The cannon fire around Hannabal was still roaring nonstop.
But Karl and Smoker had already returned to their warship with Gasparde in custody—
they'd come back aboard the Salamander.
The ship really was fast.
Karl liked it a lot and was already planning to take it back to Marine Headquarters, have it modified, and turn it into his second personal warship.
"Hannabal is no longer seeing any pirates trying to escape," Nelson reported.
"What should we do next?"
Karl rubbed his chin.
"Tell all warships to move closer to Hannabal and begin full-scale arrests.
You and Smoker handle it."
"Yes, sir!"
The cannon fire gradually subsided.
But inside Hannabal, the gunshots only grew more intense.
The pirates still weren't giving up—desperately trying to break out and gamble on a slim chance of survival.
Unfortunately for them, surrounded by thousands of Marines, resistance was meaningless.
While everyone else was fighting tooth and nail, Karl lay back and enjoyed a sunbath, even taking a nap.
Comfortable—no need to elaborate.
"Karl! Karl!"
"Huh… oh, it's you. How did it go?"
Smoker grinned broadly.
"Not a single one escaped. All captured."
"Well… some died during the arrests. You know my ability—
any fodder with weak physical constitution basically suffocated on the spot."
Karl waved it off casually.
"Doesn't matter. Catching them was just a bonus anyway."
"Hand the prisoners over to the local branch. We're leaving."
"Straight back to Marine Headquarters?"
Karl nodded.
"Of course. Otherwise, how am I supposed to have a proper talk with Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"
Smoker clenched his fist unconsciously.
The fire in his heart burned even brighter.
Two Days Later
Marineford – Fleet Admiral's Office
"Excellent. Truly excellent," Sengoku said with satisfaction.
"Not only did you capture Gasparde, you also wiped out so many pirate crews causing trouble at sea."
"You're making this old man happier and happier."
As he spoke, Sengoku stroked his chin and examined Karl closely.
Why does it feel like this brat got even stronger again…?
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Karl began,
"while capturing Gasparde, I came up with an… admittedly immature idea."
"Go on," Sengoku said immediately.
Karl smiled faintly.
"Gasparde's defection seriously damaged the Marines' reputation. More importantly, it exposed a problem."
"If there can be one Gasparde, how can we be sure there won't be a second?"
"Or countless others who share Gasparde's thinking, but lack the courage to openly defect?"
Sengoku's expression grew solemn.
Karl was right—once he said it out loud, the issue became impossible to ignore.
"And when I asked Gasparde why he defected," Karl continued,
"Fleet Admiral, do you know what he said?"
Sengoku replied gravely,
"Stop building suspense. Say it."
Karl took a deep breath, raised his head at a dramatic 45-degree angle, and spoke with visible anguish.
"Money. Power. Status."
"He said the Marines couldn't give him any of those—
but becoming a pirate could give him all three easily."
"He was a Marine Headquarters ensign with limitless potential."
"If even he thought that way, what about branch commanders scattered across the Four Blues?"
"Especially those stationed in remote areas—
no promotions, far from oversight, scraping by on meager wages day after day."
"Would they really be content?"
Sengoku removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Sigh… You think I don't know this?"
"The world is vast. There are always places we can't properly supervise."
"That's simply reality."
He looked up at Karl.
"Since you brought this up, do you have a solution?"
Karl nodded.
"Yes."
"I respectfully request authorization to establish a new department."
"—The Marine Integrity Commission."
"Integrity Commission?"
Seeing Sengoku's interest, Karl immediately explained:
"It would be responsible for receiving and reviewing reports of Marine corruption—"
"Investigating Marines suspected of violating the Marine Code of Conduct—"
"Investigating abuse of power, extortion, and misconduct—"
"And beyond punishment, we must also reward Marines who are diligent, upright, and dedicated."
"Those who do their jobs properly should be properly compensated and recognized."
"The goal is to clean up internal corruption, and uphold fairness and justice within the Marines."
"Only then can we truly stand as representatives of justice. Don't you agree?"
Sengoku nodded slowly.
"It's a solid idea."
"But have you considered this—
won't such large-scale investigations alert corrupt elements and cause them to hide?"
"You're right," Karl replied calmly.
"That's exactly the point."
"We want to alert them."
"How about this—"
One Hour Later
Karl walked out of the Fleet Admiral's office in high spirits, a document in hand granting him access to Intelligence Division archives.
"Hahahahaha! Karl! Long time no see!"
Karl froze for a moment, then smiled at the tall man before him.
"Long time no see, Vice Admiral Garp. How have you been lately?"
"Bah!"
Garp waved his hand helplessly.
"Don't even mention it. That brat Shanks is too slippery!"
"The moment he sees me, he runs! That coward—how's he even a pirate?!"
"Red-Haired Shanks? The one with a bounty of 2.4 billion?" Karl asked.
Garp spat disdainfully.
"Some 'Super Rookie'. He won't even fight me!"
"And get this—while I was away, that bastard filled my grandson's head with nonsense!"
"Now the kid insists on becoming Pirate King!"
"Nearly drove me mad!"
Karl chuckled.
"That's easy to fix."
"When kids don't listen, it usually means they haven't been beaten enough."
"I suggest increasing the intensity."
Garp's eyes lit up.
"Makes sense!"
"By the way—why were you looking for Sengoku?"
Karl scratched his head.
"Uh… you should ask Fleet Admiral Sengoku yourself."
"What am I afraid of?!"
"I'll ask him myself. You stay right there!"
Garp marched straight into Sengoku's office.
Moments later—
Sengoku's furious roar echoed down the hallway.
Karl didn't bother waiting. He headed directly to the Intelligence Division and, using the document, retrieved:
Lists of branch commanders across the Four Blues
Their annual reports submitted to Headquarters
A massive stack.
No helping it—
covert investigations had to start somewhere.
Making sure no one was around, Karl quietly stored everything in his system space.
"You brat—so you were here!"
Karl turned to see Garp grinning.
"I heard from Sengoku just now. You're planning to investigate corrupt Marines, right?"
Karl's eyes widened.
"Vice Admiral Garp! Please don't say that out loud!"
"Huh?"
Garp scratched his head.
"Did I say something wrong again? Then pretend I said nothing."
Right.
A 'Message Recall' Devil Fruit user, apparently.
"Vice Admiral Garp," Karl asked helplessly,
"what did you actually want with me?"
Garp leaned in conspiratorially, lowering his voice.
"Aren't you investigating corrupt Marines?"
"How about starting with the East Blue?"
"…Huh?"
Garp frowned.
"What do you mean 'huh'?"
"You can go wherever you want anyway! What's wrong with starting in East Blue?"
The real reason was simple—
He'd heard Karl was full of clever ideas.
If Karl accompanied him to Foosha Village, maybe—just maybe—
he could convince that brat Luffy to give up the foolish dream of becoming a pirate.
Yes.
That was exactly what Garp was thinking.
As for corruption?
Garp could pat his chest and swear—
The Marines in the East Blue were absolutely clean.
After all, under his "care," it had become known as the Weakest Sea.
With barely any pirate crews daring to show themselves,
where would corrupt Marines even find room to exis
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