk"
They'd fought on Scrap Island, with no witnesses outside his own men—
So how did this leak?
There's a mole in my crew.
He relaxed slightly after reading the article through.
It concluded with "no decisive victor", which—surprisingly—was fairly accurate.
At least the reporter had professional integrity instead of exaggerating for sales.
"Hm?"
Another article caught Karl's eye.
Kaido and Jack sunk their transport ship and escaped. Current whereabouts unknown.
"So they finally ran," Karl muttered.
"I thought it'd happen earlier."
Buru-buru-buru—
Karl picked up the Den Den Mushi.
Seeing that familiar sleazy face, he grinned.
At this time of day, only one person would've already read the paper.
"Moshi moshi~"
"Terrifying, Karl~. To think you actually injured Mihawk.
Your growth is truly frightening."
"That man's tricky—even I find him troublesome, you know~."
Karl gave a wry smile.
"Please don't flatter me, sir. Mihawk wasn't serious at all.
Otherwise, there's no way I'd have landed a hit."
"True enough~.
Ah, by the way—the World Conference is approaching. The World Government wants the Marines to intensify pirate suppression to ensure everything runs smoothly."
"So missions will be heavier than usual. Remember to rein yourself in a bit.
I won't say more—you understand."
"Of course. Thanks for the reminder, Admiral Kizaru. Talk soon."
Click.
Karl hung up the call and did the math.
Two months… Year 1514 of the Sea Circle Calendar.
Another year already.
Buru-buru—
Another Den Den Mushi rang.
The face was unfamiliar—but clearly female.
Somewhere between Vice Admiral Gion and Hina.
"Hello, this is Karl. And you are…?"
"Fufufu~ Karl, little brother, you forgot me that quickly?"
That voice—
"Ahahaha, Sister Gion! Long time no hear. What's up?"
"You little rascal, you were hiding quite well.
How did I not notice you were a swordsman too, last time?"
"When would I even have gotten a chance to fight back then?"
"Fufufu, fair enough.
By the way, I'll be at Marineford next month. Care to spar a little?
I've gotten very interested in your swordsmanship."
Karl hesitated.
"I'm really busy chasing pirates lately. How about we—"
"…take a rain check?"
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