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

Just kidding, what can you do if you're not open-minded? The main thing is that Karl isn't really interested in the position of general right now, or rather, he's interested, but not very much.

One reason is that the daily rewards have become negligible, and becoming a general only gives him one more enhancement card per day, which is better than nothing for him now.

Besides, even becoming an admiral doesn't mean you still have to obey the orders of the fleet admiral. To put it bluntly, you're still just an employee; the only difference is that you have more power, which sounds better.

Unless he could be offered the position of Fleet Admiral, Karl would be somewhat interested, at least then he could accomplish something significant.

For example, making the navy an independent agency.

However, it's just wishful thinking. After all, Karl is only 31 years old, which is among the youngest of the lieutenant generals. Becoming a general would be unprecedented, and becoming a field marshal is basically impossible.

So how could Karl not be magnanimous?

......

As the event was about to end, Kuzan suddenly said, "Karl, do you think it's possible that even when everyone thinks I'm about to become the next Fleet Admiral, the World Government will still interfere, like making me fight Sakazuki or something?"

Poof! ~

Upon hearing this, Carlton immediately spat out his tea and stared at Kuzan in shock. Good heavens, Kuzan, you big-eyed guy with thick eyebrows have actually developed your Observation Haki to the point of being able to foresee the future?

"What's wrong? Is it impossible?"

Karl shook his head: "No, quite the opposite, I think it's very likely, but this method will undoubtedly expose your true colors to Sakazuki, so I think it's just the World Government's last resort, but you must also be prepared to fight Sakazuki."

"Oh, is that so? Phew~ I see. Thanks, Carl. I've really learned a lot from chatting with you."

Carl waved his hand: "Hey, I was just saying it casually, don't take it seriously! I won't admit it if you go around telling everyone."

"Hahaha, I understand, I understand. In that case, that's all for today. Ain, Karl, I'm leaving now."

Carl and Ian smiled and waved goodbye, when Carl suddenly realized something and shouted, "Kuzan, you didn't pay the bill!!!"

"What are you yelling about? Admiral Aokiji already paid the bill."

"Oh? Is that so? I thought he was trying to dine and dash!"

Ain sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation. Sometimes she really couldn't figure out what Karl was thinking.

"By the way, was what you told Admiral Aokiji today serious?"

Instead of answering Ain's question, Karl asked, "Do you want Akainu to become the next Fleet Admiral?"

Ain paused for a moment, seemingly thinking of what Akainu would be like as Fleet Admiral, and shook her head: "Then forget it, Admiral Akainu is too serious, I don't like him."

"So you like Aokiji?"

Ian rolled her eyes at Karl: "You know perfectly well what I'm asking. I like you, okay?"

Chapter 236 Departure, Search for Pure Gold

The next day, Ian bid a reluctant farewell to Karl and boarded the warship.

Because, barring any unforeseen circumstances, it will be a long time before she needs Carl to unclog her drains again...

Not long after Aion left, Karl also prepared to leave. Taking a warship was too slow, so he decided to take a raven instead!

Although he is faster after being transformed into Holy Light, Karl is too lazy to use it, and should use it sparingly, because once he is discovered by certain people, he will inevitably become the second Kizaru.

"Raven, let's go." "Caw caw!"

......

brubrubru~

"Hello, this is Karl. What brings you here, Admiral Akainu?"

"Kuzan treated you to dinner yesterday, didn't he?"

Akainu's tone was as serious and direct as ever.

Sitting on the raven's back, Karl couldn't help but scratch his head. "Wow, they're really well-informed. I just had dinner with Kuzan last night, and Akainu already knows about it today. Their rivalry is just too much!"

"That's right, Admiral Aokiji said it's been a long time and he wants to talk to me."

Sakazuki was silent for a moment on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, then said, "I understand. I'll be going back to Marineford once a week. Do you have time tonight?"

Carl slapped his forehead; he knew it!

But he couldn't refuse, since neither Kuzan nor Sakazuki had a deep relationship with Karl. He accepted Aokiji's invitation to dinner, but refused Akainu's invitation. Wouldn't that be blatantly disrespecting Sakazuki?

To avoid being subjected to Sakazuki's death stare in the future, Carl decided to give him face. It was nothing more than a matter of choosing the next Fleet Admiral; it would be good to explain things clearly to Sakazuki.

"If you have time, you wouldn't be thinking of treating me to dinner, would you? Hahaha."

"That's right, at the same time and in the same place, I'll be waiting for you."

"it is good."

After hanging up the phone, Carl shook his head helplessly. "Are these people really that close to me? Why are they all coming to see me?"

Yuanzi is so easy to manage! I never cause him any trouble.

"Ding, we have reached our destination. The item [Pure Gold] is located 32 kilometers below the sea surface."

Ok?

"32 kilometers below sea level, is this guy sleeping on the seabed?"

Karl scratched his head helplessly. Although he was the father of the sea, it didn't mean he liked swimming!

However, this giant lanternfish was indeed only active at night; otherwise, it wouldn't have been attracted by the pure gold light hundreds of years ago and then wreaked havoc on the entire island.

There was nothing Karl could do but wait. Luckily, there was a deserted island ahead, so he could go there and get some food.

An unnamed island.

"Come on, drink!" "Leave me alone, I want to eat meat!"

Rakiro impatiently pushed away his wine glass and stuffed the chicken leg into his mouth.

The pirate who had been urging Lucky to drink shrugged and said, "Then I'll drink it myself."

the other side.

"The scenery on this island isn't bad, is it, Shanks?"

Shanks' lips curled up slightly as he gulped down a large mouthful of liquor: "Hahaha, yeah! But for some reason, something just feels off."

Beckman laughed and said, "Something's not right there..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Beckman's expression changed, and Shanks' expression changed as well.

Looking up, a huge white bird swept across the sky, stirring up a gust of wind.

A flash of golden light appeared, and Karl, dressed in a black suit and draped with the banner of justice, appeared before Shanks, smiling at him.

"Hey, having a drink?"

Shanks instinctively grabbed Griffin and pointed to Carl's heart: "What are you doing here?"

Beckman, Lucky Roux, and other Red-Haired Corps officers gathered around, looking at Karl with caution.

As for the pirates who had just joined the Red-Haired Pirates, they were so scared that they didn't dare to breathe, after all, they had heard plenty of stories from the veterans about just how powerful this naval hero was.

To put it simply, the reason Shanks' bounty has remained low is because Karl always manages to single-handedly corner them, making it extremely difficult for the Red-Haired Pirates to recruit new members.

Because you never know when Karl might come looking for trouble with Shanks again, and then all of them, the lackeys, would die from some unknown area-of-effect attack.

"Oh no~ Don't get excited, Shanks." Karl quickly raised his hands in surrender. If outsiders saw this, they would definitely say that Karl lost the moment Shanks raised his sword.

"I'm not here to fight you. Besides, I'm not interested in fighting you right now. You're not good enough."

Shanks was unfazed by Karl's taunts. He wouldn't care even if Karl hit him with a bottle, let alone Karl, especially since Karl was telling the truth.

"You defeated Mihawk a few days ago, is he dead?"

He was shocked to see the news of Mihawk's defeat by Karl in the newspaper a few days ago, but he did not blame Karl.

This is a duel between swordsmen, not some child's play.

The winner lives, the loser dies; this is an immutable law.

If Mihawk is alive, Shanks is happy for him; if he is dead, then his friend will collect his body.

It's that simple.

“Mihawk? Dead? How could that be? He’s one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, an ally of the World Government! How could I kill him as an ally?”

Shanks immediately breathed a sigh of relief; at least he was still alive.

"but..."

Shanks' heart skipped a beat again.

“Mihawk is seriously injured. You know I don’t hold back when I strike. It won’t be long before Mihawk is fully recovered.”

Shanks breathed a sigh of relief. It's good that you're alive, it's good that you're alive.

"By the way, after I injured him, he disappeared. If you want to find him, I don't know where he is."

Shanks slowly put Griffin down and said calmly, "If you want to fight, I'm ready anytime. If you're not here to fight, please leave. You're not welcome here."

"What, does this island have your name on it? You think I'll just leave because you tell me to? If anyone's leaving, it's you guys. You think you're so great?"

Karl waved his hand dismissively, sat down on the ground, snatched the uneaten chicken leg from Rakiru's hand, and stuffed it into his mouth to tear into it.