Unexpected Gains

Just as Newgate had the pirates produce the payment, Carl had already sensed several waves of malice directed at him.

He knew today wouldn't end peacefully, and as it happened, he wanted to experience the thrill of pirates preying on pirates to see if there would be any unexpected gains.

He placed the items into his system inventory. Newgate saw the items vanish instantly but didn't ask any questions, knowing this must be one of Carl's abilities.

"Brother Newgate, you all head back first. I'll be there shortly."

Everyone was entitled to their own privacy, so Newgate didn't press for details; he simply stood up and said, "Then I shall head back first. Take care on your way."

"Lads, let's move."

Newgate led the pirates toward the bow of the ship, having guessed that Carl likely intended to rob the robbers.

He let Newgate return to the ship first while he strolled leisurely toward the docks.

Following by his side was Clay, the fish-man.

"How did you get captured?"

Carl asked with some curiosity; after all, a Tiger Shark fish-man shouldn't be considered weak.

At the same time, Carl reached out and removed his restraints.

Moreover, the power dynamics in the New World were currently chaotic; major pirate crews shouldn't have any interest in the assets of Fish-Man Island, and minor crews shouldn't have been able to defeat him.

Thus, he couldn't help but voice the question on his mind.

Seeing Carl remove his Explosive Collar, Clay spoke to him sincerely.

"My captain was jealous of me."

Clay recounted his ordeal: he had been serving as the first mate of a pirate crew, but as his strength grew over the years, the captain began to see him as a threat. During a banquet, the captain drugged him and sold him to the Slave Auction House.

That was the only reason he had ended up on the auction block; otherwise, given his strength, no ordinary pirate crew would have been foolish enough to try and capture him.

Carl nodded upon hearing this, finding his story somewhat credible.

Just then, Carl walked into a dim alleyway.

This alley was the only path to the coast. Newgate and his crew had already passed through it, and Carl had intentionally lagged behind, waiting for this very moment.

As he reached the middle of the alley, he sensed the malice growing increasingly intense, and the corners of his mouth curled upward.

"Alright, enough talk. Our guests have arrived."

Carl cut Clay off, having sensed unfamiliar hostility drawing closer.

"Is someone there?"

Clay looked terrified and was startled; after all, in such a dark setting, being caught off guard by such a statement was quite frightening.

He had not yet mastered Observation Haki, so he could not sense the enemies nearby.

"Come on out! Since you've already arrived, show yourselves."

Carl said dismissively. Since none of the people he sensed were particularly strong, he instantly lost the desire to intervene himself. He wanted to let Clay handle it and, in the process, gauge his strength.

He was a fish-man, after all, and a member of the physically superior shark species; his strength shouldn't be too disappointing.

"Lads, come out!"

"Since you've discovered us, then I'm sorry, but leave behind what you bought at the auction house. We might spare your life today, otherwise..."

As he spoke, the scarred pirate leading the group licked his blade.

Suddenly, forty or fifty men appeared all around the alley.

It was their malice that Carl had sensed.

Facing this group of pirates, Carl sighed helplessly, as he truly couldn't muster the desire to lift a finger against such weaklings.

"Clay, go ahead. They're yours."

Clay showed no fear; he was glad to have an outlet for the anger in his heart. He clenched his fists tightly, ready to respond to the enemy's attack at any moment.

"Attack!"

At the scarred pirate's command, all the pirates charged toward Clay.

Facing the pirates' onslaught, Clay used his agile movements to weave through the crowd, his fists flying. Every strike landed squarely on the pirates' vital points.

In an instant, the alley was filled with shouts of battle and screams of pain.

Carl stood to the side, observing Clay's combat.

He discovered that Clay's strength far exceeded his expectations. He not only handled the pirates' attacks with ease but also constantly identified openings in the heat of battle to deliver lethal blows. He was truly worthy of being one of the top-tier fish-man species, possessing sharp combat instincts.

Before long, the pirates were utterly routed by Clay, lying scattered across the ground. Some were so terrified by Clay that they even dropped their weapons and fled in a panic.

Seeing his subordinates crushed, the scarred pirate was shocked and filled with dread.

He hadn't expected an unassuming fish-man to possess such formidable power.

"Who... who are you?"

The scarred pirate asked, his voice trembling.

"Me? I'm just someone passing by."

Carl said with a bland expression.

Hearing Carl's words, the scarred pirate felt even more terrified, his face twisting in fear.

He knew he had kicked an iron plate today; if he stayed here any longer, he would only face death.

"Spare me, hero! I was blind and offended you, please let me go!"

The scarred pirate suddenly knelt on the ground, his face full of pleading.

"Clay, finish this quickly."

Carl was already growing impatient on the side. In his view, since one had chosen to be a pirate, one should have the resolve to stake everything, rather than putting on such a pathetic display.

Hearing this, Clay turned his head to look at him, then threw a single punch, embedding the scarred pirate into the alley wall and ending the pirate's life.

Carl nodded; it seemed this Clay was quite obedient, and he prepared to lead Clay out of the alley.

Clang!

Unexpectedly, as the scarred pirate fell, an iron box dropped from his body.

"What is this?"

Clay asked in confusion.

"Bring it here and let me see."

Carl had already guessed what it was; if his hunch was correct, it should be a Devil Fruit.

He hadn't expected an unexpected gain today; it was a pleasant little surprise.

After putting the iron box away, Carl said to Clay.

"Your strength isn't bad. Let's go."

Carl led Clay toward the pirate ship on the shore.

"Thank you for saving me, My Lord. Please, let me join you."

Clay turned, knelt on one knee, and cupped his hands in a salute.

Clay knew that since Carl didn't care about his Explosive Collar, it meant either Carl was far stronger than him, or he simply wasn't afraid of him running away. Regardless of which it was, he was filled with gratitude toward Carl.

"Very well. I don't have a pirate crew yet, so you can join my team for now."

Carl helped him up and said.

Because in Carl's view, he had intended to recruit Clay into his team from the start. Although he couldn't establish a pirate crew just yet, the battle of God Valley was not far off, and he had to find capable subordinates in advance to avoid having no one to use when the time came.

They soon walked out of the alley, and light appeared ahead.

"Carl is back."

As soon as Carl reached the shore, Newgate saw him from the ship.

"Yeah, just a few petty thieves. I thought they might be someone formidable, but they turned out to be so pathetic."

Carl said helplessly.

"Though, there was an unexpected gain."

Carl pulled out the iron box.

"Gurarara!"

"That really is an unexpected gain."

"Alright, come aboard. Boys, set sail!"

Newgate used his Observation Haki to sense that there was a fruit inside. After Carl boarded the ship, Newgate ordered the crew to sail toward Hachinosu!