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

"Kuzan asked, so can't I ask?"

Karl shook his head helplessly: "Of course, of course, but I have to make one thing clear beforehand! I'm just an ordinary naval officer, and I can't decide who will be the next Fleet Admiral. Don't take anything I say seriously!"

Regardless, let's build up some armor first.

Sakazuki nodded slightly, picked up a cigar from the table and tossed it to Karl, then lit one for himself, exhaled a puff of smoke with a satisfied look, and then looked at Karl and said.

"I understand that, of course. I'm just curious, what did you say to Kuzan when he treated you to dinner last time? He seems to have become more energetic lately..."

Karl was silent for a while: "Since that's the case, then I'll be blunt. Admiral Akainu, I don't think you're suitable to be the Fleet Admiral."

......

The atmosphere in the private room instantly turned cold. Sakazuki took a deep breath and said with a dark face, "I'm not suitable? Can you give me a reason? You don't think Kuzan is stronger than me, do you?"

Karl waved his hand: "Admiral Akainu, this isn't about strength. If whoever is stronger can become the Fleet Admiral, then I should be the candidate for the next Fleet Admiral, shouldn't I?"

Sakazuki promptly shut his mouth; sincerity was his ultimate weapon, and Karl truly possessed that ability.

Back when Karl was selected as a candidate for general, he had already tested Karl's strength. At that time, he felt that he could no longer beat Karl. This kid was simply a monster.

Moreover, Karl has become much stronger now, while he himself, well, has improved, but only a little, and is simply not comparable to Karl.

"Okay, let me ask you a question: how many hawkish admirals are there in the navy right now?"

Akainu frowned, but quickly replied, "15 hawkish admirals at the rank of lieutenant commander or above in the Marine Headquarters."

"What about the dove generals?"

Akainu thought to himself, "How would I know? But there are definitely more of them than the hawks."

"It seems you don't know either. Well, let me tell you. Among the officers at the Navy Headquarters, apart from the hawks and centrists, there are 68 doves at the rank of major."

"What does this prove? Truth is always in the hands of a minority."

"No, no, no, Admiral Akainu, I'm not talking about whether it's the truth or not. What I mean is, even if you become the Fleet Admiral, there are very few Navy officers who truly support you, which means that you can not really command many Navy personnel."

"I am the Admiral of the Navy, why don't they obey my orders?"

"Then they can outwardly comply while inwardly disagreeing! Isn't that what doves do?"

"Aren't you a dove?"

Carl shook his head: "I've never said I'm a dove, but I'm not a hawk either."

"Are you a centrist like Borsalino?"

Chapter 241 The Grassroots

"I don't really like this name. I prefer to call it Realist, but of course, you can call it a fence-sitter if you want."

Akainu chuckled lightly: "That's certainly realistic."

"Admiral Akainu, to be honest, I don't care about your so-called ideological conflict with Admiral Aokiji, because no matter if you or Aokiji become admirals, you will never be able to implement your ideals."

"In that case, as a naval commander, I naturally hope that the succession of the Fleet Admiral can be more stable. Aokiji can do this, but you cannot, so I will naturally support Aokiji."

Akainu suddenly stood up, staring intently at Karl: "What do you mean by that?"

"What do you mean? I think Admiral Akainu should know very well that the Navy has always been the World Government's Navy, hasn't it?"

"Logically speaking, your chances of becoming the Fleet Admiral are not high, but it is precisely because of the World Government's strong support that the selection of the Fleet Admiral has been delayed. Admiral Akainu must really be unaware of the reasons behind this, right?"

Just imagine the navy after Sakazuki becomes Fleet Admiral!

Radical, unpopular...

Despite being the Fleet Admiral, Akainu is alienated from his subordinates and has very few capable men, putting him at a disadvantage.

This is exactly what the World Government wants to see, so that the Navy can become their exclusive violent agency without any scruples.

Perhaps Akainu, once he becomes Fleet Admiral, will one day realize this and confront the World Government, but... isn't there still Aokiji?

"Although I don't know what the World Government said to you, the reason they support you is definitely not because they think you can lead the Navy further, but because they think you are more obedient than Kuzan."

"This is impossible! Everything I did was for justice, absolute justice!" Akainu was somewhat agitated.

Karl said in a deep voice, "Admiral Akainu, no matter what you think, in the eyes of the World Government, you are a very obedient person. No matter what orders they give you, you will do them to the letter. Who wouldn't like a Fleet Admiral like that?"

"They want to use me as a puppet?"

"Actually, if you calm down and think about it carefully, it's easy to understand why the World Government insists on supporting you, instead of Aokiji or Kizaru. What's the difference between you and them?"

"Since I've said all that, I won't say any more. Actually, I shouldn't have said so much. Anyway, it doesn't matter to me whether you or Aokiji become the next Fleet Admiral. I just don't want Admiral Akainu to be sold out by the World Government and then count the money for them."

......

Akainu looked at Karl silently without saying a word.

Does he really not know this?

No, he did know that, but if he didn't do it, he had no chance of winning at all. Unlike Aokiji, who had the support of high-ranking Marines like Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru, he could only rely on the World Government to become Fleet Admiral.

He just never wanted to admit it.

......

The next day, in the Marshal's office.

"I heard you and Kuzanzakaski have recently dined together?"

Carl smiled wryly and said, "Of course, it's so hard for me! A vice admiral has to worry about this and that."

Sengoku laughed heartily: "You're no ordinary vice admiral! In the entire Naval Headquarters, who dares to give you attitude?"

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Smoker called me yesterday and said that Alabasta has been quite chaotic lately, with Crocodile and the Straw Hat Pirates involved. Oh, and there's also Portgas D. Ace. Doesn't the World Government have anything to say about this?"

Sengoku scratched his head: "Uh, well, there really is. The World Government is preparing to launch its final round of negotiations with Cobra, but we don't know when it will take place."

"They're not going to make me go again, are they?"

"No need to trouble you, the World Government is prepared to negotiate in person this time."

Knock knock knock~

"Moshi moshi~ Is anyone there?" A familiar voice came from outside the door.

"Come in, Kizaru."

When Yuanzi entered and saw Karl there, his eyes lit up: "Hey, isn't this the famous naval hero Karl? What a coincidence!"

"Admiral Kizaru, how have you been? What have you been up to lately?"

The ape pouted, looking somewhat aggrieved, and said, "It's not just about the Pacifistas; that Vegapunk guy has really given me a hard time! Karl, you're a naval hero, you have to stand up for me!"

"Borsalino, be serious and just say what you want to say!"

Yuanzi pursed his lips helplessly: "The pacifists are done."

"What?" Sengoku jumped up, looking at Kizaru with surprise: "Are you serious?"

Sarutoshi shrugged: "Believe it or not, that's what Dr. Vegapunk said, and Sentomaru can vouch for it."

"That's great! Now I have even more confidence!"

The ape asked curiously, "What confidence? Does Marshal Sengoku intend to attack all nations?"

"None of your business. Where are the pacifists now? Can I see them with my own eyes?"

Yuanzi scratched his head: "Well, the World Government people are still testing it. I guess it will be delivered here in a few days."

Sengoku nodded slightly, his mood immediately improving, and then invited Karl and Kizaru out.

......

"I heard Sakazuki treated you to dinner yesterday?"

"You knew all this? You spend all your time in Vegapunk's lab, how come you're so well-informed?"

The little monkey pouted happily: "Hey, it was all that kid Sentomaru who told me. He's really interested in this. By the way, do you know Sentomaru? He's my subordinate, and he's a huge fan of yours!"

"Sentomaru? Never heard of him. Is he from the Naval Science Unit?"

Ape nodded: "That's right, he's the captain of the Marine Headquarters Science Unit and also Vegapunk's bodyguard. It's normal that you haven't heard of him."

"Haha, we could meet sometime, after all, I used to be your subordinate!"

The ape chuckled lewdly, as if he had thought of something pleasing, and exclaimed, "The best decision I ever made in my life was snatching you away from Sakazuki. You were so young back then, and now you... eh!"

How come you still look so young?

Karl touched his face: "Really? Maybe handsome people age more slowly?"

The ape touched his wrinkled face and said with some doubt, "Is there such a saying? I don't feel it at all?"

Carl gasped. If it weren't for the fact that you're from the same hometown, Carl would have said something rather abruptly.

What's your class...?

Chapter 242 The Mysteriously Vanished Island

"Karl, it probably won't be long before you're a Marine Admiral too, will it?"

Before Karl could answer, Kizaru continued, "Kuzan and Sakazuki have been fighting fiercely lately, but no matter who becomes Fleet Admiral, one of the Admiral positions will become vacant, and that position is definitely yours."