Chapter 19: Joining the Marines
Naval Headquarters, Marineford
"Jewelry Ginny, from South Blue, 19 years old. Skilled in marksmanship."
"Bartholomew Kuma, from South Blue, 16 years old. User of the Paramecia-class Paw-Paw Fruit."
"Carl, from South Blue, 15 years old. User of the Logia-class Dark-Dark Fruit."
At the Marine Recruitment Department, the interviewer stared at the three recruits in front of him, then back down at their resumes. His gaze lingered on the small but shocking words on Carl's file: **"Logia - Dark-Dark Fruit."**
Beside him, Rear Admiral Babs was equally stunned.
He had suspected Carl might have a Devil Fruit ability, but he never imagined it would be a **Logia-class power**—the most feared and rarest type!
Babs had already witnessed the sheer devastation that Logia users could bring. Among the newest Marine recruits, two monsters stood out: a user of the **Magma-Magma Fruit** and another wielding the **Glint-Glint Fruit**.
The first time Babs saw them in action, he was shaken. To call their power overwhelming was an understatement.
The **Glint-Glint Fruit user** was practically untouchable, their speed far exceeding the reaction time of most skilled fighters, even those with Observation Haki.
Meanwhile, the **Magma-Magma Fruit user** was equally terrifying—but for the opposite reason. It wasn't about dodging attacks. No one dared to **touch** him. The boiling magma made even the Marines' strongest **Iron Body (Tekkai)** defense meaningless.
**Logia users weren't just strong—they were walking natural disasters.**
And now, standing before him, was a 15-year-old boy with a **Logia-class** power. Not just any Logia, but **one that controlled darkness itself.**
Babs' hands trembled slightly with excitement.
He had unknowingly brought a **true monster** into the Marines. No—**a genius.**
The interviewer swallowed hard, seemingly overwhelmed by Carl's presence.
"Fifteen years old? That's... a bit young. It doesn't meet the recruitment requirements..." he muttered, hesitantly glancing between Carl's towering figure—nearly two meters tall—and the paperwork.
"Is he really just 15?" he thought.
Carl was about to respond when—
**BAM!**
Babs **slammed** the interviewer's head onto the desk.
"Uh-huh! (Babs, what the hell?!)" the interviewer mumbled in shock.
Babs, now smiling like a lunatic, turned to Carl and the others.
"Congratulations! I think you three were **born** to be Marines!"
Carl, Ginny, and Kuma exchanged surprised looks.
Without waiting for objections, Babs **snatched the department's official stamp** and slammed it down three times.
**STAMP! STAMP! STAMP!**
If an outsider saw this, they'd think Carl and the others had just signed a **contract for life.**
The interviewer lifted his head, looking utterly bewildered, as Babs proudly waved the freshly stamped resumes.
"You're in! I'll report this to Admiral Sengoku, and Headquarters will handle the rest. Take a few days to rest—then bring these documents to the Marine Academy!"
Carl glanced at the stamp on his resume and asked,
"So, we can go out for a bit? We'll come back later."
"Of course! Just don't go too far. You're not **officially** Marines yet."
"Got it."
As Carl and his friends left, Babs **hugged Carl's resume to his chest and kissed it**.
The interviewer, now rubbing his forehead, looked on in disbelief.
"Hey, Babs! You're getting ahead of yourself. Even if we overlook Carl's age, **we haven't done a proper background check on any of them!** We only know they're from South Blue!"
Babs shrugged, unconcerned.
"That doesn't matter! **He has a Logia!** You get how rare that is, right?! And Kuma has a Paramecia power!"
"Tch. Look at you, acting like you've won the lottery," the interviewer scoffed. "That girl, Ginny, isn't bad either. She's got a sharp look in her eyes. Most girls we interview don't have that kind of presence."
Babs grinned.
"Exactly! Marines need **talent** like this! There's nothing wrong with what I'm doing."
The interviewer sighed, realizing there was no reasoning with him.
"Fine, fine. Just go report to Admiral Sengoku. And make sure you actually **show him the resumes.** We **still** haven't done any background checks."
"Don't worry! I'll explain everything to Admiral Sengoku," Babs reassured him.
**With that, he hurried off toward Sengoku's office.**
---
### **Meanwhile…**
As Babs walked, his initial excitement faded, replaced by cautious reflection.
**The interviewer was right.**
Carl's **background** was a complete mystery.
His connection to **Spandam** only made things **more suspicious.**
Babs couldn't shake the feeling that Carl **wasn't just an ordinary recruit.**
The most **logical** explanation?
Carl was likely an **illegitimate child of a high-ranking World Government official**—hidden away in a remote kingdom for some shady reason.
**That… made sense.**
Powerful men often left illegitimate children behind. Then, once the child grew up, they would **"arrange"** for them to have a promising career.
Still…
**"Does it really matter?"**
Even if Carl **was** the illegitimate son of some government bigwig…
**He had a Logia!**
That was **far** more important than any political nonsense.
**Grinning, Babs picked up his pace.**
Soon, he arrived at **Admiral Sengoku's office.**
Taking a deep breath, he knocked lightly.
**"Admiral Sengoku, it's Babs."**
"Come in," came the response.
Inside, **Sengoku was reviewing a document from the World Government.**
**His expression was troubled.**
**"Strange…"** he muttered. **"Why did the Sorbet Kingdom suddenly change kings? And what happened to Bekori?"**
Then, he looked up and saw Babs.
"Ah, perfect timing."
He waved the document.
"You just returned from Sorbet Kingdom, right? Tell me—**what exactly happened there?** And have you found **King Bekori**?"
**Babs froze.**
For the first time since his return, his excitement **vanished.**
Because…
**That was a question he couldn't answer.**
---
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