After leaving Headquarters, the group returned to their Seastone-equipped warship.
Nelson was busy allocating supplies for the next voyage. When Ain and Smoker saw Karl approach, their eyes lit up.
"So, what's the next mission?" Smoker asked eagerly.
"We've been stuck on Fish-Man Island for almost a month—my bones are about to rust!"
Karl glanced at him calmly.
Bones rusting?
My bones are practically melting.
"Here," Karl said casually, tossing something onto the table.
"Take a look for yourselves."
The motion was uncannily similar to Sengoku's.
Ain picked up the bounty poster. Smoker took the file.
"95 million Beli?"
"A Marine traitor? It's actually Gasparde?!"
Karl scratched his head.
"You know him?"
Smoker nodded heavily.
"I remember him. He trained in the same batch as me at the academy."
"That guy was lazy even back then—Instructor Zephyr really disliked him."
"I never imagined he'd dare betray justice so openly!"
Smoker's stance was simple:
You could criticize or mock justice all you wanted while wearing the uniform.
But the moment you defected?
That's when the heavy punches came out.
"Let me see," Smoker added irritably.
"What made him think he could just defect from the Marines like that?"
Ain snatched the file from his hands and skimmed it at lightning speed.
"Found it. For a Devil Fruit—he killed his comrades, stole a warship, and fled."
"That bastard!" Smoker snarled.
Karl waved a hand.
"Calm down. Our mission is simple—bring him to justice."
"So what are we waiting for?" Smoker said sharply.
"Let's move!"
Half an hour later, resupply was complete.
The Seastone warship set sail immediately.
According to intelligence, Gasparde was last seen at Borio Port, an island on the seventh route of Paradise, close to the South Blue.
That was their destination.
"Puff—"
Smoker exhaled a cloud of smoke, clearly troubled.
Gasparde's betrayal had obviously shaken him.
"Smoker," Karl said quietly,
"don't overthink it."
Smoker shook his head.
"You think I'm just upset about Gasparde?"
"No. I'm thinking—if a mere Marine Ensign dared to defect, what about the others?"
"Even if they don't openly betray us, how many have already abandoned justice in their hearts?"
"And that's Headquarters Marines we're talking about."
"What about the Four Blues? The places HQ can't even properly monitor?"
Karl fell silent.
After listening for a while, he decided it might as well be time to share the plan he'd been brewing.
He wanted to establish something like an Independent Anti-Corruption Commission—
dedicated to rooting out corrupt Marines.
The credit would go to him.
The dirty work would go to Smoker.
A perfect arrangement.
He'd even get to slack off in an office.
"Smoker, I get what you mean," Karl finally said.
"I've actually had a similar idea for a long time."
"…But let's talk about it properly after we catch Gasparde."
Smoker froze.
Talking halfway and stopping there?!
"Don't dodge it—say it now!"
Karl opened his mouth, hesitated, then sighed and began calmly.
"What you're worried about, I've worried about too."
"And I have a… not-so-mature idea."
Smoker stared at him impatiently.
"Well?!"
"An Integrity Commission."
"An Integrity… Commission?"
"One that receives and reviews accusations of corruption within the Marines."
Smoker raised an eyebrow.
"One that investigates any Marine accused or suspected of violating the Marine Code."
Smoker's cigar slipped from his fingers.
"One that investigates abuse of power and extortion committed by Marines."
Smoker's mouth fell open.
"One that investigates any actions related to—or potentially leading to—corruption within the Marines."
Smoker grabbed Karl by the shoulders, his face flushed with excitement.
"This idea is incredible!"
"If it really exists, I'll be the first to join!"
Karl chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"Going after fellow Marines instead of pirates—are you really prepared to do that?"
Smoker answered without hesitation.
"If it makes the Marines better, I'm willing to bear everything."
Karl smiled, genuinely pleased.
Hot-blooded youths like Smoker really are easy to persuade.
If it were that monkey, he'd probably be busy getting a manicure right now…
"So," Smoker pressed,
"when do we start?"
"Ahem," Karl coughed lightly.
"No rush. Let's at least catch Gasparde first, yeah?"
"Right!" Smoker said fiercely.
"Leave him to me!"
He immediately rushed out to train, itching to beat up a few pirates to vent.
A while later, Ain walked into the lounge, looking puzzled.
She stared at Karl—who was lounging with crossed legs, sipping cola.
"What did you say to Smoker?"
"He looks like he just took a stimulant."
Karl's eyes lit up the moment he saw her.
His expression shifted instantly—
the aura of a Master Persuader erupted.
"Ain," he asked solemnly,
"what do you think of the Marines today?"
"Eh?!"
Ten minutes later.
Ain walked out of the lounge, her expression calm.
She didn't really care about dealing with corrupt Marines.
As long as she could keep working alongside Karl—that was enough for her.
Two Days Later
Borio Port
The warship arrived at Borio Port.
The harbor was fairly large—but completely devastated.
It looked like a battle had taken place recently, with wreckage everywhere and no time for repairs.
Before the ship even docked, civilians on the pier pointed at it and screamed in panic.
"The Marines!"
"It's the Marines again—run!!!"
Karl: ???
He even turned around to check the Marine flag.
No mistake there.
"…Did Gasparde loot this place and then pin the blame on the Marines?" Karl muttered.
Smoker snorted coldly.
"That scum."
"Nelson—drop anchor. Bring the men."
"Yes, sir!"
Entering the town, the streets were deserted.
Only about a dozen armed civilians stood their ground, aiming guns at them with wary expressions.
"Don't come any closer!"
"Move another step and we'll open fire!"
The Marines felt a bitter mix of emotions.
When had they ever been treated like this—
as if they were pirates?
But they were Marines.
Enforcers of justice.
"Please, everyone, stay calm," Karl said gently.
"I am Rear Admiral Karl of Marine Headquarters."
"We're here to investigate the attack on Borio Port."
"We will not harm you. Please—trust us."
The burly man leading the group shouted angrily,
"Don't lie to us! The ones who attacked this place were Marines!"
Nelson was about to speak—but Karl stopped him with a look.
"Don't complicate things."
"…Yes, sir."
Karl turned back to the man, his smile calm and reassuring.
He pulled out a bounty poster.
"The one who attacked you is a Marine traitor named Gasparde."
"He—just a few days ago—"
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