https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1113-Let-Me-Reiterate-Ability-is-Miracle/13541372/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1115-The-Feudal-and-Capitalist-Generations/13541375/
Chapter 1114: Look, If You Can't Stand Me, Just Rejoin the Navy!
Chapter 1114: Look, If You Can't Stand Me, Just Rejoin the Navy!
Headquarters.
"Hundreds of thousands of lives lost..."
Sakazuki slammed the receiver down after ending the call. Skull kept his head lowered, his face hidden beneath the brim of his hat, his expression unreadable. Fist, however, instinctively clenched his fists.
Klah's report wasn't finished, but intelligence had already spread through Headquarters via the Vice Admirals' Transponder Snails.
Kuro had executed the Pacifista operation flawlessly, which pleased Sakazuki immensely. As expected, Kuro was different from other Navy officers—he was a true Navy man. The moment he became an Admiral, he demonstrated the Navy's professionalism. While he might act lazy on a daily basis, when the situation demanded action, he never hesitated.
But the sheer scale of the casualties even shocked Sakazuki himself.
Not a single soul escaped?!
Honestly, during Pacifista operations, allowing islanders to evacuate was standard practice. Sakazuki himself had participated in the Ohara Pacifista incident. Back then, there hadn't been just one evacuation ship destroyed—before his arrival, confirmation had been made that innocent civilians had fled. It was only after his arrival that escape became inappropriate.
But those were evacuation ships!
Evacuation ships meant innocent bystanders were permitted to leave before warships arrived.
So what exactly had Kuro done?
He wiped them all out?!
Even accounting for Devil Fruit users meddling, this was absurd!
"Hey, Sakazuki!!"
A furious voice boomed as Garp stormed through the grand doors. His teeth clenched, face pulsing with blue veins, he barked, "What the hell was that?! Why would Kuro do something like this?!"
Intelligence wasn't something only Sakazuki possessed. The Pacifista Vice Admirals included Doflamingo and Borsalino. Though not part of Garp's faction, their relationship was amicable, so Garp naturally had access to the information.
This meant the higher-ups were all aware.
"What do you want?"
Sakazuki shot him a sidelong glance. "Go back to your training camp if you've got nothing better to do."
"Old man, I'm here to interrogate you! And why did Kuro kill so many people?!" Garp shouted angrily.
He was genuinely enraged.
Kuro's Pacifista operation had wiped out hundreds of thousands!
This was the first time in Navy history such a massacre had occurred.
The first time ever!
Even the much-criticized Ohara Incident, or the cleansing operations launched across South Sea islands after Roger's death in search of Roger's heir, hadn't resulted in anywhere near this level of casualties.
This alone was enough to make Garp jump to conclusions.
He'd slaughtered too many innocent lives!
"This doesn't concern you, Garp. You've never participated in Pacifista operations. And since you already know, you must understand the reason too."
Sakazuki's voice remained cold. "It was the pirates' fault, not Kuro's."
"But that's still too much!"
Garp widened his eyes, incredulous. "There must've been another way! Why couldn't he wait a little longer?"
"What other way? Who could possibly have another option? Once time ran out, the casualties would've been even greater. To prevent more deaths, what's wrong with this decision?!"
Though shaken, Sakazuki understood completely.
After all, he'd done the exact same thing himself.
Back in Ohara, he'd made that exact choice.
To prevent criminals from hiding among evacuation ships and causing greater chaos, it was better to wipe them all out completely. Once the term "casualties" was used, regardless of scale, the priority became preventing the next incident.
Whether others understood him or not, whether he was criticized again—so what?!
Did Sakazuki care about such things?!
"Old man's done talking to you!"
Garp snorted, then stormed forward and snatched the Transponder Snail off the desk. Huffing in anger, he stomped outside.
"Hey, you old bastard!!"
Sakazuki roared, but ultimately chose not to react, letting Garp take the Transponder Snail.
"Seriously, one after another, all with these temperaments! Kuro's bloodthirstiness is way too extreme!"
Garp muttered as he carried the Transponder Snail outside, where he spotted Crane waiting with arms crossed.
"You know about this too, Little Crane?" Garp asked.
"After all, this is unprecedented in Navy history. Never before has the Navy itself caused such massive civilian casualties. This will invite criticism." Crane shook her head. "Unlike you, who charges in shouting first, I came looking for solutions. But sure, I'll hear you out first."
"Then take this one too."
Dap dap dap.
A crisp clicking sound echoed as Yi Xiao appeared around the corner, leaning on crutches. His sclerae-streaked eyes opened wide. "I'd also like to hear Kuro's reasoning."
"Do you think Kuro's actions were inappropriate?" Crane turned.
"No."
Yi Xiao shook his head. "I've heard the details, but I can only admire Kuro's courage. If I were in his position, I might not have done the same—I'd likely let things take their course, leading to even greater casualties."
"Then support us!"
Garp grabbed the receiver and dialed.
...
"Brooo."
Kuro had just returned to his office and was lounging halfway in his chair, silent. Klah had run off to write reports, leaving only Lida beside him. She stayed quiet too, the atmosphere growing heavy.
"Kuro, your call is ringing", Lida raised her hand.
"Who'd call at this hour? Headquarters?"
Kuro glanced at the Transponder Snail, straightened his posture, and picked up the receiver.
"Kuro!!"
The Transponder Snail's screen immediately displayed a huge, idiotic face yelling loudly.
That voice... Garp.
"Old man, don't scream so loud. At your age, being this reckless—use your indoor voice, geezer." Kuro said casually.
"Why did you do it?!"
Garp shouted again.
"You're the one asking me? I didn't expect you to be the first one questioning me. I thought it would be Yi Xiao, or Kuzan wandering around somewhere."
"Old man doesn't understand either, but Kuzan actually approached me and told me to ask you." Garp shot back. "Oh, he also told me to scold Sakazuki."
He openly admitted it!
Kuro tugged his lips, lit a cigar, and said, "His intelligence is this strong now? Who leaked it to him? Oh... Borsalino's here. No wonder. What explanation do you want? I've got the official one and the unofficial one."
"What's the official one?"
"Officially, to prevent greater casualties, Admiral Golden Lion Kuro made the executive decision to eliminate hundreds of thousands of civilians, including children and elders, to stop a single pirate's plot. Sounds ridiculously stupid, but that's the real reason."
"And the unofficial one?"
"The unofficial version's simpler. Tell that idiot Kuzan—if he's not Navy, why's he butting in? If he really can't stand me, he should just come back and join the Navy himself!"
Kuro cursed, then slammed the receiver down.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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