After the New Recruit Grand Tournament, the camp was given three days off.
No slacking missions during leave.
Karl was not happy about that.
After all, only skipping work counted as slacking.
A holiday was just… doing whatever you wanted. No rewards, no system prompts.
"Ah! It's already eight! I'm late—Karl, stop it!"
Monica scrambled out of bed, hurriedly pushing away Karl's wandering hands.
It was all his fault—he'd insisted on "training" all night, leaving her completely unrested.
"I—I have to go!" she said, flustered.
"Mmm… go on ahead," Karl muttered lazily. "I'll… sleep a bit more."
A moment later, soft snoring echoed through the room.
Monica got dressed at lightning speed and rushed out.
An hour later—
Bang bang bang!
"Who is it?"
"It's me—Smoker. I know you're home. Open up."
Smoker? What did this guy want?
With no choice, Karl dragged himself out of bed and opened the door.
"What are you here for—huh? And why is there a woman with you?"
The woman was Tashigi—long pink hair, dark red suit, cigarette between her lips, her sharp and cool demeanor mirroring Smoker's perfectly.
Karl knew her name, of course, but officially they hadn't met yet, so he pretended ignorance.
"Oh, this is Tashigi," Smoker said casually.
"We were in the same training camp. You could say we're… friends."
The moment he said "could say", Tashigi's expression turned icy.
"Tashigi is disappointed," she said coolly.
"We've known each other for years, and I'm only 'kind of' your friend?"
"Alright, alright! You're my friend!" Smoker snapped.
"Enough of that—Karl, come on, let's go to the training ground."
Karl shoved him away with a "what are you doing?" look.
"Are you kidding me? It's finally a holiday! I'm not going anywhere."
Smoker snorted.
"Don't play dumb. Instructor Zeff already told me everything."
"Yesterday's match wasn't decisive. Today, we settle it."
"Nope. I surrender."
Karl rejected him without hesitation.
A Logia user challenging someone without Armament Haki—have you no shame?
"Hey! Then I won't use elementalization, alright?" Smoker insisted.
"Let's fight seriously—fist to fist."
Karl narrowed his eyes.
He was almost certain Smoker just wanted to get his pride back by beating him up.
"Come on, Karl!" Smoker urged.
"You can't stay cooped up all three days. Who knows—maybe you'll awaken Haki in battle!"
…That actually made sense.
Zeff had already said it—awakening Haki was far more likely under real pressure.
Against Zeff or Shuzo, Karl stood no chance—no pressure there.
But Smoker?
A perfectly balanced tool opponent.
"…Fine," Karl sighed. "Give me a few minutes."
Fifteen minutes later, Karl and Smoker stood on opposite sides of the training field.
Tashigi acted as referee.
"Are both sides ready?"
Karl infused holy light into himself.
His power surged, and his Physique temporarily rose from C to C+.
To reach that level with enhancement cards alone would've taken over fifty cards.
"Let's go."
Shave!
The two clashed instantly, trading blows without restraint.
The next two days passed mostly in sparring sessions with Smoker and Tashigi.
Without elementalization, Smoker was no longer Karl's match.
As long as Smoker's stamina held, the fight was even—but the moment he slipped, Karl overwhelmed him with his still-abundant energy.
Holy Light's healing plus Swift as a Hare, which halved stamina consumption, gave Karl terrifying endurance.
His recovery ability rivaled even Zoan users.
Of course, if Smoker used elementalization, the fight became much harder.
Tashigi also sparred with Karl several times.
Her Bind-Bind Fruit excelled at control—once she restrained him, breaking free was difficult.
Their matches usually ended evenly.
As the saying went: no fight, no friendship.
Before long, Karl had become close friends with both of them.
"Whew… thank you, Karl," Tashigi sighed softly, eyes closed as holy light flowed through her.
"That ability of yours is incredible. No wonder your endurance is so absurd."
Her minor injuries vanished instantly, even her fatigue fading away.
"I'm not surprised anymore," Smoker added.
"If Karl were on our squad, catching pirates would be easy—no fear of injuries at all."
"No wonder all three Admirals wanted him as an adjutant."
Having experienced the ability firsthand, Smoker couldn't help but lament his own luck.
"Should've eaten a better fruit…"
Karl laughed.
"Hey, we're all Marines. We'll definitely fight side by side again someday."
Smoker nodded.
"True. By the way, you're heading out tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah. Morning departure."
"Good luck," Smoker said. "I'm heading out too."
"And Tashigi?" Karl asked.
"Tashigi is leaving tomorrow as well," she replied.
"I'm going with Vice Admiral Tsuru to the New World. A newcomer named Jack from the Beasts Pirates has been getting too arrogant."
Jack.
Karl's heart stirred slightly.
For a moment, he considered suggesting a farewell dinner—but thought better of it.
They all had missions.
"Then let's part ways here," Karl said with a smile.
"Next time we meet, we'll catch up properly."
"Deal."
"Tashigi agrees."
The next day.
"Monica, I'll be out on mission for a month," Karl said gently.
"Wait for me, alright?"
Monica wrapped her arms around his neck, inhaling his scent as if afraid to forget it.
"I will. You have to come back safely."
"Of course."
Karl boarded the internship ship, waving to her until the vessel left Crescent Bay.
Only then did Monica turn back toward the hospital, quietly waiting for his return.
On deck, the atmosphere was electric.
After two months, the recruits were finally sailing out on a real warship—to execute justice.
"Ahem! Everyone, assemble!"
Zeff raised a megaphone, briefing them on the mission.
"According to Marine Intelligence, the pirate crew 'Hunter Blade', with a total bounty of 47.45 million Beli, is active near Autumn Island."
"Your mission: defeat them, arrest them, and send them all to Impel Down."
"Do you have confidence?"
"YES!!!"
"Good," Zeff said with satisfaction.
"I trust in your strength."
"Now—set sail!"
"OOOOHHHH!!!"
Karl inhaled deeply.
The pressure weighed on him.
Not from Hunter Blade—
But from a monster who might appear at any moment.
Whitebeard Jr. — Edward Weevil.
Still, since he was here…
Karl would never let the tragedy he remembered repeat itself.
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