Sengoku didn't speak.
Instead, he placed a dossier on the desk.
"The other Warlords have already been assigned Vice Admirals to invite them," he said calmly.
"That leaves only one person without an envoy—Boa Hancock. Do you have the confidence?"
Karl raised an eyebrow. Trouble.
If it were Crocodile or Doflamingo, he'd have absolute confidence in completing the 'We Don't Fight Our Own' task.
Those two needed their Warlord status.
But the Pirate Empress?
That woman was… special.
She also needed the title, sure—but her personality was volatile, famously ruling with beauty and tyranny alike.
If this were easy, the task wouldn't have fallen to him.
"Uh… Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Karl tried.
"Is it possible to change the assignment?"
Sengoku looked at him.
"Do you think that's possible?"
Karl sighed.
Guess not.
He picked up Hancock's file.
"Alright, I'll take the mission. But… Amazon Lily is in the Calm Belt, isn't it? My warship won't get through."
Sengoku waved it off. "That's not a problem. You're already a flag officer now. Headquarters will assign you a Seastone-bottomed warship."
"It'll arrive the day after tomorrow. Rest for these two days—and depart on time."
"Understood."
Karl stood to leave—
but Staff Officer Tsuru suddenly spoke up.
"Wait a moment."
Karl turned back. "Staff Officer Tsuru? Is something wrong?"
Tsuru smiled warmly. "There is something, actually. You still remember that girl—Ain, don't you?"
"Of course I do!" Karl replied instantly—then froze.
"…Wait. Staff Officer Tsuru—she's not in trouble, is she?"
Tsuru blinked, then chuckled. "Don't say such ominous things. Ain is perfectly fine. She just wants to become your vice officer."
"Oh—that's good… Wait, what?"
Karl stared. "You said Ain wants to come with me?"
Tsuru sighed exaggeratedly, half teasing, half resigned.
"I spent so many years training her, and now—sigh—girls really do grow up and leave sooner than you expect."
Karl sat upright instantly.
They hadn't seen each other for months, and suddenly she wanted to be his vice officer?
Wait a minute…
She's not after my body, is she?
"Uh… Staff Officer Tsuru," Karl asked carefully.
"She really said that herself?"
"Would I lie to you?"
Sengoku also laughed. "It's not just Ain. Plenty of female Marines would love to be assigned to your ship."
"Truly enviable," he added.
"'The World's Most Handsome Man'… Hmph. When I was young, I was handsome too. Never got a title like that."
Karl twitched.
So the rumors really have gone this far…
No wonder the female Marines he passed earlier were practically staring holes through him.
Scratching his head, Karl said helplessly,
"Well… since Staff Officer Tsuru has spoken, I'll go talk to Ain myself."
Tsuru nodded approvingly.
"That's fine. I've already approved the transfer. She can report directly to you when the time comes."
After leaving headquarters, Karl headed to the training grounds.
Even without new recruits, Zephyr still came daily to personally train the Marines.
"Teacher Zephyr! Long time no see!"
"Hahahaha! You brat, you finally remembered to come see me!"
Zephyr looked Karl up and down with satisfaction.
"Not bad at all—Rear Admiral now, huh!"
He clapped Karl on the shoulder, smiling broadly.
"Your physique hasn't fallen off. Good. You've been training seriously."
"Well, I've been busy catching pirates," Karl replied.
"Otherwise, I wouldn't have jumped straight from Captain to Rear Admiral."
Zephyr waved dismissively.
"With your strength, Vice Admiral wouldn't be a stretch. Compared to Akainu and Aokiji, you're actually a bit slow."
"How can I compare myself to those monsters?"
Zephyr only smiled.
Truth be told, in his eyes—Karl was already a monster too.
After chatting for a while, Zephyr suddenly pointed toward the edge of the training field.
"Hey—look over there. Isn't that Ain?"
Karl focused—and sure enough, it was her.
He walked over.
"Ain? You're here to see Teacher Zephyr too?"
Seeing Karl after so long, Ain's face reddened slightly.
"Mm… um… did Staff Officer Tsuru tell you?"
"About becoming your vice officer."
"Of course she did," Karl laughed.
"What, that eager to become my vice officer?"
Ain snorted and lightly punched his chest with her fist.
"Hmph! I am becoming your vice officer. Do you agree or not?"
"How would I dare refuse?" Karl grinned.
"If I did, you'd probably turn me into a kid. Who would I complain to then?"
Ain's lips curled upward, her heartbeat quickening as she looked at Karl's mischievous smile.
"Good—you know your place!"
"I'm going to see Teacher Zephyr!"
She fled with a red face.
"Hey! Remember to report to me the day after tomorrow!"
"I know!!!"
Watching her leave, Karl smiled softly.
It had been months since he'd seen Monica, the blonde nurse.
…He missed her.
That night.
After the storm passed, the room fell quiet.
Monica lay breathless against Karl, tracing circles on his chest with her finger.
"In a few days," she said softly,
"I'm planning to move out."
Karl frowned and looked straight into her eyes.
"Why?"
Because of the news?
Or because someone had said something?
"You're… too dazzling," Monica whispered.
"I can't keep up with you. You're always out fighting pirates… I don't feel safe."
Karl fell silent.
He lit a cigarette, got out of bed, and stood by the window.
After the cigarette burned out, he looked back at Monica—who had already "fallen asleep."
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
On the bed, Monica—only pretending to sleep—let tears slip from the corner of her eyes, soaking the pillow.
She'd expected this ending long ago, hadn't she?
Karl sighed.
Monica was an ordinary woman.
And ordinary people only wanted one thing—presence.
As a Marine, that was something he could never give.
Late in the night, Karl sat up again.
He took 100 million Beli from his system storage and placed it into Monica's suitcase.
Then, gently, he snapped off one strand of her golden hair.
A Vivre Card.
This way—even if they could no longer be together—
she could live comfortably.
And if her life were ever in danger…
he would know.
The next day — Crescent Bay.
"Look! Isn't that Rear Admiral Karl?"
"That's him! Sisters—don't let him get away!"
The moment word spread that Karl was back, he was instantly surrounded by female Marines.
"Rear Admiral Karl, could you help me with something?"
One of them pointed at the scar on her cheek.
Karl immediately understood.
Sigh… debts from G-2 really do come due eventually.
"Hahaha, no problem! Uh—wait, let me find a place…"
And so—
Doctor Karl's Clinic officially opened.
Female Marines queued endlessly for scar removal and treatment.
By the end, even the entirety of Marineford was shaken.
Anyone with the slightest injury came knocking.
If Karl hadn't already mastered wide-area Holy Light, he would've collapsed from exhaustion.
"Vacation is even more tiring than work…" Karl muttered.
Still, this incident dramatically boosted his reputation within the Marines.
At least in Marineford—
'Divine Doctor Karl'
was a name everyone knew.
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