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Chapter 1040: If the lord finds him useful, he must be useful!
Chapter 1040: If the lord finds him useful, he must be useful!
When you perceive him as a Navy officer, those closest to him—like Kuromr.—know his true nature: a Xian Yu who avoids conflict.
Yet if you truly believe he’s just a Xian Yu, his unintentional displays of insight will unsettle you, making you question—is this truly his true self?
This reminded Klah of a saying Kuromr. once shared during their idle days on Pegasus Island.
He had pointed at the Grand Line and said, "The first stage of understanding the world: you see the sea as just the sea. The second stage: you see the sea as something more. The third stage: you see the sea as just the sea again."
Back then, Klah couldn’t grasp its meaning. Now, he finally did.
Just as Klah initially viewed Kuro as harboring grand ambitions, he’d felt fear laced with excitement then. But now, he’d returned to that very first stage.
How could he not get involved in something so thrilling? If they succeeded, they’d be creating history!
Klah recalled Faritear·Joshua’s earlier frenzied shouts from below. When he’d first arrived, Joshua hadn’t been like that. It was only after speaking with Kuromr. that he’d changed. Could this be a precautionary move?
Klah’s mind raced as he suddenly interjected, “Kuromr., perhaps we should observe for a while.”
“Huh? Observe what?”
Kuro stared at Klah, perplexed. “What’s there to observe?”
Under that gaze, Klah’s heart quivered. Those eyes seemed to pierce through him, as if probing his soul.
Has he noticed?!
Though Kuromr. occasionally spoke in startling riddles, he’d always appeared as a lazy, unassuming man. Was he hiding his true self—or simply refusing to let others name it?
Not yet. The time for truth hasn’t come. I still need to keep playing our roles!
“Well,” Klah stammered, “if we complete the Faya Principality matter, perhaps the higher-ups will change their view of us.”
“Change their view? Klah, listen—achievements depend not just on personal effort, but also the tides of history. What Faritear·Joshua can accomplish is his own business. I’m just… curious about him. Right now, the higher-ups want me gone, so I have to leave. This isn’t something the Navy can interfere with. We’re just the Navy. If we did interfere, it’d be on par with meddling in sovereign nations. Wars aren’t things the Navy can decide.”
Kuro exhaled a puff of smoke. “Now go—prepare the ship. We’re leaving.”
“Understood, Kuromr..”
Klah retreated downstairs, stepping into the streets where crowds rallied with fervor. Suddenly, clarity struck him.
Faritear·Joshua might achieve something significant, but his impact would be limited. Strong as he might be, he’s still just one man. Every enduring kingdom has its powerhouses, and the Four Emperors will never let him unify Astartes. The outcome will end in failure.
“The Navy can’t interfere, huh?”
Klah murmured, “If I must keep pretending, then only one faction can act. Let’s test my theory.”
He retrieved a Transponder Snail and dialed a call.
The screen flickered to life, displaying a plain face radiating quiet authority and regal aura.
Without preamble, Klah stated, “Kuromr. finds Faritear·Joshua intriguing.”
A pause. Then, “I understand.”
The line cut.
Klah exhaled, pressed his lips together, glanced upward at the building, then turned to rally the Navy forces. It was time to retreat.
---
In a private meeting room within Dressrosa’s Palace, David, Kas, and Wilbur sat in a triangular formation around a rough map of the New World.
This was their routine—gathering to study Justice Faith, the translated version of Wilbur’s Justice’s Words, and strategize their next moves.
“Did you hear?” David grinned, excitement bubbling. “Kuromr. always knows exactly when to break through our bottlenecks. He’s always watching us!”
Since their clash with the Unicorn Pirate Group, Dressrosa had bolstered its combat power slightly. Wang Long and Liu Sheng Shi Hu had joined the [Justice Corps], drawn by their faith in the lord’s vision of justice.
Though pirates themselves, David wasn’t Navy, and Wilbur had forgiven their past transgressions. They operated discreetly.
After a brief stint in the [Justice Corps], the two had departed to reform the Unicorn Pirate Group, now dubbed the “Long Hu Captains,” cleansing the Grand Line.
This aligned with David’s plan. Kuromr.’s earlier hint about recruiting pirates had hinted at potential. While the lord couldn’t act openly, they could—recruit pirates like Long Hu Captain to rally those sharing their ambitions, flying their banners across pirate territories.
Yet after consolidating nations and the Unicorn Pirate Group’s influence, progress stalled. There were no new battles to fight. Advancing further meant confronting stronger pirates—opponents like the Unicorn Pirate Group had nearly drained their full strength, even with some pirates already neutralized.
Their recent battle had exposed a critical shortage of elite fighters. Kas and Wilbur, as Navy Vice Admirals, couldn’t constantly campaign with Dressrosa without risking their positions—and the lord’s grand plan.
Though Long Hu Captain brought some power, it wasn’t enough. Dressrosa’s territories had been thoroughly scouted, leaving no fresh recruits. Expansion demanded defenders, not conquerors. For now, war was impossible.
But Klah’s words sparked a thought.
Faritear·Joshua?
That so-called “emperor” mocked across the Grand Line?
If the lord finds him useful, he must be useful!
(End of Chapter)
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