After breakfast, Carl received a message from Marine Headquarters. The Marine fleet, led by Sakazuki and others, had set out at dawn toward the Red Line.
The Marines' warships had been upgraded multiple times under Vegapunk's hands. Whether in terms of durability or mobility, they had been significantly enhanced. At full speed, they were expected to reach the Red Line by dusk.
Once the warships arrived, the Marines assigned to the garrison would be stationed in the town beneath Mary Geoise, while Sakazuki and the other Admirals would be accommodated directly in Mary Geoise.
...
As dusk approached, Carl stood at the edge of Mary Geoise, looking down at the warships steadily approaching across the sea.
Swish!
A streak of purple light shot from one of the warships and landed directly in front of Carl—it was Lucia.
In her arms were two figures—Wanda and Carrot.
Carl raised his hand, gently caressing Lucia's cheek, and smiled.
"You arrived faster than I expected."
Lucia set Wanda and Carrot down from her arms and replied softly, "How could I keep the Young Master waiting?"
Wanda and Carrot glanced around in amazement. "So this is Mary Geoise?"
Mary Geoise was a legendary name. But for ninety-nine percent of the world, it remained a mystery—an untouchable place they would never see in their lifetime.
Carl ruffled the fur on Wanda and Carrot's little heads.
"Let Lucia show you around the estate first. I need to wait here for Sakazuki and the others."
Lucia nodded and led Wanda and Carrot away.
...
Shortly after they left, Sakazuki and the others arrived via an elevator. Upon seeing Carl, the Admirals immediately greeted him. Along with them was Ginny.
As soon as she saw Carl, Ginny rushed forward and leaped into his arms. Sakazuki and the others were long accustomed to this sight.
By the way, Ginny now had long pink hair, a departure from her previous tomboyish short-haired look.
Carl teased Ginny for a while before leading Sakazuki and the others toward the estate.
...
On the way, Carl encountered Lucia, Wanda, and Carrot again. In front of them stood a hideous, drunken Celestial Dragon.
Lucia shielded Wanda and Carrot behind her, her expression cold as she glared at the Celestial Dragon.
"Saint Piz, these two belong to Saint Carl. I suggest you drop whatever you're planning."
The Celestial Dragon, Piz, did not retreat upon hearing this. Instead, he grew even more arrogant.
He removed his bubble helmet, reeking of alcohol, and sneered,
"Saint Carl... Hah! Don't try to use his name to suppress me. Good slaves are meant to be shared!"
The two black-clad guards beside him turned pale upon hearing this and quickly tried to support the swaying Piz.
"Saint Piz, we should return at once!"
Piz was instantly enraged. He smacked both of them across the face, shouting,
"Why should I leave? What, I can't have two slaves to play with?!"
Lucia frowned, ready to teach Piz a lesson. Wanda and Carrot, disgusted, glared at him, electricity crackling around their hands.
At that moment, Carl walked over from the distance.
The previously arrogant Piz immediately shrank back upon seeing Carl. However, he quickly forced himself to stand tall and smirked.
"Ah... Saint Carl."
Carl ignored him and looked at Lucia. "What's going on?"
Before Lucia could respond, Wanda and Carrot ran to him, quickly explaining how Piz had tried to take them away.
The two guards beside Piz were now trembling uncontrollably. Meanwhile, Piz nonchalantly waved a hand and said,
"Saint Carl, I wasn't trying to steal them. I was willing to exchange them for my two favorite slaves!"
Ginny shot him a glare and snapped, "You're absolutely shameless!"
Never before had Piz been insulted so openly, let alone by a "commoner" like Ginny.
Furious, he pulled out a golden flintlock pistol and aimed it at her.
"Commoner! How dare you insult me! Die!"
Before he could pull the trigger, his pistol—and his wrist—were sent flying through the air.
"AHHHHH!!!"
Piz let out a pig-like scream. The commotion quickly attracted other Celestial Dragons. Upon seeing Piz's severed wrist, their faces turned deathly pale.
Blood gushed from Piz's stump, pooling on the ground. His two guards, meanwhile, had fainted from fear.
Clutching his wrist, Piz staggered backward, his eyes filled with disbelief. "You... you actually...!"
Even Sakazuki and the others were visibly shocked. They had expected Carl to punish Piz, but not this severely. He had crippled a Celestial Dragon on the spot.
Was the Figarland family truly as the rumors said—capable of executing Celestial Dragons?
...
But it wasn't over yet. Carl slowly stepped toward Piz and spoke in a low voice,
"You're from the Topman family, aren't you? Are you that eager to meet Warcury?"
The excruciating pain had sobered Piz completely. He swallowed nervously and stammered,
"Saint Carl, I was wrong! I deeply apologize for offending you!"
The surrounding Celestial Dragons whispered among themselves. Piz had once flaunted his connection to Warcury, acting untouchable in Mary Geoise. But after Warcury's death, he had become nothing, biting at anyone in sight. Even other Celestial Dragons despised him.
None of them were willing to speak up for him now—not that they believed Carl would care for their words.
Carl stared down at Piz. A flicker of black light appeared in his hand—the cursed blade, Muramasa.
Seeing the blade gleam with a chilling light, Piz finally realized the severity of the situation. His body trembled, and a hot stream ran down his leg—he had wet himself in fear.
In Piz's dilated pupils, the cursed blade Muramasa slowly rose.
A moment later, his consciousness was swallowed by eternal darkness.
Thud.
A dull sound echoed as a severed head hit the ground. The entire area fell into silence, every pair of eyes fixed in shock upon the rolling head.
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+175 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg