Marine Recruit Training Grounds.
Zeff glanced at the time, then bellowed at the recruits drenched in sweat:
"That's it for today! Training ends here! Assemble again at 6:30 p.m. sharp! Dismissed!"
Cheers instantly erupted.
The recruits shoved and jostled as they rushed toward the mess hall like a tidal wave.
Only Ain and Binz stayed behind.
Not because they weren't hungry—
but because today, they were going to visit Karl, who was still "seriously injured."
"Ain, Binz—you two come with me," Zeff said calmly.
"Yes, Instructor Zeff!"
The two followed closely behind him toward the Marine hospital.
As the hospital grew closer, Binz's expression turned conflicted. He leaned toward Ain and whispered nervously:
"Hey… Ain, do you think Karl will hold a grudge? I mean, I did hit him pretty badly…"
Ain pressed her lips together. Thinking back to the cheerful, easygoing Karl she'd known on the recruit ship, she shook her head uncertainly.
"I… don't really know. But based on Big Brother Karl's personality… he probably wouldn't?"
"Phew—then that's good…"
Binz finally let out a breath of relief.
Soon, the three arrived at the hospital and stopped outside Karl's ward.
The door was open.
Zeff didn't hesitate for a second before stepping straight in.
"Karl, how's your recovery—"
"Huh?!"
Zeff froze mid-sentence.
His eyes widened. He stood there pointing at Karl for a good long while, unable to form a single word.
Ain and Binz were confused—
until they followed his gaze.
And then… they froze too.
Inside the ward—
Karl was sitting lazily on a lounge chair by the window, wearing nothing but blue shorts.
Right leg crossed over left.
A cigar in his right hand.
A newspaper in his left.
His fair face still bore faint lipstick marks, and standing behind him like a gentle young wife was Nurse Monica, massaging his shoulders with practiced familiarity.
The moment Zeff barged in—
Both Karl and Monica stiffened like statues.
Karl stared at Zeff with his mouth wide open.
The ash from his cigar dropped onto his thigh—and he didn't even notice.
Monica recovered a split second faster. She quickly pulled her hands back behind her, her expression stiff with embarrassment.
"Ahem—cough, cough! Ouch! Nurse Monica, I suddenly feel my chest tightening! What's going on?! Quick—help me back to bed, I need to rest immediately!"
When Monica didn't move, Karl coughed awkwardly, stubbed out his cigar himself, and staggered dramatically to the bed.
He lay down, yanked the blanket up, and pretended to be half-dead.
"Stop pretending, Karl!!!"
Zeff finally exploded.
"So you did do it on purpose?! You've been deceiving me this whole time—using fake injuries to avoid training?!"
All the strange incidents since Karl entered the camp suddenly snapped together.
Yes.
He was doing it on purpose.
And what's more—this shameless technique felt way too familiar.
Exactly like that bastard Kizaru.
These two used the exact same methods to dodge training!
No wonder Karl—despite clearly having a stronger physique than Binz—had ended up injured so badly.
Was he being treated like a fool?!
Zeff's furious voice echoed throughout the ward.
Binz and Ain shrank back, trembling.
Monica looked anxiously between Zeff and the silent Karl. Gathering her courage, she spoke up:
"Mr. Zeff, please keep your voice down. This is a hospital, not a training ground. Please don't disturb the patients."
Karl let out a long sigh.
"Monica… please step outside for now."
Monica hesitated. She met Karl's serious gaze, her eyes flickering as if she wanted to say something more—but in the end, she nodded.
She shot Karl a good luck look and hurried out of the room.
Click.
"…"
Zeff's chest rose and fell heavily.
After being scolded in the hospital of all places, he finally calmed down.
He stared at Karl with a flat expression.
"You've been living quite comfortably during these sick days, haven't you? Looks like my training camp has been keeping you from enjoying life."
Karl scratched his head awkwardly.
Why did that sentence sound… oddly sarcastic?
"Instructor Zeff, you're overestimating me. I was just feeling stiff from lying down too long, so I asked Nurse Monica to help loosen my muscles. It's really not what you're thinking."
"Hmph."
Zeff snorted.
He didn't believe a single word.
"I don't care about any of that. Since you're basically recovered, return to the training camp immediately."
"Don't forget—you've missed an entire week of training."
"For the remaining time, I will personally supervise you. No more loopholes. No more tricks."
No—wait—hold on!
Karl's heart skipped.
If Zeff truly did that, his daily missions—and even his career mission—would be completely impossible to complete.
But could he blame Zeff?
As the Marines' Chief Instructor, Zeff saw his potential and wanted to guide him properly—like a strict parent hoping their child would succeed.
Was that wrong?
No.
In fact, it was entirely right.
The countless elite Marines Zeff had trained over the years were proof enough.
"Sigh… Instructor Zeff, I'll be honest with you."
Karl's expression turned serious.
"I actually have a special training method."
"But I can only explain it to you alone."
He glanced toward Ain and Binz standing by the doorway.
Zeff instinctively felt Karl was about to start spouting nonsense again—but seeing the seriousness in his eyes made Zeff hesitate.
His own decades-long asthma had been cured effortlessly by Karl's power.
Maybe… there really was something special about him?
After a long moment of thought, Zeff decided to give Karl one last chance.
If Karl was bullshitting again—
he'd drag him straight out of bed and train him into the ground.
"You two—get out."
"Yes, Instructor Zeff!"
Ain and Binz didn't hesitate for a second before turning and leaving.
Bang.
The door shut.
Zeff turned back around, arms folded, staring down at Karl.
"Well? Let's hear it."
Karl drew a breath.
"After I obtained my Devil Fruit ability, I discovered that the power of Holy Light isn't limited to healing and enhancement."
"It can also… strengthen my physique directly."
As he spoke, Karl stood up.
A faint golden aura spread across his body, giving him an almost divine presence. He slowly closed his eyes and began breathing rhythmically.
Behind the scenes—
Karl immediately used one Attribute Enhancement Card, reinforcing Physique.
Warm energy surged through him.
His Physique rating jumped—
From E
to E+.
…He broke through?!
Karl had thought he'd need several cards.
Turns out—he was only one step away.
The golden aura gradually faded.
Karl opened his eyes and smiled at Zeff.
With your eyesight, Instructor… you should be able to tell, right?
And indeed—
The instant Karl's physique crossed the threshold, Zeff's expression changed.
A veteran of hand-to-hand combat, Zeff was extremely sensitive to changes in physical strength.
He had clearly felt it.
Karl's body… had undergone a transformation just now.
Could it really be as Karl claimed?
That his ability could permanently strengthen his physique?
No—wait.
Karl's power could grant enhancements, but those effects usually lasted no more than an hour.
Unless…
"Carl," Zeff said gravely,
"let me test your strength."
He stepped forward.
Muscles swelled and hardened like forged steel.
Karl's pupils shrank.
Iron Body.
Zeff had activated Iron Body.
"Instructor Zeff," Karl said, eyes sharpening,
"Please excuse me for showing off!"
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