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Chapter 1363: Is There a Possibility This Is a Misunderstanding?
Chapter 1363: Is There a Possibility This Is a Misunderstanding?
Five elderly men stood side by side, their sinister expressions fixed on the man before them. Their faces reflected a mix of shock, complexity, fear, and above all, rage.
All this fury stemmed from a single man—the very one who appeared so loyal, so understanding, so obedient to their commands.
"We were wrong about you", the eldest elder said gravely. "You've hidden your true self so deeply. Only now have you revealed your ambition."
"Never thought you'd manage to bring so many Navy members with you", the bearded elder added.
"Not even the D's Family could achieve such a feat", the curly-haired elder remarked. "Ordinary people like us? Last time it was a fishman, this time..."
"A Navy man", the elder finished.
"Kuro, why do this? Was being Fleet Admiral not enough for you?!" the red-skinned elder roared, his finger jabbing at the stepped platform behind Kuro. "That throne is not yours to claim!"
Following his gesture, Kuro finally noticed where he'd unconsciously run to—the heart of Pangu Palace. Two towering platforms stood there, their central areas bristling with countless blades. At the summit loomed an empty, colossal throne—the Void Throne.
"Who says that?!"
Kuro pressed his lips together, ready to speak, but a voice cut through from behind.
A Wolf Knight leapt from the shadows, his greatsword leveled at the Five Elders. "On the contrary, in this world, only a true lord deserves that throne!"
"David!" Kuro's shock rivaled the Five Elders'.
"Lord, no need to hold back anymore", David declared. "We will give our all to fulfill your long-cherished wish—even if it costs our lives!"
"Right!"
A white energy surge erupted behind them. As it dissipated, Lida, Klah, Kas, Wilbur, Smoker, Tina, Aokiji, Sengoku, and Togeko stood revealed—a veritable wall of high-ranking Navy officers forming an unbreakable barrier between the Five Elders and Kuro.
"Only Kuro Mr. deserves that seat!" Kas bellowed. "None of you understand his ideals! None of you know how hard he's worked! I do!"
You don't know a damn thing!
Stop talking!
Kuro turned, his bloodshot eyes blazing at Kas.
"Lord, don't mind me", Kas said, suddenly calm. "I just wanted to share what I've seen over the years." His voice softened, nostalgic. "When Kuro Mr. first joined the Navy sixteen years ago, I was his comrade. Back then, he was always smiling, always cheerful—even if he seemed lazy, I knew he trained every day, returning drenched in sweat. Even then, he was striving for his ideals!"
Those weren't your ideals!
I trained for self-preservation, not some grand vision!
"Through wind and rain, even storms, I never saw him stop cultivation. Even when fighting pirates, he'd vanish—always training. For years, I thought only Headquarters could make him shine, that only there could he become the light..." Kas's voice trembled. "But now I see! He didn't grow strong to reach Headquarters—he held back his strength to protect us all along! He's been watching over us since the beginning!"
His eyes glazed with memory.
"Hey, Kuro, why're you staring at that island?"
The scene shifted to fifteen years ago. Young Kuro stood silently after repelling pirates, gazing at the ravaged land.
"Just feels sad", Kuro said, turning to Kas. "Don't you think? No matter how hard we fight pirates, they never disappear. The civilians always suffer."
Kas nodded. "Blame the Great Pirate Era. Without it, pirates wouldn't be so rampant."
Kuro shook his head. "Even without the Great Pirate Era, pirates would exist. The world's geography ensures it. We're not as omnipotent as we think."
"Wait—are you saying you don't want to be Navy anymore?"
"How could I quit? Navy's the safest job! I was just musing..." Kuro's gaze drifted to the Grand Line. "What if Navy ruled the world? With the right policies, maybe pirates would decrease—not vanish, but lessen."
"You think that'd work?!" Kas grabbed his arm. "Tell me, Kuro—Kuro Mr.—please!"
"Relax, you take things too seriously", Kuro laughed, waving him off. "Probably impossible. Navy has limits, after all. Forget it."
As Kuro walked away, Kas glimpsed something falling from his hand.
"Hey, Kuro, your—"
"Hm?" Kuro turned.
"Never mind", Kas muttered, staring at his empty palm. "Must've imagined it."
"Whatever. Let's eat later. Gotta handle something first."
Watching Kuro disappear, Kas frowned at his palm. "Navy ruling the world?"
"I didn't imagine it!" Kas's voice cracked with emotion. "That thing existed! Kuro Mr. passed his will to me—he chose me! Navy has limits? No! He was challenging me! I, Dougleg·Kas, proudly declare—Navy has no limits! As long as we remember our original ideals, even through endless hardship, we'll never be bound!"
Kuro's face twitched. He forced a smile, turned from Kas, and faced the Five Elders one last time.
"Is there... a possibility this is all a misunderstanding?"
(End of Chapter)
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