https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1123-Too-Many-Devil-Fruit-Users-/13541390/
Chapter 1122: Soul and Physical Body
Chapter 1122: Soul and Physical Body
Admiral's unauthorized killing of a Member State King.
If this were exposed, it would create serious problems.
The Member State Kings might not be able to confront a World Noble, but they could certainly deal with a Navy officer.
Once a formal complaint was filed, it was likely the higher-ups wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure and would sacrifice him to save face.
At best, he'd be demoted. At worst, he'd be stripped of rank entirely. Although with his capabilities and connections within the Navy, even a complete dismissal would probably result in him being assigned as an independent patrol Lieutenant somewhere. But no, he couldn't allow that!
In the past, Kuro wouldn't have minded such a reassignment.
But now, he carried the responsibilities and position entrusted to him by Gramps.
Without those, would you expect him to try going solo?
He wasn't unfamiliar with this idea.
When he was promoted to Vice Admiral, he'd felt somewhat out of control. Back then, he'd even considered: "I can't kill a World Noble, but I can still kill a King, right?"
Find an excuse to kill a King of a rank even Gramps couldn't protect, create chaos within the faction, then have himself demoted to a minor Lieutenant or Branch Commander in the Four Seas.
But first, this plan was too troublesome to execute. Killing was simple, but getting the entire faction stirred up would cause major damage to the organization, all for his own selfish desires? Just to get demoted? It wasn't worth it. Kuro wasn't really willing, and if handled poorly, he might end up in prison instead.
Of course, he wouldn't actually end up in prison, but he'd likely be assigned to work at Impel Down. That wasn't worth it either - he still wanted to enjoy the pleasures of the world.
Secondly, it was just wrong on a basic moral level.
That King had no grudge with him, so just going and killing him - what kind of precedent would that set?
But now, he'd actually done it, and he had to find a way to cover it up.
Times had changed.
Kuro sighed and prepared to activate his wristwatch Transponder Snail.
When in doubt, consult others.
In any case, first let those Vice Admirals outside think about how to resolve this matter.
Lidaklahkaswilbur was his subordinate, so naturally would help think through the problem.
Borsalino and Doflamingo had decent relationships with him, and since he was still an Admiral, there wouldn't be any issues.
"Oh? Are you looking for a solution?"
Just as Kuro was about to seek advice, a voice suddenly sounded from beside him.
Kuro was stunned, turning his gaze toward the direction of the voice in disbelief.
He saw the head he had severed - its eyes were now open and rolling, fixing their gaze on him. The mouth slowly opened, revealing a smile: "The scourge of the Old Era, the Golden Lion Admiral with such commanding presence, even you would be unsettled from killing a mere King."
He's not dead?!
Only now did Kuro realize that the body of Edmund, which he had beheaded, was still standing upright.
Examining it carefully, he could even sense a heartbeat!
The headless body took a step forward, crouched down, and picked up its own head with both hands. Then it stood back up, cradling the head at abdominal level.
"That's unnecessary panic", the head said as it gradually moved upward, finally attaching itself to the neck and healing seamlessly, like the strongest super glue had bonded it in place without leaving the slightest wound.
The head turned from side to side, then smiled at Kuro: "I'm immortal."
"What the hell are you!" Kuro gritted his teeth.
"As you can see, I am Doveridge Edmund, the King of this nation."
Edmund bowed deeply toward Kuro, didn't straighten up, but instead tilted his head upward to stare at the skeleton. "I'm also a man who wants to become the supreme ruler of the world."
"Kukuku!"
Suddenly, a piercing shriek came from Kuro's Marineford-scale, as a figure rapidly descended, leaving behind a faint afterimage, directly heading for Kuro's head.
Kuro frowned, instinctively gripping the hilt of his sword. The Black Light flashed, directly sweeping toward the Marineford-scale.
But as the Black Light made contact with the afterimage, Kuro suddenly froze and instinctively exploded backward, retreating all the way to the main entrance.
The figure landed on the ground, revealing a short man hunched over. His hands were covered in a layer of black iron armor.
Kuro frowned, looking at Autumn Water. He noticed the thick black blade was visibly thinner.
That armor... belonged to Autumn Water!
"I didn't peel it off", the short man chuckled, casually discarding the armor as he provocatively stared at Kuro. Extending his hands toward him, he said: "Next time won't be so lucky."
Kuro ran his hand along the blade, though he confirmed Autumn Water was fine, his expression turned gloomy: "Another Devil Fruit user."
When he first entered, he had sensed many hidden auras within the palace, some weak but some extremely powerful.
But he had assumed they were part of the King's protective mechanisms, so he hadn't paid much attention.
"Exactly", the short man smiled. "I've eaten the 'Peel Peel Devil Fruit' - the 'Skinning Man'. No matter what it is, as long as I touch it, I can peel off its outer layer. I can peel a house down to its framework, stones down to their cores, and humans down to their flesh. Peel another layer and you get the skeleton. Of course, I can do it in one step and expose your soul."
"Kaira."
Before he could finish speaking, Edmund's cold voice interrupted.
The short man named Kaira was startled, then turned and bowed: "Yes, my King."
"Just as I thought."
Kuro raised Autumn Water: "Slash Wave!"
Swish!
He swung his sword downward, sending a golden slash flying toward Edmund and Kaira. But as he swung, suddenly the floor in front of Edmund split open, revealing a thick slab of meat that nimbly jumped out and took the slash attack head-on.
Boom!
"Reflection!"
The meaty mass roared, and the golden slash, as if it had struck something extremely elastic, changed direction completely, reflecting back the way it had come.
Kuro twisted his body sideways as the reflected golden slash whizzed past him, flying toward the main entrance behind him.
Logically, that slash should have torn the entrance apart completely, even smashing into the stone wall outside and creating a massive hole leading directly outside.
Kuro knew the power of that slash well.
But surprisingly, as the slash struck the door, it simply vanished inside, as if a stone bullet had been fired into water, leaving only a ripple behind.
No need to say more - another Devil Fruit user.
"And you are?" Kuro asked.
"I am Hansa", the meaty mass rumbled. "I've eaten the 'Reflection Devil Fruit' - the 'Reflection Man'. No matter what attack comes my way, I can reflect it back exactly as it came."
As he spoke, the banquet hall began to shift.
Several hidden doors appeared in the nearby walls and floors, and various figures of different shapes emerged from these secret passages, gathering around Edmund and smiling eerily at Kuro.
"You can't escape, Kuro", Edmund said softly. "I told you, I want you to become my servant. Either your soul or your physical body will eventually be mine."
(End of Chapter)
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