One Piece!

In the early morning, in the backyard of the villa, Carlos, dressed in a loose black robe, stood with his legs slightly bent in a horse stance. A faint, mist-like golden internal energy flowed through his meridians, circulating around his body. The next moment, Carlos moved.

His fingers curved like claws, their tips faintly shimmering with a pale golden light. His figure instantly vanished from his original position. He swung his arms, and claw shadows crisscrossed, striking a stone pillar as thick as two men could embrace.

Thwack, thwack…

The force flowed, integrating the power of his movement, his waist, his arms, his wrists, and his fingers perfectly. A fierce and sharp power erupted. The stone pillar was instantly marked with five dark finger-holes and a claw mark an inch deep!

After the initial blow, a storm of attacks followed in rapid succession. Carlos's entire body became a weapon. His claws, elbows, shoulders, and legs continuously hammered the stone pillar. In the time it took for half a breath, the stone pillar, as thick as two men could embrace, was shattered into碎石 of various sizes, scattering across the lawn, leaving only a stone stump…

Hoo…

Carlos exhaled deeply, his breath long and steady, blowing away the dust that filled the air before him. He then happily walked to a table laden with fruits, drinks, and alcohol, sat down, and guzzled a bottle of juice.

After finishing the juice, Carlos stood up from the chair and sat cross-legged on the grass. Following the methods of the Golden Bell Shield, he practiced special breathing techniques to cultivate the internal energy within him.

The Golden Bell Shield he cultivated was not a partial version but one that trained both internal and external aspects, from the outside in!

The stronger his physical body became, the easier it was to cultivate internal energy, and the more internal energy he could cultivate. Although his Golden Bell Shield was excellent in his previous life, it was far inferior to this life's ability to withstand bullets. Therefore, his internal energy in this life was not on the same level as his previous life at all.

This was a principle he had figured out after discovering the anomaly of the internal energy within him. Therefore, he had to continuously train his physical body without wavering!

Time ticked by, and soon it was noon. Carlos's eyes were tightly shut, his forehead covered in sweat. The internal energy within him was increasing slowly but steadily. Just then, a clamor arose. It was faint at first, but before long, the entire street, even the whole city, was abuzz.

Carlos opened his eyes with annoyance. What was going on? Was it New Year's or a festival, that it was so noisy?

Such a noisy environment made it impossible to cultivate with focus. Carlos got up, picked up a prepared towel, and wiped his face. He then unbuttoned his collar and wiped his chest, revealing a bronze body with well-defined, perfectly proportioned muscles. He then tossed aside the towel and walked towards the front yard.

Arriving at the front yard, Carlos shouted, "Someone, what's happening outside? Why is it so noisy?"

"Boss, boss, something big has happened! The Roger Pirates have successfully reached Raftel, and Roger has become the Pirate King!"

"The outside world has been turned upside down; the entire world has likely been turned upside down." Noah, who had already become a minor leader, his face flushed and extremely excited, walked in, shouting while holding a newspaper.

Carlos was startled. He took the newspaper Noah handed him and glanced at the headline. Indeed, he found the news of Roger successfully conquering the Grand Line and becoming the first Pirate King. Roger was wearing a captain's hat, his smile bright and sunny. Even the portrait in the newspaper exuded a sense of approachability!

"Amazing, the first Pirate King in history! The Marines and the World Government must be furious," Carlos exclaimed, then regained his composure and walked to the brown sofa to sit down.

He already knew, and having prepared himself mentally, he wasn't as agitated.

"Heh heh, definitely. Boss, if the Pirate King were to rally everyone, there would surely be countless respondents, causing endless trouble for the Marines and the World Government."

"However, these are not things for us small fries to worry about; the difference in levels is too great," Noah said with a grin.

"No ambition. You only want to stay on this island for the rest of your life?" Carlos chuckled and scolded him, picking up a bottle of beer from the coffee table and tossing it over.

Noah caught the beer, opened it, and took a big gulp. He then sat opposite Carlos and said helplessly, "There's no choice, Boss. My abilities are limited; only my marksmanship is passable. Who wouldn't want to witness the magnificent, turbulent sea..."

"It's okay if your abilities aren't enough. Having the intention is good enough, especially since you get along with me the best. I will help you become stronger in the future."

"Then thank you, Boss. If there's a chance in the future, I definitely want to go out to sea with you."

"But there's already a Pirate King. Otherwise, given your age, Boss, your strength, and your methods, you might have become the Pirate King too..."

When there were no serious matters, Carlos was quite casual, and his subordinates also felt free to speak their minds. However, when it came to serious business, Carlos's requirements were very strict.

"Hahaha, stop flattering me."

"Boss, I can't think that far ahead for now, but since Roger has already become the Pirate King and achieved such a great accomplishment, I should also achieve some small accomplishments." Carlos's eyes narrowed, his sharpness revealed, and he said meaningfully.

"Boss, you want to advance further?" Noah's eyes lit up, and he seemed a bit excited.

As his confidant, the higher Carlos's status and the stronger his influence, the greater the benefits for Noah.

Although Noah didn't know much about Carlos's affairs, he was aware of Carlos's ambitions. He was not someone content to be subservient to others, or he wouldn't have risen so quickly. He even had him send Beli to the higher-ups; otherwise, he wouldn't have risen so fast based on merit alone. He also had to appease those above him to climb higher!

"Advance further?"

Carlos let out a dismissive laugh. He picked up the cigarette case on the coffee table, put a cigarette in his mouth, and Noah immediately and very perceptively picked up an exquisitely crafted iron lighter to light Carlos's cigarette.

Although he was not old, having lived two lives, Carlos did not consider himself a mere kid. He had long regarded himself as an adult, indulging in both smoking and drinking.

As for women, he had no intention of indulging in that aspect for the time being.

"This time, my goal is the highest position!" He exhaled a puff of smoke, no longer concealing his intentions.

"What?"

Noah exclaimed, never expecting Carlos's ambition to be so great. After a while, he calmed down and lowered his voice.

"Boss, do you want to become the patriarch of the Mike Family?"

"Idiot, why can't it be the Lucifer Family, or perhaps I'll come up with a new name?"

"If I take over, will the Mike Family still exist?"

"They will only have two options: either destruction or submission!" Carlos stated decisively, revealing strong confidence in his words!

"Boss, are you really not joking? Have you really decided to do this?"

"I'm very serious!"

Noah's expression changed. He grabbed the beer and gulped it down in one go. Then, gritting his teeth, he said, "Boss, tell me, what should we do!"

"Good. You haven't disappointed me. Otherwise, you wouldn't be leaving this villa today..."

Noah's body stiffened, his heart grew cold, and cold sweat broke out all over him.

"Noah, remember this: you were the first confidant I brought with me into the world. As long as you don't betray me, even if many people who join me later are stronger than you, your position will be unique."

"As long as you are loyal, I will not treat you unfairly!" Carlos said meaningfully.

"I understand, thank you for your guidance, boss!"

"Please give your orders, boss. How should we proceed? This really isn't an easy task..." Noah stood up straight, head bowed, and said very solemnly.

"Come here, lean your ear closer."

Noah came to Carlos's side upon hearing this. He knelt down and leaned his ear, and Carlos stopped beating around the bush, telling Noah his plan...

"Boss, can such a simple, direct, and brutal plan work?"

"In this world, the strong rule. The plan doesn't need to be complicated, as long as it works!"

"The prerequisite for it working is strength, and now my strength is enough to suppress all dissent!"

"Then I'll follow your plan, boss. I'll arrange it immediately!"

"En, go ahead."