Chapter 296: Hidden Moves and New Titans

Ten days slipped by in a blink.

From this point on, the World Government and the Navy found themselves locked in a strategic standoff with Karl, each side playing the other like a chess opponent.

Both sides knew there wouldn’t be any large-scale battles anytime soon.

The Navy couldn’t afford to deploy en masse into the New World, and Karl couldn’t bring all his strength to assault Mary Geoise.

So each resorted to schemes and subtle maneuvers, doing whatever they could to slow down the other’s rise.

Unless a truly decisive tactic or weapon appeared, a new round of all-out war wouldn’t break out.

When that day came, it’d be a world-shaking battle like no other.

Things on Cake Island had mostly settled down, but this morning, Krell received some utterly thrilling news.

Finally, an undercover member had managed to infiltrate the World Government’s procurement department—just as a junior staffer, but still a big win.

His name was Ox, hailing from the New World.

Karl had picked him up as a slave while carving out the Sweets Sea, but none of those people ever lived like slaves again—they got a new lease on life.

That gave Ox a reason to serve. Out of hundreds from his group, he was the only one who volunteered.

He was so ecstatic with this outcome that he sent word the moment he secured the position.

It was perfectly timed; recently, the World Government had started acting strange, buying up huge amounts of all kinds of ores. What was most shocking was how much seastone—one of the great treasures of the sea—they were procuring.

Karl had already ordered them to track everything the World Government was racing to buy.

Krell hadn’t understood why that order was given at first, but now he realized—it was just another move before the real showdown.

But the good news didn’t stop there.

Just days ago, the snail ship had finally reached Cake Island.

Thanks to Judge’s tireless work, a new kind of clone was about to be born—and today was the reveal of the very first test subject.

Once Karl got the news, he rushed to the lab at dawn, barely able to contain his excitement to witness the birth of the first Titan-blooded clone.

As long as this batch of clones could be completed, it would give the World Government a colossal shock.

Krell put aside what he was doing and hurried to the lab, eager to bring Karl the latest intelligence from inside the World Government.

Waiting for his next orders.

The scene shifts to the lab.

Judge, Vegapunk, Quinn, Caesar, Halil and Karl were all clustered around a towering blue capsule, ten meters high.

The air was buzzing with praise.

Judge said, “I never expected the two gene types would fuse together so well.”

Inside, he thought, “With an army of these clones, ruling the North Blue would be easy. I could probably conquer the world. I should find a way to sneak off with a few…”

Vegapunk spoke up, “I’m amazed at just how many hurdles there still are between clone technology and cyborg engineering.”

“I’ve got to remember every detail from this experiment. Next comes building my own cyborg army.”

Quinn chimed in, “Look, I studied chemistry, but your biology work deserves serious respect.”

“We spent months stumped by this problem, and you cracked it in just a few days.”

Caesar added, “Right? Right? Fufufufu!”

“This invention today… it’s going to blow my mind for life.”

“You really are the top scientist, no question about it.”

Karl nodded. “Nice work, Judge. Finish this batch of clones, and you’re free to go back and rule the North Blue as you like.”

“Without my blood, you’d never get a Titan-blooded clone—so don’t get any ideas.”

(He wasn’t worried. Only his blood could yield these special clones.)

Halil interjected, “Awesome, that’s next level!”

“Seriously, this is incredible.”

Black lines popped up on the foreheads of Judge, Vegapunk, Quinn, Caesar, and Karl.

Expecting Halil to say anything wise was about as likely as watching pigs climb trees.

Halil, of course, didn’t notice a thing.

Let’s turn our attention to the clone growing rapidly inside the capsule.

Numbers and data about the clone’s body were displayed on a screen built into the capsule.

Test Subject: Clone Zero

Height: 8.8 meters

Weight: 900 kilograms

Vitality Level: Vice Admiral???

Unfortunately, whether Karl used regular blood or his essence, the clones’ power always capped at vice admiral level.

At the genetic level, both normal blood and essence seemed to carry the same DNA data.

But if you only cloned from DNA, you ended up with just an ordinary human—not a Titan-blooded one. They were only a cut above Judge’s old clones.

Clearly, Karl didn’t have any use for clones like that.

Sure, that kind of power might put a kingdom on the map or help dominate a small sea, but to Karl, they’d be nothing more than cannon fodder.

Perspective changes everything—it shapes how you see the world.

But getting back to the main point.

Karl couldn’t just bleed himself dry every day—even if he could handle it, it would be pointless.

“Judge, how many more clones like this can you make with the last batch of my blood?”

Judge, never one to miss a beat, replied smoothly, “Based on what you left us last time, Lord Karl…”

“We can only create a hundred of these Titan-blooded clones.”

He added, looking troubled, “But the incubation time is a real problem.”

“It’s triple that of a normal clone—about fifteen years.”

Karl felt a pang of regret when he heard that.

So much for handing the World Government a nasty surprise any time soon.

Thud, thud, thud!

Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the entrance.

Everyone turned to look. A moment later, the door swung open and Krell stepped in.

He called out to Karl with excitement. “Lord Karl, I’ve got good news!”

Karl didn’t rush over. Instead, he gestured to Halil and Vegapunk, signaling something.

Then he strolled over to the doorway.

“What’s up, Krell?”

As Karl spoke, he shut the lab door behind him. Now only he and Krell remained outside.

Krell handed over a file with his right hand and chattered on. “Lord Karl, one of our men—Ox—has made it into the World Government’s procurement office.”

“According to his report, they’re frantically searching for all kinds of ores, but the most important is seastone.”

“Is this the kind of intel you wanted, Lord Karl?”

Karl flipped through the file, glancing over the long list of unfamiliar ores—and noting the huge demand for seastone at the end.

“Can we trust this Ox?”

Karl wanted this intel, but if Ox had already been bought out, it could end in disaster.

Krell shook his head firmly. “Don’t worry, Lord Karl.”

“I personally vetted all members, and many other contacts reported almost identical intelligence at the same time.”

Caution and thoroughness—just what Karl valued in his people.

“Looks like all these materials are to repair the Heavenly King. Planning to fix it, are you?”

“No chance. I’m not letting you pull that off.”

“Krell, send my orders at once.”

“Not a single piece of ore or seastone that the World Government wants is to leave the New World. Not one!”

Krell nodded solemnly, hearing such unwavering resolve in Karl’s voice for the first time.

“Rest assured, Lord Karl—not one of those minerals will leave the New World.”

“Also, notify our people in the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line.”

“Tell them to secretly collect all these ores and send them quietly into the New World.”

Krell raced out to spread the word, making sure every group under their banner got the orders as fast as possible.

Watching Krell go, Karl clenched his fist, a sharp glint in his eyes.

“Without the materials, let’s see how you try to fix it.”