One Piece: Starting as a Marine Lieutenant, I Slack Off and Get Stronger

"You're Karl?" The old man in the black suit asked.

Carl nodded: "Yes."

"You did a great job this time. You not only saved the World Government's face in time, but also saved several world nobles. We will remember your contributions."

Karl smiled politely and said, "It was just a small thing, nothing to mention."

The bald, Taoist-robed old man gently adjusted his glasses: "You should know why we called you here this time, right?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but Marshal Sengoku said it seems to be about the Hero Medal."

"That's right, that's the matter. The navy has a history of several hundred years, but there has only been one naval hero to date. Do you think you deserve the hero's medal?"

The speaker was a relatively young-looking blond man. Karl turned to look at him and said calmly, "If there is to be a next naval hero, why can't it be me?"

"Having guarded G-10 base for three years, I have fought against all four Emperors of the Sea. Although I couldn't send them to Impel Down, none of them gained the upper hand against me."

"Enel, the vicious criminal who destroyed Mary Geoise, was someone even Admiral Kizaru couldn't catch up with, but I was able to take him down and kill him at an unprecedented speed, restoring face to the World Government."

"Who else but me could be the next naval hero?"

The bald old man snorted coldly: "Such arrogance."

"No, you're overthinking it. I'm just stating the facts."

The five elders exchanged glances and a few words, then the white-haired old man at the head nodded and spoke to Karl in a superior manner.

“You are very confident, which is a good thing. In my opinion, the next naval hero could be you, or it could be someone else.”

"However, I have higher hopes for you, but if you want to become a naval hero, you must prove your loyalty to the Navy and the World Government."

"Therefore, you must complete a difficult task before we dare to award you the Medal of Honor."

"Of course, you don't have to accept it, and we won't blame you..."

Karl grinned, a hint of mockery in his smile: "What task? Just tell me."

"We are very sorry that the Kingdom of Ort in the West Blue announced its withdrawal from the World Government after the attack on Mary Geoise."

"But after an investigation by the CP department, it was found that there were other hidden reasons behind their withdrawal from the member states."

Karl raised an eyebrow: "Is the Revolutionary Army behind this?"

The curly-haired old man who was speaking was taken aback. "Damn, you've even learned to answer first. Not bad at all!"

"That's right, it's the Revolutionary Army that's behind this. We have reasonable grounds to suspect that the entire Kingdom of Ort has become a base for the Revolutionary Army. So, your mission is to go to the West Sea."

"Destroy the Kingdom of Olt and nip all potential revolutionaries in the bud."

Carl replied without changing his expression, "No problem."

The old men glanced at Karl in surprise; this guy was a bit different from what they had imagined!

I thought it would be someone like Aokiji or Garp, but I didn't expect this guy to look exactly like Akainu.

What does this mean? It means he is very easy to control and a good tool.

“Very good, Vice Admiral Karl, you have indeed stood the test of the Navy and the World Government.”

"Here's what we'll do! We'll give you half a month. After half a month, destroy the Kingdom of Ort, and we'll hold a grand award ceremony for you."

"Let the whole world witness the birth of the next naval hero!"

Karl nodded slightly: "Thank you, gentlemen. Time is of the essence, I must take my leave now."

After Karl left, the blond middle-aged man said, "This is a good prospect; he can be trained."

"If every navy officer were this obedient, that would be great."

Outside the building, Sengoku's eyes lit up when he saw Karl come out: "How's the situation?"

"They will only award me a medal if I go and destroy the Kingdom of Ort in the Western Sea."

"The Kingdom of Ort?" Sengoku's expression changed.

In the Kingdom of Orte, King Orte VIII is a renowned wise ruler who loves his people like his own children and has always enjoyed a good reputation. However, in recent years, the country's economy has not been doing well, and in order to pay the high amount of Heavenly Gold, the country has long been unable to make ends meet. This year's Heavenly Gold was barely raised by him through selling off royal palace property and selling goods at low prices.

Therefore, on the day the Mary Geoise attack was announced, King Ort VIII withdrew from the World Government, arguing that if the World Government couldn't even protect itself, how could it protect the member states? He hoped to allow the country to recuperate and return to normalcy.

"Why? What did they say?" Sengoku asked anxiously.

Karl completely exposed himself, and Sengoku immediately slapped his thigh: "These guys are clearly trying to give the other member states a hard time. What revolutionary army? Are you kidding me?"

“Karl, you can’t go. If you go, your reputation will plummet. Even if you become a naval hero, it will only be an empty title.”

Karl calmly replied, "Marshal Sengoku need not worry, I have a solution that satisfies both sides."

Chapter 173 Taking advantage of the situation

To be honest, even if Karl really destroyed the Kingdom of Ort, he wouldn't think much of it.

After all, there are many countries in the world, so what does it matter if one or two are destroyed? He's not some saint.

However, for the sake of his reputation, Karl decided to keep a low profile and pull off a covert operation.

It can not only perfectly complete the mission, but also leave those idiots, the Five Elders, speechless.

How to accomplish this? Naturally, by turning the tables on the plan.

The Five Elders said that the Revolutionary Army was behind the trouble in the Kingdom of Ort, so he might as well go find the Revolutionary Army. Whether it's true or not is no longer important.

"Bulu Bulu~"

“Moshi moshi~” came the unique tone of the ape on the phone.

"Grandpa, it's me. I have something I'd like to ask you about."

"Hmm~ You actually come to ask this old man? Alright, what do you want to know?"

Karl looked around and coughed lightly: "Um, do you have the contact information for the Shichibukai Kuma? I need to talk to him about something."

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before someone said, "No, but if you want to find Xiong Hua, just go to Punk Hazard. He's been being studied there recently."

"Being studied? Just like you?"

"You should have heard of Vegapunk's new project, the Pacifistas, but it's still in the early experimental stages."

Karl instantly understood that finding the ape was the right thing to do. The pacifists' research was inseparable from the bear and the ape, and the only people who knew the bear's whereabouts were probably the ape and Vegapunk.

"Punk Hazard, huh? Okay, I'll go check it out later. Bye!"

“Alright, I’m going to Punk Hazard soon anyway, I’ll wait for you there.”

An hour later, Punk Hazard.

Yuanzi raised his head, his forehead wrinkles showing: "You've finally arrived. This has been taking forever."

"Gah!"

Karl jumped off the raven's back and greeted the ape: "Long time no see, Admiral Kizaru."

"Oh, there! You are none other than Vice Admiral White Crow, renowned far and wide on the high seas!"

Carl shrugged helplessly. The ape was just habitually sarcastic; he should just ignore it.

“The last time you came here with me, you were my adjutant. Now, you’re a lieutenant general.”

"No, I mean, a candidate for general. Time really flies!"

Kizaru said with some emotion, "So many years have passed, and Karl is still as good as when we first met, but he has become slightly inferior."

"When did Admiral Kizaru become so sentimental?"

"As people get old..."

laboratory.

"Looks like you're in luck. Xiong happens to be here. Go find him if you need anything. By the way, what do you need him for?"

Karl smiled slightly: "Marshal Zhan Guo instructed me not to speak carelessly."

Yuanzi pursed his lips and didn't ask any more questions.

"Borsalino, you've come at the right time. I just happened to have a new idea, and it just so happens that you and the bear are both here... Oh, your name is Carl, right?"

Karl smiled and nodded: "Yes, Dr. Pythagoras, you have a very good memory."

The robot Pythagoras gave a human-like smile: "Of course. By the way, did you come here to see me?"

"No, I'm here to see Lord Bartholomew Bear. There are some things I'd like to confirm with him."

Pythagoras frowned his electronic eyebrows: "Alright, but hurry up, I have an experiment to do later, and both the bear and the juvenile are indispensable."

"Hey, Bear, Karl needs to see you. You can go out with him first. Borsalino, come with me for a second."

Pythagoras ordered the two men around at will; one was a Shichibukai and the other was the Navy's top combatant, but neither of them complained.

The ape pouted and said to Karl, "I'm leaving now. If you need anything, talk to this guy..."

"Sir Karl, what brings you here?"

The bear's voice contrasts sharply with his appearance; despite being called a tyrant, his voice is surprisingly gentle.

His physique was extremely robust, nearly 7 meters tall, which Karl could only look up at. However, Karl was already used to it; there weren't many people in the One Piece world that he could look down upon.

The bear is wearing a black coat with a crosshair pattern printed on the front.