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

"Did you already know?"

"I know everything!"

"And how do you feel now?"

"I want to die!"

"Don't be impulsive, Karl. You're still young, and there's a long road ahead. Being a Celestial Dragon isn't entirely a bad thing—just... kind of disgusting."

Karl: ...

After a long silence, Karl couldn't hold back anymore.

"Old man Sengoku, you're too much. You didn't give me even a hint about this!

I thought my only backers were you three, but now look at me—I've suddenly turned into a Celestial Dragon."

On the way back to Marine Headquarters, Karl couldn't help but complain to Sengoku.

Discovering his Celestial Dragon heritage was hard for Karl to accept.

But the truth was undeniable, and he had no choice but to slowly digest the reality.

Sengoku patted Karl on the head and sighed deeply.

He had anticipated Karl's reaction, which was why he hadn't personally revealed Karl's true identity to him.

Sengoku feared that knowing the truth would leave Karl in precisely this state.

"What do you plan to do now?"

"What else can I do? I have to accept it, don't I? But, Sengoku, are you telling me that Z and Garp really knew nothing about this, as the Five Elders claimed?"

Karl asked hopefully, his face eager. Sengoku paused briefly, then shook his head.

"With their level of sharpness, do you think it's possible they knew absolutely nothing?

They're just like me—protecting your feelings by not saying a word."

"I knew it..."

Karl slumped onto the deck like a fish out of water, utterly despondent.

Sengoku sighed, then went to make a call on a Den Den Mushi.

A short while later, Sengoku returned with a serious expression.

"Karl, this time, you've gone too far. I just reported your meeting with the Five Elders to Fleet Admiral Kong, and he wants to see you first thing tomorrow morning.

On top of that, Saul, Sakazuki, and Kuzan have all been implicated by your actions. The punishments they're receiving are even harsher than the ones I handed out!"

"Punishments directly ordered by the Five Elders?"

Karl clicked his tongue, feeling a pang of guilt.

"Of course, it was those five. Who else has the authority to bypass Fleet Admiral Kong and me to directly punish vice admirals?"

Sengoku gave Karl a sidelong glance and continued.

"As a Celestial Dragon, and the last descendant of the God Valley line, the Five Elders and Fleet Admiral Kong naturally wouldn't punish you harshly.

Stripping you of all your military achievements and confining you for five years is already a light punishment.

But Fleet Admiral Kong imposed various degrees of punishment on the others.

Saul will be stationed at the G-5 branch for at least ten years before he's allowed to return to headquarters.

Sakazuki is tasked with patrolling the second half of the Grand Line for an extended period.

And as for Kuzan, since he slacked off during the Buster Call mission, he'll be stationed at the G-8 branch in the first half of the Grand Line for six years."

"Now you see how your recklessness caused them to suffer such severe consequences?"

Hearing Sengoku's words, Karl closed his eyes and remained silent.

Karl had thought he could shoulder all the blame, but in the end, his Celestial Dragon status resulted in others sharing the burden of his defiance of military orders.

So, this is what Celestial Dragon privilege looks like?

Karl couldn't bring himself to embrace it.

Especially with Saul being sent to the G-5 branch—a chaotic outpost in the second half of the Grand Line.

Although this area wasn't yet called the "New World," chaos was brewing.

The future Emperors of the Sea were already vying for territory, with Shanks still roaming the four seas, while the others were solidifying their power.

Edward Newgate, known as Whitebeard and the world's strongest man, was busy gathering his "sons."

Kaido, the future "strongest creature," had founded the Beasts Pirates and was rampaging across the Grand Line, unstoppable in his madness.

Charlotte Linlin, leader of the Big Mom Pirates, was gathering rare species and having children everywhere.

Other infamous pirates, such as Crocodile and Gecko Moria, were also stirring up trouble.

Managing the G-5 branch would be a monumental challenge for Saul.

Sakazuki's situation wasn't much different, though his greater strength gave him a slight advantage.

Karl, however, didn't care much for Sakazuki and couldn't be bothered to think about him.

It was Kuzan's situation that gave Karl some relief.

Of the three, Kuzan had it easiest.

The first half of the Grand Line posed few threats to someone of his caliber.

His punishment was the lightest of all.

"Sengoku, where's Rosinante?

I didn't see him when I got back. Don't tell me you sent him on another dangerous mission?"

"Haha, of course not. Like you, he's precious to me. I wouldn't send him into danger.

"Haha... ha..."

Sengoku let out an awkward laugh, looking guilty.

Karl sighed.

Having read the original story, Karl knew Rosinante had gone undercover in Doflamingo's crew as Sengoku's spy.

But Karl chose not to expose it—he had seen this coming.

The only question was when Rosinante would encounter Law.

Once he had that information, Karl could save Rosinante and ensure his survival.

But for now, it was too early.

Karl continued lying on the deck, letting the sea breeze wash over him, unwilling to move.

Nightfall came quickly.

At the naval base, Karl called Kuzan and Saul for a small seafood barbecue.

His purpose was to apologize to them and treat them to a meal.

Karl also revealed his Celestial Dragon identity, mocking himself in the process, and wallowed in sorrow.

Kuzan and Saul didn't know what to say, so they simply drank with Karl.

During the meal, Karl handed the Castle-Castle Fruit to Saul and taught him how to develop its powers.

Despite Saul's repeated refusals, Karl forcibly made him eat the Devil Fruit.

Even Kuzan, watching from the side, was speechless.

With the Castle-Castle Fruit, Saul's strength could undergo a dramatic transformation if he mastered its abilities.

In the original story, Capone Bege's castle transformation reached heights of about 80 meters.

Giants, on the other hand, are only around 30 meters tall.

If Saul developed this fruit properly, he could transform into a giant hundreds of meters tall.

And if he mastered Armament Haki to cover his entire body, his power would soar to unimaginable levels!

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