Bang bang bang bang bang bang...
Crack crack crack...
Clearly, this world doesn't just lack idiots—it's full of them everywhere you look.
If there are people bold enough to try to assassinate a top-tier Marine with a pistol just to get famous, then it's no surprise there are plenty who'd try to catch a fabled dragon and sell it off like human traffickers.
When Karl turned a corner on the way to rent Water 7's signature Yagara Bulls, a mob of thugs with blades and guns blocked his path.
To make an example, Karl finished them in an instant—snapping necks without mercy and tossing the corpses into the canal beside them.
Karl isn't a good man, but he isn't a bad one either.
Against the weak, whether they harbor killing intent or not, he uses only a tenth of his strength.
If someone dies to that tenth, it means they were too fragile.
If they endure it and only lose consciousness or the ability to move, Karl won't go for the kill.
If they not only endure but keep attacking, Karl will get serious—using half his strength, or more.
If someone dies on the spot under Karl's hand, it means they had it coming.
Generally speaking...
Karl rarely does what he just did—killing those who coveted his companions without a second thought.
Maybe because of the mind-link with Little White, he leaves no mercy for anyone who touches his "reverse scale."
After dealing with the fools, the three went to a shop that sold and rented Yagara Bulls, rented two, and headed for Water 7's main avenue.
With a map gifted by the proprietor, the trio checked into the city's most luxurious hotel. While the Log Pose stored its magnetism, they toured the shipwrights' island.
As when they first arrived, the trio plus dragon caused a sensation on the streets.
Countless eyes turned their way—every last one glued to the chibi dragon.
Amid those stares, Karl's Observation Haki also picked up plenty of greedy gazes.
He still didn't care.
Think what you want—but if you make a move, he won't hold back.
Like most women, with two of the three being female, their first stop on the main avenue was a clothing boutique for a spree.
After hunting so many pirates at the first stop and with savings now eight digits long, Karina and Nami spent without a twinge of pain, as if buying new outfits was buying good moods.
They didn't just buy for themselves—they bought for Karl and Little White, too.
They even had the store's tailors custom-make matching outfits for the chibi dragon to match Karl's—by the hundreds.
Since the chibi dragon can change size at will, anything big will burst the seams once she grows.
As for dressing a dragon at all?
Call it Karina and Nami's mischievous taste.
Leaving the boutique, the group hit Water 7's bookstores—launching into a far longer and duller round of book-picking than shopping.
Watching Karina leaf through volumes, Karl suggested buying the whole store.
But remembering past experience, he sat to the side and played with the chibi dragon instead.
Nami helped Karina choose.
She had to admit: after joining Karl's crew and getting to know Karina more deeply, Nami felt growing admiration for this girl their age.
Going to sea before ten for Cocoyashi Village's sake to steal might sound impressive—
but compared to Karina, Nami realized it wasn't the same at all.
Next to Karina, she was the lesser.
Because she and Karl were so close as kids, and he took special care of her, Karina dared to decide at seven to go to sea with him.
Before Karl became a "monster," she used her wits to make the most of being the older one—and fed them both.
At first Nami didn't get it.
But after months of sailing as a trio, she finally understood: living alone and living for two are nothing alike.
The former only needs you to survive; the latter needs you to find ways for both you and the one beside you to survive.
Karina refused to be Karl's burden.
So before obtaining the Barrier-Barrier Fruit, her only weapon was wisdom.
Knowledge was her armed gear.
That's why Karina only selected knowledge that would truly help.
If Karl tried to stop her from choosing knowledge, Karina would smile on the surface but feel very down inside.
She would feel Karl didn't need her—that she was becoming useless.
That seemingly strong, master-planning girl would grow rare negative thoughts.
Karl had discovered that once through Observation Haki, and from then on never dared disturb Karina's study.
Fortunately, Karina also knew Karl didn't mind hauling bags on a shopping trip, but hated the dull waiting.
Plus, since they'd be on this shipwrights' island for a while, she didn't take too long. She and Nami carried towering stacks to the counter to pay.
By then, night had fallen pitch-black.
On the central streets, many people wore Water 7's signature masks, reveling.
After Karl hauled their things back to the hotel rooms, he went down to join the fun.
Only when another pack of idiots interrupted did he return to the hotel.
The next morning.
The trio plus dragon went to the Galley-La Company to commission a ship big enough to haul gold.
"A large sailing ship?"
When a Galley-La employee heard Karl's request, he blinked and asked, "Just the three of you? Can you even handle a large sailer?"
Typically, large sailing ships have three masts, a main and multiple auxiliary sails, which is why they're so fast.
But with the speed boost, handling difficulty also skyrockets.
Only teams in the hundreds—sometimes thousands—order large sailers.
Just working aloft on three masts takes over twenty crew, and at least two navigators.
Seeing that Karl's group didn't look like cutthroat pirates, the employee offered a reminder: "If there are only three of you, I suggest commissioning a medium two-masted ship. It's much more manageable."
"No. I want a big ship."
Karl refused flatly and added his demand: "I want to meet the designer. I'm adding a few things to the build."