Chapter 99: The Vice Captain’s Scar

Seeing the ship’s doctor approaching.

Karl sat there on the ground, face pale and breathing hard.

He stared at his left chest where a deep wound kept bleeding steadily.

Pointing to his chest, he spoke to the doctor before him.

“Start from here. Just stitch it up for me.”

The doctor nodded. He wasn’t just any doctor—he understood how resilient these monsters were.

So, he opened the emergency kit right away and pulled out a long needle and thread.

He began stitching up Karl’s chest.

Karl clenched his jaw, sweat streaking his face, but not a sound left his lips.

As the doctor sewed, Karl’s wound began closing up right before their eyes.

But Karl could feel something strange under his skin—an unknown force at the wound’s seam refusing to let it fully heal.

He understood he’d probably carry a long scar from this.

Seeing Linlin’s worried face, he gave her a gentle look, then spoke softly.

“It’s alright, Linlin. I’ll be fine.”

Charlotte Linlin rolled her eyes at him.

But hearing Karl wasn’t in any danger, she finally let out a relieved breath.

“You’re still alive, so I’m good too.”

Charlotte Linlin grinned as she spoke.

“But from now on, we really should call you Vice Captain.”

Karl burst out laughing right there when he heard Linlin’s teasing.

“Vice Captain, huh? That has a nice ring to it.”

Davis and the others immediately saluted Karl, calling him Vice Captain.

Karl waved them off.

“Alright, alright! Go on, all of you, run along.”

No one wanted to overstay—they waited until the doctor finished, then, with Karl’s urging, left for the center of the island.

Earlier, when Rocks reached the shore, he’d called everyone ashore.

There, on a deserted island, they held a banquet to celebrate Karl becoming Vice Captain of the Rocks Pirates and, at the same time, Captain of the Sixth Division.

The feast lasted a full day and night, only ending in a rush when food and drink ran out.

During that time, Karl’s wounds healed completely, leaving just a long scar across his chest.

Meanwhile, thanks to Shakky, they learned about Sengoku’s latest scheme.

No one was in a rush to return to Beehive Island—instead, they set course for Punk Hazard and Lucy Island in the first half of the New World.

But when Rocks got there, both Navy branches were already empty.

Sengoku, of course, knew the Rocks Pirates would want payback on the Navy.

The first to suffer would naturally be the two Navy branches in the New World.

So he’d made sure to evacuate those bases early.

With no choice, they headed back to Beehive Island.

As their ship sailed for Beehive, Sengoku had already delivered the Heavenly Gold to the World Government and was heading for Navy Headquarters.

World Government—Mariejois!

A tall, thin old man with a snowy beard looked at everyone gathered.

“So, what do you all think of Hill’s proposal?”

A chubby man with a scarred face was the first to respond.

“Sounds good to me.”

“Seconded!”

“Agreed!”

“Just what we need to fill the vacancy.”

With nobody objecting, the white-bearded elder took his documents to the side and called Hill.

“Alright, then let’s pass it on. The ceremony’s been approved.”

……

Inside a ship’s cabin, Sengoku was busy drafting his report about the case.

“Vice Admiral Sengoku, we’ve arrived at Navy Headquarters!”

Hearing the runner at the door, Sengoku stood, packed up his report, and straightened out his uniform.

“Alright—let’s go!”

He’d barely stepped onto the deck when he spotted Fleet Admiral Hill waiting at the Navy Headquarters harbor.

“Vice Admiral Sengoku, great work this time!”

“The plan went perfectly. Well done!”

“All for justice!”

Sengoku saluted Fleet Admiral Hill.

Then the group headed inside Navy Headquarters.

“I’ve already reported your victory to the World Government.”

“The Five Elders have approved your promotion to Admiral.”

On the way, Fleet Admiral Hill filled Sengoku and the rest in on the Five Elders’ decision.

“Hahaha!”

“Sengoku, you’re really an Admiral now.”

Garp was the first to congratulate him. He never wanted the promotion himself, but seeing his good friend Sengoku make it still brought him real joy.

“Thanks for all your help, Admiral.”

Sengoku looked gratefully at Fleet Admiral Hill. He knew that without Hill’s support, he’d probably have to wait a lot longer for this promotion.

“Come on, your promotion ceremony’s all set up.”

When they reached Navy Headquarters, everything was ready for the event.

“I officially announce that today marks the ceremony for Vice Admiral Sengoku’s promotion to Admiral!”

At the Navy side, they struck up drums and gongs, celebrating the new Admiral.

On the pirate side, though, you couldn’t find a cheer. Only glum faces.

Golden Lion slumped on the deck grumbling to himself.

“Didn’t get the Heavenly Gold, no one at the Navy base—now I’ve got all this anger and nothing to do with it.”

“Ma ma ma ma!”

“Who could’ve guessed Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr would all be together?”

Golden Lion sulked, puffing on his cigar.

“Shame we still got here too late.”

“If we’d shown up sooner, maybe we’d have stopped them right in their tracks.”

“What’s the rush? Just because they made it out this year doesn’t mean they will every year.”

Rocks glanced at Newgate and the others muttering nearby, growing more and more annoyed.

With a shout, he stormed off into his cabin.

Just like wilted eggplants, the rest fell silent, not daring to utter a sound.

“Alright, alright—let’s all take a break and rest up.”

“You heard the Vice Captain. Let’s go.”

Hearing John’s mocking tone, Karl glared at him.

Catching Karl’s look, John only sneered, then turned away with a mean scowl.

Soon enough, everyone was heading back to their own ships.

First thing after returning to his cabin, Karl opened the quest module.

“Main Quest One: Build your own pirate crew—not yet complete.

Reward: Thunder Dragon Egg

Side Quest Two: Become Vice Captain of the Rocks Pirates—complete!

Reward: Rocks’ Conqueror’s Haki—pending claim!

Side Quest Three: Extend your reach to all parts of the Grand Line—progress: 70%!

Reward: One unrestricted template draw!”

“Guess I’ll wait till we’re back to claim it all!”

“But why is Side Quest Three already at 90%?”

He pondered on the bed, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

“Could it be that the influence I built up in the Four Seas and Skypiea counts too?”

He quickly grabbed the Transponder Snail and called his contacts stationed in the Four Seas and Skypiea.

After inquiring, he found out that the entire underground Mafia of the Four Seas now answered directly to Karl.

But for safety, the organization split into several factions so the World Government wouldn’t notice a monopoly.

“All that’s left is the first half of the Grand Line.”

He picked up the Transponder Snail again and called Gan Fall way up in Skypiea.

Gan Fall, all the way in Sky Island, had just put the snail down when it rang again.

Thinking Karl might have more to say, he hurried to answer.

“Gan Fall!” Karl’s voice came through the line.

“Yes, Lord Karl. Go ahead!”

Karl didn’t waste time, cutting straight to business.

“Any word on Visalia?”

Gan Fall had just received Visalia’s exact coordinates and already sent men there to scout.

“Reporting, Lord Karl—we have a lead and a team’s on their way.”

“I need control of that island as soon as possible. Get moving,” Karl’s tone was sharp.

“Understood, Lord Karl.”

Gan Fall replied quick and clean.

With that handled, Karl hung up.

“Once I get Visalia, that should bring my progress to a hundred percent.”

Meanwhile, in faraway Skypiea, Gan Fall hung up and rallied his men to personally head for Visalia.

He knew Karl counted on him for good news—he couldn’t let him down.

Under Gan Fall’s command, the forces of Skypiea mobilized fast, flying towards Visalia aboard their Weiba transports.

Their goal was clear—seize control of the island.