Chapter 1231: Do You Think You Can Carry Me Onto the Throne?
Chapter 1231: Do You Think You Can Carry Me Onto the Throne?
Impel Down.
"Achoo!!"
Kuro suddenly sneezed violently, sniffled a few times, then rubbed his nose. "What the hell? Who the hell is thinking about me?"
He stood up, flicked his wrist, and summoned Shanks' wine bottle back to him.
"Leaving already?" Shanks asked.
"Hey, leave the bottle. It'll make a nice keepsake", Shanks grinned.
"Forget it. I wouldn't dare with you. Just stay put here. As long as your underlings don't move, we won't touch you either."
Kuro shook his head, letting two wine bottles float around him as he waved at Shanks. "Well then, I'm off. Next time I see you... I hope there isn't a next time. Maybe you'll just grow old and die here."
"I already told you about Red's situation. How do you plan to handle it?" Shanks asked again.
"Handle it?"
Kuro pondered, shook his head with a faint smile, then turned to walk away, waving his arm dismissively.
"I'm not interested in dreamers. Let them dream all they want, just don't come bothering me. After all..." He lifted his head, nostalgic, and chuckled softly, "Everyone has their dreaming days."
Shanks stared at his retreating back, murmuring, "Even you?"
"Me?" Kuro paused mid-step, twisted his head sideways to face Shanks, and whispered, "I stopped dreaming long ago."
Without another word, he continued walking.
"Kshhhkshhkshh Hah!"
Just as he turned a corner, Kuro suddenly heard an eerily familiar laughter.
"Kuro! Long time no see!"
The voice came from behind a nearby prison cell's bars.
Kuro turned, blinked in surprise, then suddenly realized, "Almost forgot you were here too. Indeed, long time no see, Heavenly Yaksha."
Inside the cell, Donquixote Doflamingo lay sprawled on the floor, his torso and legs bound in chains.
Kuro glanced at the prison environment and clicked his tongue. "You're living quite comfortably, huh? Even got newspapers to read. Seems they still fear your former World Noble status."
"Fear?" Donquixote Doflamingo sat up abruptly, staring at Kuro. "No, it's not fear. It's terror. They're terrified I'll spill their secrets. Compared to you—now an Admiral, Kuro. Or should I say Golden Lion? You ended the Four Emperors Era. How much closer does that bring you to your ambition? How far have you gone? Let me guess—did you conquer Wano Country already? Next target the New World? What about the Four Seas' positions? Time to make your move there too?"
"What are you talking about?" Kuro frowned.
"Kshhhkshhkshh Hah!" Donquixote Doflamingo laughed again, his tongue flicking out as he sneered, "The Seven Warlords of the Sea still have one empty seat. Want to release me? I could help you!"
He only wanted chaos—make the World Nobles in Mariejois tumble from their thrones!
Who achieved it mattered not to him anymore.
"I don't have the authority to release you. And frankly, I wouldn't want to", Kuro said, now amused. "You became a Warlord by robbing the Heavenly Gold. How? Planning to repeat that stunt here in Impel Down? There's no Heavenly Gold to steal."
"Hmph. Don't you want to know Mariejois' secrets? The history of eight hundred years ago? I know everything", Donquixote Doflamingo grinned wickedly.
"Not interested. Don't care. Don't come to me."
Kuro waved his hand like shooing away a pest, turning to leave.
Who the hell would care about that nonsense? Pointless and only trouble.
He'd already completed his mission. As for that "Red" person's plans—none of his business. Better to pretend they didn't exist. No need to fulfill that extra task.
He had enough on his plate already. Needed to return and handle Wano Country affairs.
Establishing his presence in Wano Country—there was a certain way to do it.
As Kuro's footsteps faded, Donquixote Doflamingo's grin collapsed. He stared at the bars for a moment, then suddenly fell back onto the floor.
"Kshhhkshhkshh Hah!"
Soon, his eerie laughter resumed.
"Still pretending. Still denying. That means you're not ready yet. But no matter, Kuro. As long as your ambition continues, we share the same goal. You'll come to me eventually. Kshhhkshhkshh."
In the dark depths of Impel Down, his ghostly laughter echoed faintly.
Emerging from Impel Down, Kuro soared into the sky, flying directly toward Wano Country. At high speed, his body compressed the air, leaving a spindle-shaped air bubble in his wake.
His gaze swept over the Grand Line below, the skies above.
Since meeting Shanks, a sudden realization had dawned on him.
It seemed...
The Four Emperors were practically gone.
The greatest threats and obstacles he'd once feared no longer existed.
Flying now, he no longer felt the constant caution he'd needed before—always wary of encountering the Four Emperors in the New World, especially Charlotte Big Mom and Kaido.
But now... they were gone!
Never had he felt so carefree, so free from fear. This sensation was indescribably pleasant.
"Come to think of it, ruling Wano Country isn't without benefits. Govern it well, and I'd be a local emperor myself!"
Kuro chuckled foolishly mid-air. "Wano Country's geographical location—ordinary folks can't even reach it. With my abilities, I can easily keep anyone unwanted away. If Kuzan really stays in Wano Country as he said, my position would be even more secure!"
"As an Admiral, practically untouchable in Wano Country. Peacefully ruling there, occasionally eliminating foolish pirates who dare intrude. My life could settle into a pleasant routine!"
The thought made him laugh out loud.
"In ten or twenty years—no, even longer if needed—I can find a promising junior officer in the Navy to take over this faction position. That would be fair to my comrades and repay Gramps' kindness."
Such a stable situation? Not even a World King could tempt him to trade!
Once he feared Kizaru, but now even that bearded man didn't scare him.
That guy's base was in Dressrosa, and as a Vice Admiral with his own duties, how could he possibly backstab anyone?
Besides, Kuro had reached the peak—no higher rank to climb. No point in any backstabbing now.
What threat could that bearded man pose?
Carry him onto Mariejois' empty Throne of Heaven?
At this thought, Kuro snorted, accelerated his flight, and left behind a final dismissive remark in the air:
"How possible, huh?"
(End of Chapter)
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