Carl was only nineteen now, actually two years younger than Iris.
But her instincts told her that the New World was where she belonged.
Fame and status—she wanted both.
Once she reached the New World, she could catch the Swordsmanship Tournament while it was still underway.
She would not miss the most important matches: the final sixty-four.
Facing the sea breeze, Carl spread her arms.
Excitement flashed in her eyes. Without the Family weighing her down, Carl felt utterly free.
The atmosphere within the Family was far from harmonious, riddled with conflicts.
It was in that environment that she had grown up, emerging from the slums and gradually building a gang with some promise.
Nine years ago, when she was ten, she had followed her teacher to Paros Island.
There, she had witnessed countless sights that shattered her understanding of the world, things she had never dared imagine.
That was where her dream had begun.
Then, a few years later, Carl had obtained that Devil Fruit and begun her rise in the Sky Arena.
She stroked the ring on her left thumb and the Golden Revolver at her waist.
Carl could not help thinking of the man who had taught her everything, the man who had been like a father to her.
An old pirate, an ordinary officer of the Rocks Pirates.
After the Rocks Pirates fell, he had left the New World and retired to the North Blue.
Thirteen years ago, he had met Carl, who was only six at the time.
Even then, Carl had already mastered the use of guns.
The Family had only just begun to grow, and Carl had followed its members into fights everywhere, collecting protection money wherever they went.
A series of events had brought the two together.
It was fair to say