Chapter 14: Priest Carl

Six years later, in the church of the Sorbet Kingdom…

Kuma, now towering over five meters tall, sat in the center of the church like a gentle giant. Before him, elderly men and women lined up, patiently waiting for their turn to be healed.

With the power of the Paw-Paw Fruit, Kuma had become a beloved figure in the Sorbet Kingdom—a priest known for treating the sick and injured, especially those who couldn't afford medical care.

On a bench nearby, a young man and woman sat together. The man had his head lowered, engrossed in reading a black-covered Bible. The woman, resting her chin on one hand, stared at him intently.

The two were Carl and Ginny, now six years older.

Ginny had grown into a beautiful young woman, her short pink hair framing her delicate features. She wore a simple yet striking outfit: a white vest paired with dark denim shorts, exuding youthful energy.

Pouting slightly, she fluttered her large lavender eyes and sighed dramatically.

"Brother Carl, is that book really more interesting than me? You haven't even looked at me. Am I not pretty enough?"

Carl finally looked up, reaching out to gently ruffle Ginny's hair. A small smile tugged at his lips.

"When did our beautiful Ginny become so insecure? Do you know how many love letters have been sent to the church? There's enough to stack as high as Kuma."

"Hmph! Who cares about those guys? They're like a swarm of flies—so annoying!"

Before they could continue, Kuma finished his healing duties for the day, escorting the last of the elderly patients out of the church. Seeing this, Carl shut his book and slowly stood up.

Ginny followed suit, gazing up at Carl with admiration. At just fifteen, he had already reached 1.9 meters in height—towering over her despite her being several years older. His high-collared white coat bore a black cross pattern on the chest, the inverse of the design Kuma would later wear as a Warlord of the Sea. His messy black hair, sharply defined features, and piercingly dark eyes gave him an air of mystery and power.

Carl glanced at the transparent paw print floating in the air—filled with accumulated pain and fatigue—and spoke softly.

"Looks like it's my turn to work as a priest."

He tapped his Bible lightly. The black cover writhed as if alive, forming a small black tornado that surged forward and landed on the paw print.

When the darkness dispersed, a middle-aged man in a tattered, once-gorgeous outfit appeared, slumped on the ground. A dented crown sat atop his head, and his face was filled with terror.

Ginny gasped.

"King Bekori?!"

Kuma, hearing the name, hurried over with a look of shock.

Over the years, Carl had developed a habit of capturing criminals and forcing them to endure the pain and fatigue stored by Kuma's abilities. He often moved under the cover of night, earning himself a fearsome nickname: the "Dark God-Tier Official."

Kuma and Ginny had long grown used to Carl's actions. Having spent years by his side, they no longer clung to naive ideals of kindness. But even so, they never expected Carl to capture the king of the Sorbet Kingdom himself.

Carl crouched beside the trembling Bekori, placing a hand on his back. His voice was low, almost a whisper, yet carried an undeniable weight.

"Now, put your hand into this paw print. Or would you like me to help you?"

To Bekori, Carl's words sounded like the whispers of a demon. His body convulsed, and a sudden warmth spread down his legs—he had wet himself in fear.

Carl wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"How disgraceful. Some king you are."

Bekori, suppressing his terror, stammered, "Y-You can't do this to me! I'm the king of a nation affiliated with the World Government! If you harm me, the Marines will come!"

Carl merely chuckled.

"Oh, I'm counting on it. Actually, when the Marines arrive, they'll have to bow to me."

Bekori's eyes widened. "N-Nani?! What nonsense are you spouting?!"

"Relax. I specifically picked today—Monday. There are plenty of people in the church today, which means this paw print is much larger than usual. You'll have a nice, long experience."

Before Bekori could respond, Carl exerted a little force, pushing him into the floating paw print.

"AAAAAAAHHHH!"

A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the church. The sound continued for what felt like an eternity before finally dying down.

With a dull thud, Bekori collapsed, his eyes rolled back, unconscious in a pool of blood and urine.

Carl sighed. "Wow. You passed out already? What a pathetic excuse for a king."

With a flick of his hand, darkness surged from Carl's palm, swallowing Bekori whole before vanishing into thin air.

Ginny, waving away the lingering foul smell, turned to Carl and asked, "Brother Carl, why did you capture him?"

Carl smirked. "Didn't I tell you? I want the Marines to come."

"Huh? But wouldn't they side with him?"

Carl chuckled. "Have you forgotten my last name? Do you think the Marines would dare act against me?"

Ginny's eyes widened. "Wait… Brother Carl, do you mean—?"

"That's right. I want the Marines to throw me a grand welcome."

A dark glint flickered in Carl's eyes, tendrils of black smoke curling around his fingers.

He was going to join the Marines.

For six years, he had honed his abilities, but he had now reached a bottleneck. If he wanted to grow stronger, he needed real combat and proper Haki training. The Sorbet Kingdom was simply too weak to provide a real challenge.

The seas were in turmoil. Roger's Pirates, Whitebeard's crew, and other rising forces made this the perfect era for battle.

And then there was the matter of Haki. Timing-wise, this was the exact period when Zephyr had been transferred to the Marine Academy as an instructor. Unlike Kaido's wild, brutal training methods, Zephyr's approach was disciplined and methodical. The three future Marine Admirals had all trained under him, excelling in both combat and physical endurance.

Carl was confident that, with his talent and Zephyr's guidance, his strength would soon take a massive leap forward.

As for concerns about his identity? He had already accounted for that.

Reaching into his coat, Carl pulled out an envelope. Gilded letters shimmered under the light.

Saint Figarland Garling.

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