Super Card System

Chapter 599: Crossroads of Fate

“Hmm!?” Ian’s interest was immediately piqued upon hearing Drake’s words.

He asked eagerly, “Are you serious? You really served in the Navy’s Scientific Division and even reached the rank of Rear Admiral?”

Ian had met many Navy personnel from various branches, but the Navy’s Scientific Division was unique. The only person he had encountered from that division was Sentomaru. Although the Navy’s Scientific Division was nominally under the jurisdiction of Navy Headquarters, Ian rarely saw its members there. He understood that the Scientific Division was a highly secretive force, possibly even independent of the Navy Headquarters. The true control of the Scientific Division likely lay with the World Government, rather than being a subordinate unit of the Navy.

Ian’s knowledge of the Navy’s Scientific Division was limited to the Pacifista program. During the battle at New Edd War, the three Pacifistas under Ian’s command were damaged in the fighting. He had only three, but the Navy had eight, not to mention the original Bartholomew Kuma. If Ian’s three Pacifistas had come through unscathed, it would have been surprising.

Since returning, Varua had been trying to repair the three Pacifistas, but the work was still incomplete.

Hearing the term “Navy Scientific Division” again from Drake’s mouth naturally sparked Ian’s interest.

“Yes, that’s right! I was indeed a Rear Admiral in the Navy’s Scientific Division!” Drake nodded in confirmation. “Although the rank of Rear Admiral didn’t come with much authority, it still took me over a decade of meticulous effort to climb to that position.”

“Explain in detail, what’s this all about?” Ian didn’t hold back, grabbing a bottle of liquor from the table, pouring himself a drink, and waiting for Drake to speak.

Drake pondered for a moment, organizing his thoughts before he began. “In fact, the reason I joined the Navy stems from my father. My father, Diez Barrels, was once a senior officer in the Navy…”

He sat down on the sofa opposite Ian, leaning forward with his hands resting on his knees, a hint of reminiscence in his expression. “When I was young, I always admired my father. I thought of him as my idol. I dreamed that when I grew up, I could become a Navy officer just like him… But about fourteen years ago, everything changed suddenly.”

“I still remember that day vividly. I was home alone when my father suddenly stumbled in. He was supposed to be on duty, but he burst through the door in a panic. Without a word, he grabbed me and took me away from our home!” Drake recalled with a grim expression. “Once we left the Navy Headquarters, he put me on a small boat, and we fled from Marineford!”

“I didn’t know what had happened at the time. I only knew that my father took me away in a hurry…” Drake continued. “He never explained anything to me, just took me far from the Navy Headquarters and we became pirates.”

“He gathered a group of men and began a life of robbery and murder… I hated this life, but what I hated more was his abnormal behavior towards me! From that day on, he often drank excessively, and every time he got drunk, he would beat me to vent his frustrations…”

Ian listened silently without interrupting.

“I didn’t understand what had happened to make him like this. Before, he was a gentle person, but after defecting, he became greedy, violent, and indistinguishable from a true pirate!” Drake said through gritted teeth, his head lowered. “I was eighteen at the time, so I remember these events clearly. My admiration for him gradually turned into hatred. I wanted to escape his control, but he watched over me very closely, so I never had a chance.”

“Then, a year later, an opportunity presented itself!” Drake continued. “By chance, my father and his men discovered a Devil Fruit while robbing a village. It was a heart-shaped Devil Fruit, very peculiar. My father didn’t know what kind of ability it possessed and was planning to give it to one of his trusted men.”

“But before he could do so, a mysterious figure showed up!” Drake recalled. “It was a guy wearing a mask. At the time, I didn’t know who he was, but now thinking back, he must have been someone from CP0. Only they would act so secretively, always hiding their faces behind masks… I don’t know how they got the news so quickly, but when he approached my father, he expressed the Navy’s interest in buying the Devil Fruit.”

“My father was furious, but the CP0 agent offered a price he couldn’t refuse—five billion Beli!” Drake said with a tone of mockery. “My father was shocked. I could tell he hated dealing with the Navy, but the huge amount of money overwhelmed his reasoning, and he agreed to the deal.”

Hearing this, Ian understood. This Devil Fruit was the Ope Ope no Mi. This was the infamous Devil Fruit transaction incident from years ago! A moment when Drake’s and Law’s destinies intersected…

“My father initially thought he could gain immense wealth from this deal, but things didn’t go as he expected! Before the transaction could take place, someone attacked their base. Then, the Donquixote Pirates appeared. My father was killed by them, and the Devil Fruit was stolen!”

Ian shook his head silently. The Devil Fruit wasn’t stolen by Doflamingo but by Rosinante, who gave it to Law to eat. Doflamingo was clearly being framed.

Drake continued, “The Donquixote Pirates defeated my father’s crew and pillaged the island. However, for some reason, the Navy suddenly appeared at that moment. Maybe Vice Admiral Tsuru, who had been chasing Doflamingo, discovered their actions. In any case, the Navy’s sudden appearance saved me. Doflamingo had used sharp strings to seal off the entire island, and I happened to be outside the blockade and escaped. I ran to the coast and sought help from the Navy.”

It wasn’t Vice Admiral Tsuru who had been chasing Doflamingo; the entire incident was a trap. The Navy had used Doflamingo’s desire to seize the Ope Ope no Mi to ambush and capture the Donquixote Pirates. But Ian didn’t intend to explain this to Drake. Rosinante’s undercover identity was known only to Law and Sengoku. These were secrets Ian couldn’t reveal, as doing so would arouse Drake’s suspicions.

“The Navy took me off the island, and I finally escaped from my father!” Drake said, somewhat forlornly. “The Navy didn’t know my identity. They thought I was just a survivor from the village on the island. To avoid arousing suspicion, I didn’t dare to reveal my last name, Barrels, fearing they’d connect me to my father. I changed my name and claimed to be Drake, successfully joining the Navy.”

“I later heard that everyone on the island was killed by Doflamingo’s men, so no one knew my real identity. I stayed in the Navy under the name Drake,” Drake said. “At first, I was happy. I felt lucky to have not only escaped my father but also joined the Navy, my dream. But as time passed and I calmed down, I gradually began to question why my father had defected and become a pirate in the first place.”

“I quietly started investigating my father’s records. My rare Zoan-type Devil Fruit ability drew the attention of the higher-ups, accelerating my career advancement. As my rank increased, I began to uncover some clues,” Drake took a deep breath. “Then I was shocked to discover that my father had been part of the Naval Science Unit!”

Ian was surprised and asked, “So you tried to join the Naval Science Unit?”

“Yes!” Drake nodded. “Many of my father’s records were destroyed, as if he never existed, but I found some clues. To understand why my father defected, I aimed to transfer to the Naval Science Unit.”

“Coincidentally, the Naval Science Unit was interested in my Ancient Zoan Fruit ability. Shortly after I was promoted to Rear Admiral, they sent a transfer request, asking me to cooperate in some research,” Drake gave a bitter smile. “At the time, I felt lucky, like my wish had come true. But looking back, I wish I hadn’t been so lucky.”

“What did you see in the Naval Science Unit?” Ian asked, understanding that Drake was about to reveal a shocking truth.