Chapter 97

Carl absorbed the Persian Cat Fruit into the Dark Bible. The power of this fruit was indeed ordinary, so it would be kept as part of his collection for the time being.

Lucia and Ginny were still dazed, their expressions looked adorable. Carl chuckled and was about to speak when the Den Den Mushi on the table suddenly rang.

Carl paused for a moment before connecting the Den Den Mushi. Kong's serious voice echoed through.

"Carl, return to the Navy Headquarters immediately. Don't take the warship, use your ability. The faster, the better!"

Kong's tone indicated that something major was happening. Carl didn't waste words and simply acknowledged, then hung up the Den Den Mushi. He stood up, turning to Lucia and Ginny.

"I'll head back to the Headquarters first. Wait for me at the base," Carl instructed.

The two girls nodded. Lucia spoke softly, "Young Master, just leave this to us. Don't worry."

Ginny added with concern, "Brother Carl, if there's any dangerous mission at Headquarters, please be careful!"

Carl stepped forward and pulled the two women into a gentle embrace, whispering, "Don't be nervous. I'll inform you if anything happens."

With that, Carl activated his ability, twisted his body, and vanished into the darkness.

In the empty office of the Fleet Admiral at Marineford, Garp once again refused the promotion to Admiral and was about to leave in haste, as if there was something urgent to attend to.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Garp opened it to find Carl standing outside.

Seeing Carl, Garp was momentarily stunned. "Carl? Why are you back?"

Carl smiled politely, but before he could respond, Kong approached, saying, "I called Carl back. He will accompany you and Sengoku. The situation is urgent. Explain the details to him on the way."

Garp nodded, "Understood. Carl, come with me." He then took Carl and departed.

Garp was in a rush to find Roger for a fight, and on the way, he briefly explained the mission. Carl, hearing the information, immediately understood. It was the battle between the Golden Lion and Roger.

Upon arrival at the Headquarters' port, Sengoku was already on the warship. According to the original plan, Kizaru, Akainu, and Aokiji were also supposed to participate, but Kizaru and Akainu were now Rear Admirals stationed at the G2 and G3 branches, and unable to make it in time. Aokiji, having joined the Navy a year earlier than originally planned, was still at the Naval academy.

Garp, impatient, jumped directly onto the warship's deck, while Carl followed using Kamui.

Ignoring Garp's impatience, Sengoku turned to Carl, "Carl, do you understand the situation?"

Carl nodded. "Understood, Admiral Sengoku. Shall we depart?"

Garp's frustration was visible, but Sengoku, unbothered, signaled the crew to set sail. He glanced at Garp and said,

"I'm the Admiral, my rank is higher, and on this ship, my orders stand."

Garp turned away, muttering, "I don't want to be an Admiral anyway. Too much responsibility, no freedom!"

Sengoku smirked, "You're just avoiding the Celestial Dragons, aren't you?"

"Haha, you know me too well, Sengoku!" Garp laughed.

Carl stood quietly, staring out at the sea.

On the Sea.

Roger leaped into the air with Ace, his supreme sword, glowing with red and black lightning, blocking the golden slashes coming his way.

After landing back on his ship, Rayleigh approached Roger, looking serious. "Roger, the odds are against us. If this continues..."

Roger knew it well. The Golden Lion's Flying Pirates had strength in numbers, and their members were not easily subdued by Conqueror's Haki. The most troublesome aspect was Golden Lion's ability, he commanded both the air and the sea, making him a formidable opponent for Roger's lone ship.

Some of the Flying Pirates had already boarded the Oro Jackson, and fierce combat erupted on deck.

The hovering Golden Lion laughed, calling down to Roger, "Roger, it's not too late to join me! Let's rule the world together!"

Roger snorted, releasing his Haki, causing a huge wave to surge on the sea. He responded to the Golden Lion with a display of his own Conqueror's Haki.

On deck, two young boys, a redhead and a red-nosed kid, stood back to back, observing Roger's impressive display. The red-haired boy looked at Roger with admiration, "Buggy, Captain Roger is so amazing!"

The red-nosed boy, Buggy, frowned after slicing down an enemy. "Shanks, stop idolizing the captain and focus on staying alive!"

These two were future Emperors—Red-haired Shanks and Buggy the Clown—currently only twelve years old.

As Shanks was distracted by Buggy's words, an enemy rushed behind him, raising a sword toward Shanks' head.

"Die, kid!" the pirate shouted.

Shanks noticed too late, the blade was already upon him.

Roger, though engaged with the Golden Lion, always kept an eye on Shanks. If he saw him in danger, he'd intervene.

Suddenly, a dark vortex appeared before Shanks. Carl materialized, grabbing the attacking pirate's arm. With a scream, the pirate fell, his arm twisted grotesquely. Before he could process what happened, Carl placed his hand on the pirate's face, and a dark vortex swallowed him whole.

In Shanks' stunned eyes, the pirate's lifeless body fell to the deck.

Carl, in his Navy coat, looked down at Shanks. "Didn't Roger teach you to never lose focus during a fight?"

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+74 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg

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