Among the people disembarking from the vessel, there was a figure clad in Marine attire beneath a long, flowing coat—an unmistakable presence.
After sending his son Momonosuke and several retainers twenty years into the future using Toki's Toki Toki no Mi, Kin'emon, the "Foxfire" samurai and loyal retainer of the Kozuki clan, had come face to face with the shifting tides of power.
Meanwhile, Vergo narrowed his eyes upon hearing that two Admirals and Solomon Carl had been dispatched to negotiate with the Shichibukai. His tone was low, unreadable: "Then let's head down."
Vergo had dealt with Pica before—his impression of the man was strong. Compared to the current and even some past Admirals, Pica's brutal efficiency in combat spoke volumes. A crimson glint flickered deep in Vergo's eyes, betraying interest. "This island… things are getting interesting."
He was here not just for orders. He was here to monitor Doflamingo—an investigation veiled under loyal service.
A rumbling boom erupted from the passageway below, shaking the structure. Dust rained down.
To wear the mantle of Admiral, one needed not just raw power, but a clean past—an uncontaminated foundation. And that, in the New World, was rare.
Yamato descended lightly beside Carl. Though she was clad like a warrior, there was a strange enthusiasm in her step. She eyed Kin'emon warily. "He's from Wano… the era of Oden, right?"
"That's right," Carl nodded. "Kin'emon of the Red Scabbards. Survivor of the Kozuki clan."
Vergo frowned again. "That brat Law… he's already made it into the research facility?"
"Carl! You actually came," Yamato blinked, surprised. "So, Trafalgar Law really agreed to join the Shichibukai?"
Carl exhaled slowly, his tone calm. "He did."
Carl already understood the broader Marine strategy—this place, Punk Hazard, was a critical site for the mass production of SMILE, the artificial Devil Fruit crafted through Caesar Clown's grotesque science and peddled by Doflamingo to Kaido.
In this lab, Law's Ope Ope no Mi allowed him to cut and reassemble virtually anything—including teleportation within his ROOM technique.
Bepo, cautious as ever, tugged on Law's sleeve. "Captain… maybe we should wait. That explosion earlier must've put them on high alert."
Law nodded but didn't slow. "Fine. But if I go alone, be prepared to leave at a moment's notice."
As the Straw Hat allies advanced toward the island, Carl waved casually. "Yeah. Law's in. Got the papers."
Inside the dilapidated, freezing lab—
Boom!
Pink smoke exploded into the corridor. Doflamingo's signature flamboyant silhouette emerged, his feathered coat billowing. His network and power rested heavily on this island—particularly through Kaido and the SMILE trade.
Carl felt a fierce aura nearby, easily above Vice Admiral level. He focused. "This should be one of the stronger ones…"
He stepped forward with a faint smile. "Well, I guess it's normal in a place like this," he muttered, pressing toward the lab doors. "But today's a real show… more familiar faces just entered the game."
He remembered one of them clearly—Donquixote's "Demon Bamboo" Vergo, an officer of the Donquixote Family and an undercover Marine Vice Admiral from G-5.
"Oak Dragon Vice Admiral!" shouted T. Penn and the others, standing at attention.
In the world of Shichibukai, refusal was rarely an option—more often, the invitation came under threat of immediate execution.
Carl wasn't alone. He'd sensed their presence—watching, waiting, cloaked in the scent of blood and secrecy.
At that moment, a figure appeared, slapping a leaf onto his head with comedic seriousness—Kin'emon's attempt at camouflage. Despite his theatrics, his eyes burned with samurai resolve.
For Kin'emon, twenty years had passed in a single moment—yet the fire of Wano still raged in his heart.
Doflamingo's family, like Gladius and Trebol, were products of blind loyalty, hardened training, and twisted brotherhood.
Law, on the other hand, bore the scars of betrayal and revenge. Against Doflamingo, it was personal.
Step, step—
Each footfall echoed with memories of Oden's execution in a boiling pot, the cries of a loyal nation silenced.
The Donquixote Family had infiltrated the world under false banners—many, like Vergo, held Marine ranks despite criminal affiliations. It was not uncommon. The vetting process, even within the World Government, was far from perfect.
At the lab entrance, Carl and Yamato stood facing the gate, sensing multiple heat signatures even more potent than most Vice Admirals of Marineford.
Carl scanned the perimeter, his Observation Haki brushing over the underground corridors. Below them, SMILE-producing centaurs—mutated soldiers with animal limbs—patrolled endlessly, filling every hallway with monstrous presence.
"Wait—an inner agent?!" Yamato's eyes widened. "You mean there's a mole in the Donquixote family?!"
Carl nodded. "One of ours."
The Marine was not blind to infiltration; it had long used embedded agents to keep track of Yonko and Warlord movements alike.
In a blink, a spatial ripple stirred the air—Law vanished from sight using Shambles, teleporting deeper into the facility.
In this shadow war, no loyalty was absolute.
If Marine screening had been more thorough, men like Vergo would never have risen so high… but now, it was too late to turn back.
Carl rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Oh! I remember now…"
That tremendous explosion earlier had already attracted the attention of Caesar Clown, the disgraced scientist and former subordinate of Vegapunk.
"Let's do this. You return to the submarine and lay low," said Trafalgar Law, voice grave as ever. "I'll go down there and investigate personally."
Elsewhere, on Punk Hazard's icy shore—
"No, I'll be safer if I go alone," Law added with a subtle smirk. "Did you forget about my Ope Ope no Mi?"
One mistake could cost more than they could afford.
In the distant past, Kozuki Toki, wife of Kozuki Oden, activated the legendary Toki Toki no Mi and sent retainers twenty years into the future.
Now, the two new Admirals—Fujitora and Ryokugyu—had both taken their posts following the World Conscription.
"This is about to escalate," Carl said casually, flicking away ash as Observation Haki flickered in his pupils like red sparks. His perception was stretching.
"…Also," Yamato's brow furrowed with confusion, "Why is there a Marine among the second wave?"
Carl nodded. "The abilities they're relying on are ultimately meaningless in this situation."
Dozens of presences surged into his scope.
So the Marines and Donquixote family weren't working independently—they were colluding from within.
"Yes!" T. Penn acknowledged the order and turned with his Marines. They returned toward the modified battleship Oak Dragon docked near the coast.
"That's reckless!" Bepo blurted out, clearly worried. "You're too exposed out there alone!"
"Then let me find out exactly what game they're playing," Law muttered and disappeared into the mist.
Moments later, multiple new figures arrived—none of them friendly.
If someone in the Marines embodied "justice" in the rawest sense, it was T. Penn.
"Come on," Carl gestured to the group. "If you want to watch the real show, follow me." Then to T. Penn: "Take the squad back to the Oak Dragon. We might be here longer than expected."
"I got it," Law waved back, watching Bepo and the others retreat. He turned again toward the giant metal doors of Caesar's lab.
Carl was confident in his survival—he'd faced the likes of Katakuri and emerged alive.
Yamato wasn't blindly following. She simply knew Carl had the instinct to chase the fire.
"Huh—" Carl exhaled cigar smoke with a knowing smile. "See? Told you there'd be action worth watching."
After they descended, Kin'emon, now in his Edo-style samurai armor, arrived too. "This is where they brought the young master, I'm sure of it!"
His Fuku Fuku no Mi powers allowed him to disguise allies using leaves and stones.
Yamato looked down from the ridge, concerned. "What's going on down there?"
The figure standing guard didn't wear the white Marine coat, but the inner uniform unmistakably marked him as a Marine officer.
Yamato folded her arms. "So much for a rescue op. Looks like it's time to regroup."
"Is that the monster…?" Pica's voice echoed over the transponder snail, grating and deep. "Then we need to accelerate our plans."
Dispatching a Vice Admiral this early wasn't just surveillance—it was provocation.
Law's crew regrouped near the treeline.
It felt like another World Military Draft was being rolled out.
Marine Vice Admiral. G-5 Base Commander. Vergo.
Bang!
"Really?" Yamato's gaze sharpened. "Who is it?"
"It's your Marine intelligence again," a distorted, towering figure said mockingly. His size didn't match the eerie, high-pitched voice.
A man dressed in samurai robes wept on the sand. "Young Master! I failed you… because of my incompetence!"
Yamato nodded. "They're not a unified group. I saw agents from different factions enter that facility."
"Don't let that idiot ruin things!" Pica's voice cut in sharply. "We must seize that brat!"
Carl narrowed his eyes. "Looks like Doflamingo's inner circle planted a spy inside the Marines."
He stepped forward toward the underground lab entrance.
Carl and Yamato took the slope directly.
Step…
Doflamingo had ordered his top officers to monitor this mysterious Marine—Solomon Carl—closely.
Carl's presence made everyone nervous, even in Dressrosa.
Inside his ROOM, Law's spatial field expanded outward in a dome of translucent blue.
"No," Law said coldly, "I saw them take another child. We need to figure out their plan—now!"
Carl's face flickered in Law's memory. He was powerful and clearly knew more than he let on.
Bepo hesitated. Law was right. Their interference might jeopardize the mission.
Kin'emon had smuggled Momonosuke here during their frantic escape from Wano.
"ROOM!"
"Well, we'll talk later," Carl said. In a burst of speed, he rejoined Yamato on the cliffside.
Beneath the current research complex, what Carl found aligned with his suspicions.
Solomon Carl—he was more than he seemed.
"Hurry!" Vergo barked into his Den Den Mushi. "If that kid Rhona refused Carl's help, he might already be dead!"
"No!" Kin'emon rose shakily from the ground, jaw clenched. "Young Master… next time, I'll save you myself!"
They moved together, heading for the underbelly of Punk Hazard.
"Boy Rhona… this is the place?" Vergo adjusted his shades, scanning the area.
The entire island reeked of danger.
Carl's sharp eyes had spotted the modified centaurs—human-animal hybrids wandering the area.
They had been present even before Law arrived.
Carl, now alone, having parted with Terra Man, landed softly on the snow.
He slipped through the wreckage and descended toward the core of Caesar's lab.
After T. Penn had pulled out, Carl brought Yamato along to scout the facility.
And among the Donquixote elites?
There stood Pica—"Spade" of the family's top three officers. Towering. Silent. Deadly.
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