One Piece: Signing In as a Pirate Begins with Roger's Execution

Karl was utterly bewildered, having no idea who this "Admiral Crete" was.

Belmere promptly pulled out a wanted poster.

"He's the strongest overlord of the East Blue. He once ventured into the Grand Line but returned gravely injured due to some circumstances, escaping back to the East Blue.

Since recovering, he hasn't set foot in the Grand Line again. Instead, he's dominated the East Blue, uniting all the pirate forces here!

His bounty is an astounding 79 million berries, making him a formidable pirate!

What's more, his Admiral Pirates crew boasts over 10,000 members and more than 100 ships!"

"That's quite a pirate crew. But for Grandpa Garp to let them slip under his radar… Could it be that he just can't be bothered?"

Karl mulled it over and found it plausible.

This pirate crew seemed strong, with its captain holding a bounty of 79 million berries.

In an era before bounty inflation, this was equivalent to a bounty of 100 to 200 million berries in the future.

A figure like that in the East Blue was undeniably an invincible force.

But Karl didn't care. With his own strength, it didn't matter who the opponent was—unless it was a monster on the level of Whitebeard or Kaido. Anyone else would be easy pickings.

"Lord Karl, there's another matter. After much deliberation, I feel it's necessary to report it to you!"

"What is it?"

Seeing Belmere's unusually serious expression, Karl's curiosity was piqued.

"Not long ago, while you were preparing for Roger's execution, certain veterans within our navy secretly conspired with pirates!

These individuals had connections with Admiral Crete in the past. Although they've committed no major offenses so far, their presence here is concerning."

"Still conspiring with pirates at a time like this? How bold of them!"

Karl pondered for a moment before addressing Belmere.

"Summon all the marines immediately. I have an important announcement to make!"

"Understood!"

Upon receiving the order, Belmere efficiently rallied every marine in Loguetown.

Even Smoker paused his discipline of Buggy and brought him to the town square for the assembly.

Standing on the podium, Karl looked out at the assembled marines. They had gathered within three minutes, earning a rare look of approval from him.

After all, more than two-thirds of them were fresh recruits, barely trained for two or three months.

Out in the field, they'd hardly be considered combat-ready.

Still, their swift assembly, thanks to Belmere's training, had saved Karl a lot of trouble.

"Every one of you here is under my command, but as of now, I'd rather dismiss you all. Loguetown, with just me alone, would remain impenetrable!

Each and every one of you—except Belmere—is utterly useless! Worthless trash!"

Karl's words made a portion of the crowd bow their heads in shame.

Even the proud Smoker lowered his head.

When he first joined the marines, Karl had scolded him in the same manner.

Back then, Smoker had been defiant—until Karl defeated him effortlessly several times, leaving him no choice but to accept it.

Buggy was no exception.

By now, Karl's authority had cowed him into submission. On top of that, the treatment here wasn't bad.

At least last night, Buggy had enjoyed a peaceful night's sleep for the first time in ages.

Now, he simply embraced the philosophy of going with the flow. As long as he was fed and paid, he didn't mind being scolded.

Belmere, however, felt a touch of joy.

She hadn't expected Karl to exclude her from his criticism, and it made her secretly pleased.

Still, she maintained a stoic exterior, standing silently beside Karl without showing any emotion.

"I know some of you are dissatisfied. Some even fancy yourselves seasoned veterans of Loguetown, using that as an excuse to bully new recruits and run amok!

When I first took over Loguetown, I made it clear—this kind of behavior will not be tolerated!

Yet, in just a short time, some of you have already disobeyed. Worse, there are those who are colluding with pirates outside.

I also know that some of you, under the previous commander, profited handsomely and now wish to resume your old ways. Is that right?"

Karl's sharp gaze bore down on the crowd before him.

The marine force in Loguetown wasn't large. Counting everyone, there were only a little over 4,000 marines.

Of these, more than 3,000 were fresh recruits with just two to three months of training.

Loguetown's defenses were at an all-time low.

The blame lay squarely with the previous commander, who had greedily embezzled all the military funds, causing a mass resignation of marines.

Although a new batch was recruited, most were barely adequate to fill the ranks.

If not for Karl's identity, influence, and Belmere's capable leadership, keeping these recruits in line would've been a monumental challenge.

Yet, many veteran marines still looked down on Karl.

They believed he had only reached his position because of his connections.

Even after executing Roger and delivering his stunning speech, some veterans still refused to acknowledge him.

They continued to exploit pirates and civilians, enriching themselves at others' expense.

"Hmph! Who do you think you are? Do you think your connections give you free rein in the East Blue?

You're just a brat throwing your weight around in Loguetown! Don't think a few words and an execution make you anything special!

Without your connections, you're nothing—a nobody outside of Loguetown!"

"Hahaha!"

A scar-faced marine, with a menacing demeanor, stepped forward, mocking Karl.

His words elicited laughter from a small group of veterans—about two or three hundred—who shared his sentiments.

Though they refrained from provoking Karl directly, they were eager to support someone who did.

Most of the veterans, however, remained cautious. While they still looked down on Karl, they knew better than to openly challenge him.

"Scoundrels! How dare you disrespect Lord Karl with such insolence!"

Belmere's eyes blazed with fury. She rolled up her sleeves, ready to teach the offender a lesson.

Her fiery temperament often made her seem more like a street thug than a marine.

If not for Karl's restraint, she might have long since become the ringleader of Loguetown's "marine ruffians."

~~~~~~~~~~

📣 Shout out: David Aderoju for subscribing on my 10$ Tier!

📣 Shout out: AbsoluteZero for subscribing on my 30$ Tier. You're the best, man! 

Please support this poor soul on Patreon. As a patron, you unlock:

🔓 Exclusive Access: Get 47+ advanced chapters ahead of everyone. 

🔓 Exclusive Shout-Out: Receive a special shout every chapter as a thank you for your support (Only those at 5$ Tier and above).

Your support not only fuels my creativity but also helps me grow this community. If you're not a patron yet, consider joining us! 

✨ Join now: patreon.com / Madbot635