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Chapter 1057: Does Kuro Want to Become an Admiral?!
Chapter 1057: Does Kuro Want to Become an Admiral?!
Dracule Mihawk?
The World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman?
William stood stunned, struggling to comprehend the meaning.
To challenge this man, did one need to defeat Dracule Mihawk first?
Kuro, seemingly sensing William's doubts, lifted his chin arrogantly. "You're a swordsman, right? Anyone who wears a sword at their waist is a swordsman."
"The Old Man is now the World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman. That idiot Dracule Mihawk got downgraded—he's second now."
"I'm different from Dracule Mihawk. He accepts challenges from anyone, but I won't. If you want to challenge me, you must first defeat Dracule Mihawk. Only after defeating him will you have the qualifications to face me."
Hearing this, William's pupils constricted as he exclaimed in shock, "The World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman? You?!"
"What? The Old Man isn't worthy?" Kuro glared.
"No, it's just surprising your swordsmanship has reached this level. I thought there was still a gap. As expected, my earlier instincts were right—you've always been unfairly strong, even since childhood."
William pressed his lips together, recalling past memories, then sighed.
Kuro waved his hand dismissively. "What's the point of dwelling on the past? Look toward the future, kid. The contract's signed—you're the new Seven Warlords of the Sea now. Alright, this is Marine Headquarters, not Pirate Headquarters. You don't belong here any longer. Return to your Navigational Route."
"I don't intend to stay here either."
William turned and left.
Why would he want to linger at the Navy? Leaving was natural, especially since his goal had already been achieved.
Yet as he exited the office and reached the entrance of the massive building, William suddenly froze. He felt like he'd forgotten something.
His bounty was still 100 million.
Now that he'd become a Seven Warlords of the Sea, shouldn't it be higher?
"Forget it. The Navy will handle it, I suppose. I've taken out so many people—once the announcement comes out, my bounty should definitely rise."
Shaking his head, William continued walking forward. Truthfully, he couldn't wait to leave this place—the oppressive atmosphere made him uncomfortable.
Lucius Kro, the so-called "White Admiral", had officially become a Seven Warlords of the Sea, overseeing his own Navigational Route.
This news spread across the world within days, carried by newsbirds.
"That brat again..."
In an island split between desert and lush forest, within a grand palace at its center, Crocodile glared at the latest newspaper, his expression darkening as he bit down on his cigar, his mood restless.
That kid who once challenged him had become a Seven Warlords of the Sea?
"I knew it. Kuro's hometown comrade from East Blue—no matter what, he's still on the Navy's side!" Crocodile gritted his teeth, tossing the newspaper aside.
Nearby, Daz Bonney muttered indifferently, "There's a recent rumor—Hawk-Eye himself admitted defeat to Lucius Kro. The title of World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman now belongs to him."
"Hmph. Do you believe it's true or false?" Crocodile turned to Daz Bonney.
The latter remained silent, unable to decide.
Crocodile chuckled, "Let me tell you—the answer is yes. That man Kuro is indeed absurdly strong. I've contacted Hawk-Eye myself. He's not the kind to lie."
"And back during the Bartholomew incident, I already knew he and Dracule Mihawk would clash. I just didn't expect it to happen so soon."
"The World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman..." Daz Bonney crossed his arms, his gaze still cold, yet his eyes carried a flicker of longing and anticipation.
Though a Devil Fruit user himself, he was still a swordsman. That title was something he too desired.
Yet now, it had slipped from his grasp.
"But why hasn't this been widely reported? Is Hawk-Eye trying to hide it? No, he wouldn't do that." Daz Bonney couldn't make sense of this.
Though he'd met Hawk-Eye only a few times and fought him just once—during the Top War, when he'd been wounded by a single slash—he knew Hawk-Eye possessed the dignity of the World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman. That wasn't the kind of man he was.
"The one hiding it isn't Dracule Mihawk—it's the Navy."
Crocodile narrowed his eyes, his expression one of smug certainty. "The Navy's planning something big, definitely. By suppressing this news, it's all about Lucius Kro. Recently, there's been news about Akainu, Vegapunk, and Tatsumaki, but nothing about Lucius Kro. Every Admiral's movements make headlines. Even Vice Admirals get reports afterward, but Lucius Kro has been unusually inactive for months. There's definitely something wrong."
Once, Garp crossing Reverse Mountain had made the news. Veteran Vice Admirals would always generate reports after any action. Admirals? Anything they did was headline news.
Crocodile, who had always kept a close eye on the news for intelligence—whether about pirates, the Navy, or the Revolutionary Army—had noted something strange.
Lately, the Navy had gone silent on Lucius Kro.
Even Kuro, now a globally renowned figure, had been acting oddly. The Blackbeard incident hadn't generated the expected headlines, which was baffling.
Crocodile had only discovered Kuro's brief trip to Wano Country through rumors and extensive investigation, where he'd clashed with Kaido and Charlotte Big Mom.
Now the World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman title was being directly concealed.
What was the Navy planning? To completely erase Lucius Kro's faction?
No, the Navy wasn't that foolish—they were two crucial combat powers.
"The current situation..." Crocodile's pupils constricted as he gritted his teeth. "I still occasionally see Kuro, but from the news alone, it feels like they're only showing a glimpse of something far bigger—a storm is coming. It's as if there's some major revelation on the horizon, yet Lucius Kro remains completely silent. Could it be..."
His voice dropped to a whisper. "That guy... is he about to become an Admiral?!"
"An Admiral?!" Daz Bonney's expression shifted too. "Lucius Kro? As an Admiral, with his personality... another Akainu?"
"No, not just that."
Crocodile shook his head. "He's far more cunning than Akainu. If he becomes an Admiral, the Navy's pirate policies will shift dramatically. It won't just be his personal campaign—nearly a third of the Navy will change. Pirates' survival will become even harder."
The Seven Warlords of the Sea had already been forced to charge into the New World under Kuro's influence. Crocodile himself didn't care, but things were different now. To him, this was Kuro's strategy all along.
By drastically reducing pirate activity in the first half of the Grand Line, he'd forced these combat powers into the New World to fight among themselves. And this was just with seven subordinates under his command.
If he were promoted to Admiral, gaining legitimate authority, it would truly mean winter had come for pirates.
(End of Chapter)
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