Chapter 130

**Chapter 130**

At Marine Headquarters, Carl reclined in a chair, swirling a glass of red wine in his hand. Ever since he'd become a Vampire Fruit user, he'd developed a strong affinity for red liquids.

Now that he was an Admiral, his permanent residence had shifted from the G-1 branch to Marineford. However, he still served as the head of G-1, using Kamui to move between locations instantly. With Momonga stationed at G-1, they could handle most pirate threats. If anything escalated beyond their control, all they had to do was call Carl.

He had just taken a sip of wine when a knock on the door interrupted his peace. Sengoku the Buddha entered, holding the hand of a young boy.

The boy was small, with fair skin and messy blond hair that obscured his eyes. He seemed nervous, gripping Sengoku's hand tightly as they stepped inside.

Carl took one look and immediately recognized him—Donquixote Rocinante. But he feigned ignorance, pointing at the child and asking,

"What is this?"

Sengoku chuckled, patting the boy's head. "He's my adopted son, Rocinante."

Rocinante glanced up through his messy hair, his large eyes filled with curiosity and unease. Sengoku nudged him forward with a reassuring smile.

"Rocinante, didn't you always say you wanted to meet the Black Dragon Admiral? Why are you shy now?"

Carl smirked, setting his wine down. He stood and approached Rocinante, kneeling slightly to his level before ruffling the boy's hair.

"Hello."

Rocinante flushed with nervousness, quickly bowing. "Hello, Admiral Black Dragon! I am Rocinante!"

Carl studied the boy. Despite being Doflamingo's younger brother, he was nothing like him—aside from their shared golden hair.

Carl thought of Garling and Darian, feeling a small sense of relief. He smiled and asked, "No need to be so formal. How old are you?"

"Eleven years old," Rocinante replied softly.

"Oh, then I'm not that much older than you. From now on, just call me Brother Carl."

Rocinante hesitated, looking at Sengoku for approval. Sengoku nodded encouragingly, and after a brief pause, Rocinante smiled and called him "Brother Carl."

Sengoku patted Rocinante's shoulder. "Carl, this kid looks up to you so much. He's been pestering me to bring him here. Sorry for the intrusion."

Carl shook his head. "It's no bother. He's a sweet kid—I like him."

Sengoku's expression softened as he glanced at Rocinante, a hint of pity in his eyes. "Yes, he's a kind child, but one who's had a difficult past…"

Carl asked, "What happened to his biological parents?"

At the mention of his parents, Rocinante's cheerful demeanor faltered, and he lowered his head. Sengoku sighed, recounting the boy's tragic past.

Rocinante's family had renounced their Celestial Dragon status, and the World Government had abandoned them, forcing them to fend for themselves. Now, Rocinante was nothing more than an ordinary orphan.

Hearing the story, Carl glanced at Rocinante, feigning surprise. "I didn't expect this child to be a Celestial Dragon. He certainly doesn't act like one."

"Indeed," Sengoku nodded. "Despite growing up in Mary Geoise, he retains the innocence of a regular child. His brother, on the other hand…"

Rocinante tugged on Sengoku's coat and whispered, "Please don't say it, Mr. Sengoku."

Though his face remained hidden behind his hair, Carl and Sengoku could sense the pain in his trembling form. Watching his brother murder their father had left deep emotional scars.

Carl thought that Sengoku had been Rocinante's salvation. Without him, the boy might have ended up like Doflamingo.

Doflamingo had once tried to form an alliance with Carl, but Carl had declined. He had no interest in wealth—power was all that mattered. Still, he saw Doflamingo as a useful piece on the board, someone who could control the underworld on his behalf.

Doflamingo both feared and respected Carl, just as he did Kaido. That fear stemmed from the overwhelming authority of the Figarland family in Mary Geoise.

As Rocinante sank into painful memories, Carl gently tapped his forehead with a finger and whispered,

"Don't dwell on the past. From now on, the Navy is your home."

Rocinante wiped his eyes and nodded earnestly. "I'll become an excellent Navy officer, just like Mr. Sengoku and Brother Carl!"

Sengoku smiled with relief. Bringing Rocinante to meet Carl had been the right decision. Sometimes, the influence of a role model could surpass even that of a parent—especially for an orphan like Rocinante.

Carl suddenly asked, "Sengoku, did you give Rocinante a Devil Fruit?"

Sengoku blinked in surprise. "No, why do you ask?"

Carl sighed in relief. "Just curious. Devil Fruits aren't something to eat carelessly."

In Carl's mind, the Silence Fruit from the original timeline had limited Rocinante's potential. With proper training and a better Devil Fruit, he could become a true force to be reckoned with—perhaps even strong enough to rival Doflamingo one day.