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

"Ben! What are you doing?! Hitting my head hurts, you know! And I'm the captain here—show me some respect!"

"Captain, it's getting late. We still have tasks to handle. It's time to leave," Ben Beckman said, his tone calm and composed.

"But my Gum-Gum Fruit…"

"It's just a Devil Fruit—hardly a big deal. There's no point in bickering with a child over it. Besides, do you really plan to start a fight with the Marines here? If Garp gets wind of this and shows up, do you think you'll be able to leave?"

Ben Beckman's logical reasoning hit Shanks like a hammer, cooling his temper immediately.

"Fine, I get it," Shanks muttered begrudgingly.

"Alright, boys, we're retreating!" Shanks bellowed, shooting Karl a venomous glare as he turned away.

"Karl, don't think I'm afraid of you! Next time we meet, I'll…"

Thwack!

Before Shanks could finish his threat, Ben Beckman delivered another crisp karate chop to his head, dragging him away forcefully.

"Karl! Just you wait—we'll meet again on the Grand Line!" Shanks yelled, waving his arms and pulling faces at Karl like a child throwing a tantrum.

Karl, however, couldn't be bothered to chase him down.

This was Foosha (Windmill) Village, his old home, and he wasn't about to ruin its tranquility. A battle here was the last thing Karl wanted.

Fortunately, the Red-Haired Pirates' withdrawal spared him the hassle. The unexpected intervention of the two little troublemakers, Luffy and Ace, also played a significant role.

Had it not been for their sudden appearance, the Red-Haired Pirates might not have made it out alive, and Foosha Village itself might have been reduced to rubble, unable to withstand the sheer force of their clash.

"Good thing we avoided a fight—otherwise, it's the villagers who'd suffer," Karl sighed, relieved.

He turned to Luffy, who was lying on the ground, and began to stretch his head up and down like a rubber band. Each time, Luffy's neck extended nearly a meter before snapping back with a comical recoil that left him dizzy and disoriented.

Ace, standing nearby, was too shocked to intervene, his wide eyes fixed on Luffy's bizarre elasticity. He couldn't comprehend how Luffy's body could stretch like that.

After repeating this action seven or eight times, Karl finally let Luffy go and delivered a swift chop to Ace's head.

"You two need to understand something: falling from the sky like that is dangerous! If you'd landed headfirst instead of on your butts, you'd be dead by now!"

"We get it…" Ace muttered, bowing his head like a scolded child.

Luffy, however, was unfazed and pointed at Karl, demanding loudly, "Who even are you? What gives you the right to lecture us?!"

"Luffy, quiet! This is Uncle Karl!" Ace hissed.

"Attention! Stand at ease!"

"Yes, sir!" Ace responded instinctively, snapping to attention in a display of muscle memory.

The mere thought of Karl's grueling lectures sent shivers down Ace's spine. Those three months under Karl's tutelage were an unforgettable nightmare etched into his very soul.

"You're the Karl Uncle Ace keeps talking about?" Luffy blinked, his curiosity piqued.

Ace nodded reluctantly, his eyes filled with the kind of fear only Karl could inspire—a deep, primal dread that time could never erase.

"You're Garp's grandson—Monkey D. Luffy, right?" Karl said with a smirk. "Nice to meet you. I'm Garp's adopted son, so technically, I'm your godfather. And since your dad and I are sworn brothers, you could just call me 'Dad.'"

"Godfather?" Luffy asked, tilting his head in confusion.

"Good boy! But it'd sound even better if you dropped the 'god' part," Karl teased.

"Dad?" Luffy said, falling right into Karl's trap.

Ace couldn't hold back his laughter but stifled it out of fear, his body shaking uncontrollably as he tried to keep quiet. Karl, meanwhile, was grinning ear to ear, thrilled at having tricked Luffy into calling him "Dad."

To Karl, getting the future Pirate King to acknowledge him as "Dad" felt like a personal triumph. Of course, if Dragon ever found out about this, he'd likely come for Karl's head.

"I'm so dizzy… I'm so sleepy…" Luffy yawned and promptly passed out.

The villagers, seeing the tension dissipate, returned to the scene. Makino gently picked up the sleeping Luffy and shot Karl a reproachful glare. Dadan, meanwhile, grabbed Ace by the collar, gave him a solid headbutt, and tossed him into the tavern.

"Karl, are you hurt?" Dadan asked with concern.

Karl shook his head and glanced toward the bustling tavern, where Makino was hard at work. A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Don't worry, there aren't many people who can hurt me these days. Besides, we didn't actually fight."

"By the way, is Rouge still living in the same place? I need to discuss something with her."

Having been away for five years, Karl wasn't sure if Rouge had moved.

Dadan assured him that Rouge still lived in her little cottage, prompting Karl to bid her farewell and head to Rouge's home.

When Karl arrived, he found Rouge sitting in her garden. She wore a simple white dress and a sunhat, knitting a sweater with serene concentration. Her aristocratic air was undeniable, yet it was accompanied by a warmth and grace that made her endearing.

On the table beside her were two other sweaters, each of a different size and pattern—clearly intended for Ace and another child.

Completely absorbed in her work, Rouge didn't notice Karl's arrival until he quietly sat on a wicker chair nearby.

"Garp, are you on leave again?" Rouge asked without looking up, evidently accustomed to Garp's frequent visits. The chair Karl now occupied was clearly meant for Garp.

"Old Man Garp's busy and won't be back anytime soon," Karl replied, pouring himself a glass of water without hesitation.

Startled by the unfamiliar voice, Rouge raised her head and exclaimed in surprise, "Karl? You're finally out?"

"When did this happen?!"

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