Admiral Kizaru

"Hmm~ How scary~ Has another ability user been born?"

Hearing the voice behind her, Carl felt a chill run down her back. She turned around in shock and saw a tall, slender man with curly black hair and a pair of sunglasses.

He wore a yellow-and-white striped suit, a purple tie, a dark green shirt, and white shoes. His thin lips were pursed, and he rested one hand against his chin, looking thoughtful.

You look just like that PPAP guy! No, wait—Admiral Kizaru!

When had he arrived? She hadn't noticed him at all!

"A-Admiral Kizaru!"

Carl stood up stiffly and saluted him, looking somewhat excited. It was exactly how an ordinary Marine would react to meeting an admiral.

Kizaru looked Carl over through his sunglasses, wondering if Teacher Zephyr's Marine Training Camp had really gotten so unreliable that they were putting minors to work.

"Borsalino! What are you doing here?"

Zephyr and Kizaru had never gotten along particularly well. Back when Kizaru had been his student, he was the one Zephyr liked least: lazy, arrogant, and, most importantly, a poor student in everything but his strengths. That was all ancient history, and Zephyr didn't want to bring it up anymore, but seeing Kizaru still made him angry. He was especially irritated to see him talking to one of his recruits. He was afraid Carl might be led astray by Kizaru and end up on a path of no return.

Wait, she wasn't an ability user, was she...?

Kizaru raised an eyebrow and hurriedly waved at Zephyr, speaking in his usual drawl. "How scary~ Teacher Zephyr, don't get so worked up! You have to take it easy with those old arms and legs."

Zephyr's face darkened as he replied, "I don't need your concern. What about you? How does a Marine Admiral have time to come wandering around here?"

"Teacher Zephyr, I heard your Marine Training Camp was starting up again, so I came by especially to see if you had any promising recruits. Hmm, this one looks pretty good. Hey, young lady, what was your ability again?"

After speaking, Kizaru plopped down on a stool, crossed his legs, and slouched back without the slightest concern for Zephyr's glare.

"Hmph~ Then you've got the wrong idea. This girl isn't an ability user. Your eye for talent isn't so great after all!"

"Oh? Is that so? Then what's this?" Kizaru flashed over, picked up the half-eaten Holy Light Fruit Carl had dropped on the ground, then sat back down and showed the uneaten flesh to Zephyr. The whole trip took less than a second, showing just how fast Kizaru was.

Carl saw only a flash of golden light. Then the Holy Light Fruit she hadn't finished eating was in Kizaru's hand. She couldn't make out anything else.

Looking at the fruit in Kizaru's hand and recognizing its familiar pattern, Zephyr's gaze sharpened. He turned to Carl and asked seriously, "Is this what you just ate?"

Carl swallowed and nodded. "Uh, yes, but it tasted awful, so I only took one bite."

Zephyr frowned and snatched the Holy Light Fruit from Kizaru. He had read the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, but even after racking his memory, he couldn't identify the power of this Devil Fruit.

"Pfft~"

Zephyr crushed the Holy Light Fruit in his hand, then roared furiously at Carl, "Idiot! You can't just eat any Devil Fruit you come across! Don't you know that once you eat one, you're cursed by the sea and will be a hopeless swimmer for the rest of your life?"

Kizaru: He felt personally attacked!

"Ahem!"

Zephyr glanced at Kizaru, took a deep breath, and calmed down before continuing, "Show me your ability!"

Kizaru also turned with interest, wanting to see what Carl's ability was.

There was no choice. These two were both big shots among big shots, and Carl had no chance of resisting them. She should've kept a low profile and eaten it back in her dormitory. But who could have expected Kizaru to suddenly show up?

Under Zephyr's watchful gaze, Carl stretched out her right hand. A pale golden ball of light appeared in her palm, then, under her control, quickly flowed into Zephyr's body.

Zephyr's eyes widened. He'd suffered from asthma for most of his life, but his lungs and throat had never felt so clear. That golden light was like the sun driving away the darkness...

"Cough, cough, cough~"

Before long, Zephyr began coughing violently, as if he were about to cough up a lung. An unusual flush spread across his face.

Kizaru's expression changed. He didn't know what was happening to Zephyr, but it definitely had something to do with Carl. He and Zephyr might not have the best relationship, but Zephyr had been his teacher. If Zephyr died right in front of him, people would never let him live it down!

The next second, dazzling golden light gathered at Kizaru's fingertip as he aimed it at Carl. He said slowly, "What did you do to Teacher Zephyr?"

"Don't!"

Zephyr raised a hand to stop Kizaru. Then, with a splutter, he spat out a large glob of black phlegm. A smile appeared on his face, and he grabbed Carl by the shoulder, asking excitedly, "Does your ability have a healing effect?"

"Wait... my body..."

Before Carl could answer, Zephyr lifted both hands in disbelief, his eyes filled with shock. That golden light had actually made him a little stronger, as if he'd returned to the state he'd been in a year ago. The effect wasn't much, but Carl had only just become a Devil Fruit user!

"You—where did you find this Devil Fruit?"

Carl obviously couldn't tell him the system had given it to her. After a moment's pause, she replied without hesitation, "Didn't I just go to the infirmary? On my way back, I bought some fresh fruit to eat, and then... this happened."

Carl had lied, but not completely.

She really had bought some fruit on her way back from the infirmary. She'd wanted to relive the pleasure of watching everyone else train while she sat off to the side eating fruit. The peels and scraps on the ground proved it.

Zephyr quickly pieced together what had happened. Carl had been eating the fruit she'd bought when one of them suddenly turned into a Devil Fruit. She'd eaten it by chance, and then Kizaru had spotted her.

"Thank heavens for the Marines!!!"

Zephyr shouted in excitement, tears streaming down his face. Having devoted nearly his entire life to the Marines, the old man understood better than anyone how important an ability that could heal and strengthen people would be.

Carl had only just gained her power, yet it had already had such a clear effect on him. Once she grew stronger, her value to the Marines would be immeasurable!

First, Carl's ability could be released from a distance. That meant she could conveniently strengthen her comrades, and after training, she might even be able to empower several Marines at once, raising the Marines' overall combat strength by several levels.

Second, Carl's ability could heal, and its healing effect was incredibly powerful. On a battlefield where swords and blades spared no one, having Carl there would greatly reduce Marine casualties. The Marines could then turn the tide and free up even more fighting strength!

Last, and most importantly, Carl was a ten-year veteran. Her loyalty to the Marines was beyond question, and she had a solid foundation with excellent potential. If he trained her properly, in time Carl would surely become a leading figure among the next generation of Marines!

Thinking of all this, Zephyr looked at Carl with a little more fervor. Having you is a blessing for the Marines!

"Carl, you—come with me to Sengoku's office right now! We're leaving!"