"Karl, that extendable chain you asked to install in the bow—is it for towing the ship?"
After they paid the deposit and walked out of Galley-La Company, Nami looked at Karl. "You can pull a big ship too?"
In Nami's eyes, a large vessel would be at least a hundred meters long, the mainmast well over a hundred meters high, displacing tens of thousands of tons—like a mountain that moves.
Compared to a large sailer, their triangular-sail sloop was an ant.
"Of course. It's my gym equipment." Karl grinned.
"You really are a monster."
Karina gave Karl a meaningful look. "Sounds like you got quite a lot out of the Boin Archipelago."
"Heh, it'll absolutely exceed your expectations."
Karl's second new ship would take a month to finish, so once the Log Pose had stored enough magnetism, the three left Water 7 on the sloop and set course for the end of the first half of the Grand Line—the world-famous Sabaody Archipelago.
"Sabaody sits beneath the Red Line. If we want to see the Red Line from the first half of the Grand Line, we have to pass through a very famous sea along this route."
One day, Karina was teaching the navigator Nami, holding a geography book she'd bought on Water 7. "It's called the Devil's Triangle. As the name implies, it's terrifying. Hundreds go missing there every day. It's shrouded in thick fog, and ghost ships with skulls are everywhere."
"R-really?"
Nami went pale and trembled. "Should we change course and reach Sabaody another way?"
"Pfft."
Seeing how spooked Nami was, Karina couldn't help laughing at her. "Be serious. Haven't you seen the power of Karl's light spear more than once? Can't you have a little faith in our captain?"
Sitting beside them, Karl nodded with a smile. "There are no real ghosts in this world. And even if there are, they're probably the work of some special Devil Fruit."
"Nami, you might become the world's greatest navigator by sensing weather with your body."
Karl tapped the plate of his armor. "As long as it isn't a natural cataclysm, even if my enemy were the strongest man in the world, I wouldn't let anything happen to you."
"Uwaoo—"
The chibi dragon on the table chimed in with an approving cry.
Looking at the confidence on the faces of the two—and one dragon—Nami steadied at once, then broke into a bright smile and nodded hard. "Okay. Leave the ship to me!"
Unspoken was this: at sea I'll protect you; on land you'll protect me.
With Nami's fear dispelled, Karina went on about entries from the geography book.
Karl stroked the chibi dragon's head, his face uncharacteristically pensive. "The Devil's Triangle used to be Gecko Moria's turf. I remember there's a Paramecia there that's practically a bug—the Hollow-Hollow Fruit."
"So, how do I recruit her?"
It had been fifteen years since he crossed into this world.
As for the world's best-selling manga in his past life, he'd forgotten much of the plot.
He wasn't some prodigy with a perfect memory before crossing over.
And after gaining the Infinite Evolution constitution and becoming unbeatable in the East Blue from age nine, he cared even less about 'canon.'
As long as he held the world's strongest power, any so-called protagonist was a joke.
Hadn't he already 'poached' Nami, the navigator who was like a guardian angel to the Straw Hats at sea?
Beyond Moria, Karl remembered two others in the Devil's Triangle.
One was a must-kill target. The other was someone he wanted to recruit—the "Ghost Princess," Perona.
Never mind Logias—the three 'top' elements…
In truth, Karl believed Paramecia was the strongest group, especially the rule-type ones.
Barrier-Barrier, Slow-Slow, Love-Love, Hobby-Hobby, Hollow-Hollow…
Those fruits ignore tiers and play by no one's rules.
Now that he had absolute defense, he wanted absolute control as well.
Picture it: Karina shielding Nami and Perona with Barriers while Perona's intangible Negative Hollows pass through and touch enemies outside. One hit and they're instantly combat-ineffective.
Even imagining it felt ruthless.
But he also remembered Perona's deep feelings for Gecko Moria—captain and father figure both.
To lure Perona away, he'd have to start with Moria.
"Perfect chance to test how far my strength has come." Karl's mouth curled. He'd figured out how to recruit Perona.
"Karl, where'd you go just now?"
Sensing his change in mood, Karina glanced at the slightly absent-minded Karl.
He came back to himself and, with a wicked smile, changed the subject. "I'm here. Want to play Truth or Dare?"
"Truth or Dare? A game?" Karina and Nami looked over, curious.
"Uh… 'Honesty and Boldness.'"
Karl blinked, then realized this world didn't use the same name. He pulled a deck of cards from who-knew-where. "Rules are Old Maid. Whoever's left holding the Joker at the end loses. The loser chooses 'Truth' or 'Dare.' If 'Truth,' they must answer the two winners' questions honestly. If they really can't answer, they can switch to 'Dare' and complete whatever penalty the winners set."
"Honesty and Boldness, huh? Why the sudden game?"
Karina's interest lit up. "Can the questions be anything? Penalties too?"
"Of course."
Karl nodded, his grin turning naughtier. "If you win, you can even make me strip. And vice versa!"
"So that's your goal."
Karina and Nami were speechless.
"One word—well?"
"Yes!"
Life at sea is boring.
To pass the time, everyone finds something to do; when there's nothing, most turn to gambling games.
It wasn't the trio's first card night; Karl even owed Karina and Nami a few million Berries.
What could he do? The two girls made their living with wits.
At cards, Karl simply wasn't a match.
Even with Observation, he couldn't tell if they were cheating.
Knowing how bad Karl's card sense was, the girls, though aware of his ulterior motives, were confident they'd be the ones setting the penalties.
They returned to the big cabin and began their game of "Honesty and Boldness."
Old Maid is simple: fifty-three cards, one Joker; whoever holds it last loses.
It's a mix of luck and psychology.
Unlike games that require deep counting, this easy one let Karl play without giving away tells.
When each had only a handful of cards left—and Karl just one—both Karina and Nami realized he was tougher prey than usual.
Crucially, the Joker was in Karina's hand.
If Karl drew a match for his last card, he'd win.
The loser would be either Karina or Nami.
Starting from the right, it was Karl's turn to draw from Karina.
His fingers slid over the backs in Karina's hand, pausing over one, then moving on.
They even hovered over the Joker.
Karina's expression didn't change at all—she looked unreadable.
But she didn't know Karl was cheating for a little "benefit."
You can hide your face—but not your feelings.
Karina had iron nerves, yet when his finger paused over the Joker, her emotion shifted for a split second.
Karl instantly confirmed where the Joker was—and set a mental 'minefield.'
A few seconds later, he plucked the card next to it.
At the same time, he sensed Karina's emotion shift again.
He'd gotten lucky—the card matched his last, and he slapped the pair down.
"Heh, I win."
Karl tossed the two cards with a smug smile.
"Do it, Little Cat Burglar!"
"Do it, Karina!"
With their 'target' having won first, sparks flew between Karina and Nami. Their plastic-sisterhood shattered in an instant.
They dueled in pure psychology—over a few cards—for more than ten minutes without settling it, leaving Karl and the chibi dragon gawking from the side.
"Yay—I win!"
In the end, Karina was a hair short and took the first loss.
"Heh… Karina, 'Truth' or 'Dare'?"
Karl rubbed his palms, grinning.
Instead of getting mad, Karina smiled playfully. "Truth. Ask."
Karl froze.