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Chapter 112: You've Got Real Courage
Chapter 112: You’ve Got Real Courage
You all are so strong, so of course you can talk tough like that.
What about me?
I’m just a weak, pitiful, helpless little Navy officer who gets screwed over every now and then! Little Navy!
Trying to chase big news all the time? You’re all too naive.
The Grand Line’s dangerous enough—why be so confident?
Being timid? No, it’s about being cautious, prudent, and safe that keeps you alive.
Look at Gol D. Roger—famous as he was, he still died.
And Rocks D. Xebec? Got crushed too.
Boom!!!
A sudden explosion rocked the area, shaking the entire room.
“Cannon fire? Let me go check.”
Kuro, eager to escape the awkward conversation, stood up immediately and walked outside.
Soon, he reached the deck, cigarette held between his fingers, exhaling a melancholy puff of smoke.
His own crewmate, Klah, who was supposed to be as smart as Benn Beckman—no, as strategic as Shanks—hadn’t shown much intelligence.
But these other old Navy hawks? Their sharpness was genuinely intimidating.
Crane needn’t be mentioned—Navy’s Grand Strategist. Practically all of Navy’s major plans were handled by her and Sengoku.
Lucius Kro, Gramps with hidden depths—Kuro hadn’t even begun to figure him out.
Kuzan, lazy as he seemed, was famous for his calmness.
Akainu? Fiery temper, impulsive at a glance, but actually meticulously calculating.
Which famous Navy admiral here wasn’t a top-tier threat?
If this conversation continued, Kuro feared his secrets might all be exposed.
Thankfully, the sudden explosion interrupted.
Whoosh!
A piercing whistle cut through the air.
Boom!!!
A series of explosions erupted along the warship’s flank, tilting the entire vessel sideways.
“Cannon fire?!”
Kuro froze. He’d used "cannon fire" as an excuse to leave, but he hadn’t expected it to actually be real. He’d assumed the tremor was some accident.
An ambush on this ship?
Who had that guts?
“Pirates! There’s pirates!”
A Navy officer shouted from the deck.
“Huh?”
Kuro blinked, scanning his surroundings. This area was usually deserted—Headquarters’ navigation route to Shabondy was exclusive. But today, an unusual sight appeared.
A pirate ship floated nearby on the sea.
The cannon fire had come from there.
Seeing this, Kuro’s lips curled into a smile.
He waved a hand, and a Lieutenant-ranked officer rushed over.
“What pirate is this? Did the Four Emperors arrive?” Kuro asked, pointing at the ship.
“Reporting, officer! It’s ‘Lightning-Quick Frank’, a pirate with a 980 million berry bounty,” the Lieutenant saluted.
“Ninety-eight million?!”
Kuro stared at the pirate ship. “Not one of the Four Emperors’ crews? Like Kaido’s men?”
The Lieutenant shook his head. “According to current intelligence, Frank hasn’t allied with any Emperor. He hasn’t even entered the New World.”
Hearing this, Kuro clicked his tongue. “You’ve got real courage…”
……
“Fire cannons! Give me cannon fire! Sink this warship!”
On the pirate ship, a man in a red triangular captain’s hat held a cutlass in one hand and a pistol in the other, shouting orders.
Gardner Frank, age 33, 980 million berry bounty. Born in the West Blue, known as ‘Lightning-Quick Frank’.
A 980 million bounty—already impressive for the early Grand Line.
But Frank wasn’t satisfied.
Pirates compared themselves by bounty amounts.
No, billion? You don’t qualify as a Super Nova.
He was so close to that mark.
Yet as he approached Shabondy, his bounty stagnated.
Frustrated, he devised a bold plan.
Attacking merchant ships and towns no longer raised his bounty—so he’d ambush a Navy warship.
Not just any warship—right on Headquarters’ navigation route between Shabondy and Marineford, a capital-class vessel!
Force Marine Headquarters to notice him!
With this plan, he entered these waters—and luck was on his side.
Two rounds of cannon fire, both landed perfectly.
Whoosh!
The warship fired back, its broadside unleashing a barrage of cannonballs.
Normally, ordinary pirate ships couldn’t dodge such an attack.
But Frank wasn’t ordinary.
“It’s useless!”
Frank grinned viciously, stomping hard. A circular light barrier spread from his feet, covering his crew and ship.
“Three times speed!”
The pirate ship accelerated impossibly, evading the warship’s cannonballs.
“Counterattack!” Frank roared.
Pirates loaded cannons, aimed, and fired.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Cannonballs flew rapidly, splashing into the water around the warship, while several struck the hull.
The warship shook violently, large gashes appearing on its body.
Kuro, telescope in hand, watched the pirates’ unnatural speed—like a fast-forwarded film.
Their cannonballs moved with that same impossible speed, leaving the Navy no time to react.
“Devil Fruit user, huh? No wonder he dares to ambush a warship.”
Kuro, cigarette dangling, took a drag, exhaled smoke, and lowered the telescope.
“Think this pirate’s lucky?” he smiled at the Lieutenant.
Lucky? In a way—just a regular pirate ambushing a ship guarded by three Admirals, a Navy hero, and a Grand Strategist.
Unlucky? Facing such a lineup as an ordinary pirate.
“Major, please don’t joke around. Being ambushed by pirates while Admirals are present is our failure and humiliation.”
The Lieutenant clearly lacked Kuro’s relaxed attitude.
“You’re no fun.”
Kuro raised the telescope again. “Let’s watch his counterattack. Such a spectacle deserves a closer look.”
“Yes, sir!” The Lieutenant saluted, then joined the Navy crew preparing to retaliate.
Of course, their cannon fire couldn’t hit a ship moving at accelerated speed.
Dodging several volleys, Frank smirked, gnashing his teeth. “I’ve eaten the Speed-Speed Fruit, the ‘Accelerator’! Damn Navy ignores my threat, giving me such a low bounty!”
Through his telescope, he saw ordinary Navy officers onboard—no famous faces.
In the past, Frank avoided Navy ships, using his speed to escape. No warship could catch him.
But this escape-first approach made Navy underestimate him, keeping his bounty below a billion.
Now, effortlessly dodging what looked like a capital ship’s cannon fire, even damaging the warship.
The capital ship couldn’t even retaliate—it could only be bombarded at will.
Witnessing this, Frank wondered if he’d been too cautious.
With acceleration, why follow traditional pirate tactics?
A bold idea struck him.
“Men! Accelerate and charge! We’ll seize this warship and storm Marine Headquarters!”
"Frank raised his cutlass in a charging pose, roaring at his crew."
He changed plans. Instead of sinking this warship, he’d use it to bombard Marineford!
Navy—this is the price of underestimating me!
(End of Chapter)
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