One Piece: Signing In as a Pirate Begins with Roger's Execution

After ensuring Dadan was settled, Karl barely had a moment to search for Makino and Rouge before Sengoku's transponder snail buzzed in.

Predictably, Sengoku wasted no time in unloading his anger on Karl.

"Can't you ever give this old man a break?!" he bellowed. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused in the East Blue? I'm the one cleaning up your mess!

"Zephyr retired because of his asthma. Garp claims to be chasing Barrett, yet I haven't seen any results! And now you've gone and offended CP9? Are you deliberately trying to make my life harder? You little punk—"

Sengoku's voice was seething, and Karl could almost feel the fury through the snail. Unbothered, Karl casually cleaned his ear with a finger and replied nonchalantly.

"Grandpa Sengoku, I admit this was my fault, but I'm not apologizing. If this happens again, I'll handle it the same way!"

"You dare talk about next time? You've already crossed CP9 twice this year! If it weren't for your—"

Sengoku abruptly cut himself off mid-sentence, likely about to mention Karl's unique background.

Karl chuckled knowingly, then flashed a cheeky grin at the transponder snail. "Grandpa Sengoku, let's not bring that up again. I'm well aware of who I am—a war orphan from God Valley, the sole survivor, and the adopted son of you, Grandpa Garp, and Grandpa Zephyr.

"It's nothing worth boasting about, and I've never used that identity to pull any stunts either."

"Forget it," Sengoku sighed. His tone softened, though it was tinged with hidden intent. "When you return, Fleet Admiral Kong will arrange for you to meet the Five Elders."

Karl ignored the first part but bristled at the second. "Grandpa Sengoku, you know how I feel about the Five Elders. Let's not bother with that meeting."

"You're free to gripe all you want, but I'll say this: if something similar happens again, I expect you to deal with it responsibly!" Sengoku said firmly. "Do you think I'd tolerate CP9 arresting all the pregnant women and infants under a year old in Windmill Village for interrogation and torture? Worse, they were ready to start killing anyone who resisted! Dadan barely escaped alive!"

Karl's expression turned somber, and his tone carried genuine grief. "Would you have stood for it, Grandpa Sengoku?"

The transponder snail mirrored Karl's pained expression with remarkable accuracy, leaving Sengoku momentarily speechless.

"Cough, cough. Is everything you've said true?" Sengoku asked after clearing his throat.

"Every word," Karl replied emphatically.

"Well done, then!"

"..."

"Grandpa Sengoku, isn't that a bit of a double standard?"

"Ha! Let's not dwell on it. I don't want to discuss this further," Sengoku said with a laugh. Then, turning serious, he added, "Keep an eye out for Barrett. Garp reported spotting him in the Calm Belt about a month ago. If you're able, patrol the area and locate him. But be careful! His strength rivals that of the Golden Lion!"

"Understood, Grandpa Sengoku. Anything else?"

"Just this: stay safe. As for finding Rouge, handle it your way. You're old enough now—I can't micromanage you anymore."

With that, Sengoku abruptly hung up. Karl let out a sheepish laugh and set the transponder snail aside.

"Phew, that was nerve-wracking. I thought I was in for a worse scolding."

"You're always getting chewed out," Dadan remarked. "Does Sengoku know about Rouge?"

Karl stroked his chin thoughtfully before shaking his head. "I'm not sure. Garp and I have been careful, but we can't completely hide everything from Sengoku. Still, if he knew Rouge was with me, he'd have ordered me to capture her long ago."

Sighing, Karl poured himself a drink. After ensuring Dadan received medical treatment, he left the bar and ventured into the forest to find Makino and Rouge.

They were hiding in a small, secluded cave surrounded by dense shrubbery, a waterfall, and a small lake. The area's natural features made the cave nearly impossible to spot unless someone was actively searching for it.

Karl had previously widened the cave entrance for convenience, and its spacious interior could comfortably shelter over a dozen people. For now, it housed only Rouge, Makino, and a baby Ace cradled in Rouge's arms.

After bringing them out, Karl used his powers to dust them off lightly before escorting them back to the village. However, with night already falling due to the CP9 incident, Karl decided to wait until morning to take Rouge to Loguetown for her safety.

Unlike CP9, the Navy's inspections were far less aggressive and intrusive. Moreover, Loguetown was Karl's territory, and any naval forces from headquarters wouldn't dare cross him there. It was, without a doubt, the safest place for Rouge and Ace.

The night passed without incident.

At dawn, before the Navy could spot them, Karl set off with Rouge and baby Ace, leaving Windmill Village behind. Though Loguetown was quite a distance away, Karl used his Float-Float Fruit powers to lift their small boat into the sky, allowing them to cut through the air and save considerable time.

Had it not been for his concern about Ace catching a cold, Karl could have flown even faster.

"Wheee! This is amazing!" Ace squealed in delight.

Rouge struggled to hold the squirming toddler, whose enthusiasm threatened to wriggle him free from her grasp. At this rate, it was clear that in another year or two, Ace would outgrow her ability to carry him.

"If you want to fly, little Ace," Karl said, his eyes lighting up with inspiration, "you can train with me! I can teach you how to soar through the air!"

Pointing toward the plaza outside the Loguetown Navy branch, Karl gestured at a group of soldiers practicing the Six Powers. Among them, a handful were attempting Sky Walk. Though most failed, a few managed to leap into the air with success.

Ace's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I want to learn that! Brother Karl, I want to fly!"

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