Chapter 1080: Spider
Chapter 1080: Spider
As they were thinking this, Kas suddenly twitched his ear toward the window and frowned. "Didn’t you hear that noise?"
"Noise?" Wilbur looked startled, his own ears twitching as he strained to listen.
Boom Boom.
Faintly, he could make out strange sounds—a chaotic mix of cannon and musket fire, mingled with distant human shouts.
"Vice Admirals! Vice Admirals!"
Suddenly, the door burst open as a Commander stormed in. Giving a sharp Navy salute, he barked, "Vice Admiral Kas! Vice Admiral Wilbur! We’ve spotted an island ahead—there’s combat echoing from it!"
"An island? Where?" Wilbur asked.
"Looks like Matru Kingdom’s Matru Port", the Navy Commander replied.
"Matru…" Wilbur mused. "Have we entered our sphere of influence yet?"
They knew Matru Kingdom was a member state in the New World, operating under the World Government’s jurisdiction.
Member states were technically World Government territory, but non-member states weren’t. Their status was ambiguous—what one might call "Schrödinger’s territory."
"Gunfire? Pirates?" Wilbur pressed.
The Navy Commander shook his head. "No Pirate Ships in sight, just flashes of fire. We don’t know what’s happening yet."
"Internal conflict? If so, we can’t interfere", Wilbur reasoned. "Unless it’s pirates, everything else is their internal affairs. We’re not authorized to intervene."
The Navy had no jurisdiction over member states’ internal matters—the World Government itself couldn’t interfere unless the state issued a distress call.
Boroboroboro.
As he finished speaking, the Transponder Snail on the table buzzed to life.
Wilbur’s brow furrowed as he snatched up the receiver. Before he could speak, a panicked voice screamed through the line: "Signal detected! Distress call! Rescue! This is Matru Port! I’m a port officer—our civilians have gone insane! Hurry and help suppress this!"
The moment the message ended, a bloodcurdling scream erupted from the snail, followed by a sudden disconnect.
"Civilian uprising?" Kas immediately scowled at the report. His first instinct was refusal.
Civilian matters, or internal Kingdom affairs, weren’t the Navy’s problem. Ever since absorbing Kuromr.’s philosophy, he no longer viewed civilian uprisings as inherently wicked—they might be driven by royal oppression.
Wilbur fixed Kas with a determined look. "Regardless, we have to investigate. A member state is crying for help—we can’t turn a blind eye. Otherwise, Kuromr. will face backlash, especially at this critical juncture."
He considered more factors than Kas did. Kuromr. was on the verge of promotion to Admiral. Any incidents or complaints at this stage could damage his reputation. As subordinates, their actions would reflect directly on their superior—causing trouble now would be unforgivable.
Kas nodded. "You’re right. Redirect the warship to Matru Port and assess the situation."
"Aye!"
The Commander snapped to attention, saluted, then dashed out to issue orders.
The two Vice Admirals naturally held executive authority. Even ordinary Vice Admirals wielded power proportionate to their merits and strength, representing both Marine elite status and high-ranking influence.
In Dressrosa and Kolf, they’d ruled like local warlords. As Base Commanders, they’d inherited the authority Kuromr. once exercised in Pegasus Island and Shabondy. But unlike Kuromr., they didn’t share his temperament—Kuromr. could endure humiliation for justice, while they were pure executors of justice, not philosophers.
"By the way", Wilbur said, grinning, "if we compare ourselves to a spider…"
Kuromr. is the spider’s brain, and we’re its legs. The brain issues commands, and the legs obey. Our only duty is to act. Legs can be replaced, but without the brain, the spider is useless."
Kas stared, astonished. "That’s profound wisdom! Wilbur, having you as my comrade is a blessing! We can indeed serve as the spider’s legs—so long as the brain remains, nothing else matters. The legs can be replaced by anyone. I have a half-formed idea—let’s refine it later!"
"Please share", Wilbur leaned in.
"Why not establish an internal organization modeled after a spider’s characteristics? A secret group centered around Kuromr. himself. All our faith originates from him. While we uphold it now, subordinates inevitably err—we’ll act as its cleansing force. And if any of us betray, we’ll eliminate them and replace them with new legs!"
Kas grew increasingly animated. "Kuromr. is the brain—we simply serve as the spider’s legs, loyal to him alone!"
Slam!
Wilbur slammed the table. "Brilliant! Genius! This solves our inability to correct internal mistakes. Take Joshua—he’s an unexpected variable, not yet beyond our control. But should anyone cross that line, our spider organization can operate covertly, shielding World Government from uncovering these flaws!"
They’d long moved past their earlier confusion over Kuromr.’s actions. With their "Seven Steps to Rebellion" doctrine and clarity on their true enemy, they needed countermeasures.
"Frankly, David’s operation is already difficult to rein in. If exposed, the consequences would be dire. Our existence ensures these cracks stay hidden from the World Government, buying Kuromr. and David’s operation crucial time. We need an internal system—an organization that operates beyond Navy, pirate, Kingdom Army, or even Revolutionary Army constraints. Underground, in shadows!"
Wilbur’s voice rose with conviction. "Through this organization, we’ll spread our ideals, protect our ‘brain’! Our spider will shine brighter than any!"
Kas nodded vigorously. "Klah must agree. Let’s assign numbers—since Klah remains ever by Kuromr.’s side, he’ll be Number One!"
(End of Chapter)
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