"Well, well, if you dare to lie to me, you know the consequences!"
A menacing grin stretched across Charlotte Linlin's face, her jagged teeth glinting ominously. A terrifying wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from her, causing the palace walls to creak under the pressure.
Below, Katakuri and Streusen—better known as Long Bread—both instinctively stepped back.
Cold sweat dripped from Streusen's forehead as he swallowed hard. He knew that an unsatisfied Linlin meant destruction.
"Don't worry, Linlin! I will definitely bring you the snacks from Fish-Man Island!" he declared.
He understood Linlin all too well. If he couldn't bring back the treats she was craving, her hunger pangs would spiral out of control, unleashing devastation that even the Sweet Commanders couldn't contain.
Totto Land: Several Moments Later
A fleet of Big Mom Pirates warships, adorned with the Jolly Roger of Totto Land, set sail. Their destination: the first half of the Grand Line—where Fish-Man Island awaited.
Meanwhile: Sabaody Archipelago – Marine Port
At the busy docks of Sabaody, Carl stood with a lit cigar in hand, watching as an enormous Marine battleship slowly approached the pier.
Atop the warship's deck stood a tall, battle-hardened Marine, easily recognizable by his high-top hat and dual katanas at his waist.
Carl exhaled a ring of smoke and raised an eyebrow.
"So, they sent you, huh, Stolo Berry?" he remarked.
"Haha, Carl," Vice Admiral Stolo Berry greeted with a rare grin. Even for someone known for his composed demeanor, he couldn't help but show a bit of warmth.
Both Marines were key figures in Admiral Kizaru's faction, but Carl had been making waves—so much so that whispers of him being Kizaru's successor were spreading through Marine Headquarters.
As the warship docked, Stolo Berry disembarked, leading a squad of Marines.
"Didn't expect to see you again so soon," he said as he approached Carl.
Carl took another drag of his cigar. "Didn't expect the old man to send you personally," he replied. "Is Fish-Man Island really that important?"
Stolo Berry's expression turned serious.
"The importance of Fish-Man Island is undeniable," he said. "After all, it serves as the true gateway to the New World."
Sabaody might be the last stop before the New World, but all ships still had to descend beneath the Red Line using coating technology to reach Fish-Man Island.
And most importantly, Fish-Man Island was an official member of the World Government. Its political and strategic value couldn't be ignored.
"Well, since we have to wait for our ships to be coated, why don't you come inside and wait, brother?" Carl offered.
Stolo Berry nodded, following him with his Marines.
Ryugu Kingdom: Political Developments
Back in Fish-Man Island, the Great Knight of the Ryugu Kingdom had personally requested Carl's presence.
Carl's actions had turned him into an ally of the Fish-Men, especially after he defeated Hody Jones' crew and helped expose the truth behind Queen Otohime's assassination.
As a result, a compromise was reached between Marine Headquarters and the Ryugu Kingdom:
• Carl would be officially stationed on Fish-Man Island as its Marine protector.
• However, Stolo Berry would assume command of Marine operations in the area under Admiral Kizaru's jurisdiction.
Marine Headquarters: Unexpected News
Inside Carl's office, Stolo Berry sat down, lighting a cigar of his own.
"Oh, by the way, Carl, there's something else," he said.
Carl passed him an ashtray. "What is it?"
"It's about your new warship," Stolo Berry said, taking a long puff.
Originally, Marine Headquarters planned to equip Carl with a standard Vice Admiral-class warship.
"Wait, hold on," Carl interrupted. "I'm just a Vice Admiral right now!"
Stolo Berry smirked and gave him a knowing look.
"Who told you that?"
Carl blinked. "What?"
"You're being promoted to Admiral Candidate soon," Stolo Berry said with a laugh. "Both Fleet Admiral Sakazuki and Admiral Kizaru have already approved it."
"???"
Three large question marks might as well have hovered over Carl's head.
He had just been promoted to Vice Admiral—and now they wanted him to skip ranks and enter Admiral candidate status?!
"All in all, just wait and see," Stolo Berry said, waving off his shock.
"And as for your ship?" He grinned. "Headquarters has decided to upgrade it to Admiral Candidate-class specifications."
Carl groaned, rubbing his temples as he took another deep drag of his cigar.
Admiral candidates might still hold the rank of Vice Admiral, but their responsibilities were vastly different.
They were the Marine's trump cards, only deployed against top-tier threats—cases where a normal Vice Admiral wasn't enough.
For example, the Marine G-3 Branch, positioned as a strategic defense point against the Four Emperors, could only be garrisoned by someone of Admiral Candidate-level or higher.
That's why Garp was stationed there.
A regular Vice Admiral? No chance.
But at least, Carl consoled himself, he wasn't being forced into an Admiral's seat immediately.
Apparently, Sakazuki's original proposal was to skip the "Candidate" step entirely and just make him an Admiral outright.
Now that would have been a headache.
The Next Day: Deployment
The warships, now fully coated, set off towards the ocean depths.
Carl exhaled another puff of smoke, watching as the ships descended beneath the sea, knowing that his path was about to change forever.
Though the old man Silvers Rayleigh is gone, these coaters aren't bad," Carl muttered as he sat at the bow of the warship, taking a long drag from his cigar. The faint glow of the embers flickered against the dimly lit ocean surface.
"Vice Admiral Carl, the moment you requested coating services, those gangsters practically tripped over themselves to send the best coater they had!" Bright, one of Carl's subordinates, said with a chuckle.
The remnants of Sabaody's underworld had long since developed a deep-rooted fear of Carl. Ever since he cleaned house on the Archipelago, no one dared to cross him.
Even the Celestial Dragon-backed human traffickers had learned their lesson—whispers of Carl's ruthless efficiency had spread like wildfire.
Now, at the slightest disturbance, these gangsters couldn't sleep at night, terrified that they'd be the next ones erased. Naturally, they were eager to stay in Carl's good graces.
"Well, as long as they don't stir up trouble, I don't have the patience to bother with them," Carl exhaled a thin wisp of smoke, watching it disappear into the humid air.
The coated warships swiftly descended beneath the waves, beginning their journey towards Fish-Man Island.
This time, no giant Sea Kings appeared to block their path.
Within a short while, they reached Fish-Man Island's grand coral gates, their arrival going smoother than expected.
Fish-Man Island: A Hero's Welcome
"It's Vice Admiral Carl!"
"Carl-sama has returned!"
"Shut up, fool! He's not a Colonel anymore—he's a Vice Admiral now!"
Excited chatter filled the air as the Fish-Man Island royal guards hurried to welcome Carl and his fleet.
Carl's reputation on Fish-Man Island had reached legendary status.
From the royal family to the ministers, the guards, and the commoners, there wasn't a single soul on the island who didn't regard him with gratitude and respect.
Even King Neptune himself had been making efforts to further elevate Carl's prestige among his people.
As Carl and his men disembarked, the enthusiastic guards immediately surrounded them.
Stolo Berry, ever composed, observed the scene with a rare hint of surprise.
"Well, Carl, it seems your influence here runs deep," he remarked.
Carl simply waved his hand dismissively.
"Ugh, this kind of thing doesn't matter," he said, brushing off the attention as he strode forward.
A group of palace guards soon led them toward Ryugu Palace, their enormous figures gliding smoothly through the water-filled pathways.
Eventually, they arrived at the royal giant flounder carriage, which promptly transported them to the inner palace.
Inside Ryugu Palace
As soon as Carl and his group stepped into the throne room, they were met with the sight of King Neptune, Princess Shirahoshi, the three princes (Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi), and a gathering of ministers—all awaiting their arrival.
"Hahaha! Vice Admiral Carl, my friend! You've finally returned to our humble kingdom once more!" Neptune, seated on his massive throne, greeted him with open arms.
"Sir Carl…" Shirahoshi greeted him softly, her delicate voice carrying a warmth of familiarity.
Compared to the frightened, sheltered girl from before, there was a noticeable change in Shirahoshi's demeanor. Her time outside the hard-shell tower had clearly helped her grow more comfortable interacting with people.
Carl eyed Neptune with a blank expression but took a deep breath, choosing to restrain himself from any snide remarks.
Instead, he gestured to the side.
"This is Vice Admiral Stolo Berry. He's the one who'll be stationed on Fish-Man Island from now on. Get to know him."
Neptune nodded, his smile dimming slightly.
"Yes… Fleet Admiral Sakazuki already informed me of this." He let out a sigh of regret.
"What a shame, Vice Admiral Carl. We had hoped you would be the one officially stationed here. But knowing that you'll be posted to Marineford instead, we will have to settle for this arrangement."
Carl's expression remained neutral.
Marineford, now the G-1 Branch, was far too important for Sakazuki to allow Carl to garrison Fish-Man Island permanently.
Marineford represented the face of the Marines, and placing one of their rising stars there made strategic sense.
Besides, the Dragon Palace Kingdom's request was never going to be approved—Sakazuki wasn't one to entertain idealistic notions when it came to military placements.
Carl exhaled sharply, resisting the urge to snap at Neptune.
'If this guy weren't speaking so respectfully, I'd have knocked some sense into him already,' he thought.
A Grand Reception
With Carl's return, the entire Ryugu Palace erupted into celebration.
A lavish banquet was swiftly prepared, with tables piled high with exotic seafood and the finest liquor available in Fish-Man Island.
Inside the banquet hall, Carl was busy devouring food like a raging storm, seemingly unaffected by the endless waves of praise directed at him.
At one of the tables, Princess Shirahoshi, now more open and curious, sat beside Carl.
"Lord Carl, is the world above the sea very different from Fish-Man Island?" she asked, her large, expressive eyes filled with curiosity.
Carl swallowed a mouthful of food before pausing to think.
"Hmm… Not much different, really," he finally said.
"If I had to say, though, the environment here is better than 99% of the places up there."
Indeed, Fish-Man Island's beauty was unparalleled—a kingdom of coral, glowing marine life, and an ethereal sunlight-mimicking bubble ceiling.
Anyone visiting for the first time would be mesmerized.
"The only real downside is Mermaid Cove…" Carl muttered under his breath.
While Shirahoshi didn't hear it clearly, the three princes exchanged knowing glances. They, too, were aware of the chaotic nature of certain parts of their kingdom.
Carl leaned back, stretching his arms.
"Well, it's only natural. If you live in the same place your whole life, you'd eventually start wanting to see what's outside," he said casually.
Shirahoshi nodded, understanding his words on a deeper level.
Just then, a royal guard burst into the hall, his face pale as he hurriedly approached Neptune.
"Your Majesty!" he exclaimed, holding out a Den Den Mushi. "A call has just come in from the Big Mom Pirates!"
The entire room fell silent.
Neptune's eyes widened in shock. "Big Mom Pirates?!"
Everyone's attention turned to the Den Den Mushi, which had already transformed into an eerie, mustached face—one that unmistakably belonged to a member of Big Mom's crew.
"Hello? Is this Ryugu Kingdom of Fish-Man Island?"
The transmission crackled ominously.
Carl's eyes narrowed as he crushed out his cigar.
"Tch… Looks like the real trouble is about to start."
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