Chapter 100: Marine Traitor

Leaving Headquarters, returning to the Seastone warship.

Nelson was arranging supplies for the next voyage. Ain and Smoker’s eyes lit up when they saw Karl coming over.

"What’s the next mission? We’ve been on Fish-Man Island for almost a month; my bones are almost rusting!"

Karl glanced faintly at Smoker. What’s rusting bones? His bones were almost turning to mush.

"Here! See for yourselves!"

Karl threw the bounty poster and documents on the table, mimicking Sengoku’s style.

Ain took the bounty poster, and Smoker took the documents.

"95 million Berries?" "Marine traitor? It’s actually Gasparde!"

Karl scratched his head: "What, do you know him?"

Smoker nodded heavily: "I have an impression. He was a trainee in the same training camp as me. That guy was very lazy back then, and Teacher Zephyr didn't Move Move Like him at all."

"I didn't expect him to dare to betray justice so blatantly!"

Smoker’s mindset was: when you are a Marine, you can criticize or disdain justice all you want, but if you dare to defect, don't blame me for striking hard!

"Let me see. How could he think of defecting from the Marines? I really can't understand!"

Ain snatched the documents from Smoker’s hand and scanned them quickly: "Found it! For a Devil Fruit, killed colleagues, stole a warship, and then ran away..."

"This bastard!"

Smoker became unusually angry.

Karl waved his hand: "Calm down, calm down. Our mission is to bring him to justice, isn't it?"

"Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!"

Half an hour later, supplies were replenished, and the Seastone warship departed immediately.

According to intelligence, Gasparde was last seen at Borios Port in Paradise, an island on the seventh route near the South Blue. Karl and his team were going to this Borios Port to investigate.

"Huff~" Smoker exhaled a smoke ring, looking preoccupied.

Clearly, he was affected by Gasparde’s defection.

"Smoker, don't think too much."

Smoker shook his head: "You think I’m still thinking about that guy Gasparde? No, I’m thinking that if even a small Marine Ensign dares to defect from the Marines, what about others?"

"Even if they don't dare to defect blatantly, I’m afraid they have long since turned their backs on justice!"

"And this is the Marines at Headquarters. What about the Four Blues? What about those places Headquarters can't reach?"

Karl was silent for a long time. Listening to Smoker, he thought he might as well tell Smoker about the plan he had been brewing.

He wanted to set up an agency similar to an Independent Commission Against Corruption, specifically to thoroughly investigate those corrupt Marines. He would take the credit, and Smoker would do the work—killing two birds with one stone, and he could slack off in the office.

"Smoker, I understand what you mean. Actually, I’ve always had an idea. Forget it, let’s talk about it properly after we catch Gasparde."

Smoker was stunned. You’re only saying half of it?

"Don't beat around the bush, say it now!"

Karl opened his mouth, hesitated, and finally sighed, telling the story.

"The thing you mentioned is something I’ve thought about, and I actually have an immature idea."

Smoker waited a long time without Karl speaking, and said speechlessly: "What idea?"

"Independent Commission Against Corruption!"

"Independent Commission Against Corruption? What is that?"

"Accept and review accusations of Marine corruption."

Smoker raised his eyebrows.

"Investigate any crimes accused or suspected of violating the 'Marine Management Regulations'."

Smoker’s cigar fell to the ground.

"Investigate any extortion crimes committed by Marines suspected of abusing their power."

Smoker’s mouth grew wide.

"Investigate any Marine behavior related to or likely to lead to corruption."

Smoker grabbed Karl’s shoulders, his face excited. In his view, this idea was simply perfect! He wanted to say, "Me too!"

"This idea is great! If it’s really established, I’ll be the first to join!"

But Karl laughed self-deprecatingly: "Instead of dealing with pirates, we’re dealing with colleagues. Do you really want to do this?"

Smoker said seriously: "As long as it can make the Marines better, I am willing to bear everything."

Karl smiled with satisfaction. Hot-blooded youths Move Move Like Smoker are easy to fool! If it were Aokiji, he’d probably be busy doing his nails...

"Karl, when do we start?"

"Ahem, don't rush this. We have to catch Gasparde first, don't you think?"

"Right! Leave that guy to me!"

Smoker then ran out impatiently to develop his abilities, wishing he could kill a few pirates to celebrate.

After a while, Ain walked into the lounge with a strange expression and said to Karl, who was sitting with his legs crossed and drinking cola.

"What did you say to Smoker just now? He looks Move Move Like he’s taken stimulants."

Seeing Ain come in, Karl’s eyes lit up, his expression changed instantly, and an aura of a master swindler erupted.

"Ain, what do you think of the Marines now?"

"Ah!?"

Ten minutes later.

A calm-faced Ain walked out of the lounge. She didn't care about dealing with corrupt Marines; as long as she could act with Karl, she was satisfied.

Two days later, the warship arrived at Borios Port.

This port was quite large, but it was a mess now. It must have experienced a battle and hadn't had time to repair; there was wreckage everywhere.

Before the warship even got close, the civilians on the pier pointed at the warship and shouted in panic: "Marines! It’s the Marines! They’re back again! Run!!!"

Karl: ???

Karl even turned his head to look at the Marine flag overhead; it wasn't hung wrong!

"Could it be because Gasparde raided this place and splashed dirty water on the Marines?"

Smoker snorted: "That scum!"

"Nelson, drop anchor, take the men!"

Yes!

After walking into the town, the streets were empty, but there were a dozen civilians with guns looking at them with vigilance.

"Don't come over, or we’ll shoot!"

This sentence made the Marine soldiers feel a mix of emotions. When had they ever been treated Move Move Like this? It made them feel Move Move Like pirates.

But they were Marines!

"Everyone, please calm down. I am Rear Admiral Karl of Marine Headquarters. I am here to investigate the attack on Borios Port. We will not harm anyone; please trust us."

The burly man in the lead roared excitedly: "Don't lie! The people who attacked here were you Marines!"

Nelson was about to speak but was stopped by Karl.

"Don't add to the trouble!"

"Yes."

Karl then turned to the burly man, revealed a kind smile, took out a bounty poster, and said: "The person who attacked you is the Marine traitor Gasparde. He was here a few days ago..."