Five days slipped by on calm seas as the Tiger God's crew steered toward Germa 66.
"Pff—hahaha… I'm sorry, Karl, I really can't hold it in. Blood Sword Hero? Who came up with that? It's so… chuuni!" Daphne doubled over, laughing until she had to hold the rail.
Karl deadpanned. "The Marines. Who else? 'Blood Sword Hero' screams 'mass-murdering maniac.' Who wouldn't be scared the moment they hear it?"
"Fair," Daphne conceded, wiping a tear. "That is very Marine-coded."
"What's chuuni?" Adrian blinked. "And I think it sounds cool. Blood Sword Hero. Very imposing."
Benson and Jerry nodded, utterly sincere.
Daphne stared. "…You guys really mean that?"
Three solemn nods.
"…Fine. It's… imposing." She sighed at their taste.
Karl turned to Eli. "By the way—did you bring the physique tonics? Daphne needs a batch. She's too frail right now; even a good Devil Fruit won't shine without a body to carry it."
Eli's eyes lit. "Right! Daphne, with me. I've got a safe, no-side-effects regimen. Build your base first and your training won't kill you."
Daphne grabbed Eli's hand like a lifeline. "Sold. Weakest on board reporting in—upgrade me!"
Benson glanced at Karl. "Captain, decided who eats the Bee yet?"
"Not yet," Karl said. "If we don't find a trustworthy candidate out here, we'll pick one from Tiger Roar Island. Loyalty matters more than talent for the Bee—whoever takes it will command the hive."
"Then homefolk it is," Benson agreed.
Karl's gaze drifted to An on the foredeck, blade flashing through precise arcs. If they were truly building something, they'd need more than a handful of elites. Twenty guards from Tiger Roar Island wouldn't be enough. But he couldn't strip the island bare; it needed a spine.
"Captain? What's got you frowning?" Jerry asked.
"Manpower," Karl said. "We can only bring twenty off the island this run. Jaya will need a garrison, too. We can't have Enel solving every street brawl. It cheapens him."
His eyes narrowed. Then—click.
"The Shandians."
Benson looked up. "Sky warriors?"
"Exactly. Strong bodies, and Skypiea's impact dials hit like cannons. They're no pushovers—and Jaya is their homeland. Ask them to come home to guard it? They'll say yes."
Eli and Daphne emerged just in time to hear the plan.
"That's elegant," Daphne said. "Solves the guard deficit and roots Jaya's defense in people who actually belong there. Loyalty follows land."
"Landfall on Germa in sight," Benson called. Ahead, a procession of colossal snails rolled over the horizon.
They docked. Rows of clone soldiers snapped to attention—then stiffened when they recognized the man who had vaporized a Celestial Dragon.
"Lord Karl, welcome back to the Kingdom of Germa," Judge said, posture uncharacteristically respectful.
"Cut the ceremony," Karl waved. "Did you finish what I asked?"
Judge gestured. "Reiju."
Pink-haired Reiju stepped forward, graceful and poised. "Good day, Lord Karl. Eighty combat suits as requested—and your storage bracelet."
Karl blinked. "Eighty? I ordered fifty."
Judge's expression pinched, then smoothed. "Consider the thirty a gift… for my previous rudeness."
Karl squinted. "Am I that terrifying? …Whatever. I'll take them. Adrian, pay the man."
Two metal cases hit Judge's hands. He hesitated; Karl arched a brow. Judge bowed and accepted. "Much appreciated. If you require further… engineering, Germa stands ready."
"Maybe," Karl said, sliding the bracelet on. Space hummed—a hundred cubic meters, compressed into a gleaming loop. Perfect.
He nodded to Reiju. "Pleasure, Princess."
She smiled knowingly. "May your path be smooth, Lord Karl."
Back aboard, the crew stowed the suits and supplies.
Karl exhaled, looking over the deck, the sea, his people. "Objective complete. Set course—back to Paradise."
This run had paid out: an ally in a foreign land, four Devil Fruits, a long-coveted storage tool, eighty portable armors—and a plan for an air-borne courier legion.
The Tiger God's flag turned, carving a silver wake toward the first half of the Grand Line.
And somewhere beyond the horizon, an island of dark forests and buried bells waited to be claimed.
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