The atmosphere on the Shark Emeralda was very strange.
The lower-level sailors and some agents could only obediently scrub the deck and clean the cabins.
Lucci, Kaku, Kalifa, and Naomi, who were originally enemies, now peacefully coexisted in the same room.
Of course, facing the former agents with their powerful presence, Naomi's confidence wasn't very strong.
The main reason was still that Karin wasn't here.
At this moment, Karin had already transformed into a giant bird, taking the Acier father and daughter to an unknown island.
This way, besides Karin herself, no one would know where they actually went.
At least their safety was guaranteed.
And the reason why these people still didn't run away even though Karin wasn't here was still related to the invisible chains on their necks.
Karin didn't offer any explanation about the chains, just let those people imagine for themselves.
Soon, someone proactively tested the method with their own body.
A minor agent tried to sneak off the ship in a lifeboat under the cover of night… not only that, he even scooped up a large handful of gold and silver artifacts from the cabin that had once belonged to Mad Treasure.
This greedy guy had lost all the supplies he carried in the previous shipwreck incident, but with these things, he could completely buy a small boat at the next island and sail back himself.
Right, and that father and daughter!
That father and daughter who know about Pure Gold!
The value of their information far surpasses that treasure.
But the moment he just stepped his foot onto the lifeboat, a golden light erupted from his neck.
When people were startled awake from their sleep, what they saw was the guards on night watch duty trying to rescue this unlucky guy.
They tried to break the chain tightening around his neck, but no matter what they did, they couldn't touch the chain.
It was like a phantom.
But it was this intangible chain that kept tightening around this fleeing unlucky guy's neck.
That night, Karin seemed intentionally late, only descending with flapping wings from mid-air after everyone had witnessed the unlucky guy's fate.
A shrinking halo slowly rotated behind her head.
"This is the first time, and also the last."
With her words, the continuously tightening invisible chain loosened again, completely disappearing.
But everyone understood that as long as Karin wished, their lives could be taken at any time.
They finally experienced the feelings of those slaves they had sent to Mary Geoise.
That unease of having one's life in another's hands.
And this new ability was named [Life Lock] by Karin.
Compared to the [Purifying Lock] used for combat, the function of [Life Lock] was concise and to the point.
It was just a more intelligent remote shackle.
As long as it didn't exceed a certain range, Karin could tighten the chain at any time to bind someone... or even kill them.
Of course, this was only if the other party wasn't strong enough.
For strong individuals like the Four Emperors, even if they carelessly got hit, they could use Conqueror's Haki to remove it, or defeat Karin before the chain tightened.
The tightening force of the chain wasn't particularly strong… it only posed a threat to ordinary people.
Even someone like Lucci, a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user, could struggle forcefully for a while despite the suffocation.
But he wouldn't do that.
Even if he broke free now, so what?
Once the chain was triggered, Karin would immediately sense it.
If he couldn't defeat Karin, being caught by her was also a dead end.
It was precisely because of this deterrent that these people, who were enemies just the day before, could now obediently work on the ship.
In the pilot house.
"Hello."
Compared to the two male colleagues who remained silent, Kalifa was the first to greet Naomi, this 'senior'.
"Um... you... hello."
Although unsure in her heart, Naomi still bravely put on an indifferent demeanor.
Simultaneously, she chanted inwardly.
'Captain Karin, come back quickly!'
'I'm no match for them alone.'
Even though she clearly knew these people wouldn't attack, Naomi still felt somewhat apprehensive.
Well, when not drinking, she was just like this.
But it has to be said, at this moment, Naomi already considered herself and Karin as 'part of the same group'.
'Captain Karin placed restrictions on each of them but didn't restrict me. Isn't the meaning clear?'
'She trusts me!'
'She is very at ease with me!'
'I will always revere you, Captain Karin!'
Perhaps it's like attracts like, but somehow the self-persuasion set was learned by Naomi.
After hearing Naomi's response, Kalifa thought for a moment, then asked her question.
"May I ask, where is our destination?"
"Captain hasn't told us before leaving."
Kalifa, worthy of having been Iceberg's secretary, spoke in a systematic, professional manner.
She adjusted her glasses, looking at the woman before her.
Naomi, subordinate of Mad Treasure, now seems to have pledged allegiance under Karin's banner.
They all had information on this person… not a very difficult character to deal with.
As for asking where to… they cared, but not particularly.
Where to go wasn't under their control anyway. In contrast, getting closer to Naomi, taking the chance to extract some information about Karin, was the real goal.
After a day of interaction, they were surprised to find that the woman named Karin seemed to have been maintaining her beast form all the time.
Wasn't this person tired?
Both Kaku and Lucci, fellow Zoan-type Devil Fruit users, knew that continuously maintaining Devil Fruit abilities consumed a lot of stamina too.
After all, they were spies, and this instinct was engraved in their bones.
Seeing Kalifa's official business demeanor, Naomi seemed to be intimidated too, subconsciously answering.
"Oh, Captain Karin said we're going to—"
"It looks like you're getting along quite well."
The suddenly appearing voice startled everyone. Naomi, interrupted, belatedly looked toward the windowsill, where a palm-sized golden bird was now perched.
It was none other than Karin.
"Oh, Captain, I was just asking where we are heading next."
Kalifa very naturally integrated herself into the 'we; circle.
Regarding this, Karin realized but didn't point it out.
"To the first half of the Grand Line... the Calm Belt. Anyway, you'll know when we get there."
Seemingly not very willing to mention anything about the Pirate Empress, Karin was somewhat evasive.
However, hearing her say this, Kalifa was slightly taken aback. After pondering for a moment, she slowly said.
"But, our current direction seems to be the opposite."
"...Huh?"
"Then which island is next?"
Facing the captain's inquiry, Kalifa unhurriedly took out a notebook, flipped to a page with a sea chart, compared for a moment, and said.
"Punk Hazard. It was originally an island used by the World Government to establish laboratories. It should be abandoned now, it's an uninhabited island."
Since she wanted to put on a show of defection, she had to do it seriously.
Kalifa said the World Government's confidential intelligence without any resistance… after all, no one would hold anyone responsible now.
...
On Punk Hazard.
This island, once turned into a 'dead island' due to experimental leaks, was now full of human voices.
"Quick! Move faster, hurry up!"
"Don't slack off!"
Under the surveillance of a group of people in protective suits, many ragged pirates, or abnormally large children, were moving various boxes.
Some of these boxes contained precision instruments, some contained strangely shaped fruits, and others contained bottles and jars.
Caesar Clown stood in the deepest part of the experimental base, observing the movements across the entire island through monitors.
His expression wasn't very good.
Before hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Orochimaru had said to 'leave everything to him'.
But several days had passed, and no new news had come.
He couldn't wait anymore. If there was still no news, he would choose to pack up everything on Punk Hazard and leave.
As for where to go... since he couldn't go to Kaido's place, he really couldn't think of anywhere else in the New World.
But if it were the North Blue, he had an old acquaintance there.
—Though he was very unwilling.
Gurgle.
Suddenly, bubbles emerged from a glass container over three meters tall behind Caesar. The faint sound immediately attracted his attention.
"Hmm?!"
He quickly floated to this culture tank and looked at the distorted flesh inside.
'Could it be...'
Under Caesar's gaze, that piece of white flesh wriggled rapidly, then an eye abruptly opened from within!