Starting the Deception

New Recruit Training Grounds.

Zephyr glanced at the time, then roared at the recruits sweating through their drills, "Everyone, stop! That's enough for now. Assemble promptly at 6:30 tonight. Dismissed!"

The recruits, exhausted from a full day of training, immediately erupted in cheers and shoved their way toward the cafeteria. Ain and Ainz remained where they were. It was not that they were not hungry; they were going to visit the injured Carl today.

"Ain, Ainz, you two come with me!"

"Yes, Instructor Zephyr!"

The two followed closely behind Zephyr toward the Navy hospital. As the hospital drew nearer, Ainz became increasingly conflicted. He quietly asked Ain, "Hey, Ain, do you think Carl will hold a grudge? I did injure him pretty badly, after all."

Ain pressed her lower lip together. Thinking of the lively, cheerful Carl from the recruit ship, she shook her head. "I... I'm not sure either. Going by Carl's personality, he probably won't hold a grudge."

"Phew, that's good..." Ainz immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Before long, the three entered the hospital and arrived outside Carl's room. The door was open, and Zephyr walked straight in without a second thought.

"Carl, how is your recovery goi—Huh?"

Zephyr froze halfway through his sentence. His eyes widened as he pointed at Carl, unable to speak for a long while. Ain and Ainz looked confused, but the moment they saw Carl and Monica in the room, they froze as well.

Carl, dressed in nothing but a pair of blue shorts, lounged lazily in an armchair by the window. A cigar rested in his right hand, a newspaper in his left, and one leg was crossed over the other.

Faint kiss marks still lingered on his fair face. Monica stood behind him like an obedient young wife, kneading his shoulders.

When Zephyr suddenly barged in, Carl and Monica seemed to have been struck still. Carl stared at Zephyr in shock, not even noticing the cigar ash falling onto his leg.

Monica reacted a little faster. She hurriedly withdrew her hands behind her back, looking somewhat awkward.

"Cough, cough... Ouch! Nurse Monica, why do I suddenly feel a little tight in the chest? Hurry and help me back to bed. I need to rest for a while!"

When Monica did not react, Carl looked embarrassed. He extinguished the cigar himself, staggered over to the bed, lay down, and pulled the blanket over himself.

"Stop pretending, Carl!!! You did this on purpose, didn't you? You've been deceiving me all along just to avoid training, haven't you?"

Putting together Carl's strange behavior since joining camp, Zephyr quickly pieced everything together. That brat had done it on purpose! And this behavior felt inexplicably familiar. That was right—it was exactly like that bastard Kizaru!

The ways those two avoided training were practically from the same school. No wonder Carl, despite possessing a physique far superior to Ainz's, had still suffered such serious injuries! Did he take Zephyr for a fool?

Zephyr's furious voice echoed through the ward, frightening Ainz and Ain until they trembled.

Monica looked worriedly at the enraged Zephyr, then at Carl, who did not dare make a sound.

Gathering her courage, she said to Zephyr, "Mr. Zephyr, please keep your voice down. This is a hospital, not a training ground. Please do not disturb the patients' rest!"

Carl let out a long sigh. "Monica, go outside first."

Seeing Carl's serious expression, Monica's eyes flickered as though she wanted to say something. In the end, however, she obediently gave Carl a look that said, Good luck, then clicked out of the room.

"Phew..."

Zephyr's chest rose and fell repeatedly. After being scolded by Monica, he had calmed down somewhat. He looked expressionlessly at Carl and said, "You've been living quite comfortably these past few days, haven't you? Looks like my training camp has been getting in the way of you enjoying yourself."

Carl scratched his head awkwardly. Why did Zephyr's words sound so Kizaru-like?

"Well, Instructor Zephyr, you think too highly of me. I just felt like I was about to rust from lying down all day, so I asked Nurse Monica to loosen up my muscles. It's definitely not what you think."

"Hmph!"

Zephyr snorted coldly. He did not believe a single word Carl said now.

"I don't care about that. Since you've mostly recovered, return to the training camp as soon as possible. Don't forget—you've missed an entire week of training!"

"For the rest of the time, I'll personally supervise you. I definitely won't give you another chance to cut corners!"

No! Carl was alarmed, his little mind racing wildly. If Zephyr really did that, he could forget about completing his daily missions and career missions.

But he could not blame him either. As the Navy's chief instructor, Zephyr valued Carl's potential and wanted to guide him onto the right path. He wanted the best for him. Was he wrong?

No! On the contrary, he had done an excellent job. The countless elite Navy soldiers he had trained were proof enough.

"Sigh... Instructor Zephyr, I'll tell you the truth. I actually have a special training method, but I can only tell you about it alone."

After saying that, Carl glanced at Ain and Ainz near the door. Zephyr instinctively assumed Carl was about to spout more nonsense, but when he saw the serious look in Carl's eyes, his heart softened.

Carl had been able to easily cure the chronic asthma that had plagued Zephyr for years. Maybe he really did possess something special?

After considering it again and again, Zephyr decided to give Carl one more chance. If Carl was still talking nonsense, Zephyr would immediately drag him out of bed and train him into the ground!

"You two, get out!"

"Yes, Instructor Zephyr!"

Ain and Ainz did not hesitate in the slightest. They immediately turned and left.

Bang!

Zephyr shut the door, turned around, folded his arms, and stared at Carl.

"It's like this, Instructor Zephyr. After obtaining my Devil Fruit ability, I discovered that the power of Holy Light did far more than heal and enhance people. It can also strengthen my physique!!!"

After saying that, Carl stood up. A faint golden glow radiated from his body, as if a deity had descended. He then slowly closed his eyes and began breathing in a steady rhythm.

Secretly, Carl immediately used an Attribute Enhancement Card to strengthen his physique. A warm current surged through his body, and his physique rose from E-rank to E+-rank.

A breakthrough?

Carl had thought he would need to use several more cards. He had not expected to be only one step away!

The golden glow gradually faded. Carl opened his eyes and looked at Zephyr with a smile. With Zephyr's eyesight, he should be able to tell... right?

The instant Carl's physique broke through, Zephyr's expression changed. He had immersed himself in physical arts for years, and no one understood physiques better than he did. Just now, he had clearly sensed that Carl's physical condition seemed to have undergone a transformation.

Could it really be as Carl said? Could his ability strengthen his physique on its own? No, that was not right. Carl's ability could already provide enhancement effects, but they lasted at most an hour. Unless...

"Carl, let me test your strength!"

Zephyr gave a low shout. His powerful muscles bulged high, as though they had been forged from steel.

Carl's gaze sharpened. Iron Body! He had used Iron Body!

"Instructor Zephyr, please go easy on me!"