Setting Sail for the New World

The next day.

After bidding Monica farewell once more, Carl stood ramrod straight at Crescent Bay in a black suit, with a Justice cape draped over his shoulders, waiting for Kizaru's warship.

Whoosh~

"Are you ready for your first mission, Lieutenant Carl?"

Carl slowly turned his head and saw Kizaru's tall figure.

"Of course, Admiral Kizaru. What is our mission?"

Kizaru said with some frustration, "It's a troublesome mission. The target is a newcomer from the Beasts Pirates."

A newcomer from the Beasts Pirates? Carl recalled the mission Hina had mentioned a month ago. It seemed they had been planning to capture Jack back then. Apparently, Staff Officer Tsuru had succeeded now.

"Isn't escorting pirates Impel Down's job? Why are we being sent?"

"Get aboard first! I'll explain on the way."

After Carl boarded, the warship sped toward the Red Line without pause, passing through the checkpoint at Holy Land Mary Geoise to enter the New World.

Kizaru also explained the origin of this mission to Carl.

Simply put, after successfully capturing Jack, Staff Officer Tsuru discovered that his identity was far from ordinary. At just nineteen, he had already become one of the Beasts Pirates' All-Stars and was highly valued by Kaido.

Coupled with the Beasts Pirates growing increasingly rampant in the New World lately, Staff Officer Tsuru devised a plan targeting Kaido of the Beasts, intending to knock him down a peg.

The first step was to lure Kaido out, and Jack was the best bargaining chip. Thus, two Admirals were participating in this operation: Aokiji and Kizaru. As Kizaru's subordinate, Carl naturally had to join this thorny mission.

"So, this mission is going to be quite difficult! After all, we're not dealing with some minor character this time!"

Carl's expression did not change. Difficult? Not necessarily. I'm just an HQ Major. You can't possibly expect me to go head-to-head with Kaido, can you? In the end, it would still be you and Aokiji doing the work while I buffed you from behind.

"One of the New World's three overlords, Kaido of the Beasts? He is indeed a troublesome opponent. But I'm curious—the Navy has captured Kaido more than once, yet every time, he escapes unharmed."

"Do we really have a guaranteed chance of killing him in this operation?"

Kizaru pursed his lips, wearing an indifferent expression. "Who knows! Just follow the mission orders. Don't overthink it!"

In truth, the reason for capturing Kaido was not merely to knock him down a peg. There was another reason: extracting his lineage factor.

Vegapunk's Artificial Devil Fruit project was about to yield results, but there was very little of Kaido's lineage factor left. So Vegapunk had asked the World Government to capture Kaido quickly and draw his blood, indirectly bringing about this plan.

But Kizaru did not want to reveal too much to Carl. He would find out in due time.

Soon, the warship crossed the Red Line through the transport facility beneath Mary Geoise and arrived in the New World.

Compared to the way pirates entered the New World, it was both convenient and fast. Most importantly, it was safe.

During the journey, Carl also caught sight of Holy Land Mary Geoise. He had to admit that the place was truly luxurious and grand, worthy of being where the World Nobles lived.

Yet beneath its outward prosperity, its filth and decay far exceeded imagination.

After arriving in the New World, Carl looked at the scenery, which was no different from the first half of the Grand Line, and could not help sighing. "So this is the New World? It doesn't feel much different from the first half!"

Come to think of it, he had always been hanging around North Blue before. He had only recently arrived at the Grand Line, yet he had already connected with the New World so quickly.

He had finally awakened Two-Color Haki, only to face a behemoth like the Beasts Pirates before even getting a chance to crush some weaklings. He really just wanted to slack off!

"What a fearless calf! Lieutenant Carl, the pirates of the New World are very frightening!"

Carl's lips curled slightly. He had long been mentally prepared for this, and did not feel anything special. After all, he was working under an Admiral. He could not exactly spend every day going to the Four Blues to bully weaklings, could he?

He was not Smoker, after all!

"Haha, by the way, Admiral Kizaru, Kaido isn't really coming alone to rescue Jack, is he?"

Kizaru scratched his head. "Well... based on my understanding of Kaido, he will definitely come alone."

All right, Kaido was still Kaido. If he came alone, Carl could relax. Now he did not need to worry about his life and could just focus on being a good support.

A day later.

Kizaru's warship successfully rendezvoused with Aokiji at the G-2 base, where Staff Officer Tsuru had already been waiting for quite some time.

"Kizaru, Aokiji, you came at just the right time. The news that Jack is being held at the G-2 branch has already been released. Unless something unexpected happens, Kaido will definitely come to break him out. I'll be relying on you two when that happens."

Aokiji seemed to hold Staff Officer Tsuru in great respect and gave her a slight smile. "Of course."

Kizaru remained as unserious as ever, intently trimming his nails. Carl, standing beside him, could only feel helpless.

But Staff Officer Tsuru seemed long accustomed to Kizaru's attitude. Instead, she turned her gaze to Carl beside Kizaru and revealed a kind smile.

"You must be Major Carl."

Carl hurriedly saluted Staff Officer Tsuru and answered in a strong voice, "Yes."

"I heard your ability has healing and enhancement effects. When Kaido arrives, I'll have to trouble you to put in some extra effort."

"Rest assured, Staff Officer Tsuru. Even if you had not said so, I would have done the same."

"Hehehe, good, good..."

After the small combat meeting ended, Carl finally saw the long-missed Hina at the G-2 base. A tall, cool-looking woman stood beside her.

If nothing unexpected happened, she should be Gion, code-named Momousagi, an HQ Vice Admiral and Admiral candidate.

When Carl saw her, she was wearing a pink fitted top and extremely short hot pants. A very conspicuous spider tattoo covered the outer side of her left thigh, and a long sword with a white hilt hung at her waist.

In Carl's opinion... big chest, long legs, fair skin, and a beautiful face. No wonder Chaton had refused to give up even after proposing a hundred times.

"Carl, Hina knew you would come. Let me introduce you. This is Vice Admiral Gion."

Carl smiled and nodded at Gion. "Hello, Vice Admiral Gion. You're very beautiful. Uh, both you and Hina are beautiful. You really are the Navy's beauty representatives."

Only when he saw Hina's lips curve upward slightly did Carl finally let out a breath. He had nearly committed a grave taboo.

Gion, on the other hand, covered her mouth and laughed. "Little brother Carl certainly knows how to talk. I'm afraid you've fooled quite a few innocent young girls, haven't you?"

Carl merely smiled without replying, because she was telling the truth. Although North Blue produced many handsome men, Carl still overwhelmed them all with his tall, handsome appearance, becoming a locally renowned thief of young women's hearts.

"Oh, right. Hina said your ability has healing and enhancement effects. Can you let your big sister try it?"

Sigh~ Carl sighed inwardly. Another one coveting his bod... ability.