Chapter 183: At the Knighting Ceremony

"It's alright."

Garp walked over and patted Karl on the shoulder: "It's alright? You're more popular than me now. I'm afraid it won't be long before you replace me!"

"How could that be? Vice Admiral Garp has made countless achievements. How could your merits be forgotten?"

Garp was immediately overjoyed, laughing as he took the rice crackers from Sengoku's desk and then fled. Before Sengoku could say anything, the person was already gone.

"Don't worry about that bastard. Let's talk about your knighting ceremony tomorrow!"

Sengoku took out a stack of manuscripts and handed them to Karl: "This is what you need to say at the knighting ceremony tomorrow. I know you don't have time to write it, so I wrote one for you specially. Take a look and see if there are any problems?"

Rustle, rustle~

Karl took it and flipped through it a few times before saying: "No problem, thank you, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. By the way, I heard that the knighting ceremony tomorrow will be broadcast globally. Is that true?"

Sengoku nodded with a smile: "That's right. This was also my proposal. Ever since Shanks became one of the Four Emperors, the Navy's prestige has declined. It just so happens that we can use your becoming a Navy hero to let the public see that our Navy isn't just sitting around eating."

"In other words, this knighting ceremony is also considered a military parade?"

"That's right, Karl. You don't mind, do you?"

Karl shook his head quickly. How could he mind? The grander the scene, the more face he, the person involved, would have. When the time came, wouldn't his fans soar? Wouldn't he just take off?

To be honest, the attribute enhancement cards rewarded for daily fishing were no longer enough. If he wanted to rely on the system to reach the highest level, the EX level, it would be difficult to do so without five or six years.

But Luffy would go to sea in three years. Before that, the stronger his strength, the better, because only then would he have the confidence to face the unpredictable future.

"That's good. By the way, there's one more thing I need to tell you."

Karl sat up straight: "Please speak."

"After the knighting ceremony, you have a one-week vacation. You can go wherever you want."

"However, after that, you'll have to get moving."

Karl frowned: "Get moving? Do you mean... I have to go everywhere to carry out missions?"

Sengoku nodded with satisfaction: "That's right. The Navy has finally produced another hero, so naturally, we must let the public see the strength of a Navy hero."

"Garp went through the same thing back then. Tsk tsk, in those few years, the number of people joining the Navy soared! You also know that the Four Emperors are currently in the limelight, and the number of new recruits is declining year by year, and there are very few good seedlings..."

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, no need to say more, I understand everything. Please rest assured, I guarantee to complete the mission!"

"Good, good, good! Then... that's it. You go back and prepare well, and come to my office again tomorrow."

"Yes!"

The next day.

Karl stood in front of the mirror, carefully sizing himself up. After confirming that he was still handsome and compelling, he walked out of the room confidently and headed straight for the headquarters building.

At the same time.

The "live broadcast platforms" of various Navy branches in the Grand Line and the Four Seas also displayed images. However, the Marineford Plaza currently only had busy staff, because there were still two hours until the knighting ceremony began.

But the public had already brought their small stools and gathered under the live broadcast platforms, watching the busy Marineford on the screen with great interest, occasionally discussing it with others.

After all, the One Piece world had no TV, no computers, and entertainment activities were pitifully few. Such a big event as a live broadcast was hard to see. He remembered the last time—eh, it seemed it was also this guy named Karl!

At this time, a young girl holding a Karl support poster looked at the screen anxiously. After searching for a long time, she didn't find Karl's figure, so she couldn't help but feel a bit discouraged.

"Sigh, I thought Vice Admiral Karl had come out!"

Several women nearby echoed: "That's right, that's right. Hey, you guys move aside, don't block us from seeing Vice Admiral Karl."

A young man with a face full of freckles stood up and roared angrily: "I won't move, so what? You women are just superficial. Is Vice Admiral Karl's appearance important? What's important is his strength, okay?"

"Pfft, you're not superficial, but I haven't seen you look very good either?"

"You... Hmph~ I won't argue with you fangirls!"

This was Karl's support group, terrifyingly powerful. If they knew that it was because of the buffs they gave him that Karl was more persistent when fighting Hancock and Ain... er, at least they had some sense of participation, which was already very good.

In the Fleet Admiral's office, Karl discovered a strange figure.

Standing beside Sengoku was a man Move Move Like an iron tower. This was a very strong old man with a broad chest, tawny skin, and white hair and beard in the shape of the character "Mountain."

There was a stitched scar under his eye. He was wearing a sleeveless black shirt decorated with medals, revealing his arm muscles, a dark green armband, a light yellow scarf around his neck, and a white and dark gray coat.

At this time, he was sizing up Karl with a serious look.

"Karl, you've come just in time. Let me introduce you. This is Kong, the Commander-in-Chief of the World Government's military, and also the former Fleet Admiral of the Navy."

Karl quickly saluted Steel Kong: "Hello, sir. I am Navy Vice Admiral Karl. Please give me your guidance!"

Steel Kong stared at Karl in silence, making Karl a little nervous, but only a little. You look at me? Then I'll look at you, let's see whose eyes dry out first!

"Heh, what a good young man! I heard that you, Move Move Like Sengoku, have awakened Conqueror's Haki?"

Karl nodded: "Yes, I awakened it accidentally when I fought Kaido of the Beasts a few years ago."

Steel Kong said meaningfully: "Accidentally? Only those with the qualifications of a king can awaken Conqueror's Haki. I think it was a matter of course."

Sengoku on the side nodded: "That's right. If Z had not insisted on recruiting new soldiers from all over the world every year, this kid might have really become a pearl in the sea, fading into the crowd."

"Z..." A look of nostalgia appeared in Steel Kong's eyes. The image of the high-spirited Black Arm Z from back then surged into his heart. Then he looked at the graceful and extraordinary Karl.

A new generation replaces the old...

"I've heard about your affairs. You've done well. Keep it up. The future is the world of you young people~ When the time comes, don't look down on us old guys who have one foot in the grave for not being able to help, hahahahaha!"

After speaking, Steel Kong and Sengoku looked at each other and smiled. Perhaps this was a punchline that only someone who had been a Navy Fleet Admiral could understand.

"By the way, Karl, I heard that your ability has the effect of strengthening physique and healing?"