MTLNOVEL Chapter 34: 34- "Debts Instead of Payments"
34- "Debts Instead of Payments"
If you see that I'm a bit disconnected this week, it's because my phone broke, so I'll have to go buy a new one. I hope to find one that's useful for writing since I was quite used to mine for that. Writing on a PC tends to tire me out a lot.
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After recovering everything and leaving some soldiers behind to bury the corpses, everyone returned to Marineford.
—Tsk. I didn't even use my full strength. How disappointing —said Kara while eating the sweets brought by Aokiji's secretary.
—That's for the best. We don't want another island disappearing from the map because of you —Aokiji said, wearing a sleeping mask but speaking up after hearing Kara.
—Hey, I don't destroy everything in my path —Kara complained, annoyed.
—While you were hunting a pirate for your promotion to captain, you destroyed 23 houses, 2 restaurants, and the king's castle on that island —Aokiji said, lifting his mask slightly to look at Kara.
—Cough… well, he was a really slippery pirate —Kara said while looking away.
—During your fight with Akainu, an island disappeared —Aokiji added, putting the sleeping mask back on.
—That was the fault of that molten rock-head —Kara said in irritation, but Aokiji had already fallen asleep… or was pretending to so Kara wouldn't bother him.
After a journey of about four hours, Kara had captured the one responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Zephyr's students, as well as the one who cut off his arm.
…
—Looks like they're done —Kizaru said while looking out the window of Sengoku's office.
—It's good that it was quick —Sengoku said as he handed a document to his goat, which happily started eating it.
—Aren't you worried that he really is Whitebeard's son and might now seek revenge? After all, he already has his eye on Kara because of the Ace situation —Tsuru said, sitting in thought.
—I don't think so. After all these years, he never sought out his supposed son —Sengoku said calmly.
—Hmph, what a bunch of fools —Zephyr said with a proud smile as he sat nearby—. As a reward, I should train Kara properly in Armament Haki —he said as he left Sengoku's office.
…
Meanwhile, Kara felt a chill run down her spine. She looked around in all directions and even used Observation Haki, but she didn't sense anything, so she paid it no mind.
She walked toward getting her pay since, having been away from Marineford for a month, her salary for that month was still with the Marine accountant.
—Oh, you guys are here too —Kara said, noticing Zoro, Chopper, and Tashigi, who were receiving their wages.
—Yeah. I found them trying to get something to eat but without money. Seems like they didn't know they received a salary for being Marines —Tashigi quickly explained.
—Great, now I can have some sake —Zoro said with a grin. After all, he had no money, and the funds Kara left him a while back had long since vanished.
—My first real salary, how exciting! —Chopper said as he received his bag of berries—. WOW! With this, I can buy some new medical instruments! —he exclaimed happily upon seeing the amount of money.
—Wait… why does he get more? —Zoro asked, noticing the difference in the size of the bags.
—Doctors are a valuable resource in the Marines, especially one as skilled as him who aced all his exams with the highest scores —said the receptionist handing out the payments.
—Even if you say that, it won't make me happy, dummy —Chopper said while squirming in happiness, making the receptionist smile tenderly.
—Alright, Eliza, it's my turn —Kara said with a smile, recognizing the receptionist.
—Of course, Miss Kara, one moment —Eliza said as she pulled out some documents and started calculating.
—Alright. Your salary is 5 million berries —Eliza said with a smile.
—Vice Admirals earn that much? —the three of them said in shock.
—No. That's the amount Miss Kara owes after calculating all the destruction she caused this month. And after deducting her salary to cover part of it —Eliza quickly said with a professional smile.
—Wow, I guess I overdid it this month —Kara said as she placed a bag of money on the table, which Eliza received happily, as if it were completely normal.
The others were left speechless. It was the first time they had heard of someone having to pay when they came to collect their salary for their job.
—They should be paying me instead. Thanks to the great me, the base's construction crews have developed new techniques to increase precision and speed. It's like I'm training them to be the best builders in the world. The shipwrights could even compare to Galley-La's —Kara boasted arrogantly.
At that moment, everyone was looking at her like an idiot.
—Changing the subject… How did it go with the old man? Did you manage to beat my record? —Kara asked, looking at Zoro, who had visible battle scars all over his body that hadn't fully healed yet. Then, she realized Zephyr was using the same technique he had used on her: fight until you pass out, wait for you to wake up, and keep going.
—Tsk. Just by an hour —Zoro said, annoyed.
—What? —everyone asked.
—I was short by an hour. The old man is processing my promotion, so it's certain I'll get it on the same day they plan to hand out the medals —Zoro said quickly, still irritated.
—Oh, so the arrogant man who claimed he would do it right in front of me couldn't —Kara said mockingly—. By the way, I set that record when I was 15 or 16, while you are… what? 30? —she said, looking at Zoro as if he were a loser.
That infuriated Zoro, but he held back the urge to draw his sword and cut her.
—I'm 19… and a storm delayed our return —Zoro said quickly.
—Excuses —Kara said arrogantly as she left the room.
As Zoro watched her leave, he recalled something that had happened on their way back.
Flashback:
After Zoro was thrown onto an island full of pirates to capture their captain, who had a bounty of 67,000,000, he had to fight to the death to win.
When he returned, Zephyr was waiting for him on the ship with a smile, alongside his students.
—Seems like you're not bad —he said, watching Zoro return, covered in blood—his own and that of the defeated pirates waiting to be arrested on the island—. Let's head back quickly so we can beat that smug brat —Zephyr said, ordering all the soldiers to swiftly capture the pirates.
Meanwhile, Zoro was quickly treated by the onboard medics, who bandaged him, applied medicine, and then let him rest.
While he was sitting in a corner recovering, Ain and Binz approached him. After fighting them all week, Zoro had grown familiar with them.
—Is it okay if we tell you something? —Ain asked quickly—. I hope you don't get offended —she added.
—When someone says that, it's because they're about to say something offensive —Zoro said with an interested smirk.
—Then I'll just say it. It's about Instructor Kara —Ain said bluntly.
Kara, having been captured by Zephyr multiple times, worked at the academy as an instructor for rookies, especially when she was punished for destroying Marineford buildings. That's why many rookies ended up calling her "Instructor." Ain and Binz were among those rookies.
—Just say it —Zoro said calmly.
—The reason you're getting promoted so quickly is only because Kara brought you. If you were a regular marine, it would take you much longer. Kara is your sponsor, and her sponsors are all the Marine high command. I hope you don't let her down or betray her —Ain said quickly.
Then Zoro realized Ain had come to speak on Kara's behalf.
—I already know that. There's no need to tell me, but I'll keep it in mind —Zoro replied. After all, he had known it from the start. Take Smoker as an example—he was strong, captured pirates all the time, and was still a captain…
Setting aside the fact that he had issues with his superiors, Zoro had only been with Kara for a little over a month and was already about to be promoted to captain. It was obvious it was thanks to her.
—Then, that's great —Ain said with a smile before walking away with Binz.
Zoro realized that both of them deeply respected Kara. Not just them—many other marines also held her in high regard, even if they treated her like a troublemaker.
Zoro himself was quite satisfied with his commanding officer. Thanks to her, he had grown stronger much faster than he would have on his own. In a way, he owed her a lot.
—Alright, kid. When we get back to the base, you can come find me when you're free to learn Armament Haki and improve your Observation Haki —Zephyr said, approaching Zoro. He had seen great potential in him. Maybe, compared to other vice admirals, he could even reach Kara's and the admirals' level.
And the best part was that he didn't rely too much on a Devil Fruit like Borsalino and Kara did, so Zephyr could fully teach him Haki.
Zephyr was already getting excited about training another genius. Although he also suspected that maybe Kara had brought Zoro along just to distract him and avoid being trained herself.
But now he was more convinced than ever—he had to catch Kara and make her improve her control over Armament Haki.
Even though Kara could face Garp and himself without powerful Haki, only using what she called "magic power," which was similar to Haki… still, if she improved her Haki, she could become an even greater monster.
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