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Chapter 1066: Old Man Disagrees!
Chapter 1066: Old Man Disagrees!
Among these five old men, one bore a map-like scar across his forehead, his mustache stretching into thick, bushy wings. Another had hair curled like a corn cob, his face framed by a wild, unkempt beard. A third carried himself with the rigid precision of a sword, his beard flowing like a blade’s edge, while a fourth stood out with golden hair and crimson skin, his neatly groomed beard and hair defying the chaos of his companions. The last, bald as a freshly polished mirror, reflected sunlight streaming through the window like a beacon.
These were no ordinary old men—Kuro knew better than to underestimate them.
Who held the greatest authority in this world? The Shogun? The King? The Four Emperers, wielding regional supreme ruler strength? Or the elusive One Piece, the embodiment of freedom rights?
Debatable—but there was no denying the Five Elders of the World Government stood atop the hierarchy of power. These five old men were the apex decision-makers, the ones steering the world’s very movements.
If the World Government’s subordinate institutions—the Navy, CP (Cipher Pol), and Shichibukai—were the hands of the system, they were merely extensions of the Five Elders’ will. Even the Seven Warlords of the Sea, now nominally under Kuro’s command, remained, in name and structure, part of the Shichibukai—and thus, the Five Elders’ domain.
Kuro fixed his gaze on the Five Elders for a moment before nodding. “I’m Kuro.”
The Curly-Haired Elder inclined his head. “We’ve long wanted to meet you, Lucius Kro. We didn’t expect you to seek us out first.”
The Red-Skinned Elder grunted. “But our time is limited.”
The Bearded Elder added, “Yes. It’s precisely because it’s you that we’ve carved out time to gather here. We hope your words will be worth hearing.”
The Map-Elder nodded. The Blade-Wielding Elder tightened his grip on the sword in his arms.
Instinctively crossing his arms, Kuro bit down on his cigar and said,
“That said… I disagree.”
Before he could finish, the Five Elders’ eyes snapped open, their gazes instantly sharpening toward him.
Then they paused.
Ah. Right—it was Kuro, not Sakazuki.
Kuro blinked, puzzled. Hadn’t he only just started? Why were these five old men glaring at him already? And hadn’t he just felt like he was missing something—like a Navy hat on his head?
But he quickly resumed. “I disagree with Lucius Kro’s Admiral stepping down so abruptly. He’s still so young. Retiring now would mean losing a critical combat asset. I don’t mind, personally. I’m in no rush to become Admiral myself. I can wait. A long time. Really, really long!”
He could wait a lifetime if needed. He didn’t care. If not for the pressure of becoming a faction successor, he wouldn’t even bother competing for the title.
His only hope now lay in the Five Elders rejecting the resignation.
Unlike Garp, whose relationship with the higher-ups was… complicated, retirement came in many forms. Some, like Sengoku, stepped down to take the blame. The Top War’s losses demanded accountability. Sengoku had long desired to retire after his lifelong mission—to defeat his archrival, Whitebeard—and he’d achieved both. Accepting responsibility was the natural course.
Sengoku knew no one else could take the fall. As the Navy’s highest-ranking officer at the time, he alone could shoulder the blame.
That was one kind of retirement—taking the fall.
Others involved burning bridges.
Take Garp. His merits were undeniable—defeating Rocks D. at God Valley, his role in capturing the first Pirate King, Roger. These were his armor. Yet he’d still been forced out.
His son had become the leader of the Revolutionary Army, dedicated to overthrowing the World Government. Though they claimed to target only the World Nobles, what difference did it make? In this world, the World Government and the World Nobles were inseparable.
His grandchildren only deepened the disgrace. One was Roger’s own son, nearly raised as Whitebeard’s successor, and died during the Top War—a failure Kuro shared partial blame for, enabling the execution. The second, his biological grandson, openly declared himself the Pirate King.
The chaos Luffy caused was unprecedented. After Marineford, Garp’s career crumbled. Luffy’s reckless charge across the battlefield—how many Navy officers had looked the other way out of respect for Garp? Even the old man himself had held back.
Under normal circumstances, Luffy’s condition might have allowed him to overpower a few Vice Admirals. But against dozens? Against elite Vice Admirals? He would’ve fallen.
Only Sakazuki had refused to look the other way—and coincidentally, he was the one promoted to Fleet Admiral.
Garp had no choice but to retire. After Ace’s death and Luffy’s unyielding defiance, Garp had simply… lost his fire.
Ace’s fate had fractured his relationship with the World Government. But they’d hesitated to act—out of respect for his legacy.
That legacy was immense. Immense enough for the World Government to treat Luffy as an ordinary pirate.
After all, the world teemed with pirates. But who else had dared to storm Enies Lobby before Luffy? The first of his kind.
Had anyone else pulled off such a feat, they’d be buried under centuries of grass.
But Sengoku and Garp had their reasons. Not so with Gramps.
Gramps obeyed orders. Not to the letter, but he never outright defied the World Government’s commands, unlike Sakazuki, who’d openly oppose anything he disliked.
Gramps might not have contributed much, but that gave the World Government no grounds to condemn him. If Gramps retired, it would be proper—due to age, or other factors.
Like former Fleet Admiral Kong, who’d ascended to the tri-force’s supreme commander role. Kuro considered the position useless, but it was still a promotion.
Gramps would either rise or retire at the proper time.
Now? Too soon. Unreasonable.
The Five Elders exchanged glances. The Bearded Elder turned to Kuro. “You believe Borsalino shouldn’t retire?”
“Correct. He shouldn’t.” Kuro nodded.
The Map-Elder added, “Understand this, Lucius Kro—should Borsalino step down, you’d be the next Admiral.”
As expected.
Kuro clenched his cigar tighter.
So that’s what these five old men were thinking!
“Admiral, yes.” The Red-Skinned Elder rumbled. “Remember, you’re not even thirty yet. We’ve never seen an Admiral that young. Not even Kuzan was so young when he took the title.”
(End of Chapter)
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