Florian Triangle

"Colonel, you're incredible! You actually managed to wound the world's greatest swordsman with swordsmanship!"

"Yeah! Colonel Carl, how did you do it? I admire you so much!"

Watching the excited Marines, Carl felt utterly helpless. Strong? If Mihawk hadn't held back, he would've been dead already, okay?

Still, from an ordinary person's perspective, she had traded blows with Mihawk and both of them had been injured. That counted as an even match, didn't it? And there was also that rumor about her fighting Marco to a draw last time...

Damn it, I'm Crocodile!

To be fair, she was still far behind both Marco and Mihawk, especially Mihawk.

Although she had only become a swordsman recently, once she had become one, she could clearly sense Mihawk's strength.

He was like the Dugu Qiubai of the pirate world, standing at the pinnacle of swordsmen and looking down on all others. He only valued Carl because she had great potential, hoping that, like the future Zoro, she would one day be able to fight him.

But Mihawk, you bastard! My chain quest! My Black Blade Forging Method! My Haki Enhancement Card!

"Colonel, how exactly did you become so strong? Was it through persistent, grueling training?"

"That's right. Persistent training, watering your strength with sweat—that is the secret to my power!"

Carl suppressed the grief in her heart and spoke with righteous conviction. Several enlisted Marines nodded vigorously. Colonel Carl was absolutely right!

Only hard work could make you stronger!

"Alright, stop crowding around. Clean up the scene quickly. Don't let the Blaze Pirates discover anything suspicious!"

"Yes, sir!!!"

After finally getting a moment of peace, Carl sighed. A loss was a loss; there was no point saying more. Who could've expected Mihawk to refuse to play by the rules?

"The world's greatest swordsman, huh? Heh heh heh~"

The Marines cleaning up the battlefield secretly pointed at Carl and whispered to their companions, "Hey, do you think Colonel Carl has a chance of challenging for the title of world's greatest swordsman?"

"I think she does. Colonel Carl is the strongest young person I've ever seen. She can wound Hawk-Eye already. Give her a few years, and Colonel Carl will definitely defeat Hawk-Eye!"

"That's true. Oh, right, don't you have a Visual Den Den Mushi? Did you record that duel just now?"

The Marine being questioned grinned and patted his pocket. "Of course. When I have time, I'll send it to the news agency. I can even make some extra money!"

"Ah! I'm so jealous! If only I had a Visual Den Den Mushi too!"

The next morning.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Colonel, this is bad! The Blaze Pirates got away!"

Carl sprang out of bed and opened the door.

"What did you say?"

Nelson panted as he said, "After the Blaze Pirates arrived at Water 7, they didn't land on Scrap Island. Instead, they entered Water 7 directly through the main gate."

"The result was..."

Carl frowned. "What happened?"

"Because we've been so active in Water 7 lately, the civilians exposed our whereabouts. The Blaze Pirates immediately turned around and left Water 7, fleeing toward the Sabaody Archipelago!"

"Ah..."

After sighing, Carl rubbed her brow and calmly said, "Lieutenant Nelson, mobilize the men immediately. I want everyone aboard the Warship within ten minutes!"

The Blaze Pirates had committed countless atrocities. They were exactly the kind of pirates Carl despised most. Otherwise, out of so many targets, she would not have singled them out.

Carl would never allow a cooked duck to fly away right in front of her!

"Yes, sir!"

Ten minutes later, the Warship set off, speeding in the direction the Blaze Pirates had fled.

But the pirates had long since vanished from sight, so Carl could only analyze their escape route again.

"Sir, if they intend to reach the Sabaody Archipelago, they must pass through the Florian Triangle. Otherwise, taking a detour would take far too long."

"So I believe they must be near the Florian Triangle now."

Carl stroked her chin and nodded. "That makes a lot of sense. We'll head for the Florian Triangle now!"

The Florian Triangle was the territory of Shichibukai Gecko Moria. Carl had long said she wanted to go there, but after obtaining Raven, she had not been in much of a hurry.

So when she came to Water 7, she had bypassed the Florian Triangle. Yet in the end, she still had to make the trip.

Carl thought that if she happened to run into Moria, she might as well take Shusui while she was there. It was one of the 21 Great Grade Blades, after all!

Raven was useful, but it had a flaw: it was an ability weapon. Once it got wet, it became just like a person.

As if its body had been hollowed out, it would turn limp and floppy. It had to be dried in the sun before it could be used again.

Don't ask how Carl knew. She had tested it. Raven had been very unhappy about it!

Florian Triangle.

Roach Thompson laughed as he patted one of his men on the shoulder. "Hahaha! Good thing you're sharp, kid! Otherwise, I really wouldn't have known the Marines were waiting for us in Water 7!"

"Those Marines must look hilarious right now, hahaha!"

The surrounding pirates burst into laughter as well, all mocking the Marines' stupidity.

"Boss Roach, look! There's something on the sea! Uh, it looks like a barrel!"

"Let me see. What kind of barrel is that?"

A knowledgeable pirate lackey said, "Boss, that should be a wine cask used to worship the sea god. It's filled with fine wine!"

Roach's eyes lit up, and he threw back his head with a laugh. "Boys, haul it aboard! We can use it to celebrate fooling those Marines. What do you say?"

"Yeah!!!" "Boss is wise!"

It did not take much effort to haul the wine cask aboard. Roach impatiently tore off the seal and opened it.

Boom!

"Fuck!"

A red signal flare shot into the sky, dyeing the heavens crimson. Roach sat on the deck with a bewildered look, staring upward without knowing what had happened.

"What the hell is going on? Is that... fireworks?"

"This is bad, Boss. That should be a signal flare. Could it be a Marine trap?"

The more Roach thought about it, the more something felt wrong. Hearing that answer, he immediately slapped his thigh. "Damn it, I knew it! It has to be those cunning Marines!"

"Boys, keep your eyes peeled! The moment you spot Marines, sound the alarm!"

"Sir, look! Someone fired a signal flare ahead!"

Carl lowered her telescope with a smile. She thought it was probably one of the things Moria used for fishing. There was no need to think about it—the Blaze Pirates had definitely taken the bait.

"Head toward the flare at full speed."

"Yes, sir!"

Only a few minutes later, the sky around them darkened, as though a torrential storm was brewing overhead. The air became deathly still.

"Sir, something doesn't seem right."

Carl glanced at the sky. "It doesn't matter. Just do your jobs. We're very close to the Blaze Pirates' ship now. Push a little harder!"

Flame.

"Boss, this weather feels off! Why do I feel so creeped out? The Florian Triangle... there really aren't ghosts here, are there?"

Roach swallowed and viciously slapped his subordinate.

"Idiot, we're pirates! How could we be afraid of ghosts? Ghosts should be afraid of us!"

"Stay alert, all of you. Don't scare yourselves. Don't forget, the Marines are still right behind us!"

"This is bad, Boss! The M-Marines caught up! They're right behind us!"

Seeing the Warship pursuing them from behind, the pirates aboard the Flame immediately began to stir uneasily.