Vander Decken shoved his subordinates toward Ain without hesitation, then bolted—four legs pumping as he fled for his life!
Ain's expression didn't change in the slightest. She drew her twin blades in a reverse grip and slashed in a crossing arc.
Four pirates blocking her path dropped dead on the spot.
Hearing the screams behind him, Vander Decken's heart skipped a beat, and he ran even faster.
Run.
Run like hell.
Don't look back.
That was the only thought in Vander Decken's mind.
By now, he finally understood—
the so-called "choosing a royal consort,"
the Marines "leaving" Fish-Man Island—
All of it had been bait, smoke and mirrors designed to lure him out.
So this is the Marines…?
They were nothing like what he had imagined.
Good thing he hadn't spent his life sailing on the surface—otherwise he'd have been wiped out ages ago.
"Huff… huff…"
Hiding behind a coral tree, Vander Decken gasped for breath, his heart pounding wildly. His eyes locked onto a breach in the wall not far away, and a surge of strength welled up inside him.
He couldn't die.
Only by living could he marry Shirahoshi, gain control over that power to command Sea Kings, and reach the peak of fish-man life!
After furtively checking his surroundings and confirming no one was chasing him, Vander Decken made a desperate dash for the gap.
"Twin-Blade Style · Reverse Spiral Slash!"
Two flashes of sword light cut through the air.
Vander Decken felt a sharp pain in his legs—then nothing.
"Ah… AAAAAH! It hurts—so much!!!"
His four legs had been severed in a single strike.
Now, only his upper body could still move.
"Don't kill me! I surrender!"
Ain didn't respond. She raised her blades to finish him—
Then suddenly paused.
"You're a Devil Fruit user?"
"Y-Yes! I am! I'm a Devil Fruit user!"
Ain nodded thoughtfully.
Then—slash!
She cut off both of Vander Decken's arms.
Another scream tore through the air.
"Bind him."
"Yes!"
Shirahoshi Hall
"All done?"
Ain smiled and nodded. "Easy."
She ran over to Shirahoshi, grinning warmly.
"Little Shirahoshi, you won't have to live in the Hard-Shell Tower anymore! Aren't you happy?"
Shirahoshi's eyes lit up.
"Really?! That bad person won't come bully me again?"
Ain nodded firmly.
"Of course not. I'm sure your father won't let him off this time."
"Thank you, Big Sister Ain!"
Shirahoshi happily hugged Ain and spun around in place.
And indeed—
When Neptune learned that Vander Decken IX had been captured, he was overjoyed. He immediately threw the man into prison, fully intending to find a time to end him and eliminate the threat forever.
After that, Neptune publicly apologized to all the residents of Fish-Man Island and explained the entire sequence of events from start to finish.
With that, Fish-Man Island was finally at peace.
For this reason, Karl even started keeping a diary.
Karl's Diary
January 12 — Day 7 on Fish-Man Island
Matters on Fish-Man Island are basically settled.
I'll spend the remaining time familiarizing myself with my new strength, just in case the future throws something unpredictable my way.
January 13
Mermaid Café.
January 14
Mermaid Café.
January 15
Mermaid Café.
January 16
Got caught going to the Mermaid Café every day by Ain.
After comforting her properly and waiting until she wasn't angry anymore… I snuck off to the Mermaid Café again.
January 17
Karl, Karl! How can you fall this far?
Are the mermaid ladies really that tempting?
Don't forget—you're a Marine! Didn't you swear to uphold justice?
This can't go on.
Starting today, I swear off gambling, vice, and corruption!
That's right—I'm not going to the Mermaid Café anymore!
January 18
Mermaid Café.
January 19
Mermaid Café.
...
February 2 — Day 28 on Fish-Man Island
We return to Marine Headquarters tomorrow.
It'll be hard to come back here again in the future…
I'll go to the Mermaid Café one last time.
On the Return Voyage
Karl sat in the lounge, staring blankly at the ceiling, an almost transcendent sense of detachment washing over him.
"Smoker, stop smoking that damn cigar!" Karl snapped.
"The whole room's full of smoke. You might not choke, but I sure do!"
Smoker sighed helplessly. With a snap of his fingers, all the smoke was drawn back into his body.
"You really think mermaid-brewed coffee is that good?" Smoker said.
"If Headquarters hadn't urged us to return, you probably wouldn't have wanted to leave at all."
Karl let out a long sigh.
"You wouldn't understand."
"Oh right—did Headquarters say what the next mission is?"
Karl shook his head.
"No idea. We'll find out once we're back."
Marineford — Fleet Admiral's Office
"I really didn't expect Queen Otohime's death to have such hidden truth behind it," Sengoku said.
"You didn't already know Hody Jones was suspicious, did you?"
Karl shook his head.
"How could I? He jumped out and exposed himself."
"By the way, Fleet Admiral Sengoku—this is something I found in Hody Jones's base. Supposedly a treasure of Fish-Man Island."
Thud.
Karl dropped a large sack full of E·S Energy Steroids onto Sengoku's desk.
"Eh?"
Sengoku picked up a black-and-red capsule, frowning.
"What kind of drug is this?"
Karl scratched his head.
"Something like a booster. It temporarily enhances the body, but the side effects—"
Before he could finish, Sengoku's eyes lit up.
"Isn't that just like your ability?!"
"Fleet Admiral, let me finish," Karl said quickly.
"In the short term, it does massively boost physical performance—strength, speed, endurance, all of it."
"But it consumes lifespan. And the stronger you already are, the worse the effect becomes."
When Karl had tried one out of boredom, he lost three days of lifespan for a very mediocre boost.
The moment Sengoku heard lifespan reduction, his interest vanished.
"I see… In that case, it's not very practical."
"You're giving this to me so the Marine Science Division can study it?"
Karl nodded.
"Exactly. It has flaws, but if Dr. Vegapunk studies it, who knows—there might be a breakthrough."
"Alright. I'll arrange it."
Then Sengoku handed Karl a bounty poster and a file.
"Take a look."
Karl accepted it. The man on the poster wore a Marine uniform, had a broad jaw resembling Whitebeard's, and golden-brown hair.
"Marine Traitor — Gasparde."
Sengoku nodded.
"He was originally a Marine Ensign at Headquarters. During a mission, he suddenly turned violent, killed his comrades, stole a warship, and fled."
Karl looked up from the file.
"For a Devil Fruit?"
"Correct," Sengoku said gravely.
"This man has severely damaged the reputation of the Marines. I want you to bring him to justice as soon as possible."
"He must not be allowed to roam free."
Karl nodded.
"I'll get it done."
"Oh—Fleet Admiral Sengoku, this is a Fish-Man Island specialty—rice crackers. They're really good. I brought them for you to try."
Sengoku broke into a smile.
"Hahaha, good lad. You're thoughtful."
After accepting the crackers, Sengoku glanced around cautiously and quietly hid them in a concealed spot.
Seeing Karl's puzzled look, Sengoku explained,
"I can't help it. That bastard Garp always comes here to freeload snacks. I have no choice."
Karl: You two really know how to play, huh…
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