https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1014-Kuro-You-ll-Have-to-Handle-This/13540722/
Chapter 1013: What Could Possibly Need My Attention?
Chapter 1013: What Could Possibly Need My Attention?
Four months later.
Headquarters.
Inside Kuro's private office.
Lida pointed at the day's World Economic News Bureau with an amused grin. "Hey, Kuro, check this out—this guy actually calls himself an 'emperor'!"
Kuro, chewing lazily on a cigar with his legs kicked up on the desk, raised an eyebrow in stunned disbelief. "Emperor? One of the Four Emperors? Another one? Did Marshall D. Teach finally get taken down?"
"Highly unlikely", Klah interjected, adjusting his glasses as he held his own newspaper. "It's self-proclaimed, actually. But quite entertaining."
He'd just returned from a mission wrapping up key investigations into undercover 'Sword' agents. The remaining tasks were delegated to other 'Sword' squads and CP units for coordination.
"Let me see this 'emperor' business."
With a lazy wave of Kuro's hand, Klah tossed over the paper. The front page screamed a massive headline: [Great Emperor Fartier His Majesty Issues Decree Demanding Three Nations Cease War, Unite Under His Rule!]
Below it was a photo of what appeared to be a handwritten document, complete with a crude, crooked seal at the bottom.
The article detailed how the once-unified 'Astraea' had fractured into three warring nations, with Emperor Fartier urging citizens to halt the conflict and reunite.
Kuro snorted. "So? What's the big deal here? Why's this trash making headlines? Does the Moer Gangs publication have no real news anymore?"
Klah actually looked stunned. "Kuro, sir—you've never heard of Emperor Fartier?"
"Why would I? Does he pay me? What's so special about this guy?" Kuro scowled. "Drop the riddles and explain."
Klah sighed. "It's become something of a legend, albeit a ridiculous one. Fartier's just a civilian, but ten years ago he randomly declared himself emperor. Back then, no one cared. But later he started issuing edicts—directly sending them to the warring kings! The kings were furious and ordered his arrest, but the local residents blocked their soldiers. After one failed attempt, the military quietly dropped the matter. The World Economic News Bureau covered it at the time, but everyone treated it as a joke."
"Since then, this 'emperor' keeps issuing absurd decrees. Some are actually helpful—like when he mandated reforms for minority races in Astraea. The three kingdoms ignored them, but his city enforced them strictly. And here's the kicker—the city wasn't rebelling, Fartier never raised an army, and everything improved organically. The 'emperor' title just... stuck."
Kuro tossed the paper aside. "So that's the guy. Any reason the three nations haven't dealt with him?"
"None of them want to risk backlash. Their soldiers won't enforce arrests, and he technically hasn't broken any laws", Klah explained.
Kuro leaned back, thoughtful. "Huh. Kinda impressive."
The title 'emperor' wasn't unheard of in the Grand Line. While most nations used 'King,' there were genuine emperors—like the Four Emperors, whose full title was 'Sea Emperor,' wielding unmatched combat power and dominance. Even Boa Hancock was recognized as Amazon Lily's emperor.
And technically, self-proclamation wasn't illegal. Look at pirate wanted posters—World Government-approved posters featured all sorts of outlandish titles. If civilians wanted to call themselves emperors, who cared?
A knock interrupted their conversation.
"Enter."
A Navy officer saluted. "Vice Admiral Kuro, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki requests your presence."
"Me?" Kuro blinked. "What for?"
"Unclear, sir." The officer maintained his posture.
"Fine, I'll go later." Kuro waved him off.
The officer exited with a crisp salute.
Kuro frowned. "What could he possibly want? I've been killing myself with work lately..."
Klah smirked. 'Killing yourself'? You mean sleeping for four months straight?
"Kuro, when's the last time you left Headquarters?" Lida asked.
"Hey! I went out to eat ramen with you!" Kuro protested.
"That's not 'going out'—you didn't even leave the compound!" Lida shot back.
Kuro had been stationed at Headquarters for four months, loafing around like a fish with nothing better to do, occasionally wandering to the back alleys' restaurants until the waiters knew him by name.
Even Lida got restless sometimes, stealing warships for 'patrols' that were essentially joyrides. Kuro, meanwhile, claimed it was necessary rest.
"White Eye", Kuro muttered, mimicking Lida's signature eye-roll. "Do you know what I've been through these past three years? I finally get a break and I'm supposed to be out there rusting away? Sure, I took a few weeks off on Pegasus Island, but compared to East Blue? That was rest? Pfft!"
Lida responded with an exaggerated eye-roll of his own.
"Why would Sakazuki want me now? This better not be another headache..."
Kuro pondered recent events. The Grand Line's first half remained stable. Pirates kept pirating, but the Navy was holding steady. Five of the Seven Warlords' routes had stabilized—though some pirates still escaped at Shabondy, things were less chaotic. The remaining two routes were under heavy Navy focus. As for the New World...
"Who cares about the New World? After Wano Country, even Kaido and Big·mom have been quiet. Rumors say Luffy, Eustass Kid, and Law caused trouble there, but they're still ghosts. Marshall D. Teach vanished too. The New World hasn't reached its boiling point yet. What could possibly need my attention now?"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
