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

Cobra's breath hitched, as if he had thought of something, but he pretended not to know and said, "That's a pity, but what does that have to do with me?"

"Heh..." Karl chuckled softly. He'd already said all that, and Cobra was still pretending to be clueless. Speechless.

"Your Majesty Cobra, your full name is Neferutari Cobra. Do I need to tell you the history of the name Neferutari?"

Cobra frowned: "You know all this? No, the Navy couldn't possibly know. Did someone from the World Government tell you?"

"Your Majesty Cobra, you don't need to know how I know this. In short, the Nefertari family is one of the twenty families that created the World Government. You and your daughter are descendants of the Twenty Kings, right?"

Cobra did not respond, but Vivi, who was hiding in the corner, covered her mouth in shock. So their family had such a history. How come her father had never told her about it?

Judging from what Lieutenant General Karl said, could she also be one of the so-called...world nobles?

After a long while, Cobra let out a long sigh.

"Lieutenant General Karl, just say what you want to say! Don't beat around the bush with me."

Carl smiled and put the death list into his pocket, saying, "Since that's the case, I'll get straight to the point."

"The World Government wants you to consider moving to Mary Geoise and becoming a World Noble, but to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, they asked me to convey their message."

"I have no right to interfere with your thoughts. The choice is entirely in your hands. Whether you agree or not, just give me a reply."

Cobra glanced at Karl, then lowered his head in deep thought. But soon, Cobra raised his head and looked at Karl with a determined gaze.

"Then please have Lieutenant General Karl convey to the World Government that the Nefertari family's destiny is to protect Alabasta, so no matter what, I will not move to Mary Geoise and become a World Noble."

Karl nodded without changing his expression: "I understand. In that case, I will relay His Majesty Cobra's words to the World Government."

Karl then stood up, smiling, and said, "My mission is complete. In that case, I will not disturb His Majesty Cobra any longer. I also hope that His Majesty Cobra will quell the rebellion soon and bring peace to Alabasta."

Cobra quickly stood up: "Lieutenant General Karl has come all this way, please don't rush to leave, why don't you stay and enjoy the dinner together?"

"No, Your Majesty Kobra, my men are still waiting for me at the port of Tamarisk!"

After saying that, Karl walked outside. Vivi, who had been eavesdropping in the corner, immediately ran to the side, preparing to find a place to stop Nar.

Kobra sighed in the room, staring blankly at the ground, lost in thought.

As Karl stepped out of the palace, he saw a large rubber duck running towards him.

"Wait a minute, Mr. Carl!"

Karu slammed on the brakes and stopped right in front of Karl. Vivi, who was on the duck's back, jumped off with practiced ease.

“Mr. Karl, I am Vivi, the princess of Alabasta. I have important information to tell you!”

Karl bent down and stroked Vivi's soft, sky-blue hair: "You must be Princess Vivi! How adorable! What information do you have to tell me?"

The overwhelming hormones made Vivi's pretty face flush instantly. A naval hero, handsome, gentle-spoken, and seemingly with a good personality...

Vivi quickly shook her head, putting aside some strange thoughts, and said seriously, "It's about information about Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

"Oh? Crocodile? He's in Alabasta too?"

Vivi nodded vigorously: "Yes, he arrived very early. After he arrived, he became some kind of national hero. I have never believed in this man."

"Oh? Why?"

"Because he looks like a bad guy, and I suspect that he's behind all the trouble in Alabasta, maybe even the dancing fan incident was orchestrated by him!"

Karl chuckled softly: "Princess Vivi, it's not just you, I also think Crocodile has ulterior motives for staying in Alabasta, but everything requires evidence. Without evidence, I have no way to arrest Crocodile."

"Why? Just because he's one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"

"Yes and no. It's good that you care about the country, but you're still young. By the way, how old are you this year? 12? 14?"

Vivi said sweetly, "I'm 14 years old now, not a child anymore!"

"Hahaha, only little pirates would say that. Adults would just say 'I want them all,' cough cough. Anyway, your most important task right now is to grow up quickly and not worry King Cobra."

"Otherwise, no matter how much you say, no one will believe you."

Vivi pouted, immediately understanding the situation. She didn't know how many times she had told her father to be careful of Crocodile, but her father just wouldn't believe her, which made her anxious and angry, with nowhere to vent her frustration.

I never expected this naval hero to be so understanding. He understands me so well!

"Am I just supposed to wait around?"

Karl smiled slightly, cupped Vivi's face in his hands, and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with his thumb: "It seems that's true for now."

Vivi looked worried, then looked up at Karl with anticipation: "Mr. Karl, what about you? You're a naval hero, you can't just do nothing, can you?"

"A country without heroes is pathetic, but a country that needs heroes is even more pathetic..."

After saying this, Karl didn't care whether Vivi understood or not. He vigorously stroked Karu's duck head, satisfied his little wish, and immediately rode away on the raven.

Vivi remained rooted to the spot, her mind replaying Karl's words.

Alabasta has no heroes, but it needs heroes, so... No! This can't go on!!!

Since there are no heroes in Alabasta, then I will become that hero!

Crocodile, I know it's you! One day, I will drive you out of Alabasta and bring peace to Alabasta!!!

Chapter 198 Rain Banquet

Alabasta, the land of rain.

Since he was already there, Karl took a detour to visit Crocodile and see if he could trigger the Shichibukai series of quests.

The last one-on-one meeting with Kuma failed to activate this mission, probably because Kuma has never been hostile towards him, and now that he is cooperating with the Revolutionary Army, the mission involving Kuma can be considered a failure.

Now all he can rely on are Crocodile and Doflamingo.

In the air, Karl quickly used his Observation Haki to sense the area and immediately found the most powerful aura there. If he wasn't mistaken, it was Crocodile.

Karl jumped off the raven's back and plummeted toward the building in the middle of the lake. When he was about 20 meters from the ground, Karl suddenly exerted his strength and used Moonwalk to break through the window and enter.

FBI, cough cough, wrong movie set.

"Tsk tsk tsk, no wonder there's such a powerful aura in Alabasta. So it's the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Crocodile. How come you're hiding in such a small place?"

"How could you...?"

Clearly, Crocodile was somewhat taken aback by Carl's arrival. He had just heard the news, so why was he here now?

"What, are you not welcoming me?"

Crocodile's lips twitched. Of course! But on the surface, he still pretended to be nonchalant, even appearing quite enthusiastic.

"Hahaha~ How could that be? You're a naval hero! Your arrival is such an honor to my humble abode!"

Carl glanced at Crocodile with some surprise, but it was also understandable; Crocodile wouldn't be so foolish as to attack him, he wasn't stupid.

However, it must be said that Crocodile's appearance is still quite good.

With his slicked-back hair and fur coat, he certainly has the air of a big boss.

"This place is amazing! It's in the desert, yet it has no shortage of water. No wonder it's called the Rain Land!"

Crocodile grinned: "Looks like you've done your homework on Alabasta. I wonder why a naval hero would come here? Surely he's not here as a guest, huh? Hehehe~"

Karl's smile faded, and he looked at Crocodile with a faint expression: "You've kept a low profile these past few years. Apart from handing over the heads of pirates every year, we've rarely heard from you. What are you plotting?"

"Hahaha, what could I possibly be plotting? I just really like the climate here, and I come here to sit when I have nothing to do. What? Is that not allowed?"

"Do I need the navy to interfere with what I should do?"

Carl chuckled. "No, I was just a little curious."

Crocodile said calmly and meaningfully, "Curiosity killed the cat! I've learned my lesson the hard way!"

Crocodile's words seemed to have a hidden meaning, but Carl didn't care. After all, he wasn't there to fight, and it was pointless anyway.

Someone will naturally step in when the time comes, so why should he bother?

"I heard that Alabasta has been experiencing a drought unlike any other in a century. How did you come to know about this...?" "Bru bru bru~"

Before Carl could finish speaking, the Den Den Mushi rang. Carl had just reached in when his expression changed drastically. It was the Den Den Mushi that the Five Elders had given him; they would use it to contact him when they needed something.

"Excuse me, answer the phone."

Karl vanished from his spot in a flash, leaving Crocodile completely bewildered, yet with a strange sense of foreboding.

bang~

"Mr. 0, I just received a message..." Before Robin could finish speaking, Crocodile, who had transformed into his elemental form, covered her mouth.

"Don't speak. That naval hero is coming. You absolutely cannot let him see your face, understand?"

Robin, feeling a bit uncomfortable from being covered, narrowed her eyes and quickly nodded. Crocodile then released her.

"You must hide immediately and do not show your face until I receive your message. Otherwise, I will kill you first and then sever all ties with you."

Robin didn't say anything, gave Crocodile a deep look, and silently turned and left.

desert.

"Have you finished talking with Cobra? What did he say?"

"He said that the Neferutari family's destiny is to protect Alabasta, so no matter what, he will not move to Mary Geoise and become a world noble."

"Oh, is that so? That's really difficult!" Then the call ended.

Carl curled his lip, "Idiot."