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

Karl scratched his head: "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, do you think it's possible that Kizaru...?"

Sengoku quickly waved his hand: "Alright, alright, if you don't want to talk about it, then don't. Why bring up Kizaru? Does he look like he's fit to be a fleet admiral?"

What?! Sengoku, how could you say such a thing about my good brother Yuanzi? No way, I have to speak up for Yuanzi!

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, you can't say that. I think Admiral Kizaru is quite good. Although he doesn't have many supporters, he also doesn't have many opponents. He mainly focuses on stability. Isn't that good?"

Sengoku took a deep breath, looked at Karl speechlessly, and said, "You, get out!"

Carl shrugged and turned right as he went out the door.

As for Ace's matter, he doesn't need to worry about it. He can just wander around and make a show of it. Teach will naturally take action when the time comes. As I said before, all he has to do is wait.

......

On May 5th, 1520 in the Sea Calendar, Karl had just celebrated his birthday a few days earlier. He was 31 years old, but even so, he was still considered a young man in the Navy.

Believe it or not, Kizaru is 56 years old this year and will be turning 60 soon.

Akainu is 53 years old this year, a little younger than Sarutobi, but only by a tiny bit.

Only Aokiji could barely be considered middle-aged, at 47 years old, but he was still 16 years older than Karl.

Malinvando.

"Karl, from now on I'll be working with Staff Officer Tsuru. That will give me many more opportunities to return to Naval Headquarters. Are you happy about that?"

"Happy? Of course I'm happy! You're now a Vice Admiral at the Navy Headquarters, just like me. How could I not be happy?"

Ain, holding Karl's arm, looked at the rising sun on the horizon and said with some emotion, "Do you remember? Back at the G10 base, every morning we would watch the sunrise together..."

Time flies...

Karl remained silent for a while after hearing this, then took out a photo of him and Ian from his system space.

In the photo, the two are wearing navy uniforms and cloaks of justice. Ian is holding Karl's arm, and both of them have happy smiles on their faces, just like any couple in love.

Carl silently placed the photo in front of Ian and said gently, "Look, is there any difference?"

Looking at the photo of herself and Karl, Ain couldn't help but smile, and tightened her grip on Karl's arm.

This moment is just like that moment.

Carl embraced Ian, quietly waiting for the sun to rise from the sea.

East China Sea, Mount Colbo.

"Hey, Dadan, I'm leaving! Wait for the good news that I'll become the Pirate King!"

Dadan exhaled a smoke ring and said impatiently, "Let's go, let's all go! Don't cry if you get caught by the Navy!"

Luffy grinned: "Hehe, no way, I'm really strong. Besides, I made a promise to meet Shanks on the high seas, how could I let the Marines catch me?"

"That's all for now, I'm leaving!"

As Luffy's figure vanished in an instant, Dadan's eyes reddened, but she said nothing, only smoking a lot of cigarettes.

Meanwhile, in the Sabaody Archipelago, a shirtless man wearing a hat went around asking about Teach's whereabouts with a photograph in hand, but unfortunately, he still found nothing.

"Hmm, today is May 5th! Speaking of which, shouldn't Luffy set sail by now?"

"Heh, he must have gone out to sea. He's been itching to get out..."

Ace smiled, and couldn't help but think about the day they met on the high seas. What kind of expression would Luffy have?

"Hmm, I feel like I've seen this person somewhere before..."

Ace was taken aback and quickly asked, "Really? Where did you see it?"

The shop owner scratched his head, thought for a moment, and then said, "About a month ago, on Island 43, that guy climbed up a mangrove tree like a monkey and was laughing like a madman. I saw it all, and I thought he was out of his mind!"

A month ago! By now, that bastard Teach is probably long gone.

However, this also confirmed Ace's suspicion that Teach had run to Paradise immediately after killing his companion. No wonder he couldn't find him anywhere in the New World. Had this guy been hiding in Paradise all along?

"You cunning fellow, I won't let you get away with this. Oh, and thank you, uncle! Do you know which way this guy went?"

"I don't know. Who would care about the whereabouts of a mentally ill person?"

Left with no other option, Ace thanked them again, left the Sabaody Archipelago, and prepared to head to the next island to check things out.

......

Donghai, Rogge Town.

"Report!" "Come in."

The marine walked into the smoke-filled office, his expression unwavering, as if he were already used to it.

"Rear Admiral Smoker, we've just received word that the Krieg Pirates are preparing to head to the Grand Line. Should we move in?"

Smoker cracked his neck. The Krieg Pirates...tsk, this is a bit troublesome.

When he first arrived in Loguetown, he gave the Krieg Pirates a good beating. It was supposed to be Karl who did it, but he seemed to be a bit busy, so Karl took over instead.

Who would have thought that this Krieg was so cunning, actually disguising himself as a pirate henchman to evade his pursuit? Although he was severely weakened, he still managed to rebuild his strength based on his previous foundation.

"Forget about him. Once we get to the Grand Line, someone will take care of him. Hmm, I should keep an eye on the Krieg Pirates. If they change their minds halfway through, I'll teach them a lesson."

"Yes, Major General Smoker."

After his men left, Smoker continued reading the newspaper in his hand.

"The sea is about to get chaotic. Perhaps it's time to consider leaving the East China Sea. Staying cooped up here, my bones are practically rusting."

"Bulu Bulu~"

Smoker pulled out a Den Den Mushi: "Hello, this is Smoker."

"I'm Karl. Ain and I will be coming to visit you in a few days, so get ready."

Smoker instinctively replied, "Okay, okay... wait, that's quite a tone. Are you ordering me around?"

"What? Isn't Ain worthy?"

Smoker scoffed, "I'd welcome Ain anytime, but as for you, forget it!"

"You little bastard, Smoker! I'll teach you a lesson when I get here!"

Chapter 210, Branch 153

The next afternoon, at the port of Rogge.

Carl had originally planned to come a few days later, but considering that Ian didn't have much vacation time, he decided to leave that very night.

Karl, arm in arm with Ain, stepped off the Holy Light and looked around with great interest. He vaguely remembered that the last time he came here, he was with Ain and Smoker, the naval inspector who was investigating corruption.

Standing behind the two, Tashigi remarked with some emotion, "Is this where the Pirate King Roger was executed? It's huge!"

Carl turned to look at Tashigi with interest, feeling a little strange.

According to the original storyline, Tashigi was Smoker's sidekick, but now she has become Ain's adjutant. Although she is still just a minor major, she has made a lot of progress compared to before.

And Carl even cured her nearsightedness, so if Zoro sees Tashigi...

"Lieutenant General Karl, why are you looking at me like that?"

Upon hearing this, Ain immediately turned to look at Karl, her eyes like knives.

"I was just curious because I heard it was your first time here."

A smile gradually appeared on Ian's face as she looked at the naval base not far away and said, "Why hasn't Smoker arrived yet? Shall we go over there first?"

Carl's eyes widened: "What? We're guests! If Smoker dares not come to greet me today, I'm not leaving."

"Boring! Tashigi, let's go, let him wait here by himself!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a cloud of smoke drifted in from the sky, landed in front of Carl, and then formed a human shape. When the smoke dissipated, Smoker was standing on the ground, smiling at Carl.

"Long time no see!" Smoker opened his arms, hugged Carl tightly, and patted Carl's back hard.

"Alright, alright, let me go now. You weren't like this before!"

Smoker gave an awkward smile, pulled a cigar from his pocket and handed it to Carl: "Here, have a cigar, a specialty of Loguetown."

"Haha, all you have besides cigars, huh?"

Ain, who was standing to the side, said with a smile, "You two can chat slowly. Tashigi and I are going shopping."

"Okay, all done!"

After the two women left, Carl turned to Nelson and said, "Nelson, after you've moored the ship, take your men to the Loguetown base. We'll be resting here for a few days."

"Yes, sir!" Nelson then smiled and waved to Smoker: "Major General Smoker, long time no see!"

Smoker waved his hand: "Haha, yeah! Nelson, you've gotten quite a bit fatter!"

Nelson: ......

Smoker chuckled and turned to Carl: "Shall I show you around?"

"Row."

.....

Execution platform.