Chapter 78: Justice on the Edge

Everyone turned their gaze toward the main gate. In the distance, faint figures could be seen rushing over.

Soon, more than a hundred Navy soldiers flooded their vision. Originally there had been a thousand, but at every destroyed warehouse, a team had been left behind to keep watch. Now, only just over a hundred remained.

Leading the group was a stout middle-aged man, his face marked by the passage of time. He wore the cloak of justice and white gloves, walking straight toward Karl.

As Hodes stepped through the gate, he immediately spotted Karl along with the nearby slaves. One look at the scene and he knew there was no way the slaves could have done this.

Karl had pulled up a chair and now sat facing the main entrance, expressionless.

A serious look crossed Hodes’ face as he took in the situation. He hated these traffickers with a passion, but his position kept his hands tied. After hesitating, his eyes landed on Karl’s imposing figure.

“I’m Vice Admiral Hodes.”

“We received a report from the public. Looks like you’re the one causing trouble here.”

“This mess is your doing, isn’t it? And you’ve killed so many people.”

“We need you to come with us.”

Karl sat on the chair, looking at Hodes with a mocking smile.

“Oh? So should I take it that the Navy is just a shield for these scumbags?”

“Crack!”

A flash of anger crossed Karl’s face in the next instant and the armrest of the chair shattered under his hand.

“Do you have any idea what they’ve been doing here?”

“They’re trafficking people. A Navy officer like you has no right to speak of justice.”

“Your so-called justice is nothing but garbage to me.”

Hodes went rigid. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but he couldn’t avoid it—even if he wanted to. His eyes darted away before finally meeting Karl’s. He spoke in a heavy voice.

“Sir, please come with us.”

The die was cast. If he didn’t bring in the main culprit, the Celestial Dragons would punish him. Hodes had no real choice.

If it wasn’t for Karl’s sheer intimidating presence and the carnage around, Hodes would’ve made a move long ago.

“Enough talk. Let’s get on with it.”

Karl’s anger faded, replaced by a hint of amusement. Spreading his arms and tilting his chin, he signaled for Hodes to proceed.

Hodes eyed Karl, seeing that he had no intention of surrendering quietly. He tossed his cloak to one of the Navy soldiers.

“You all wait outside.”

“Yes, Vice Admiral Hodes!”

His adjutant caught the tense mood at once—if the Vice Admiral was acting personally, their presence would only get in the way. He quickly led the rest of the team outside.

“Just doing my duty. Sorry.”

“Buzz!”

Hodes’ entire body glimmered as he coated himself in Armament Haki.

“Finger Gun!”

From Karl’s view, Hodes first vanished with Shave, closing the distance in a blink. He jabbed his right index finger toward Karl’s chest.

Seeing no killing intent from Hodes, Karl decided to go easy. He reached out with his left hand, grabbing Hodes by the arm.

“Smack!”

Hodes felt the raw power in Karl’s grip and stared at him in shock. That kind of strength didn’t belong in the first half of the Grand Line.

“Hm?”

“Are you all still here?”

Karl squinted and cocked his head at the slaves in the room; there was a side door to this warehouse, now left unguarded.

“Clatter, clatter!”

“Tap, tap, tap!”

The slaves caught Karl’s signal, and as if given new life, joy and gratitude lit their faces. After shooting nervous glances at Hodes, they dashed for the side exit.

Hodes didn’t stop the slaves as they fled. Seeing their fearful eyes, he felt a stab of guilt. He’d joined the Navy once out of a sense of justice. He never imagined it would come to this.

With the room empty, he turned toward Karl, face grave.

“Who exactly are you?”

In that instant, it was as if a jolt of electricity ran through Hodes’ mind—Rocks D. Karl.

He suddenly remembered the document sent down by Admiral Kong, which had included the Wanted Poster for Rocks D. Karl (and yes, Sengoku and the others had misheard the name earlier; don’t blame me for that, thanks!). The bounty was now a staggering 1.3 billion Berries.

“Looks like you recognize me.”

“Well, that’s no fun.”

“But just to be safe, you’d better sleep it off.”

“Heaven and earth, roots of all energy. After countless aeons, my divinity is proven. Across the three realms, only the Dao reigns supreme. My body, clad in golden light, shields me from all harm…”

Karl shot to his feet, chanting the Golden Light Spell. Radiant golden light burst from his body.

Though Karl confessed his identity, Hodes still couldn’t believe it. Why would the Sixth Division Captain of the Rocks Pirates come to the first half of the Grand Line?

Was there anything here that would draw their attention?

“It really is you.”

“What are you doing here…?”

Karl had comprehended the true meaning of the Golden Light Spell in his training. It wasn’t just defensive—it could also be used for attack.

“Flying Brick Smash!”

Karl let the Golden Light spell spill outward, forming a massive slab the size of a door.

He gripped one edge with both hands, veins bulging, and brought it down on Hodes with a savage swing.

All of this happened in just a few seconds—Hodes barely had another thought before it hit.

“Iron Body!”

Faced with a slab dozens of meters long, Hodes saw there was no way to dodge in such tight quarters. He could only brace himself and take it head on.

“Boom!”

As Hodes’ hands connected with the golden slab, veins stood out on his face. He threw every ounce of strength into resisting, but still couldn’t match the force of the attack.

“Argh!”

“Gah!”

With a thunderous crash, Hodes was smashed into the floor, losing consciousness instantly.

“Guess you never realized Iron Body doesn’t amount to much.”

Honestly, he never thought Iron Body was worth much, even back when he watched anime.

Weaklings can’t stop an expert’s blow—and real experts don’t need it. Feels more like dead weight.

Karl looked at the crater with Hodes flattened at the bottom and let his golden slab fade away. His first urge was to finish the job, surprisingly.

“Forget it. I’ll spare you this time.”

He headed for the exit, his calm voice echoing in the warehouse.

“Maybe I’ve gotten a bit too bloodthirsty, after taking so many lives.”

…

“Thud, thud, thud!”

The adjutant heard footsteps from inside and immediately had the Navy soldiers raise their guns.

“Someone’s coming out!”

“Ready!”

“Don’t waste your time on me. Your Vice Admiral’s lying inside. If you don’t move fast, he might not even make it.”

Before the adjutant could see who stepped out, Karl’s voice rang out from within.

“Lower your weapons and follow me.”

Hearing Karl’s command, the adjutant told everyone to put down their guns and quickly led them inside. As they passed Karl, anger flashed in his eyes, but he still turned and ran in to help.

They all knew—even a Vice Admiral wasn’t his match. What could they possibly do?

Karl watched them rush in, then stretched with a lazy yawn.

“Ha!”

“Guess it’s evening already.”

He glanced at the lingering sunset as the sky darkened.

He released Observation Haki, sensing for his crew. Only he remained on this island—everyone else had gone back to the Azure Dragon.

“Looks like it’s time to set out for the New World!”

Karl grinned wide, facing the sunset.

Then he hurried toward the Azure Dragon.

What he didn’t expect was that his good deed today would end up helping him later on.

…

Navy Headquarters—Fleet Admiral’s Office.

Year end was approaching. The member nations would soon begin their annual Celestial Tribute. The Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line usually weren’t an issue, but trouble brewed in the second half. With the Rocks Pirates involved, nothing would be easy.

“Bloop bloop!”

Hill turned toward the Transponder Snail from Sabaody Archipelago.

“Hello, is this Fleet Admiral Hill?”

“Vice Admiral Hodes, what happened?”

Hodes wasn’t the type to call him without good reason.

“Reporting, Fleet Admiral Hill—Karl just appeared at Sabaody Archipelago.”

“He destroyed the slave markets from Area 1 to 29.”

Before Hodes could finish, Hill cut him off, face full of shock.

“What? Are you serious?”

“Is he alone?”

It was only natural for Hill to worry—Celestial Tribute season was right around the corner. For Karl to appear at Sabaody now…

Who’s to say the Rocks Pirates weren’t plotting something? But so far, no word from his informants.

“He acted alone at the market.”

“But he didn’t come alone. He arrived on a special ship I’ve never seen before. There were about seven or eight other members aboard, none with bounties.”

From his vantage point, Hodes could see Karl running toward that unusual ship in the distance.

“Alright, I understand.”

Fleet Admiral Hill contacted his intelligence operative right away, hoping to find out if Karl had any special assignment from the Rocks Pirates.

And whether they had their eyes on this year’s Celestial Tribute.

In the past, the New World was divided into three powers, so the tribute usually made it through. But this time was different.

The Rocks Pirates now ruled the second half of the New World.

Who could say what they might do next?