Karl patted Smoker on the shoulder.
"Have you decided where to go?"
"New World?"
Smoker shook his head.
"Paradise?"
Another shake.
Karl raised an eyebrow.
"Don't tell me… one of the Four Blues?"
Smoker nodded.
"East Blue."
"Loguetown."
Loguetown—the town where dreams begin.
Karl showed a flicker of surprise before quickly masking it.
So history corrected itself after all.
Because of Karl, Smoker had once become the head of the Marine Integrity Commission—something that never existed in the original timeline.
Yet now…
Smoker still chose Loguetown.
Of his own will.
"East Blue is called the weakest sea," Karl said.
"A Rear Admiral going there seems like overkill."
Smoker replied calmly.
"That title is nonsense."
"I've studied it carefully."
He began counting on his fingers.
Gol D. Roger.
Portgas D. Ace.
Yasopp.
Monkey D. Garp.
Monkey D. Dragon.
"All from East Blue."
"Are any of them weak?"
Karl nodded thoughtfully.
East Blue's average level was low.
But its peaks?
Monstrous.
And right now, two future Emperors hadn't even left their beginner village yet.
East Blue could be summarized in four words:
Terrifying beyond measure.
Smoker continued:
"I'll guard the entrance."
"Any pirate trying to reach the Grand Line…"
"I'll destroy them in the cradle."
Karl smiled.
"Good luck."
"Keep in touch."
Smoker grinned.
"Of course."
"I won't interrupt the two of you."
Ain blushed faintly and waved goodbye.
After Smoker Left
Karl sighed softly.
"The era…"
"…is about to go berserk."
Ain tilted her head.
"Berserk? Why?"
Karl looked meaningfully toward the sea.
"It's 1517."
"In three years, you'll understand."
Ain stared at him.
Completely confused.
Then she pinched his waist.
"Stop being mysterious!"
Karl wrapped an arm around her waist helplessly.
"I'm serious."
"You'll see."
Ain snorted.
"Fine. Keep your secrets."
The Next Day
The newspapers exploded.
Karl's achievements dominated every front page.
Even Karl himself felt embarrassed reading them.
But the media campaign hadn't stopped.
Meanwhile—
Sengoku was still fighting with the Five Elders.
He insisted Karl must receive the Marine Hero title.
The Five Elders refused.
One Garp was already enough trouble.
Another hero?
Unacceptable.
Sengoku slammed his argument down:
"The newspapers already shifted public opinion."
"Karl's achievements overshadow the Mary Geoise disaster."
"If he receives nothing…"
"It will be hard to control the situation."
A golden-bearded elder replied coldly.
"One Marine Hero is enough."
Sengoku leaned forward.
"No."
"Garp is a legend of the previous era."
"The Marines need a new legend."
"A symbol to inspire recruitment."
"And now is the perfect moment."
He emphasized each word.
"Karl captured the criminal who destroyed Mary Geoise."
"He restored the World Government's prestige."
"And you won't even grant him a hero medal?"
The Five Elders exchanged glances.
Finally—
An elderly man spoke calmly.
"We will consider it."
"Tomorrow at the latest, you will have our answer."
Sengoku stood.
"Good."
And walked out.
Behind him, the Five Elders muttered.
"He's becoming more disrespectful."
Another elder shrugged.
"He's been wanting to retire anyway."
A third smirked.
"If Sengoku likes this Karl so much…"
"Bring him here."
"Let's see what kind of man he is."
"If he resembles Garp and Sengoku…"
"Then he will never become Marine Hero."
New World
"Why is it always Karl?" someone groaned.
Lucky Roux folded the newspaper.
"I'm getting tired of seeing his face."
He tossed it to Benn Beckman.
Beckman skimmed it thoughtfully.
"Every headline is about him."
"The Mary Geoise destruction story vanished."
Lucky Roux frowned.
"You think the news is manipulated?"
Beckman nodded.
"Of course."
"The government wants to erase the incident."
"But something still bothers me."
"Enel destroyed Mary Geoise…"
"How did Karl kill him so quickly?"
Lucky Roux shrugged.
"He's a Devil Fruit user."
"Whatever."
"Drink."
Beckman sighed and accepted the glass.
They had just finished a battle.
Relaxation was deserved.
On the Other Side of the Ship
Shanks stared at Karl's photograph.
His remaining arm tingled faintly.
"Looks like the Marines…"
"…produced a terrifying monster."
Public Opinion
The momentum kept growing.
Some newspapers openly declared:
Karl is the new Marine Hero.
The Navy must award him the Hero Medal.
Strangely—
Almost no one objected.
Instead—
Support surged.
Karl's fan base had exploded.
The "fan club"… or perhaps harem support group had grown exponentially.
Thanks to relentless media bombardment—
Karl's popularity skyrocketed.
With his "Heartthrob Arsonist" aura buff—
He had become a genuine stamina monster.
Sit-ups?
Please.
Karl had long surpassed that stage.
Marineford
Sengoku stood at the doorway.
"Karl."
"You're coming with me."
"To Mary Geoise."
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