Chapter 6: The Width of the Road
Zephyr acted decisively, immediately grabbing Karl and dragging him towards the Fleet Admiral's office. Karl was completely bewildered, and Kizaru, who was just watching the show, was even more bewildered.
Kizaru: What's going on?
"Teacher Zephyr???"
Zephyr glanced back at Kizaru, his eyes filled with disdain. He thought to himself that he must make Karl stay far away from this guy in the future.
If he was led astray by this bastard Kizaru, it would be a tremendous loss for the Marines.
"Karl, show Admiral Kizaru your ability. He should understand!"
"Sigh~"
Life isn't easy, Karl sighed. He had no choice but to condense the Holy Light again and shoot it towards Kizaru.
Three seconds later, Kizaru's expression changed. His perpetually puckered lips gaped open in surprise, forming an 'O' shape. He pointed at Karl for a long time, unable to utter a complete sentence!
As someone who had reached the rank of Admiral, Kizaru couldn't possibly fail to understand just how suitable Karl's ability was for the Marines! After being enhanced by Karl, his physique had only strengthened by less than 2%, but he was an Admiral!
A rookie who just gained his ability could strengthen his physique by 2%. Once Karl fully developed his power, wouldn't that be off the charts!
"I happen to be on my way to report to Sengoku as well. Let's go together!"
"Hmph, at least you have some sense!"
Just like that, under the escort of a Marine Admiral and the Marine General Instructor, Karl left the training ground, leaving behind a group of new recruits with their jaws on the floor.
Shuzo, who was responsible for training the new recruits, scratched his head, having no idea what had just happened.
"What are you looking at! It's none of your business! Get back to training for me, now!"
Five minutes later, in the Fleet Admiral's office.
"Bang bang bang!"
After three perfunctory knocks, Zephyr barged directly into the Fleet Admiral's office with Karl, shouting excitedly at Sengoku: "Sengoku, look what this old man has found!"
Sengoku, who had been about to say "Come in," glanced painfully at the door on the floor. He quickly focused his gaze on the boy Zephyr was leading, frowning as he asked, "Zephyr! Who is this kid?"
"Sengoku! This kid is a new recruit from the marine training camp. Forget it, I can't be bothered to waste words on you! Come on, Karl, show Fleet Admiral Sengoku your ability. He'll understand!"
Come on, show him!
Karl straightened his body, neither servile nor overbearing, and said to Fleet Admiral Sengoku: "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, my ability has healing and enhancement effects. It will not cause you any harm, so you don't need to be overly nervous."
He said this because he had almost been vaporized by Kizaru earlier. Karl had to be extra cautious to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.
A sharp glint flashed in Sengoku's eyes. He glanced discreetly at Zephyr, apparently understanding why this old fellow had burst in so frantically!
Sengoku's expression immediately softened. He chuckled, "Hahahaha~ A little interesting. Go ahead! This old man isn't that fragile!"
With those words, I am relieved!
Karl wasted no more time. After condensing the Holy Light in his palm, he pushed it directly towards Fleet Admiral Sengoku. The Holy Light instantly merged into Sengoku's body and began to work.
"This... this power!"
Sengoku slowly closed his eyes, feeling the vitality surging within him. He couldn't help but let out a soft "Ah."
He then immediately threw a punch towards the window. The immense power shattered the glass instantly. Only then did Sengoku open his eyes. He walked excitedly over to Karl and gripped his shoulders.
"You, what is your name!"
"Karl, a Captain from the North Blue's 108th Branch. I have been in the Marines for ten years!"
"Good, good, good! Excellent! Wait... how old were you when you joined the Marines?"
Sengoku looked at Karl in confusion. He looked to be in his early teens at most. Subtract ten years from that... even if the Marines were desperate, they wouldn't recruit a child, would they?
At this, Zephyr gave an awkward cough. "Ah, Sengoku, he's actually 24. He looks like this because he was affected by that young girl Ain's ability."
"Oh! So that's how it is!"
He had seen Ain's file as well. The Return-Return Fruit user, also a very hax-like ability. But she was a far cry from Karl, who possessed healing *and* enhancement. No matter how strong Ain became, she would only be one high-level fighter. Karl, however, was different.
Once he developed his powers, he might be able to turn high-level fighters into top-tier fighters. That was Karl's value!
Especially in recent years, the Marines' talent pool had been dwindling. Ever since Smoker and Hina, there hadn't been any impressive new-generation marines.
The pirates, however, were producing talent after talent. The most troublesome of all was the former crewmate of the Pirate King, "Red-Haired" Shanks, who gave him no end of headaches.
"Karl, you are still a member of the marine training camp, correct?"
"Yes, I just arrived at Marine Headquarters today."
Sengoku nodded silently. He stood up and said to Zephyr, "Zephyr, I'm entrusting Karl to you. You must ensure he develops his potential, and you must guarantee his personal safety!"
"Hmph! As if you needed to tell me! Just give this old man some time, and I will absolutely train him into a leading figure of the new generation of Marines!"
Zephyr was full of confidence when he said this, because he had the ability to do so.
His students were spread throughout every part of the Marines. The Marines' greatest fighting force, the Three Admirals, were once recruits in his training camp, to say nothing of other pillars of the Marines like Momonga and Onigumo.
"I'm relieved to hear you say that! Zephyr, you can take Karl back to the training grounds for now."
Then Sengoku whispered in Zephyr's ear, "Don't publicize his ability for now, to avoid causing trouble. We'll discuss everything after the training camp is over. At that time, I will have my own arrangements for his position."
Zephyr grinned and nodded. The whole reason he had frantically dragged Karl to see Sengoku was to show him Karl's value, to prevent him from being wasted away at a branch office, unable to contribute his light and heat to the Marines!
"Karl, come with me!"
After bidding farewell to Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Kizaru, Karl followed Zephyr out of the Fleet Admiral's office. It was only after returning to the training ground that Karl finally processed everything. This... does this mean he's on the fast track to success?
Before coming to Marine Headquarters, the highest-ranking person he had ever met was just his direct superior, Commodore Charles.
And on his very first day at Marine Headquarters, he had met a former Marine Admiral, a current Marine Admiral, and the big boss of the Marines, Sengoku.
This path... it's getting wider and wider!
Wait. Karl recalled what Zephyr had said in the Fleet Admiral's office and sucked in a cold breath. Based on Zephyr's words, he was going to be personally supervised? How could he slack off then?
Luckily, Karl had completed the time-limited mission and obtained [Frail]. Slacking off would be a piece of cake. He refused to believe Zephyr could drag him out of a sickbed for extra training!
"Karl, you're a smart man, and you have great potential. But you must understand that a Devil Fruit is only a means to an end. You must never become dependent on it. A powerful physique is the true foundation of strength!"
"So, you absolutely must stay far away from that bastard Kizaru. Don't you ever be led astray by his twisted words! Understand?"