Chapter 1257: No Matter How You Look At It, It's Related To Me
Chapter 1257: No Matter How You Look At It, It's Related To Me
Kuro hadn't seen Lucius Kro in ages, and he'd genuinely missed him. Their last meeting was a year ago, when he'd asked Gramps to handle something. Time had flown. He needed to raise a toast to this reunion.
Baohuang oversaw the hospitality, setting up a square table with two bottles of clear rice wine and some snacks. The two men sat across from each other.
Kuro lifted the sake bottle, poured a cup for Lucius Kro, then himself, and raised his glass. "Gramps, let's drink up."
Lucius Kro shrugged, picked up his cup, and clinked it with Kuro's. Kuro deliberately half-lowered his cup in respect. After downing their drinks, Lucius Kro said, "You're obviously after something from Old Man, aren't you? What is it?"
"Hehe, aren't you playing dumb on purpose?"
Kuro grinned. "Is it ready yet?"
Lucius Kro stroked his chin. "Should be soon. Vegapunk already masters this tech, but the device you brought was tricky. If it were standard tech, you'd have it already. Vegapunk wants better results. Once your banquet wraps up, you and Old Man can head back together."
"Better get it done. The Grand Line's gotten rough lately—I need to stay ahead", Kuro said. "You know about Luffy, right? His reputation's already rivaling the Four Emperors."
Lucius Kro popped a slice of raw fish into his mouth. "Aren't you the one who ended the Four Emperors Era?"
"You too, huh?"
Kuro rolled his White Eye. "Ended? Just a title change. The real power players haven't changed. Marshall D. Teach, Luffy, Eustass Kid, and that idiot Law—they're the new Four Emperors now. Old rulers fall, new ones rise. Happens all the time on the Grand Line."
"Ooooh, the new Four Emperors~" Lucius Kro pouted. "Scary stuff. But Old Man's just a kindergarten principal."
"You retired and turned into Kuzan's twin", Kuro snapped.
"Kuzan, huh?"
Lucius Kro smiled. "Old Man heard he's staying with you?"
"He's just moonlighting here. Doesn't even show his face most days. Pops in occasionally. I invited him to the New Year celebration—he should be on his way."
Kuro poured himself another cup, smirking. "Funny, really. Retired admirals, ex-chiefs, and me—halfway out of Headquarters."
"So you'll report back soon? Don't drag it out. Go while you're here with Old Man."
"Fine. Been ages since I went back. Pick up that tech and report—Sakazuki'll nag me again. Acting Fleet Admiral made him a chatterbox. Ironblood's gotten chatty too." Kuro shook his head.
Lucius Kro raised his cup, then gazed into the clear liquid. "So… when will your operation begin?"
"Operation?"
Kuro raised a brow. "You know about it already? Yeah, I've been planning to clean up the surrounding areas. Wano Country's stabilized after a year of rule. Time to tidy the outskirts. Can't have peace here while chaos reigns outside. Ever heard of a 'safety zone'?"
"You weren't like this before."
"Admiral, Admiral", Kuro sighed. "You passed the title to me, so I've got responsibilities now. Can't let you lose face. Besides, I plan to open Wano's borders. The people here need to explore. This place's big, but resources are all imported. Can't keep shipping supplies in forever—they need to find their own paths. Keep them cooped up, they'll rot."
A closed country policy isn't sustainable. Letting people out isn't optional. The only way out was joining the Navy, but most couldn't leave. Half those who did never returned.
Everyone longed for the outside world. Isolation would weaken Wano further—it had to open up.
"What? Wano's per capita military strength is high?"
How high could it be? Stronger than the Second Floor?
A bunch of nobodies, cowering under Kaido's rule for two decades. At best, Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Yamato?
Yamato's Kaido's daughter—a proper pirate, not a Wano native. She was still managing the Rabbit Onsen mine.
When Yamato refused to surrender, the Seven Warlords title went to Katakuri. But Kuro didn't keep idle hands. "Wanna be Oden? Taste Oden's hardships first."
No need for full-nudity parades, but labor was mandatory. She couldn't loaf around Rabbit Onsen for free.
The woman proved herself, turning into a mine overseer managing imprisoned Beast Pirates.
She was Kaido's daughter, so the crew respected her. A new "Hundred Mines Pirate Crew" was brewing.
Not Kuro's problem. With Seastone shackles, he wasn't nervous. If needed, he'd bury Rabbit Onsen entirely.
The Red Scabbards? They were Wano's real military strength. But even they couldn't reach Seven Warlords level now. How could anyone call them strong?
"Strength per capita" meant nothing. If it did, the Four Emperors wouldn't exist.
"Got a point", Lucius Kro said, "but Old Man meant something else."
He looked at Kuro, grinning. "Old Man's asking when you'll become Fleet Admiral."
"Cough cough cough!"
Kuro choked on his steak, pointing at himself. "Me? Fleet Admiral?!"
"Of course. At your age, with your title, you're next when Sakazuki steps down. Scary, right?"
Lucius Kro pouted dramatically. "Once Fleet Admiral, with your influence, you might clash with the World Government."
"Pfft. Sakazuki's only 57. Let him hit 70 first. Why would I fight the World Government?"
"Come on. Dressrosa's yours, right? West Blue, North Blue, and now Wano. You're strong enough to rival them."
Lucius Kro chirped, "Time to wrestle wrists with the big boss."
"Who told you that? Visiting Heavenly Yaksha, that middle-aged drama queen?"
Kuro rolled his White Eye. "I admit Dressrosa's got my business, but it's not mine. Why does everyone say it's connected? David keeps calling me 'lord,' but that doesn't make it true. I picked that King, but the World Government authorized the choice. North Blue? Not mine either. West Blue? Lida's brother is Luo Wei. That's all. I have business there, sure."
(End of Chapter)
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