The one-eyed pirate immediately grabbed the collar around his neck and pulled with all his might.
Veins bulged across his forehead as he strained so hard it looked like he was using every ounce of strength he possessed.
The effort was completely futile.
After all, the collar was made of solid iron.
“Good.
Looks like the quality is acceptable.”
Karl stopped him and inserted a key made from the leftover metal into the lock.
With a simple twist, the collar clicked open.
Next, Karl walked over to several large barrels filled with black gunpowder.
Scooping up a handful, he melted the collar he had just made and encased the gunpowder within the liquid metal.
Before long, a Version 2.0 collar appeared in his hand.
Without hesitation, he tossed it into the sea.
Then he activated his ability.
Boom!
A muffled explosion erupted beneath the surface, sending a column of water shooting into the air.
“Tsk.
Looks like I didn’t use enough gunpowder.”
After several more tests, Karl finally produced the Explosive Collar Version 5.0.
Compared to the first version, it not only possessed explosive capabilities but also looked considerably more refined.
Just look at the pirates receiving them.
Every single one wore a smile of pure “joy” on their faces.
Naturally, the little cat burglar was no exception.
“Alright, everyone saw that demonstration.”
Karl clasped his hands behind his back.
“The collar around your necks is completely under my control.”
“With a single snap of my fingers…”
He snapped dramatically.
“Boom.”
“Your heads become fireworks.”
The pirates collectively swallowed.
“But don’t be afraid.”
Karl smiled warmly.
“This is merely a small precaution.”
“After all, you’re pirates.
If, by some chance—and I do mean some chance—any of you start having dangerous thoughts…”
“I’m just a weak, harmless man.”
“I need a little insurance.”
“Wouldn’t you agree?”
Bullshit!
The pirates screamed internally.
If you’re a weak man, then we don’t even qualify as weaklings!
“Let me remind you of one thing.”
Karl tapped one of the collars.
“These collars were created entirely through my Devil Fruit ability.”
“That means I’m the only person in the world who can remove them.”
“So don’t waste your time trying to take them off.”
“And don’t even think about running away.”
“My ability has a very large range.”
Looking at the fear on their faces, Karl nodded in satisfaction.
Most of what he had just said was nonsense anyway.
Thirty percent truth.
Seventy percent bluffing.
The collars could indeed explode.
However, Karl hadn’t developed his Machine-Machine Fruit far enough to remotely control machinery over long distances.
Those test explosions earlier?
They were nothing more than simple timed mechanisms hidden inside the collars.
The whole performance was essentially one giant bluff.
The reason he had gone to such lengths was simple.
Karl had realized a very serious problem.
This ship was too large.
He, Luffy, and Koby couldn’t properly operate it by themselves.
More importantly, neither he nor Luffy knew the first thing about sailing. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
The best they could do was cheer Koby on from the sidelines.
That was why Karl had set his sights on the captured pirates.
Not only would they solve the manpower issue, but this was also a chance to test some ideas regarding how he intended to handle pirates in the future.
If only he had more materials.
With enough time, he might even be able to create some sort of remote-control device.
“You don’t need to worry.”
Karl’s tone softened.
“What I said before still stands.”
“As long as you work hard aboard this ship, I won’t make things difficult for you.”
“When we arrive at a Marine base, I’ll remove the collars myself.”
“Understood?”
“Understood…”
“What was that?”
Karl suddenly strode to the front row and stopped directly in front of the girl who had tried to steal his treasure.
He leaned in until their faces were only inches apart.
“Speak louder.
I didn’t hear you.”
“UNDERSTOOD!”
The thief shouted with red eyes, looking both furious and wronged.
Seeing her expression, Karl finally felt a tiny bit guilty.
He decided not to push her any further.
“Good.
Very energetic.”
“Now for your second task.”
“Each of you will take three sheets of paper and a pen.”
“Then start writing.”
“The first sheet: list all the bad things your captain Alvida has done over the years.”
“The more detailed, the better.”
“The best reports get extra food tonight.”
“The second sheet: report your fellow pirates.”
Karl pointed at the crowd.
“That means everyone standing here.”
“Murder, arson, robbery, kidnapping—write down whatever crimes they’ve committed and when they committed them.”
“The better your report, the lighter your future workload will be.”
“The third sheet: write a self-reflection.”
“List every crime you’ve committed over the years.”
“Don’t think you can hide anything just because I don’t know about it.”
“If your confession doesn’t match what other people report about you…”
Karl smiled.
“Then prepare to spend the rest of your life working in a coal mine.”
“Oh, right.”
“I don’t care enough to memorize all your names.”
“So from now on, you’re getting numbers.”
“Take some paint and write your assigned number on your clothes.”
Karl pointed at the female thief.
“You’re Number One.”
Then he pointed at a nearby bucket of paint.
“You’ll be the one painting everyone else’s numbers.”
“I know you’re not one of Alvida’s crew.”
“So you don’t have to write anything.”
“Your job is to supervise them and make sure nobody discusses their answers.”
“Any questions?”
“R-Report!”
Under Karl’s gaze, a skinny pirate suddenly shouted.
“What is it?”
“Report, Karl!”
The pirate looked nervous.
“I can’t write!”
Karl froze.
He had completely overlooked that.
“Anyone else unable to write?”
“Report!
Me too!”
“Report!”
“Report!”
“Report!”
Voices erupted across the deck.
Karl immediately developed a headache.
He had been feeling pretty proud of his brilliant plan just moments ago.
Who could have guessed he’d run straight into a nightmare-level obstacle at the very first step?
“Enough, enough!”
Karl rubbed his forehead.
“Everyone who can write, step forward!”
The result once again reminded him just how harsh this world could be.
Dozens of pirates stood before him.
Only one person stepped forward.
One.
And it was the thief.
“You can write?”
“I can!”
The girl puffed out her chest proudly.
“Good.
Number One—”
Karl stopped himself.
Since she was apparently a literate intellectual, his attitude softened slightly.
“Actually, what’s your name?”
“Nami!
My name is Nami!”
Nami.
Karl’s eyes lit up instantly.
So it really was her.
The future navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates.
The famous Cat Burglar Nami.
“Okay, Nami.”
Karl nodded.
“All those tasks I mentioned are now your responsibility.”
“You’ll assign everyone’s numbers.”
“When they talk, you’ll write.”
“Record everything I asked for.”
“Any problems?”
Nami was about to say no.
Then she looked at the massive crowd of pirates surrounding her.
Her throat bobbed.
“…By myself?”
“Who else?”
“I can’t do all that alone!”
“You can, and you will.”
Karl instantly transformed into an evil capitalist.
“If there’s a problem, overcome it.”
“Tonight you’ll get two extra chicken drumsticks—”
He paused.
“No, make that five.”
“And I’ll personally approve a bed for you instead of sleeping on the floor.”
“Sound fair?”
Karl gave her a firm pat on the shoulder.
“I believe in you, Nami!”
Then, after offering an encouraging look, he happily went below deck to find his long-missing captain.
Leaving Nami standing alone on the deck.
Frozen in the sea breeze.