Chapter 239: Akainu's Invitation

"Rear Admiral Smoker, sor, sorry, we're late!"

Smoker waved his hand, indicating not to worry. He had just wandered over himself, but he hadn't expected to have an unexpected harvest.

"Alabasta is really a magical place. Straw Hat Luffy, Fire Fist Ace, and that scheming Crocodile, hehe, it's really lively!"

"Wha, what? Is Fire Fist Ace, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, also in this country? Why did he come here?"

Smoker shook his head: "I don't know. As far as the current situation is concerned, the water in Alabasta is very deep..."

"Bring the Den Den Mushi over."

"Yes! Rear Admiral Smoker."

Amazon Lily, Karl was accompanying Hancock to inspect her territory when the Den Den Mushi rang.

"Who is it?" "It should be Smoker."

"Should I avoid it?"

Karl shook his head and answered the call: "Hello, Smoker, have you come to the Grand Line?"

"I came a long time ago. I'm in Alabasta now."

Karl grinned: "Alabasta, haha, why did you suddenly run there? The Straw Hat Pirates aren't in that country too, are they?"

After a silence, Smoker said: "As expected, I couldn't hide it from you. Just now, I ran into Straw Hat Luffy in this country, and his brother, Fire Fist Ace."

"Fire Fist Ace? He came too?"

"That's right. He doesn't look Move Move Like he came specifically to find his brother. If I'm not mistaken, he came to find that traitor of the Whitebeard Pirates, right?"

"Indeed. So, do you need help?"

"That's not necessary. I just came to confirm it. Wait for my good news!"

Then Smoker hung up the phone, leaving Karl confused. Why did Smoker start playing this game too?

"What's wrong? Do you have something to do again?"

Karl hugged Hancock: "Nothing, nothing. I haven't had anything to do lately. By the way, what day is it today?"

"Uh, I'm not sure. Tuesday?"

Karl tapped his head hard. It was over; he almost forgot that Akainu, that old boy, was going to treat him to dinner tonight.

"Cough, sorry, I do have something to do tonight."

Hancock smiled slightly, gently brushing the Pure Gold ring on her ring finger, and said: "It's okay, my dear, go ahead! I will always be here waiting for you to come back."

"You're so good. Anyway, it's still early, and there's no one around. Why don't we have a field combat training session?"

Hancock's face flushed red, and then she immediately activated her Observation Haki. After confirming that there was no one around, she grabbed Karl's hand and walked directly into the big forest.

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

Sakazuki walked off the warship and headed straight for the headquarters building. He stopped when he passed the guard and asked in a low voice: "Is Vice Admiral White Crow at Marine Headquarters?"

The guard was startled when he saw Akainu's face, which looked Move Move Like he owed him millions, and said tremblingly: "I, I don't know. Anyway, I haven't seen Vice Admiral White Crow for several days."

After speaking, the guard closed his eyes. He had heard before how harsh Admiral Akainu was. His little act of slacking off just now must have been discovered by Admiral Akainu. How would he treat him?

"I see. If Vice Admiral White Crow returns today, please be sure to notify him and say that I am waiting for him. Do you understand?"

"Ah, oh, yes, Admiral Akainu!"

Night.

Karl arrived on time at the small restaurant where he had eaten with Aokiji last time. Hmm, the same private room. As soon as he entered, he saw Akainu sitting in the seat Aokiji used to sit in, looking at Karl expressionlessly.

A rose pinned to his chest, a dark red suit, a Marine cap on his head, and black leather gloves on his hands—the classic Akainu image.

"Karl, you're here. Sit."

Karl revealed a smile, pulled out a chair, sat opposite Akainu, and looked at him with a half-smile: "Admiral Akainu, are you also here to talk to me about the next Fleet Admiral?"

"Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan asked, can't I ask?"

Karl shook his head helplessly: "Of course, of course, but I have to state one thing in advance! I am just an ordinary Marine officer and cannot decide the next Fleet Admiral. No matter what I say, please don't take it seriously!"

No matter what, stack a layer of armor first.

Sakazuki nodded slightly, picked up a cigar from the table and threw it to Karl, lit one for himself, exhaled a puff of smoke beautifully, and then looked at Karl and said.

"I naturally understand this. I'm just curious, what did you say to Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan when he treated you to dinner last time? He seems to have become more energetic lately..."

Karl was silent for a long moment: "Since that's the case, then I'll be blunt. Admiral Akainu, I don't think you are suitable to be the Fleet Admiral."

The atmosphere in the entire room suddenly turned cold. Sakazuki took a deep breath and said with a dark face: "I'm not suitable? Can you give me a reason? You don't think Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan is stronger than me, do you?"

Karl waved his hand: "Admiral Akainu, this is not a question of who is stronger. If whoever is stronger gets to be the Fleet Admiral, then I should be the next Fleet Admiral, shouldn't I?"

Sakazuki decisively closed his mouth. Sincerity is the ultimate skill. Karl really had this ability.

As early as when Karl was selected as an Admiral candidate, he had tested Karl's strength. At that time, he felt that he could no longer beat Karl; this kid was simply a monster.

Not to mention that Karl had become much stronger now, while he himself, hmm, had made progress, but only a little, just incomparable to Karl.

"Let's do this. I'll ask you a question. How many hardline officers are there in the current Marine?"

Akainu frowned, but still answered quickly: "Hardline officers above the rank of Major in the Marine Headquarters... 15."

"What about the moderate officers?"

Akainu thought to himself, how would I know, but there must be more than the hardliners.

"It seems you don't know either. Then let me tell you. Among the officers of the Marine Headquarters, besides the hardliners and the centrists, there are a total of 68 moderate officers above the rank of Major."

"What does this prove? Truth is always in the hands of the few."

"No, no, no, Admiral Akainu, I'm not talking to you about truth. I mean, even if you become the Fleet Admiral, the Marine officers who truly support you are very few, which means the Marines you can truly command are not many."

"I am the Fleet Admiral, why wouldn't they listen to my command?"

"Then they can act in defiance! Isn't that what the moderates do?"

"Aren't you a moderate?"

Karl shook his head: "I never said I was a moderate, but I'm not a hardliner either."

"Are you a centrist, Move Move Like Borsalino?"