One Piece: Starting as a Marine Lieutenant, I Slack Off and Get Stronger

"Idiots, a bunch of idiots!"

Zaker flew into a rage at the sight of the ravaged ships, spitting as he berated his henchmen.

"Zakel, why don't we move our ship over there and fight the Navy head-on? If all else fails, we might still have a chance." The speaker had a calm expression and seemed to be the brains of the pirate crew.

His words were very effective, and Zakir quickly calmed down after being persuaded by him.

"You're right, we can't just sit here and wait to die. We might as well take a gamble. I want to see if the navy can stop my Karasuma!"

First mate Lake looked at the jet-black longsword in Zack's hand, a hint of envy in his eyes.

He was a swordsman too, and what swordsman wouldn't want to have a good sword!

The Karasuma in Zaker's hand is a famous sword, the Karasuma, a fine and fast sword. It was thanks to its sharpness that Zaker was able to make a name for himself.

"Men, bring the boat alongside!"

At Captain Zakir's command, the ship creaked and groaned as it moved toward the training vessel.

"Oh? These pirates want to board us? Are they crazy?! On my command, fire!"

Why fight a boarding action when you can easily and comfortably take down the enemy with cannons? Karl certainly doesn't want to.

Close-quarters combat on land is unavoidable, but doing the same thing at sea is a bit...unpleasant.

Wouldn't it be better to blow up their ship and make your move when the pirates are floundering in the sea?

Bang bang bang~ The cannon fired again.

Chapter 22 The Despicable Navy

The Hunter Blade Pirates braved fierce cannon fire as they headed toward the training ship, which was already teetering on the brink of collapse.

"Despicable navy, they don't even dare to fight a boarding maneuver?"

Zaker stared in horror at the incoming shells. If he knew Moonwalk, he would have stormed straight to the training ship, but unfortunately, he didn't.

What's even more terrifying is that, as a swordsman, he hasn't even reached the level of casually slashing flying objects.

Therefore, when faced with the gunfire from the training ship, he could only lead his deputy and some capable men to split the shells at the bow to minimize damage to the ship.

"Could you hurry up! If I don't kill these despicable navymen today, I, Zakir, swear I'm not a man!"

"Captain, if we go any faster, we won't be able to stop in time, and we'll collide with the warship!"

A fierce glint flashed in Zack's eyes as he shouted menacingly, "Then let's ram them! We might as well abandon the ship. In any case, these navy men won't be able to catch us easily!"

Training ship.

With a worried look, Ain watched the rapidly advancing "suicide ship" and turned to Karl, saying, "They seem to be accelerating again. At this rate, their ship will crash directly into us."

"Heh, naive. You think I can't see through your little tricks?"

Karl then began issuing orders, and the training ships quickly circled the pirate ships while unleashing a barrage of cannon fire, taking advantage of the training ships' superior performance to bully them.

Zefa, who was watching from the sidelines, nodded repeatedly. Karl was indeed a veteran of ten years. He was very skilled in naval warfare and had the demeanor of a famous general.

It probably won't be long before he sees Karl rise through the ranks and become a naval admiral.

Zephyr even felt that with Karl's abilities, becoming the Fleet Admiral was his ultimate destiny, since the Holy Light, which could directly enhance strength and heal injuries, was much more practical than Sengoku's empty platitudes.

"Karl, are we just going to defeat them with artillery fire like this? Wouldn't that be...?"

If Binz were a human from Earth, he would definitely say that this way of fighting pirates is soulless, but he isn't, so he just feels like something is missing.

After all, the Holy Light had already blessed them, and yet they just stood on the ship and fired cannons?

"Yeah, Karl, how about we fight these pirates? They've given us a good look around!"

The new recruits watched the Hunter Blade Pirates' resistance weaken and weaken, their hearts itching with longing to rush up and fight the pirates.

Instead of blowing up enemy ships and fishing out pirates one by one in the sea.

"Are you guys really serious?"

Karl was stunned. You guys easily defeated the pirates, yet you still want to risk your lives to fight someone in real life? Do you have a system or do I have a system?

"Please, Karl, just this once, let us try! This is our only internship assignment!"

Are you teaching me how to do things?

Karl frowned, slightly displeased. These recruits seemed a bit arrogant. Even though he felt that these pirates posed no threat and that sending them to fight wouldn't cause too much of a problem, this kind of mentality was not a good sign.

Especially since we don't know when Weevil will jump out, and if he still has this mentality then, he will definitely suffer a great loss.

At this moment, Zephyr walked over, his hands behind his back, his eyes cold. He had seen everything that had just happened, and his blood pressure was soaring.

"What are you doing? Karl is the commander. Are you questioning his orders?"

"There are so many pirates in the world, go ahead and kill them! Do you even have the ability? You're all so arrogant!"

"...Karl's approach was correct, rational, and what a commander should do."

After reprimanding the new recruits and making them lower their heads, Zephyr suddenly pointed at Karl. Karl's eyes widened. "This can affect me too? No way, no way?"

"You all know Karl's strength. He could wipe out this entire pirate crew by himself. Why is he able to restrain his urge to attack and let you all fight the pirates together?"

"Wasn't this his only internship assignment?"

Zefa's words left the recruits speechless and dejected, and they couldn't help but feel some resentment towards Karl, but then they thought about it again.

Teacher Zephyr is right! Karl could have easily wiped out all the pirates, but he chose to buff them instead, giving them all the advantages so they would feel fully involved. He really... I'm so sad.

Sacrificing his own mission experience to benefit those who are less capable than him—what kind of spirit is that?

Selflessness! That's probably the best description of Karl!

The recruits, realizing what had happened, looked at Karl with a touch of emotion, some even with tears welling in their eyes.

Carl: What happened?

I always felt that their gazes were a bit strange, as if I had done something terrible, but thinking about it, it still seemed impossible.

He spent more time in the bathroom than fighting pirates during this internship mission, so how could he possibly impress these new recruits?

"Hmph, it's good that you know!"

Seeing that the recruits finally understood the sacrifices Karl had made for this mission, Zephyr nodded and walked to Karl's side: "Fulfill their wishes! These pirates have lost their fighting spirit."

Zefa understands the principle of giving a slap followed by a sweet treat.

The purpose of doing this is to pave the way for Karl. Just look at the eyes of those new recruits! When Karl competes for lieutenant general or even general in the future, will they become his supporters?

Carl then understood Zephyr's intention, and Zephyr's image in his mind instantly became tall and majestic.

"All units, prepare for boarding action!"

The new recruits present were stunned for a moment, then burst into enthusiastic shouts!

"Oh oh oh oh oh! Long live Karl!" "Long live Karl!!!"

"Bang bang bang~"

The grappling hooks gripped the battered hull of the Hunter's Blade Pirates' ship, and the Marines charged toward the Hunter's Blade Pirates along the sturdy ropes.

"Die, pirates!" "The Navy will prevail!"

The Hunter Blade Pirates' ship was instantly engulfed in a fierce battle. The Hunter Blade Pirates, who had already been tormented to the point of exhaustion by Karl, were forced into retreat, with some dying, some wounded, and some surrendering. Presumably, the battle would end soon.

Zephyr and Carl stood side by side on the training ship, their arms crossed as they observed the battle.

"Hehehe~ These little guys are so energetic!"

Karl shook his head helplessly: "The captain of the Hunter Blade Pirates only has a bounty of over 2000 million, which is nothing special in the Four Seas, and it doesn't even rank in the Grand Line."

"That's true, but it's just an internship mission after all. I can't possibly send you guys to hunt down those pirate crews with bounties of hundreds of millions, can I?"

“Professor Zephyr, do you think we are the students of the first training camp?”

Zefa was taken aback, then he and Karl exchanged a knowing smile, their unspoken understanding unspoken.

Chapter 23 The crisis is coming

"Luxuriant~ Luxuriant~"

Binz scattered a bunch of seeds and began to perform a ritual, and thick green vines quickly stretched towards the still-resisting Zakir.

"An ability user!!! Damn it, don't underestimate me!"

"Crescent Slash!"

Zaker gripped the vines with both hands, gathered his strength, and began to sweep them horizontally. The tough vines were split in two by this blow and fell helplessly onto the deck.

"Hmm! This guy's swordsmanship is pretty impressive!"

"Hmph! This is my skill for survival! Die, Marines!"

"Shave~"

Ain suddenly teleported to Zaker's side and casually patted him.

boo~

This is the sound made when Ain's power comes into contact with Zakir's body, which also indicates that Ain's power has taken effect.