"First item—Paramecia: Taste-Taste Fruit!"
The auctioneer lifted a strange, swirled fruit high above his head.
"Upon eating, your sense of smell becomes hyper-sensitive—you can detect the subtlest aromas! Starting price: 50 million Berries!"
The hall buzzed.
"That sounds useless."
"Who needs better smell?"
"A dud fruit if I've ever seen one."
Minutes ticked by; no paddles rose. Even the host began to sweat—Devil Fruits were supposed to be legendary treasures, not leftovers.
"50 million Berries," Ellie called, calm and clear from Box 1.
A sigh of relief swept the stage.
"No further bids? …Sold to our esteemed guests in Box 1!"
"Next—Paramecia: Pouch-Pouch Fruit!
Users can transform their bodies into a storage space of roughly one hundred cubic meters. Starting at 50 million Berries!"
"Fifty!"
"Sixty!"
"Eighty!"
Merchants began battling—the ability to move cargo safely was priceless.
"100 million!"
"150 million!"
"155 million once, twice—"
"200 million Berries!" Ellie raised her paddle again.
Silence fell.
"Two hundred million from Box 1! Going once… twice… sold!"
Cheers rippled through the crowd, though most knew competing was hopeless. When Box 1 joined a bid, victory was already decided.
The final fruits came up one after another.
Karl secured them both—150 million Berries for the Worm-Worm Fruit, and 300 million Berries for the Insect-Insect: Giant Bee Model.
By the time the gavel dropped, Swift Wind Courier owned all four.
Ignoring the Gino family's lavish banquet invitation, Karl paid and left with quiet efficiency. Back at their hotel, he sent Aderian to dig up one particular lead.
"Find out where Germa 66's fleet is sailing. We'll visit Vinsmoke Judge next."
Planning Ahead
"Who's eating the bee fruit?" Ellie asked later. "Karine's the only one without a fruit, but it doesn't suit her."
"No rush." Karl leaned back. "We'll find someone trustworthy later. Right now—where do we build Swift Wind Courier's headquarters? Sky Island or Tiger Roar Island?"
"Tiger Roar," Ellie said. "Sky Island's too high—hard for customers."
"Agreed. Tiger Roar it is."
At dawn, the Tiger God slipped out of Nodis Harbor, prow pointed toward Germa's moving kingdom.
The Kingdom of Science
Two days later, the sea boiled with motion: titanic snail-fortresses crawling across the waves—Germa 66.
A sharp voice barked over speakers:
"This is the Germa Kingdom! Foreign vessels are prohibited!"
Karl ignored it and landed with his crew.
Ranks of identical soldiers raised rifles.
"Stand down or we open fire!"
Karl's eyes narrowed. His Conqueror's Haki rippled outward—every soldier collapsed like puppets with cut strings.
Moments later, Vinsmoke Judge himself strode out, flanked by his emotionless children.
"Blooded Swordmaster Karl," he said warily. "To what do we owe the visit?"
"Your research on Lineage Factors—how far along?" Karl asked.
Judge gestured proudly at the fallen troops. "You're looking at it. My clone army—living proof of success!"
Karl shrugged. "Numbers mean nothing to real power. I'm here for something else.
Can you make an object eat a Devil Fruit? For example, this bracelet."
Judge blinked, then considered. "Possible… given time. About seven days. Is that why you're here?"
"And one more thing. I need battle suits—fifty total. Basic flight and defense only, no extra traits."
"Fifty? Without augmentations, they're weak. You sure?"
"Quite. It's for logistics, not war. You'll be paid properly."
Judge's smile grew. "Deal. Seven days for both projects. You can stay on Germa meanwhile."
"No need—we'll return in a week." Karl produced the Pouch-Pouch Fruit.
"This one's yours to work with. Feed it to this bracelet—make it a spatial armlet."
Judge's eyes gleamed. "A fascinating concept! Consider it done."
Back aboard, Bansen finally asked, "Captain, why fifty suits? We don't even have that many people."
Karl smiled. "We will. Every island hub of Swift Wind Courier will have its own manager. Each suit ensures they can protect themselves.
We'll start with the Grand Line's first half—the Paradise route. Once stable, we'll expand to the Four Seas."
Ellie added, "Then we'll need a central hub. What about Jaya Island? It's perfectly placed—right in Paradise. Could serve as a transfer base."
Karl nodded. "Good thinking. Once we clear out the pirates, it's ours.
Enel, you'll guard Jaya."
"Yehahahaha! This god doesn't do management."
"You don't need to manage. Just fry anyone who causes trouble."
"That I can do."
"Captain," Bansen called from the helm, "pirates ahead—they're attacking a merchant ship. Shall we intervene?"
Karl stood, eyes narrowing toward the smoke on the horizon.
"Course set," he said, hand falling to his sword.
Inside that doomed merchant ship, a noblewoman stirred awake, confusion clouding her eyes—unaware that her fate was about to change forever.
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