On the deck, several naval chore soldiers crawled out of the lingering smoke, their faces flushed a deep purplish red.
"Huff—huff—finally… fresh air!"
"Yeah! Lieutenant Smoker's ability is terrifying. I honestly thought I was going to suffocate to death just now."
Another sailor nodded in agreement. "This move is way too cruel. Any pirates who run into Lieutenant Smoker are seriously doomed."
"Cruel?"
Karl's voice rang out from behind him.
Karl frowned slightly.
Cruel… to pirates?
This kid's thinking is crooked.
The sailors spun around in fright.
"M–Major General Karl!"
Karl glanced at them coldly, then said, "Nelson, inform all personnel. Full assembly. I have something to say."
Nelson bellowed, "Yes, sir!"
A Speech That Shook Them Awake
Ten minutes later, Karl sat on a bench at the center of the deck.
Smoker stood to his right, Ain to his left—like his left and right guardians.
Nelson: So… I really was the one left out.
"Just now," Karl said calmly, "while Lieutenant Smoker was testing his ability, I heard someone say that using such methods against pirates is 'too cruel'?"
"That," he continued, voice sharpening, "is the biggest joke I've heard in my entire life."
He pointed at one of the artillerymen.
"You. Tell me—what are pirates?"
The soldier trembled. "E-evil criminals. Kill, burn, loot. They commit every possible crime."
"Exactly," Karl said.
"That is what pirates are. Which means no matter how we deal with them, it is justified."
"Do you know how I rose from a mere chore soldier to a branch captain, before I ever obtained a Devil Fruit?"
The assembled soldiers shook their heads.
Even Ain and Smoker were listening intently—Karl's past was something they rarely heard about.
"There's only one answer," Karl continued.
"Military merit."
"And where does merit come from?"
"Killing pirates."
"But do you know how I fought pirates back then?"
The soldiers exchanged looks.
"With guns?"
"With blades?"
"Bullshit! With Major General Karl's physique, it must've been fists!"
Karl rejected every answer.
"You're not wrong—but those are just means."
"If you want to truly deal with pirates, you must fight like pirates."
"—If you can ambush from behind, don't fight head-on."
"—If you can deceive and assassinate, don't insist on honor."
"—If you can gang up, never fight one-on-one."
"—If you have a gun, shoot. Never rely on cold weapons."
"—If cold weapons work, don't fight barehanded."
"—If killing is allowed, don't settle for knocking them out."
"—If you can cripple, don't just injure."
"—If you can seriously wound them, don't stop at light injuries."
...
"Bottom line," Karl concluded, voice ringing across the deck,
"Use any means necessary. Focus on results. Ignore consequences."
"Make sure they arrive standing… and leave carried away."
"Because mercy toward the enemy will always be repaid with your own blood."
Silence.
Then realization.
Ain nodded slowly, deep in thought.
Smoker, meanwhile, felt as if another door to the world had been kicked wide open.
Right…
Why should pirates be treated with mercy at all?
Dead pirates were good pirates.
"Major General Karl is right!"
"Exactly! Pirates don't show us mercy—why should we?"
"So that's how it should be done!"
It felt as though a chain inside their minds had snapped.
Some of them even felt the urge to find a few pirates immediately—just to test these new principles.
They suddenly recalled how Karl fought.
It wasn't just cruel.
It was outright brutal.
Anyone who met Major General Karl either got cut in half—or lost arms and legs.
And the ones who only lost limbs?
Those were Devil Fruit users.
Anyone else would've been lucky to even survive.
Karl nodded in satisfaction.
"Remember what I said today. You are Marines."
"Kindness and mercy were never meant for pirates."
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Dismissed."
The soldiers dispersed, but their discussions didn't stop for a long time.
Decisions Before Departure
"That was awesome, Karl!" Smoker laughed, slapping Karl hard on the shoulder.
"The more I hear you talk, the more I feel we're totally on the same wavelength."
He looked ready to swear brotherhood on the spot.
"Stop that," Karl said flatly.
"Go develop your ability. Otherwise, you'll never beat me."
Smoker snorted coldly and immediately ran off to test his newly inspired Smoke Strangulation Formation.
"Ain," Karl called. "There's something I need to tell you."
Ain turned to him, calm and attentive.
"After we send Hancock back to Amazon Lily, we're heading straight to Impel Down. I have to escort a transport ship bound for the New World."
"You'll take the ship back to Marineford and wait for me."
"I'm going with you," Ain said immediately.
"I'm not asking," Karl replied sternly.
"I'm notifying you. It'll only take a day or two. Consider it a break."
Ain bit her lip.
"But I—"
Compared to resting, I want to be with you.
Just like Gion said… relationships need time to grow.
These days, Hancock had been guarding Karl like a fortress. Ain barely got to talk to him at all.
And now Hancock was finally leaving—such a perfect chance—
But under Karl's firm gaze, she retreated.
"…Alright."
A Night That Changed Everything
Inside the lounge.
"It sounded noisy outside earlier," Hancock asked lazily.
"Did something happen?"
Karl smiled and kissed her cheek.
"Nothing serious. Just internal Marine matters."
After some closeness—
Ding!
Congratulations, Host has accumulated 1,000 instances of paid-time flirting.
Achievement unlocked: [Heart Arsonist]
[Heart Arsonist]
For every woman who develops affection toward the host:
• Stamina +0.005%
• Stamina recovery speed +0.001%
Calculating…
Karl: "..."
Calculation complete.
Current Bonus:
• Stamina: +23.726%
• Stamina Recovery: +47.452%
Karl fell silent.
47,452 women.
What the hell? Am I really that much of a scumbag?
Impossible.
Even if his heart wanted it, his body—and time itself—wouldn't allow it.
…Wait.
Could it be because the newspapers crowned him World's Most Handsome Man?
Just like the celebs from his previous life—having millions of fans was normal.
Sigh.
If the One Piece world's entertainment industry were more developed, he'd have debuted as an idol by now.
"Darling, what's wrong?" Hancock asked softly.
Karl forced a smile.
"N-nothing."
Farewell at Amazon Lily
The next day, Amazon Lily.
"Look! Isn't that Major General Karl's ship?"
"That's right! Snake Princess is back!"
"Quick, everyone!"
The warrior women rushed to the harbor, barely able to contain their excitement.
"Looks like your people have been waiting for you," Karl said lightly.
Hancock held his hand tightly, gazing at the approaching island with reluctance.
"Darling… stay one more day, alright?"
"I… I'm ready."
Karl raised an eyebrow, then smiled.
"Alright. One more night."
That night, inside the palace chambers—
Black hair like ink.
Skin like white jade.
A perfect, mesmerizing figure.
"Dar—mmh…"
Everything that followed needs no description.
(Hidden content. Please unlock with payment.)
The next morning, Karl woke up yawning—and immediately felt weak.
Without hesitation, he cast Holy Light on himself and the still-sleeping Hancock.
About last night… well.
The bed was large and soft.
The only problem was… it leaked badly.
Thankfully, Karl was excellent at clearing blockages.
"Mmm… darling, you're awake…" Hancock murmured, curling into his arms.
They lay together, whispering sweet words—until the Den Den Mushi rang.
Bururururu—
Karl glanced at Hancock, took a deep breath, and hung up.
"One… last billion times."
...
An hour later, fully dressed and wearing his Justice cloak, Karl kissed Hancock's forehead gently.
At the doorway, he paused, turned back, and said softly:
"I'll come visit you often."
In her sleep, Hancock murmured, as if she heard him—
"I'll… be waiting…"
Setting Sail Again
At the harbor.
"Damn, you hid it deep," Smoker teased.
"If Ain hadn't told me, I'd never have known you were involved with the world's most beautiful woman."
Karl glanced at him sideways.
"So what? You're 27 and you've never even held a girl's hand."
Smoker choked.
"Bullshit! What about my mom's hand?!"
Karl smirked.
"Virgin."
"Hey! That's slander!"
Ignoring him completely, Karl turned to Nelson.
"Set sail. Destination: Impel Down."
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