Chapter 60: Leaving
Here's your chapter with improved grammar, flow, and readability while keeping the original tone and intent intact.
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For the next month, aside from returning to the palace to rest at night, Carl spent almost all his time in the practice room with Garling.
During this period, he informed Ginny at Marine School that he would be staying in Mary Geoise for a little longer, reassuring her.
What he didn't know was that Kuma had already been preparing to set off in search of him. Had Carl been gone just one more night, Kuma might have flown directly to Mary Geoise, which would have caused quite a stir.
A month later, Carl, whose hair had grown past his shoulders, finally stepped out of the practice room. In just that short time, his demeanor had undergone a profound transformation. A faint black aura surrounded him, exuding an air of mystery and authority.
Lucia, who had been waiting outside all day, immediately stepped forward, draping a black cloak over his shoulders. She spoke softly, "You're tired, young master. Let's go back and freshen up."
Carl smiled, about to reply, when Garling also emerged from the practice room. Resting a hand on Carl's shoulder, he said in a low voice, "Carl, I'm very satisfied with your progress. It seems you no longer need my guidance. You can return to the Marines now."
Carl hesitated for a moment. He had been so focused on training that he had nearly forgotten how much time had passed.
Looking at Garling's slightly tired eyes, he felt a deep sense of gratitude. Over the past month, Garling had been wholly dedicated to teaching him, investing even more effort than Carl himself.
Grasping Garling's hand on his shoulder, Carl said sincerely, "Thank you, Uncle Garling."
Garling smiled faintly, waving a hand dismissively. "No need for thanks between us. After all, you're my nephew."
With that, he pulled a newspaper from his coat and unfolded it. Carl glanced at it curiously—nearly every article was about the Roger Pirates.
Since Rocks' fall, Roger's fame had grown immensely, and the newspapers followed his every move: which islands he visited, which pirate crews he defeated.
This particular issue detailed Roger causing a disturbance in a certain country. At the top of the page was a photograph of his crew in the aftermath of a battle.
Soldiers lay unconscious in the background. Roger stood front and center, stepping on the bloodied body of an officer, flashing his usual wide grin. Behind him, the other members of the Roger Pirates looked equally unbothered.
Lucia, catching sight of the image, frowned in disgust. "Filthy pirates… just a bunch of scum!"
Carl took a moment to calm her down before turning to Garling. "Uncle, why are you showing me this? Are you warning me about Roger?"
Without answering, Garling pointed to the edge of the photo. There, nearly out of frame, stood a child wearing a straw hat. His presence was so inconspicuous that Carl hadn't noticed him at first.
But now that he saw him clearly, recognition struck instantly—this was the future Yonko, Red-Haired Shanks.
At the same time, Carl recalled an old theory from his past life—speculation that Shanks might be a descendant of the Figarland family.
Garling's next words only reinforced that theory.
"Now that you're a Marine, it's inevitable you'll cross paths with the Roger Pirates. They're a formidable crew—be cautious when that time comes."
Carl nodded silently.
Then, after a brief pause, Garling continued, this time looking directly at the boy in the photo.
"And if you meet this one… leave him alive."
Carl didn't ask why. He simply nodded and said, "I understand, Uncle Garling. You have my word."
Garling studied Carl for a moment before speaking slowly. "Aren't you curious who he is?"
Carl shook his head. "I don't need to know. I just understand that he's important to you. Maybe… in a way, he's similar to me?"
Garling's eyes softened slightly. He nodded. "Yes, you're both equally important to me. I don't want you two to become enemies."
Carl hesitated before asking, "Do you want me to bring him back if I get the chance?"
"No," Garling said firmly. "I once told you—you must choose your own path. The same applies to him."
A deep sigh escaped Garling's lips. Looking up at the full moon, he murmured, "But he has chosen a path that runs opposite to ours."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving behind a final statement:
"Tomorrow, I'll arrange for a ship to take you back under the World Government's name. Rest well tonight."
Carl remained still, watching Garling's silhouette disappear into the night.
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The following day, Carl and Lucia boarded a ship.
Standing on the deck, Carl gazed up at the towering Red Line. He could feel a sharp gaze watching him from above, following his departure.
Only when the Red Line vanished beyond the horizon did he finally turn back into the cabin. There, he chatted with Lucia about Marine School, giving her insight into what she could expect and helping her adjust ahead of time.
Meanwhile, back at the Marine School training ground, Akainu was engaged in a brutal hand-to-hand spar with Kuma. Neither used their Devil Fruits—only their fists, clad in Haki, colliding with explosive force.
Despite Kuma's massive frame, Akainu's relentless aggression forced him onto the defensive. Each of Akainu's attacks landed with the intensity of an erupting volcano, gradually overwhelming Kuma.
On the sidelines, Borsalino casually ate a banana while watching the fight with amusement.
Strawberry, his high forehead gleaming in the sun, crouched beside him and asked, "Borsalino, why don't you step in and spar with Sakazuki? Kuma won't last much longer."
Borsalino tossed his banana peel into the air and casually incinerated it with a laser before stretching lazily. "Nah… rare chance to take it easy when the old man isn't around. What's the rush?"
Strawberry shrugged, already used to Borsalino's laid-back attitude. "Still, it's strange. Zephyr hasn't shown up today. I wonder what he's up to."
"Who knows?" Borsalino replied. Then, raising his voice, he called out to Kuma, "Come on, Kuma! I'm rooting for you!"
At that moment, in Zephyr's office, the Marine instructor was intently studying a file on his desk.
The document displayed the image of a beautiful yet cold-looking young girl. But what truly caught Zephyr's attention was the information below the photo.
**Name: Darkseid Lucia**
**Devil Fruit: Zoan - Mythical Model: Fallen Angel**
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This version refines grammar, improves readability, and enhances character interactions while keeping the original intent intact. Let me know if you need any further tweaks!