Wanda and Carrot both shuddered at Carl's words, feeling a chill run down their spines.
However, Carrot didn't doubt a single thing Carl had said. She scoffed in Lucia's arms and said,
"I knew it! No one would willingly give up control of their body. That Joy Boy must have tricked Luffy! An eight-hundred-year-old monster deceiving a kid isn't surprising at all. Even Pedro was completely fooled by him!"
Carl simply smiled without refuting her words. He extended a hand toward Wanda, who hesitated for a moment before taking it. With a gentle pull, Carl helped her up from the ground.
A warm smile now graced Carl's face, making him seem like an entirely different person compared to the terrifying presence he had just displayed. However, this only made Wanda even more anxious. She couldn't help but worry—had Carl decided they were no longer useful and was about to eliminate them?
As Wanda's heart pounded with unease, Carl chuckled softly and said,
"I've already figured out the situation. I was a bit rough earlier—don't take it to heart."
Wanda blinked. A bit rough? He had almost turned Carrot into spicy rabbit stew!
And his words didn't even sound like an apology—he didn't even say 'please'! How insincere!
Of course, she wouldn't dare voice these thoughts aloud. On the way to Marine Headquarters, she had heard plenty of stories about Carl's 'glorious deeds.' And now, after meeting him up close, she knew that he wasn't like Joy Boy, who put on a fake act of righteousness.
If Carl was truly angered, he wouldn't hesitate to act. With his strength, dealing with her and Carrot would be as easy as crushing ants.
Not to mention, even Lucia—who stood beside Carl—didn't seem like someone to mess with.
If Wanda wasn't mistaken, this was Hakutsuru, the only female Admiral in the Marines.
Glancing at Carrot, who was still curled up in Lucia's arms, Wanda couldn't help but twitch at the sight.
Carl, on the other hand, paid no mind to Wanda's thoughts. He was no longer the helpless boy from God Valley. Now, he wielded the combined power of the Marines, the CP organization, and the entire Figarland family, represented by Uncle Garling. Unless Imu personally intervened, he was the undisputed ruler.
And a king never needed to apologize to those beneath him—for a king had the power to dictate the fate of all.
Lowering his gaze, Carl softly said to Wanda,
"Because of what you and that little rabbit did today, your people will be granted a chance at survival."
Wanda's eyes widened in shock, but Carl had already turned and walked toward Lucia.
Carl glanced at Carrot, who was still clinging to Lucia. Carrot, afraid of Carl, instinctively burrowed deeper into Lucia's embrace, only to freeze in terror at Lucia's cold glare.
Pressing her lips together, Carrot muttered in a small voice,
"We've told you everything… What more do you want from us?"
Carl smirked and reached out to ruffle Carrot's fluffy head. She didn't even resist, too scared to move as Carl toyed with her fur.
Lowering her head further, she whispered,
"If you've already petted me, then please… don't talk about spicy rabbit stew anymore…"
Carl's eyes narrowed as he leaned in close to Carrot's ear and whispered,
"What about steamed rabbit? At least that way, you'd stay in one piece…"
"AAAAAHHHH!!!"
Carrot screamed in terror, scrambling out of Lucia's embrace despite her exhaustion and fleeing toward Wanda.
She threw her arms around Wanda and cried out,
"Wanda! Hurry—"
Before she could finish, Wanda gently pushed her away.
Carrot was stunned. Wanda shook her head and softly said,
"Don't be afraid, Carrot. Fleet Admiral won't harm you."
Then, she turned to Carl, her expression solemn and sincere.
"Fleet Admiral, thank you for showing mercy to our Mink Tribe. We have no intention of being your enemies, nor do we wish to be involved in any war."
Carl sat back in his chair, resting his hands on his knees as he replied indifferently,
"It's still too soon to say that. I only said I would allow the Mink Tribe to survive. For example, if I left just you two alive, the Mink Tribe wouldn't be extinct, would it? Besides, as you mentioned, your people are practically all preparing for war against me."
Wanda trembled and quickly responded,
"That's not true! There are many in the Mink Tribe who think like Carrot and me! My sisters, for example—they haven't participated in any training for war!"
Carrot also realized the seriousness of the situation and abandoned her fear of being cooked. Bowing deeply, she pleaded,
"F-Fleet Admiral, please stop that villain Joy Boy! He's the one behind all of this!"
Carl didn't respond directly. Instead, he asked,
"Wanda, you said that as you were leaving the island, Joy Boy jumped down first, correct?"
Wanda immediately nodded.
"Yes! He just jumped straight down. It seemed impossible, but I have a feeling he's fine. In fact, his face even appeared in the clouds below."
Carrot nodded vigorously in agreement.
Carl smirked and said,
"You're not wrong. That guy won't die from a fall. At his core, he's just a lump of smelly rubber."
"But isn't he a Devil Fruit user? I thought they're all weak to seawater. If he fell into the ocean below Zou, shouldn't he have drowned?"
"Joy Boy is no longer bound by normal Devil Fruit limitations. The ocean doesn't affect him as much anymore. Besides, he can fly."
Wanda and Carrot exchanged uneasy glances. After a moment of hesitation, Carrot couldn't help but ask,
"So that's why he keeps escaping from you?"
Carl paused before chuckling.
"His escapes have nothing to do with that. If those were the only reasons, he'd never slip through my fingers. I can do everything he can—and more."
"Then how does he keep getting away? And if we meet him again, can you capture him? That villain has even manipulated Zunesha to follow him. If we don't stop him, we'll lose our home!"
Carl tilted his head slightly, watching Carrot's frustrated expression with amusement. The little rabbit was actually quite adorable.
With a smirk, he said,
"You don't have to tell me. Joy Boy will be erased from this world. As for your home… that depends on how well you behave."
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+190 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg