One Piece Shadow Army - Chapter 42
A hero?
After hearing Curls’s answer.
Karn felt a sudden sense of enlightenment.
Since he was a child, he had aspired to become a hero, which was why he chose to train at the Isshin Dojo and learn swordsmanship.
As he grew older.
His worldview expanded, and he gradually understood what justice and evil were.
His life changed because he met someone very special, perhaps even great.
That person was “Monkey D. Dragon,” the leader of the Revolutionary Army, whose ideal was to lead the oppressed people of the world to overthrow the current order.
Karn chose to join the Revolutionary Army, but William refused, which is why they are now on different paths.
Later, he became a secret agent for the Revolutionary Army within the East Blue Marines!
It was a profession that walked in the shadows, constantly facing the threat of death.
The risk was very high.
One could even say that as long as his mission was incomplete, everything he did could not be considered heroic.
But Curls’s words made Karn feel he had already achieved his initial dream.
It turned out, he was already a hero, even if it was just to one person.
But, that was enough!
Karn slowly walked to Curls’s side, showing a rare smile.
“Thank you for your recognition.”
He didn’t ask Curls further about the ghost ship because it was clear it was meant to cover the real facts.
“Are you sure you want to stay in Loguetown for now?”
“Yes, Major.”
“Alright, I will try to help you, but I don’t know if I will succeed.”
“Thank you, Major.”
……
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
In a spacious office.
Numerous files were neatly stacked on a black desk.
An elderly man with a stout build, dressed in a Marine uniform, was reviewing these documents.
His beard was tied in a braid, and his cap bore the emblem of a seagull, symbolizing the Marines. His epaulettes had gold fringes.
When he looked up, one could see his stern face and frog-like glasses.
His Marine uniform had medals representing high honors.
He was the current Fleet Admiral of the Marines.
Sengoku!
As the Fleet Admiral, he had to handle many tasks every day to cope with the current Great Pirate Era, making his work extremely busy.
All of this stemmed from nineteen years ago when the Pirate King Roger was publicly executed in Loguetown.
The World Government had thought that publicly executing “Pirate King Roger” would end the chaotic era.
But unexpectedly, Roger’s words before his execution ignited the sea, leading to an even more tumultuous “Great Pirate Era.”
With the surge in pirate numbers, Marine casualties also increased.
Although the Marines had established the “Seven Warlords of the Sea” system to balance the chaotic seas.
If the new Marine forces were not replenished in time, the Marines would be continually oppressed by pirates, and the destruction caused by pirates would rapidly expand.
“Damn Roger, he’s dead, yet he left so many troubles!”
Sengoku couldn’t help but curse.
“You’re right, Roger left too many troubles!”
The door to the Fleet Admiral’s office was pushed open, and an elderly man in a Marine coat entered.
This tall, broad-chested, muscular old man had a scar over his left eye and white hair but looked vigorous.
“Karp, what are you doing here?”
This energetic white-haired old man was the Marine hero “Garp”!
Garp sat on the sofa in Sengoku’s office and started munching on the “rice crackers” on the table.
“Of course, I’m here to have tea with you!”
Garp said, enjoying the fine green tea on the table while munching on the crispy rice crackers, looking thoroughly content.
Sengoku showed anger, slamming the desk with both hands, roaring, “Damn you, that’s my rice crackers, put them down!”
“What? I can’t hear you!”
Garp turned his head aside, pretended to clean his ears, indicating he couldn’t hear, and then used the other hand to grab more rice crackers to eat.
Garp and Sengoku had joined the Marines as recruits together and had become close friends over the years, so their conversations were quite casual.
Sengoku sat back down.
He took out two Marine files.
“I have two outstanding promotion reviews here; you can give me some advice since they are Marines from East Blue, just like you.”
“Hmm?”
Garp was a bit surprised and walked over to look at the files.
The first file:
Name: Karn
Gender: Male
Age: 32
Joined Marines: 5 years
Current Position: Marine Major
Evaluation: Upright, committed to protection, has risked his life multiple times to save subordinates.
Merits: Recently defeated the Black Cat Pirates, dealing with the notorious “Kuro” during the final day of recruit training.
Note: Recommended by Loguetown Marine Captain Smoker, approved for transfer to Marine Headquarters.
Rank Promoted to: Marine Headquarters Major
——
Karn’s rank wasn’t without promotion.
The Marine Headquarters’ ranks differed from those of the Four Seas, and ranks were usually lowered by about three grades upon arriving at Marine Headquarters.
Though it was just adding “Headquarters” in front of his rank, it was a significant promotion.
Garp looked speechless.
He continued eating the rice crackers.
“You’ve already approved it, so why ask me?”
Sengoku snatched the rice crackers from Garp’s hand, pointing to the second file, “Look at this one first.”
Garp was a bit uninterested, but as he read through the file, he gradually became astonished.
The second Marine file:
Name: Charlotte Curls
Gender: Male
Age: 17
Joined Marines: Three months (just completed recruit training)
Interest: Sketching
Rank: Not yet awarded
Special: Devil Fruit User (Fruit Name: “Shadow-Shadow Fruit”)
Merits:
1. During recruit training, killed Euron, captain of the Giant Fist Pirates, with a bounty of 10 million Berries.
2. After recruit training, single-handedly eradicated the gang forces in Loguetown.
3. At Baratie, killed Redbeard Barbarossa, with a bounty of 24 million Berries, single-handedly defeating a thousand-man pirate crew.
Evaluation: Rapid growth in strength (Smoker), cold personality, rebellious nature, often disobedient, suggested to be observed and tempered (Karn).
——
After reading the entire file.
Garp was impressed.
“A Devil Fruit user from East Blue? That’s rare! Just completed recruit training and defeated pirates with bounties of 20 million Berries. This Marine’s future seems very promising!”
Sengoku nodded solemnly.
“After receiving this file, I immediately took note of him. This is definitely a rising star in the Marines.”
“I originally planned to transfer him to the Headquarters for training to help him grow better, but his recruit training instructor’s evaluation made me hesitate. Should I let him stay in East Blue, or bring him to Marine Headquarters?”
Garp had little interest in such troublesome matters and left with the rice crackers.
“You think about it slowly, I’m leaving.”
Sengoku was furious.
“Damn it, Garp, you ate my rice crackers and didn’t leave any advice.”
“Didn’t hear, didn’t hear.” Garp acted shamelessly and disappeared from the office.
Sengoku sat back down.
He began to ponder deeply.
In the end, Sengoku picked up a pen and wrote the rank on the promotion file.
He still chose not to transfer this rebellious Marine recruit to the Headquarters.
Tempering him in East Blue would actually be beneficial to his future achievements, as for his current promotion.
He was promoted to Marine Headquarters Ensign!
Scheduled for next year’s Elite Training Camp!
……
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