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

"Karl-sama, it has been a long time."

In the dimly lit room, a tall man—nearly 190 centimeters in height—stood respectfully beside the main seat. Dressed in a black suit and wearing a white mask, his demeanor exuded a quiet confidence.

"Kuro?"

Karl glanced at the man, a flicker of recognition tinged with disbelief. He realized that Kuro looked almost unrecognizable.

Compared to three years ago, Kuro's height had increased significantly. More importantly, his demeanor was now sharp and disciplined—worlds apart from the person Karl remembered.

"Karl-sama, it's me—Kuro," the man affirmed with a nod as he removed his mask.

Beneath it, he still wore glasses, though they were much smaller and sleeker than before—custom-made, no doubt, to accommodate the mask.

"Impressive. I can't believe how much you've grown in three years," Karl remarked, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "I hear your 'business ventures' have been flourishing. Sengoku even mentioned that you've made a name for yourself in arms dealing, intelligence trading, and gold smuggling. You've carved out a reputation in the underworld as the 'Thunder Strategist,' and there's talk of you becoming a dominant figure. Outstanding work."

Karl's praise was genuine and unrestrained.

With Kuro's abilities, unifying the underworld wasn't beyond reach. However, that ambition came with risks—namely crossing powerful figures like Kaido. Knowing this, Kuro had wisely avoided outright conflict with the Yonko.

But as a spy, Kuro had risen through the underworld ranks at an unprecedented speed, nearly reaching the position of crime lord in just three years. This feat was unmatched—even Doflamingo had required nearly a decade of careful planning and alliances to dominate the underworld alongside Kaido.

Kuro, relying solely on his wits and skill, had come close to Doflamingo's level in just three years. Such talent would make him a match for Vice Admiral Tsuru as a strategist in the Marines.

"Karl-sama, you flatter me. Without your guidance, I would never have made it this far," Kuro replied humbly. "That said, do you have a new mission for me? I came here intending to deliver a shipment of arms to Capone Bege, but I can take care of additional tasks along the way."

Despite his accomplishments, Kuro remained grounded. He knew his success was built on Karl's mentorship and held no thoughts of betrayal, fully aware of Karl's ultimate goals.

"I don't have a specific mission for you, but I do want you to form a pirate crew," Karl said, his tone steady. "Under the identity of 'Thunder Strategist,' create a crew. Capone Bege will do the same. It's time for you to venture into the Grand Line.

"The West Blue will be left to your subordinates. All you need to do is check in occasionally and maintain contact."

"Understood, Karl-sama. I'll begin preparations immediately," Capone Bege interjected with a nod, agreeing without hesitation. He had planned to head for the Grand Line eventually but had been waiting for the right moment. Now that Karl had spoken, he saw no reason to delay further.

Kuro, however, furrowed his brows. "Karl-sama, is there more to this? You've always hated pirates, yet now you're asking us to form pirate crews. Isn't this contradictory to your goals?"

Kuro's sharpness had cut straight to the heart of the matter.

Karl's lips curled into a knowing smile. "That's irrelevant. I'm only asking you to form pirate crews as a cover. You won't actually need to act as pirates.

"In a few years, the World Government will officially announce the Warlord System. Both of you are my people, but the Red Church's involvement will soon become public knowledge. I plan to nominate Capone Bege as one of the Warlords.

"Your true identity is known only to me, Bellemere, Commander-in-Chief Kong, and Sengoku. Even the Five Elders are unaware of it. Your role as a Warlord will be pivotal for my future plans.

"Beyond that, I intend to cultivate a few more allies to join the Warlord ranks, though I don't have candidates yet. We'll proceed step by step."

The Warlord System, while not yet public, would soon become a necessity. Despite Karl's efforts to suppress Roger's final words, the pirate surge couldn't be stopped. The seas were becoming increasingly chaotic, with more and more pirates setting sail.

Given the circumstances, the Warlord System was inevitable. Even if the Five Elders didn't propose it, Karl would personally push for it at his next meeting at Marineford.

The system was integral to Karl's plans.

After a moment of contemplation, Kuro spoke up. "Karl-sama, I may have a suitable candidate."

"Oh? Who?" Karl asked, intrigued.

"Gild Tesoro."

The name sparked a vague sense of familiarity in Karl, though he couldn't immediately place it. Kuro offered a brief explanation, reminding Karl that Tesoro was once a slave of the Celestial Dragons.

During a previous operation to rescue slaves, Tesoro had been among those freed, though Karl hadn't noticed him at the time. Through a series of events, Tesoro had acquired the Gold-Gold Fruit by stealing it—an extraordinary feat.

Now, Tesoro was under Kuro's control, a testament to his abilities. This person was none other than the future "Golden Emperor" from the original timeline.

"Train him well," Karl instructed. "The Warlord System is still years away. Let's see if he can grow into the role."

With that, Karl dismissed the matter, paying little attention to Tesoro's development.

After giving some final instructions, Karl observed the transaction between Capone Bege and Kuro. It was a straightforward exchange, their rapport eliminating the need for haggling. The arms were sold at cost price—a sign of their mutual trust.

This brought a rare smile to Karl's face.

Once the deal was concluded, Kuro approached Karl. Sparks danced across his body as he stood ready, lightning crackling with a menacing aura.

"Karl-sama, would you spar with me? I want to gauge how far I still have to go to reach your level!"

"A spar? Very well. How's your Haki?" Karl asked nonchalantly.

"Not as strong as yours," Kuro admitted with a confident grin, "but it's above average for the New World."

"Good..."

Before Kuro could react, Karl appeared behind him in an instant and struck.

Kuro tried to evade using his Logia intangibility, but Karl's advanced Armament Haki (Ryou) bypassed his elemental form, landing a direct hit.

One strike was all it took—Kuro was defeated.

[TL/N: That's not a spar anymore, lol.]

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