The method to enter Fish-Man Island was simple.
One had to use the ship's coating to sink into the sea, then ride the surface currents into the deep-sea currents to reach Fish-Man Island, ten thousand meters below the surface.
The way to enter Fish-Man Island was not a vertical descent; otherwise, it would take too long and one could easily crash into an underwater volcano.
Even so, this shortcut through the currents still caused countless ships to be buried in the deep sea, becoming underwater ghost ships.
Without great strength, a single giant sea beast or Sea King passing by could sink a galleon with a casual blow.
But for the strong, returning to the underwater paradise was as simple as crossing the Calm Belt.
Karl's group didn't even need to pay attention to the so-called sea currents.
Retracting the sails, Nami directly used the Float-Float Fruit's ability to control the large three-masted galleon, descending according to the Log Pose.
Wherever they went, any passing sea beasts or Sea Kings would instantly fall unconscious before Karl's and Yamato's Conqueror's Haki.
After leaving the sunlit zone, Yamato quickly returned to the ship's deck from outside.
At this point, the light began to dim, and the seawater grew cold.
Apart from the two monsters, Karl and Yamato, the three girls—Nami, Robin, and Nojiko—all put on sweaters and scarves.
"I wonder what the legendary underwater paradise looks like..."
Before the galleon entered the deep-sea currents, Karl's group sat on the sofa and chatted idly.
With their relationship needing no concealment, Nami, who had become as bold as her original counterpart, leaned directly into Karl's arms in front of Robin and her own sister. She looked up at Karl and teased, "I hear there are pretty mermaid ladies there. Since Carina isn't here, Karl, do you want to bring a few on board?"
"...That's a good idea!"
Nami's words seemed to have reminded Karl of something.
His green eyes lit up slightly, and Karl couldn't help but pinch Nami's stunned little face, smiling, "Nami, you've just reminded me of something."
"Wh... What is it?"
Nami, who had accidentally shot herself in the foot, asked blankly.
"Karl, you're not thinking about the Mermaid Princess, are you?"
At this moment, Robin, who understood Karl's character very well, seemed to see through his thoughts and said faintly.
"As expected of Robin!"
Karl couldn't help but give Robin a thumbs-up, his face full of admiration.
That's right!
Nami had reminded Karl of one thing: the legendary Mermaid Princess, Shirahoshi.
Karl was a lecher.
Karl had never denied this point.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have only recruited female crew members, not wanting a single man.
With a cloud of beauties around him, why would he want a man to be an eyesore?
If he were to look for one, it would be a male ally like Doflamingo!
If Karl's dream was to contend for supremacy in the New World or to overthrow Mary Geoise, he would definitely expand his fleet limitlessly, regardless of whether they were weak or strong, men or women, or even good or evil; he would take them all.
However...
Karl's dream was not to contend for supremacy in the New World, so he would not expand his fleet limitlessly.
He would only recruit female crew members who were powerful or had rare abilities, and then train them personally.
Including the most recently joined Yamato, Karl's crew, including himself, now consisted of nine people and one dragon.
Except for Karl and the little dragon, the other eight women were all Devil Fruit users.
Among them, Carina, Perona, Baccarat, and Tama were all users of rule-based Paramecia fruits.
Nami was a user of the Float-Float Fruit, a Paramecia that could be compared to the strongest Paramecia, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
Even Nojiko's Gold-Gold Fruit was a top-tier Paramecia.
Yamato was even more impressive; her ability was a Mythical Zoan, rarer than a Logia.
Even Robin's Flower-Flower Fruit, which was of the lowest grade, could display powerful effects after awakening.
From this, it was clear that besides being greedy, Karl didn't just recruit anyone.
Except for a few of the girls, Karl had not made a move on all his crew members.
At least for now, Karl had not made a move on Baccarat, Robin, and Nojiko.
He considered Tama his little sister.
Among the eight female crew members, only Carina, Nami, and Perona had a deep relationship with Karl.
And finally, there was Yamato, who had been severely disciplined by Karl.
By the way...
Before Carina came of age, Karl was, in a sense, saving his most precious thing.
Although he had his wings, his most important other half would always be Carina.
Carina's absolute position could not be shaken by anyone.
In summary...
Although Karl was a lecher, he wasn't thirsty for every girl.
But Karl also never recruited useless beauties.
For example, Karl had no interest in Kozuki Hiyori, one of the three peerless beauties in the original story's setting.
If she chose to throw herself at him, Karl wouldn't mind lending a hand.
But if not, Karl had never met her, and he certainly wouldn't proactively go fawning over her for her beauty.
To gain Kozuki Hiyori's favor, one had to help her get rid of Kurozumi Orochi and save Wano Country.
And after saving Wano Country, she might not necessarily leave with him.
As Doflamingo's good friend, Karl was even less interested.
Excluding Kozuki Hiyori, Karl was, however, very interested in the other two of the three peerless beauties.
Or rather... he lusted for them!
One of them was the Mermaid Princess Shirahoshi, who appeared only once every eight hundred years, the King of the Sea Kings who could communicate with them, and also one of the three Ancient Weapons, Poseidon. Her beauty was praised by the world and would not lose even when compared to the world's most beautiful woman, the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock.
In Karl's eyes, Shirahoshi was the true darling of the world, the true child of destiny.
Besides her ability to communicate with Sea Kings, Shirahoshi possessed the same natural Observation Haki as her mother and Patrick Redfield.
If she weren't a woman, but a man...
If her personality wasn't so gentle and kind, and if she weren't so timid...
Under Shirahoshi's leadership, Fish-Man Island would absolutely become a rare superpower in the world.
Perhaps even, apart from those super-powerful individuals, no pirate would be able to enter the New World through Fish-Man Island.
Just like the three Ancient Weapons being crowned with the names of gods, Shirahoshi was an existence that wielded the power of a god.
And now...
This peerless beauty with the power of a god was in darkness, waiting for her knight to save her.
Although with that body size, no matter how much Karl wanted her, he couldn't handle a vehicle that big.
But he still wanted her!
So Karl had decided: the tenth member of the crew would be Shirahoshi.
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