"Douriki testing is over. Everyone, follow me!"
The test wrapped up quickly. Among all the recruits, only three really stood out.
First was Karl, who currently held the highest Douriki.
Then there were two Paramecia users: Ain and Binz—401 and 451 respectively.
The moment Karl learned he'd taken first place, he regretted it deeply.
If he'd known, he would've just thrown a casual punch.
Now he'd turned himself into a freaking lighthouse—just asking to be noticed.
And being noticed meant one thing:
Harder to slack off.
Ding!
[Daily Mission Issued (Training Camp Phase)]:
During regular training, accumulate 8 hours of slacking.
Reward: Chosen Attribute Enhancement Card ×2, Random Bonus Reward ×2.
"Holy shit, the training camp daily rewards are doubled?!"
Karl couldn't help but sigh in admiration. As expected of a Career Mission.
Ding!
[Friendly Reminder]: Current bound profession: Marine.
Career Mission and Daily Mission rewards will increase as the host's rank rises.
[Please correct your mindset. Slacking off is not the same as giving up on life.]
…To be fair, that was exactly right.
For Karl, slacking was just a method.
Becoming stronger was always the goal.
Take horse-faced Kuzan, for example. He always looked half-asleep, but when something serious happened, he moved for real. That balance—slack when you can, work when you must—was something Karl deeply admired.
Even after the Ohara Incident, Aokiji's detached attitude never stopped Sengoku from appreciating him. When Sengoku was about to retire, he still wanted Kuzan to succeed him as the next Fleet Admiral.
A true role model in the art of responsible slacking.
If only the World Government hadn't meddled…
If only he hadn't lost to that ultimate workaholic…
He might still be the standard bearer of the slacking world instead of quitting in disillusionment.
Thinking along those lines, Karl couldn't help but glance at the Holy Light Fruit stored in his system. This thing… actually suited him way too well.
No, not yet. There were too many people around. Even if he wanted to eat it, now wasn't the time.
With mixed feelings, Karl followed the fresh recruits to the training grounds, where Instructor Zephyr was already waiting.
Once everyone had assembled, Zephyr took the list of names and files from Shuzo, skimmed it casually, then set it aside and shouted:
"Attention!"
"I hereby announce: the 24th Marine Recruit Training Camp is officially in session! All of you—look to your right, align, and run 50 laps around this field. Start now!"
At his command, all the recruits obediently began running around the track.
Zephyr, meanwhile, used the time to carefully study their files, occasionally exchanging remarks with Shuzo. When he saw Karl's profile, he couldn't help raising a brow.
"Oh? That kid who showed up late is actually the strongest one in this batch?"
"Yes, Instructor Zephyr," Shuzo replied. "Even I was surprised. That pretty boy—no, that brat—looks fragile as glass, but his strength isn't bad at all."
Zephyr nodded and patted Shuzo on the shoulder.
"Keep an eye on him. There's more to dig out from that one."
On the track, Karl's expression was twisted with misery as he ran in the middle of the pack.
He swore he was absolutely slacking in spirit… but his slacking time wasn't going up at all.
Karl was on the verge of despair.
If this kept up, he wouldn't even be able to complete his daily missions. What was he supposed to do—fake an illness to get out of training?
That wouldn't work either.
This wasn't the simple "military training" from his original world. Faking sick here wasn't easy.
If he got found out…
Given how Zephyr treated even Borsalino, it wasn't hard to imagine their relationship going straight down the drain. Getting kicked out of the training camp wasn't impossible either.
After all, he wasn't Kizaru—a powerful Logia user.
He was just an ordinary Marine with average talent.
A nobody who didn't train, only wanted to slack, and still hoped to survive at Marine Headquarters?
Beep!
[Slacking difficulty detected. Host is facing a "slacking dilemma."]
[Timed Mission Issued]: Within 10 minutes, find a perfect way to evade this training session.
Reward: Active Skill – "Weak as a Breeze"
Effect: Upon activation, lifespan -3 days, Defense -100%, Injury Chance +1000%, and gain Severe Injury Immunity (immune to fatal injuries and any lasting sequelae). Duration: 3 minutes.
PS: Can only be used once every 3 days.
Karl's eyes lit up instantly.
Life suddenly had hope again.
As expected of the Slacking System—truly considerate.
Personal slacking autonomy!
Sure, it cost a bit of lifespan, but it was only three days. It's not like he'd be using it constantly. Besides, random rewards often gave extra lifespan days anyway.
The real problem was—
What method should he use to "perfectly" escape this round of training?
"Tsk, tsk…"
Only ten minutes on the clock. Karl felt the pressure mounting.
His gaze began to wander and, before long, landed on the steadily running Ain up ahead.
Got it.
It's you, Ain.
Her Devil Fruit was the Return-Return Fruit, and if Karl remembered correctly… she could make someone "regress" into a younger version of themselves.
If he turned into a child, would Zephyr really have the heart to make a little kid run fifty laps?
Perfect plan. Time to act.
Karl sped up, took a running step forward, and drew level with Ain. He kept his eyes ahead, but from the corner of his eye, he openly sized up her slender figure, grinning playfully.
"Hey, Ain! Can you do me a favor?"
Focused on running, Ain turned her head slightly—only to see Karl winking at her.
Her cheeks reddened at once.
Faced with Karl's bright, handsome smile, her thin skin simply couldn't withstand it. She didn't dare look him directly in the eyes.
Trying to sound nonchalant, she replied shyly:
"Um… what do you want me to do?"
Yes!
Karl cheered inwardly. Being good-looking was just unfairly advantageous.
If he looked like Silver Fox Foxy, this conversation wouldn't even exist.
"Ain, I heard you're a Return-Return Fruit user. Can you show me your ability?"
Ain's brows knitted slightly.
"This… Brother Karl, right now?"
"Yes, right now. Try it on me!" Karl said eagerly. "Don't worry, if anything happens, I'll take full responsibility."
He thumped his chest repeatedly, as if afraid she wouldn't believe him.
Ain's heart skipped. That definitely wouldn't do.
If she used her ability on Karl, he'd absolutely turn into a child. She couldn't bring herself to do something like that to a fellow Marine.
"N-no, I can't, Brother Karl. I absolutely can't do that!"
With that, she pulled away from him, her refusal firm.
Karl slapped himself mentally.
Can't you just be a little more handsome?
Take that as a warning. Next time you pull a stunt like this, you're banned from using facial cleanser for life.
Plan A failed. Fine. There was always Plan B.
Karl moved back to her side once more and lowered his voice.
"Ain, how about this—you show me your ability, but you don't have to use it on me, okay?"
His tone carried a hint of pleading, his eyes pitiful as he looked at her.
Time ticked away, second by second.
Unable to withstand Karl's gaze any longer, Ain sighed helplessly.
Under his watchful eyes, she raised her left hand.
A deep pink glow bloomed from her palm, swaying like flame—mysterious and strange.
Now.
A sharp glint flashed in Karl's eyes.
His right hand shot out like lightning, grabbing Ain's left hand in a tight grip before she could react.
As his body began to change, Karl allowed himself a faint smile.
The "accident compensation" plan had succeeded.
"W–What?!"
Ain covered her mouth in shock, completely stunned by Karl's move. She quickly tried to withdraw her power, but it was too late.
Her ability took effect the moment physical contact was made. Taking it back now was impossible.
Karl, now reverted to his fourteen-year-old self, got tangled up in his oversized clothing and tripped, crashing to the ground. The Marines running behind him couldn't dodge in time and stumbled over him one after another, like falling dominoes.
The commotion on the track instantly drew Zephyr's attention.
He barked for the recruits to stop running, then strode over in a single powerful leap.
Frowning, he glared down at the scrawny teenager awkwardly trying to cover himself with his baggy clothes.
"What happened?" Zephyr demanded.
"R-report, Instructor," Karl said, voice small but steady,
"I asked Ain to show me her ability, and… out of curiosity, I touched her hand. Then this happened…"
"Utter nonsense!"
Zephyr's roar cracked across the field.
"You're in training, not playing house! Ain, is being a Devil Fruit user so amazing to you? You just had to show off in front of your own comrades?"
"I—I… it's my fault, Instructor Zephyr…"
Ain wanted to explain, but under Zephyr's stern gaze, her courage crumbled. She lowered her head in defeat and accepted the blame, taking the fall in Karl's place.
"Hmph! What are you all staring at? No training today, is that it? Get back to running!"
His glare swept across the other recruits.
"You two—come with me."
Zephyr stormed off with a flick of his cloak.
Karl leaned closer to Ain and whispered, "I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you in the future."
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