Chapter 246: Karl

Karl stopped and turned to look at Sengoku: "The survivor of the Ohara incident, Nico Robin, right?"

"Did Smoker run into her in Alabasta?"

Sengoku shook his head: "Smoker didn't say, but the World Government knows."

Karl raised an eyebrow, unable to help but recall that Sengoku had told him earlier that the World Government was initiating its final negotiation with Cobra.

This meant the World Government was paying close attention to Alabasta's movements and would naturally send their own CP agents to investigate. As long as they investigated Crocodile, Robin naturally wouldn't be able to escape.

After figuring this out, Karl looked at Sengoku: "Although I don't know how the World Government knows Nico Robin is in Alabasta, what does that have to do with me?"

"No, on the contrary, the World Government has specifically named you to eliminate Nico Robin."

Karl took a deep breath: "Give me a reason."

Sengoku sighed: "Since you've heard of the Ohara incident, you should know that Aokiji and Akainu were two of the officers who participated in the Buster Call."

"Akainu chose to fire on the evacuation ship to ensure no one escaped, while Aokiji stopped him. From then on, a rift grew between them..."

Sengoku told Karl the details of the Ohara Buster Call, and Karl listened very carefully.

"Afterward, the World Government held Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan, who was still a Vice Admiral at the time, accountable. Aokiji swore on his honor that he would personally capture the Child of the Devil, Nico Robin, and only then did the matter pass."

"And over these years, Aokiji has indeed been tracking Robin's whereabouts, but he has found nothing."

"It's been nearly five years since the last time we had news of Nico Robin. Now, the World Government doesn't really trust Aokiji anymore. As for the reason, you should understand."

"So they want you to replace Aokiji and bring the criminal Nico Robin to justice."

Karl curled his lip in disdain: "Bring to justice? That sounds nice. The people of Ohara were just researching the lost history of the world. They were just a group of scholars. What crimes did they commit?"

"Besides, Nico Robin was only a few years old back then. What did she know? What exactly is the World Government hiding? Why are they afraid to openly share history with the world?"

Sengoku said sternly: "That is not a question for us to consider. In any case, you only need to know that Nico Robin is a wanted criminal, and your mission is to send her to Impel Down."

Karl looked at Sengoku seriously: "Do I have to go?"

"Hoo~" Sengoku let out a long sigh and covered his face: "I don't know either. In any case, if you don't go, someone else will. Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan? Akainu? It's all possible."

"Fine, I accept this mission. Tell the World Government for me that this mission has made me very unhappy. If there is a next time... don't blame me for losing my temper."

With that, Karl left in a huff. Sengoku shook his head helplessly. Young people...

"Vice Admiral Karl, Vice Admiral Karl, wait a moment! This is the information Fleet Admiral Sengoku asked me to give you!"

Karl nodded slightly, took the information, and opened it. Good heavens, it was a photo of Robin, likely taken recently.

It was about the same as in his memory: wheat-colored skin, a sapphire necklace... Wait, this necklace...

Karl widened his eyes as he looked at the necklace in Robin's photo. His mind couldn't help but flash back 18 years, to that dirty little beggar he had met at the southern port of the Lubneel Kingdom.

"Hey, eat this. Eating trash isn't good for your health."

The dirty little beggar looked at the boy in front of her with vigilance, then looked at the cake in his hand, unable to stop herself from swallowing.

But years of drifting had long since taught the little beggar that there was no such thing as love for nothing in this world. The kinder someone looked, the more sinister they might be inside—even children were the same.

13-year-old Karl seemed to see how vigilant the little beggar was. He couldn't help but scratch his head, took a bite of the cake in his hand, swallowed it, and then placed the rest on the ground.

"I've already eaten it, it's not poisoned. If you're not afraid of wasting it, just let the wild dogs take it..."

Watching the boy's retreating figure, the little beggar pursed her lower lip, whispered a thank you, and then picked up the cake from the ground and began to wolf it down.

The next day.

"You're still here! Here, my family made a lot of good food today. I can't finish it, so here you go!"

The third day.

"You're in luck today! My mom made roast chicken and specifically brought some over for you to try. How about it? You've never had this before, right!"

The fourth day, the fifth day... the 11th day, the 12th day. The pirates arrived.

Karl hid in the closet, trembling, not daring to make a sound, until he heard two screams. Karl's face turned pale.

Outside, the little beggar rushed over, gasping for breath, only to find the little boy's parents were already dead. A bad premonition filled her heart until she heard the sound of rummaging in the room.

"Damn it, where is the money hidden?"

The little beggar crossed her hands and whispered: "Tres Fleur: Neck Snap!"

At night, after all the movement had ceased, Karl dared to crawl out of the closet. He was terrified to see the pirates foaming at the mouth on the floor, and then he saw his parents lying in a pool of blood...

Three days later.

"You're still alive! That's good. I'm just Move Move Like you now, I have no home... my parents are both dead."

"Then what are you going to do from now on?" This was the first time the little beggar had spoken to him. Karl was a bit surprised, but grief and anger soon overwhelmed his emotions.

Little Karl took a deep breath and looked toward the distant sea: "I heard the adults say that as long as you take a boat for three days, you can reach Marine Branch 108. I'm going to be a Marine!"

The little beggar nodded thoughtfully: "Then will you come back in the future?"

Little Karl looked at the town behind him and shook his head: "I won't come back. There's nothing left here worth staying for."

Little Robin's expression dimmed: "Then, then what about me?"

Karl forced a smile: "Of course I won't forget you! Come with me and be a Marine!"

"I, I'm sorry, I, I can't..."

The little beggar didn't know why she was so resistant to becoming a Marine. No matter what Karl said, she refused to go with him.

Seeing that preaching was useless, Karl could only sigh, take an exquisite sapphire necklace from his chest—it was his mother's keepsake—and hand it to her: "What a pity. Here, this is for you. If fate allows, we'll meet again on the sea!"

Woo-woo-woo~

"Ah, the boat is here so soon. I'm sorry, I have to go!"

Karl left in a hurry. Little Robin stood where she was, wanting to ask his name but unable to say it.

He wanted to be a Marine, while she was a criminal. What would knowing his name change?

Robin could only clutch the necklace tightly in her palm, watching Karl's figure gradually fade into the distance.

"Hey, little beggar, don't pick up trash to eat anymore. You must live until the day we meet again!"

Robin burst into a laugh, tears in her eyes, waving desperately at Karl on the boat until the vessel disappeared into the sea.

"Someday, we will meet again. It's just a pity that I can only watch you from afar..."