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

Robin's eyes widened as she stared intently at Karl's face, long-forgotten memories flooding back.

As Robin's memory of the little boy's smile gradually matched Carl's, tears welled up in her eyes.

"Yes! I don't recognize you at all!"

Carl chuckled, recalled the raven, walked up to Robin, picked up the necklace from her chest, and slowly said, "If I hadn't seen this keepsake from my mother, I wouldn't have recognized you..."

"Sigh~ I never expected that the dirty little beggar from back then would actually be the infamous son of the devil."

Robin wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and smiled with relief, "I never imagined that the boy who said he wanted to join the Navy back then would become a renowned Navy hero."

The two stared at each other for a long time without saying a word, perhaps because they didn't know what to say.

"How have you been these years?"

Karl chuckled and shook his head: "I'm probably doing better than you. After all, I'm in the Navy, I don't have to hide like you. But you..."

"You're really amazing for managing to protect yourself from the pursuit of the Navy and the World Government."

Robin smiled bitterly, "I just don't want to die like this..."

"And you were looking like you were bravely going to your death just now?"

"What can I do? You're a naval hero! Do you think a weak woman like me can escape from you?"

"Hahahaha!"

......

"So, you've decided to join the Straw Hat crew now?"

Robin shook his head: "No, let's rest for a while! If my presence has brought them danger, I will leave immediately."

"Hmph~ You don't need to worry about that. The partner you found this time is more reliable than you think."

Hearing this, Robin smiled as she recalled Chopper's earlier gesture of blocking her way.

"Yes, they are indeed very reliable!"

Chapter 250 Reminiscing about the past

Robin followed Carl to the railing, and together they looked out at the distant sea, as if everything had returned to the way it was before.

"Did you come here specifically to see me, or...?"

"I came here specifically to find you because the World Government really sent me to take care of you."

Robin's face darkened slightly: "Then what do you do now..."

Karl waved his hand: "It doesn't matter. The World Government doesn't have the power to control my will right now."

"Hehe~" Robin chuckled, toying with the pendant in her hand: "So, you know the Straw Hat crew too?"

"It's more than just knowing them! When they get back, go ask them. I've had some kind of interaction with each of them, especially Straw Hat Luffy. That guy's grandfather is Garp!"

Robin said with some surprise, "He has such a background?"

"Hahaha, his background is far more complex than you imagine! By the way, what have you been doing all these years... Haha, I almost forgot, you're the son of the devil!"

Robin smiled faintly and said, "The only thing that keeps me going now is probably the truth of history."

"Unfortunately, this road is far more difficult than I imagined."

Karl stroked his chin and pulled a rubbing of the historical text from his system space: "You mean this?"

!!!

Robin excitedly took the rubbing from Carl's hand and examined it carefully: "Yes, it's real. Where did you get it?"

"Big Mom's treasure vault contains one red Road Poneglyph, two more in Wano Country and Zou respectively, and the last Road Poneglyph is missing."

"How do you know so much?"

Carl said casually, "Because I've been to all those places!"

"That's right, I almost forgot, you're a naval hero! Sigh~ life is truly unpredictable! I always thought that if you could rise in the navy, you'd only be a rear admiral at most, but I never imagined that you would be the famous naval hero."

"How did you do that? Why have I never heard of you before?"

In response to Robin's question, Carl smiled. If it weren't for the awakening of the "Slacking Off System," Robin might never have seen him again in her life.

No, it should be said that he will likely never see Robin again in his lifetime.

"How should I put it? Luck, I guess. Before I got the Devil Fruit, I was just an ordinary man, good for nothing except being handsome."

Hearing this, Robin covered her mouth and chuckled: "You still love to brag, just like when you were a kid!"

"How can this be called bragging? Ask yourself honestly, am I not handsome or dashing?"

Looking at Carl's handsome face, Robin said helplessly, "Alright! I know you're the most handsome man in the world, stop showing off!"

......

Having not seen each other for many years, the two seemed to have endless topics to talk about. Time flew by, and they chatted for almost an hour without even realizing it, not even noticing that Chopper had woken up.

Watching the two chatting happily, Chopper was completely confused. He clearly remembered that before he fainted, Mr. Carl was pointing a knife at Robin, so how come they were chatting non-stop like old friends?

Despite being full of questions, Chopper didn't dare to ask. He could only crawl slowly on the deck, hoping that Carl and Robin wouldn't find him.

"By the way, Robin, did you know that every organization you've been in over the years has been destroyed without exception?"

Robin shook her head. She really didn't know. Every time she finally managed to settle down, her organization would either be destroyed or wiped out by the Navy. She was helpless!

"It was done by Aokiji."

"Qing Pheasant?"

Robin's pupils contracted as she couldn't help but recall the tall, horse-faced man, the man she still couldn't figure out.

“That’s right. The reason you’ve been wandering around all these years is because of him, but it’s also because of that that you’ve been able to survive until today.”

"Although I don't know what Kuzan is thinking, I think he must have his reasons."

Robin took a deep breath and sighed, "I understand..."

"Chopper, come here."

Upon hearing this, Chopper, who was almost at the door, was startled and awkwardly turned to look at Carl: "Hey! Mr. Carl!"

Chopper trotted over to Carl's side, glancing at Robin and then at Carl.

"Chopper, Robin is my friend, but she's also a wanted criminal, so I can't protect her all the time. Could you please protect Robin for me?"

Chopper gaped in surprise, pointing at himself with his little hoof: "Huh? Me? Mr. Karl, I can't do it, I'm not as good as Robin! You should ask Luffy and Zoro for help."

Karl shook his head: "No, Chopper, don't underestimate yourself. You're a Devil Fruit user, you have great potential. One day you'll become a trustworthy man. When that happens, I'll entrust Robin with your care, okay?"

A trustworthy man?

These words instantly struck a chord with Chopper, igniting his passion.

"Oh my gosh!!! I'll definitely protect Robin! I can do it!!!"

Carl nodded with satisfaction, patted Chopper's head, took out five marshmallows from his system space, and handed them to Chopper: "Here, have some!"

Chopper's eyes lit up immediately. He happily took the marshmallow, stuck out his pink tongue and licked it. After feeling the sweetness on his tongue, he smiled and his eyes narrowed.

Karl then stood up and took out a pile of historical text rubbings from the system space.

"This is a rubbing of the Poneglyphs of Wano Country, this is a rubbing of the Poneglyphs of Zou, the Island of Dreams, and this is a rubbing of the Poneglyphs of Fishman Island."

"This is a rubbing of the Poneglyphs from Skypiea, and this is..."

After Carl finished taking them, Robin had a thick stack of rubbings in front of him.

"Your wish is to understand the truth of history, and that's all I can do to help you. The rest is up to you."

Robin looked at Carl earnestly, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him on the cheek: "Thank you, Carl."

"It's alright, little beggar."

On the shore, Sanji, who was preparing to return to the ship to retrieve his belongings: ???

"Miss Robin!!! Why? Why???"

Karl turned his head and saw that it was Sanji wailing. He said helplessly, "Looks like your crew is back. I should probably go too."

"Are you in such a hurry to leave? Even though you're a Marine, you don't seem to dislike the Straw Hat crew, do you? After all, they're not exactly pure pirates."

Karl laughed and said, "But you also said I'm from the Navy."

"Raven, let's go."

"Gah!"

Karl had just sat on Raven's back when he suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, give these two swords to Zoro for me!"

"Their names are Sakura Ju and Kikuku!"

Chapter 251 Goodbye by fate

"See you again someday, Chopper and Robin!"

Under the watchful eyes of Chopper and Robin, and the envious gaze of Sanji, Raven flapped its wings and carried Karl away from the Going Merry.