Karl took a deep breath and swung a punch straight at Zeff.
Duang!
The impact rang out clearly.
Zeff's expression didn't change in the slightest.
Karl, on the other hand, immediately pulled his hand back, wincing as pain shot through it.
It hurt like hell.
Too hard—way too hard. He couldn't break through it at all.
For a moment, Karl even started to doubt whether Zeff was the one who truly understood Iron Body.
"Are you lying to me again?" Zeff demanded coldly.
"You clearly just used Holy Light to reinforce your physique."
As if he'd already expected this reaction, Karl didn't panic in the least.
He smiled calmly, golden light blooming in his palm. He slapped it onto his own body—no explanation, no theatrics—then stepped forward and threw another punch at Zeff, just like before.
The result was the same.
Still couldn't break Zeff's defense.
But this time… Zeff's face changed.
He had felt it clearly.
Karl's second punch was at least fifty percent stronger than the first.
Which meant—
The first strike really was Karl's raw, unenhanced strength.
At that moment, Zeff finally believed Karl's absurd-sounding explanation.
Holy Light… could strengthen the user's physique itself.
"T-this… does a Devil Fruit like this really exist in the world?"
Zeff murmured in disbelief.
A man who had always looked down on Devil Fruits found himself feeling a trace of envy.
"Instructor Zeff, I wasn't lying to you, was I?" Karl said with a grin.
"And the key point is—this method is incredibly efficient. Way faster than normal training. So…"
"…Sigh."
With an ability like that, was there really any need to grind himself to exhaustion every single day?
Obviously not.
Zeff let out a long sigh and finally said:
"I understand now. In that case, I won't make things difficult for you. You can skip daily physical training."
"But whenever I'm teaching combat techniques, you must be present."
"Of course!"
Karl agreed instantly.
Having a strong body without knowing how to fight would just make him a brainless brute.
That said, his real concern was time management—he just needed to phrase it a bit… more tactfully.
"Instructor Zeff, I have one more request."
"Go on."
Karl straightened, his expression turning serious.
"How about this—I'll spend four hours a day attending lectures, practicing techniques, and doing combat training. For the remaining time, I'll leave the training ground and focus on strengthening my physique using my own method. What do you think?"
Zeff frowned slightly.
"Why can't you 'strengthen your physique' on the training grounds?"
Seeing Zeff's displeasure, Karl immediately changed tactics, putting on an aggrieved look.
"Well… Instructor Zeff, weren't you the one who said my ability shouldn't be exposed yet? If I stay at the training ground, there's no way I can hide it."
"And besides…"
Zeff asked sharply, "Besides what?"
"Well… it's Admiral Kizaru."
Karl sighed.
"Admiral Kizaru has already come looking for me. More than once, actually."
Sorry, Kizaru.
Your relationship with Zeff can't get any worse anyway—might as well carry this black pot for me.
Zeff's eyes snapped wide.
"I knew it!" he roared.
"Kizaru, that bastard—up to no good again! Let me guess, he's been feeding you his crooked philosophies, hasn't he?!"
"Huff—huff—this time, I'm going to find that scumbag and settle things properly!!!"
"W-wait! Instructor Zeff! Calm down! Please calm down!"
Please don't go anywhere!
Your intentions are good—but please, don't act on them!
Karl hurriedly grabbed Zeff and said quickly:
"Instructor Zeff, think about it carefully. Admiral Kizaru's ideas are actually very suitable for me, aren't they?"
"Bullshit! You think I don't know his twisted—hnng?"
Zeff suddenly froze.
Hand on his chin, he began to think.
…He was right.
Even if Karl focused only on developing his ability, his physique wouldn't fall behind. On the contrary—his body might grow stronger alongside the development of his power.
As long as Karl mastered combat techniques and gained real battle experience, he would become a top-tier powerhouse sooner or later.
Admiral rank would just be a matter of time.
This was practically a fusion of his own ideology and Kizaru's.
The only problem was… acknowledging Kizaru.
"Hmph!"
Zeff snorted but reluctantly accepted Karl's reasoning.
He had never been unreasonable—if anything, that was exactly why he couldn't stand Kizaru.
That man was clearly wasting his talent.
If Borsalino's physique were on the same level as Akainu or Aokiji, he would undoubtedly be the strongest of the three Admirals.
"So," Karl asked carefully,
"what do you think about the training plan I suggested?"
"…This is the path you chose," Zeff said slowly.
"I won't force you otherwise. We'll do it your way."
Kazoo!
Karl was ecstatic.
Did that mean… he'd successfully talked his way through it?
I really am a natural-born master of slacking.
"But—" Zeff suddenly added.
Karl's scalp tightened.
"I'll regularly test your strength. If I catch you slacking off—"
"I won't care whether your ability gets exposed or not. You'll stay on the training grounds and train like everyone else."
"Yes, yes, yes! I promise you, Instructor Zeff!"
Zeff nodded and patted Karl's shoulder with his broad hand.
"Karl, rest well today. I'll see you at the training ground tomorrow."
He turned and walked away.
The ward fell quiet, leaving Karl alone in the empty room.
"Phew…"
Karl had just let out a breath when Zeff suddenly reappeared at the doorway, gossip written all over his face.
"If I remember correctly, that nurse Monica is a Marine widow, isn't she? Your relationship with her seems… a bit too close."
"Uh—Instructor Zeff, don't misunderstand! I'm just…慰问—慰问海军遗孀! Yes! Comforting a Marine widow!"
"Comforting a Marine widow?"
Zeff raised an eyebrow.
"If I'd arrived any later, you'd probably have 'comforted' her right into bed."
"..."
"Forget it. Young people's affairs are none of my business," Zeff waved it off.
"But show some restraint. Don't let wine and women drain your body dry."
After leaving those meaningful words behind, Zeff left again—this time for good.
At the hospital entrance, he spotted Binz and Ain, still waiting outside.
They'd clearly been there for quite a while.
Zeff said, "You two can go see Karl now. And Binz—remember to apologize."
"Yes, Instructor Zeff!"
The two headed back to Karl's ward together.
Ain carried a fruit basket.
Binz brought flowers.
Ain set the basket down and smiled at Karl, who was sprawled on the bed like Ge You.
"Big Brother Karl, you're recovering really fast! I thought you'd be stuck in bed for at least a month!"
"Oh come on, you're too polite—just bringing gifts is enough. Why come in person?"
Binz: …Didn't he say that backward?
"Uh… Karl," Binz said earnestly.
"I'm really sorry. I hit too hard before—that was my fault. If you're still angry, you can punch me once."
"Hahahaha! This little injury is nothing!"
"You think I'm that petty?"
If anyone really owed apologies here, it was Karl himself.
Ain and Binz had basically been his designated slacking tools.
Without their help, he wouldn't have had such an easy time lazing around.
But from now on—
He wouldn't need them anymore.
Because Karl now had something even better.
Exclusive slacking privileges.
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