https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-230-So-You-re-The-One-Who-s-Called-Kuro-Huh-/13536575/
Chapter 229: I'll Use Him as Bait
Chapter 229: I’ll Use Him as Bait
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A barrage of cannonballs erupted from the warship, splashing near the pirate ship. Several struck the hull directly, sending violent tremors through its frame.
“The Navy’s here!”
The pirates shouted in panic.
“Stay calm, my men!” Fu Ke Xi strode forward, his index and little fingers raised toward the warship. “Slow-Motion Light!”
Violet rings of light shot from his fingers, striking the cannonballs mid-air. The projectiles slowed to a crawl, their momentum grinding to a halt.
“It’s just the Navy. If we can’t escape, we fight!” Fu Ke Xi bellowed, pounding his chest. “Under Captain Fu Ke Xi’s command, crush these Navy dogs!”
“Ooooh!!”
The pirates roared, raising their weapons high. The paralyzed cannonballs were met with counterfire from the pirate ship, exploding harmlessly in the sea.
“Captain, I’ll protect you!” Kuro declared, appearing behind Fu Ke Xi with a solemn expression.
“Oh! Kuro, I’m counting on you!” Fu Ke Xi grinned, clapping Kuro’s shoulder before turning back toward the warship.
Kuro watched his captain’s back, a faint eerie smirk tugging at his lips.
Fool.
Sa Zi Er Kuro—a newly minted pirate, or rather, a man who had only recently decided to become one.
From childhood, he had been different. While others played carefree, he cultivated relentlessly. He understood early: this was a chaotic world. Strength meant survival.
As he grew, this belief hardened into ambition. But timing was everything. Before the Top War, the world had been in balance—rising through the ranks was nearly impossible. Now, Whitebeard’s death had shattered that equilibrium.
Though the Navy claimed victory, Whitebeard’s broadcasted declaration during the Top War had sent shockwaves through the Grand Line. For years to come, the Navy would struggle to contain the surge of new pirates.
The time was perfect.
Unlike reckless amateurs who hoisted flags on a whim, Sa Zi Er Kuro was calculating. Building a crew from scratch was too slow, even for someone confident in his strength. The smarter play? Join an existing crew, climb to power, and inherit its legacy.
His ideal crew needed key traits: enough members to avoid suspicion, a captain who was a pushover, and a low-profile reputation. Fu Ke Xi’s crew fit perfectly—a 24-million-Bounty captain with moderate strength, mediocre fame, and a reputation for being clever but easily manipulated.
Simple plan: Earn Fu Ke Xi’s trust. Stage a few battles to prove his worth. Once he became a trusted officer, a few “accidents” could eliminate Fu Ke Xi, leaving Sa Zi Er Kuro as the new captain.
As for the other officers—Han Bao was an idiotic laughingstock, and Bo Er Qi lacked both strength and influence. No competition there.
Earlier, he’d spotted the warship first, pretending to test-fire the cannons to draw its attention. Now, he’d reveal his strength and earn the crew’s admiration.
Flawless plan.
After all, this was just a mid-sized Navy warship—not a Vice Admiral’s flagship or a high-ranking admiral’s vessel. At most, it was commanded by a Commander, or worse, a lowly Major. A mere “school-level” threat.
Back on the warship, Kuro’s eyes narrowed as the slowed cannonballs were destroyed by the pirates’ return fire.
“A Devil Fruit user, huh?” Lida remarked, peering through her telescope. “Devil Fruit users are everywhere on the Grand Line.”
Kuro shot her a glance. You’re one to talk, he thought. Your crew alone has three.
He rubbed his chin, puzzled. That ability felt familiar, but the memory slipped away.
“Assbutt!” Lida blurted suddenly, squinting through her telescope.
“Kids shouldn’t use dirty words!” Kuro scolded, swatting her head.
“Ow! I’m serious! That guy’s got an actual assbutt on his head!” she whined, pointing.
“What?” Kuro grabbed the telescope.
On the pirate ship stood a man—roughly 1.8 meters tall, with a scruffy, indistinct face. His most striking features were a long red nose and a spiky, forked hairstyle resembling a grotesque crown.
“…Actually does look like an assbutt,” Kuro muttered. Recognition dawned. “Wait—Silver Fox Fu Ke Xi.”
A pirate with a so-called “bugged” ability, his power negated by his own absurd idiocy.
“Silver Fox Fu Ke Xi?” Klah interrupted, recovering from his sulk. “I know him! He’s the undefeated champion of the Davy Back Fight games.”
Davy Back Fight—a brutal pirate tradition where crews battled for supremacy. Losers swore eternal loyalty to the winner, bound by a pact with Davy Jones.
Pathetic game, Klah scoffed. Pirates playing games? It’s child’s play.
“Board them,” Kuro ordered, lighting a cigar. “And capture Fu Ke Xi alive. My bait supply’s low… he’ll do nicely.”
The warship closed in. As pirates swung onto the deck, Fu Ke Xi leapt forward first, hands raised in his signature finger gesture.
“My men—follow Captain Fu Ke Xi!” he roared.
The pirates surged behind him, with Sa Zi Er Kuro leading the charge. Just as expected: a school-level warship crewed by nameless grunts. No fear needed—until he froze, spine tingling.
The smirking officer puffing on a cigar? It couldn’t be—
“You!” Sa Zi Er Kuro hissed, voice trembling. “What are you doing here?!”
Kuro exhaled a plume of smoke. “You know me?”
“Don’t joke!” The pirate clenched his teeth.
This man—this monster from the Top War broadcast!
He’d seen it himself: this lone figure cutting through the New World’s greatest captains and officers, including the formidable Diamond Jozu.
(End of Chapter)
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