One Piece : Captain, We’ve Arrived at Laugh Tale

"Carl, you're awake!"

Robin's voice carried surprised relief as she gently helped Carl out of the tent.

Nami quickly set aside her cartography work to assist Robin in guiding Carl to a comfortable seat. She swiftly prepared tea and snacks, serving them with thoughtful attention.

"I'll go find Chopper!" 

Nami dashed off, leaving only Robin and Carl in each other's company.

Noticing the mixture of worry and joy in Robin's eyes, Carl reached out and patted her head gently. "Don't worry. I promised I'd stand between you and anything you fear. How could I die so easily?"

Robin hummed softly in response but didn't speak, seemingly content with Carl's reassuring touch.

Carl suddenly felt a strange realization and asked, "Robin, when I do this, do you think I'm acting like your father?"

Robin looked taken aback. After a thoughtful pause, she replied, "I hadn't noticed until you mentioned it. Though you're younger than me, you do treat me somewhat like a child—always patting my head. Yet strangely, it doesn't bother me. Perhaps I do view you as a protective figure?"

Carl found himself at a loss for words.

He realized he genuinely did think of Robin as someone to protect—perhaps because he always remembered the 21-year-old Robin who had endured countless hardships. Even though the Robin before him was now 28, he still subconsciously treated her as someone who needed safeguarding.

Upon reflection, there seemed nothing wrong with this dynamic. 

He was simply providing Robin with something her childhood had lacked.

"Well, it seems I should start calling you 'Dad Carl' from now on," Robin teased with her typical subtle humor.

"If you don't mind, neither do I." Carl responded casually, content as long as Robin was happy.

Just then, Nami hurried back with Chopper in tow.

The reindeer doctor quickly performed a thorough examination of Carl, expressing astonishment at discovering his internal injuries had already healed. It had been only two days—an impossibly rapid recovery.

"Carl, do you have some special physical constitution?" Chopper couldn't help asking.

"No, my physique is entirely ordinary. But have you considered why I taught everyone that special breathing technique? That cultivation method not only strengthens the body but also accelerates healing. I believe I unconsciously used the breathing method during my unconscious state, which hastened my recovery."

"Amazing! I never realized the techniques you taught us were so powerful!" Chopper, Robin, and Nami exclaimed in unison.

Carl glanced around, noticing the absence of the others. "Where is everyone else?"

Chopper hesitated momentarily before answering: "They're all training intensely. When you and Luffy fought Kaido, they couldn't even assist—they could barely follow the battle with their eyes. It was frankly terrifying. Now everyone wants to become stronger as quickly as possible so they won't hold you and Luffy back. But since you both needed care, Robin and Nami took responsibility for looking after you, while Nami and Tashigi watched over Luffy."

So they had all gone to train!

Carl couldn't help but feel moved—the confrontation with Kaido had clearly impacted Zoro and the others profoundly.

It was actually encouraging to see them training without supervision. This self-motivated improvement meant they wouldn't grow lazy during times when he wasn't around to oversee their development.

However...

"Chopper, why not have you care for both Luffy and me together? Why arrange so many caretakers?" Carl asked suspiciously.

"Well... because Luffy snores extremely loudly. Robin mentioned you prefer quiet, so..."

Chopper's explanation brought a slight smile to Carl's face.

Indeed, Carl disliked excessive noise, especially while sleeping—particularly snoring and teeth-grinding. Aboard the ship, he often escaped to sleep on his suspended giant sword door-panel to avoid the cacophony. It seemed Robin had noticed this habit.

Fortunately, they had been cared for separately; otherwise, Carl would have awakened much sooner from Luffy's thunderous snores.

"Alright then, let's go find everyone."

Carl asked Chopper and the others to gather their belongings as they walked toward the training grounds.

Before long, they heard violent collisions. Using his observation skills, Carl could see the scene clearly.

Zoro and Law were engaged in an intense swordsmanship duel. Sanji practiced his kicking techniques against Bepo's front paws. Jango and Mr. 3 were testing their Hypnosis and Wax-Wax Fruit powers against Usopp, while the rest of the crew practiced in various combinations.

Everyone was working diligently, following the training regimens Carl had established for them.

Carl smiled—his injuries hadn't been suffered in vain.

Motivating his crewmates to strengthen themselves voluntarily was critically important.

Usually, only Zoro showed true enthusiasm for training; the others approached it with all the eagerness of someone forced to drink from a bull's nose.

Self-motivated improvement was always more effective than forced training.

"HEY!!! EVERYONE!!!"

Luffy's energetic voice cut through the air. They turned to see him approaching with Nami and Tashigi in tow.

It seemed Luffy had awakened only recently—otherwise, he would have arrived much earlier.

"Luffy! Carl! You're finally awake!"

Zoro and the others reacted with evident delight, immediately halting their training.

Sanji lit a cigarette and announced with a grin, "Since everyone's awake now, I'll prepare a feast. Tonight, we eat until we burst!"

"Yes! Party! Party! PARTY!"

"Meat! Meat! MEAT!"

Luffy was already dancing with excitement.

Nothing more needed to be said—the celebration would begin immediately. This was the Straw Hat way.

Law had initially found these spontaneous festivities strange, but gradually he'd begun to be influenced by the crew's infectious spirit, showing subtle signs of assimilation into their carefree culture.

The feast was prepared with remarkable speed. As Carl savored the delicious barbecued meat, he experienced a sensation he hadn't felt in ages. Perhaps his extended unconsciousness had made this familiar pleasure feel new again.

At that moment, the Den Den Mushi began to ring.

Carl retrieved the snail-phone and discovered Garp was calling—the old marine still concerned about his grandson.

"Purupurupuru... Gatcha! Old man, didn't we just speak a few days ago? Calling again so soon? Missing your grandson?" Carl teased.

"Huh? Is that Grandpa?" Luffy barely glanced up before returning his attention to his mountain of meat.

Everyone else looked over, curious about Garp's unexpected call.

"So you're not dead after all. Did Kaido fail to find you? I heard you've returned to the New World." Garp sounded genuinely relieved.

"Oh, we encountered Kaido and had quite the battle. But in the end, we scared him off."

Carl's statement caused Luffy to look up with confusion.

Luffy clearly remembered that they had defeated Kaido together—how had that transformed into merely scaring him away?

"Kaido—the mighty Emperor—scared away by your ragtag bunch? Listen here, you little brat Carl, don't spin tales with me. This old marine won't believe such nonsense!"

"Believe it or not, that's what happened. Ask Luffy yourself if you don't believe me!"

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