Chapter 49: A New Dawn at Navy Headquarters

“Ugh!”

“Where am I?”

Rear Admiral North opened his eyes and stared at the snow-white ceiling. Glancing around the room, he finally let out a breath of relief.

He recognized immediately he was back at Navy Headquarters; this was unmistakably the medical ward, a place he’d frequented during his days as a young recruit.

The memories began to rise—he actually missed those turbulent days of training, pouring his youthful energy into the Navy.

Turning his head, he gazed out the window. The midday sun was shining bright, spilling golden rays across the room.

He could hear the cheerful chirping of little birds outside.

For the first time in a while, he knew he was safe.

“Creak!”

North immediately focused on the door.

A tall, beautiful young woman in a nurse’s uniform stepped in, cheeks flushed a healthy pink. When she smiled, it was as if an angel had graced the room.

She caught sight of Rear Admiral North awake and quickly called out to the hallway.

“Rear Admiral North, you’re awake!”

“Quick, someone come! Rear Admiral North is awake!”

Her gentle voice was as soft and comforting as her demeanor.

A doctor soon arrived, checked over North’s condition, and nodded to the senior Navy officer present. Once he was done, the medical staff withdrew from the room.

Tap, tap, tap.

Just then, footsteps sounded by the door.

A moment later, the people entering were Admiral Hill, followed by Admiral Kong, Admiral Wenhu, and Vice Admirals Garp and Sengoku.

“So, how are you feeling, North?”

Hill’s first words as she entered weren’t about business; instead, she asked about his health.

It was obvious—Fleet Admiral Hill genuinely cared about those under her command.

“Please don’t worry, Fleet Admiral Hill. Everything’s fine now,” North answered solemnly, patting his chest with his right hand. Still, the twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed the fact that his body wasn’t as fine as he claimed.

“Alright, I can see right through you,” Hill chuckled.

“Rest up. If you need anything at all, just ask.”

The truth was, she already knew what had happened, but North had brought back the Magma Fruit and several rare special Paramecia Devil Fruits. With such contributions, Rear Admiral North’s efforts couldn’t go unnoticed.

And with that, thanks to the Vivre Card of Admiral Snow Lion burning away, they’d learned that Snow Lion had fallen in the New World.

Though a heavy loss, they all knew now wasn’t the time for grief.

They had no choice but to swallow their sorrow; after all, word from their informants was that the Rocks Pirates were about to start a major war.

So, no time for mourning.

After a brief talk with North, the group left the ward and began issuing orders.

They sent part of the Navy to the New World to establish several forward bases, with Garp and Sengoku leading the way. They would advance to the New World ahead of everyone else.

While the Navy busied themselves with preparations—

At Beehive Island, several pirate crews set sail. First off was Golden Lion, captain of the First Division. His fleet soared through the air, flying rapidly into the distance.

John, Wang Zhi, and Silver Axe followed close behind, each setting sail one after another.

The only ones who stayed behind that day were Charlotte Linlin, Newgate, and Karl.

That evening, inside Charlotte Linlin’s quarters, two people were quietly talking after a wild bout of passion.

“Karl, I’m pregnant.”

Charlotte Linlin, looking satisfied, reached out and gently rubbed her slightly rounded belly.

“Already? So soon?”

Karl was surprised Linlin could get pregnant so quickly. With his Titan bloodline, wasn’t the odds of conception supposed to be far lower than for normal people?

But then he remembered—that bloodline was a gift from the System. Maybe it didn’t truly belong to him. He couldn’t help but wonder whether his child would inherit those Titan powers.

“Let me listen!”

That thought flashed through Karl’s mind and, without hesitation, he pressed his ear to Charlotte Linlin’s belly.

Seeing Karl snuggle against her stomach, Linlin smiled softly and stroked his hair, a little warmth rising in her heart.

With his extraordinary senses, Karl instantly picked up on three faint heartbeats inside Linlin’s belly.

“Ha, I never thought I’d live to see this day,” Karl said, his lips curling up in a grin.

He couldn’t believe he’d become a father so soon. Honestly, he had no idea what it felt like to be a good dad.

“Have you thought about what to name them?”

Charlotte Linlin frowned slightly, asking Karl in a calm voice.

After all, all of Linlin’s earlier children had taken her family name. Now, with Karl in the picture, would their future children be named differently?

Would this cause issues between the kids…

“Don’t worry, they’ll take my name. Tomorrow I’ll call in your other children and see if they’re willing to change their surnames too.”

Karl declared directly, a bit domineering—his pride wouldn’t allow his sons to go by any other surname.

“Whatever you say.”

Charlotte Linlin gazed at his confident face and found him downright charming in that moment.

“One more time!”

Linlin had barely finished before pulling Karl into her arms again. Thanks to Karl’s relentless efforts, his Titan Strength had matured and he’d grown to a height of seven and a half meters.

Still a little shorter than Linlin, but not by much.

He honestly felt lucky to be with Charlotte Linlin. With his future height, finding a woman both beautiful and strong would have been nearly impossible.

There just weren’t many women that tall in the One Piece World.

He definitely didn’t want to spend his future in lonely tears.

“You’re pregnant—you sure it’s alright?”

“It’s fine! Come here!”

Karl didn’t even finish before Linlin pulled the covers over them. Soon, the room filled with muffled noises all over again! (A thousand words omitted here!)

“They really have stamina,” someone muttered.

“Yeah, it’s been ages since any of us have had a decent night’s sleep.”

The two of them were having the time of their lives, but Charlotte Perospero and the others in the next room were suffering.

They lived right next door; Karl came by every night and the noise kept everyone awake.

Tonight was the worst yet—well past midnight, and somehow it started up again.

Unable to sleep, most of the siblings gathered in Perospero’s room to chat. This happened so much their sleep schedules were totally flipped—sleeping by day and restless at night.

“No idea how much longer this will last,” one of the brothers complained.

“Maybe not until we’re strong enough to protect ourselves!”

“Maybe we could reinforce Mom’s room, make the soundproofing better,” Katakuri suggested.

“That could work.”

“Let’s fix up Mom’s room tomorrow when she goes out,” someone chimed in.

“Great idea!”

“Settled then.”

Perospero gave the final word. Tomorrow, while their mother was out, they’d fix up her room and make it completely soundproof.

That way, they’d finally be able to get a good night’s sleep.

Time ticked by as laughter echoed in the room. At last, as the night faded, the first light of dawn crept over the horizon.