https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-233-Forget-It-Forget-It-Can-t-Mess-With-Them/13536583/
Chapter 234: Being This Arrogant? Watch Out for a Tsunami!
Chapter 234: Being This Arrogant? Watch Out for a Tsunami!
The geographical location of Moe Island is intriguing. At either end lie two massive islands nearly continent-sized, facing each other across a stretch of sea. These lands belong to two powerful Kingdoms locked in frequent wars.
Yet the central Moe Island itself has never been affected. Geographically, it should serve as a bridgehead for whichever Kingdom controls it to attack the other. Even magnetically, this special location contains the magnetic fields of both Kingdoms. This makes it one of only two exits on this critical Navigational Route - either sail the long way around Moe Island and its neighboring large islands, adding one or two extra months to your journey, or pass directly through this island.
Controlling this location would be strategically invaluable to both Kingdoms.
But after all these years, Moe Island has remained trouble-free.
It's not even an ally state, yet neither pirates nor the King's Army have ever attempted to invade.
On the contrary, its strategic position has made it a permanent hub for people traveling between the two Kingdoms and across the Grand Line.
Navy, merchants, pirates - all can pass through unimpeded.
"Huh? Pirates are here too?"
Kuro raised his telescope on the Grand Line, watching the small island gradually take shape in the distance. Several Pirate Ships were clearly anchored at the port.
After a day's sailing, they had finally arrived at Moe Island.
"That's right, Commander", explained the nearby Ensign. "Moe Island is a de facto neutral zone. We could arrest pirates here, but the island's knight also has the authority to expel Navy forces and deny us supplies."
"What a joke."
Kuro lowered the telescope and handed it to Lida standing beside him.
Lida's expression darkened with displeasure. She'd only managed to eat once since yesterday - just once - and that single meal had been closely monitored by Klah.
Normally Klah wouldn't dare restrict Lida like this, but under Kuro's direct orders, he had no choice. Between earning Lida's wrath and Kuro's, he naturally chose the lesser evil.
Lida would make him pay for this.
But Kuro might execute him.
He really didn't want any more blood on his hands.
The warship rapidly approached Moe Island's port, finally revealing the island's full appearance. It was small, with the single port city occupying over half its area. The buildings were spaced wide apart, giving it the appearance of a rural town.
As the warship docked, several pirates peeked out from nearby vessels flying pirate flags, whistling mockingly.
"Looks like Navy."
"Hey! Don't go firing your cannons here, that's not allowed!"
"Ha! Though you could try - then we wouldn't have to see these annoying Navy faces for two or three years!"
The pirates laughed and taunted, "Hey Navy! Our captain's a big shot with a bounty of 30 Million Beri! 'Four-Cornered Hat' Beret! We're dangerous criminals! Aren't you going to arrest us?"
"30 Million? Serious criminals?"
Klah adjusted his glasses, his voice cold. "Kuro, shall we teach them a lesson?"
"Didn't you hear? If we attack, the Navy won't be allowed here for years. There must have been similar cases before that kept our comrades away for two or three years", Kuro replied.
"Exactly!"
The pirates cackled, "No matter who you are, if you recklessly attack here, you'll immediately be declared persona non grata by the island's knight. You'll be banned from resupplying for a period."
"And this isn't just against individuals - it applies to entire factions. Navy, merchants, pirates, even Revolutionary Army. Everyone wanting to resupply here must follow Moe Island's knight's rules."
Kuro cast a blank glance at them without responding, then led his men off the warship and onto the port.
"Notify nearby Navy forces to surround Moe Island's Navigational Route. Sink every Pirate Ship that emerges", he ordered the crew remaining on the warship.
"Worthless!"
Pirates roared with laughter. "Once you pass Moe Island, the Navigational Route opens wide. Many Navy officers have tried this before, but none have ever caught us!"
"So you can't catch us! But be careful - maybe you should leave more crew behind to guard your ship overnight, or it might mysteriously sink. Haha!"
The pirates erupted in jeers.
Kuro paused mid-step, suddenly turned around, walked to the water's edge, and crouched down to touch the surface. Rising again, he pulled a cigar box from his coat, took out a cigar, and placed it in his mouth.
Sazil eagerly rushed over with a lit match, bowing humbly.
Kuro leaned forward slightly, the cigar's tip catching the flame and glowing red. His eyes fixed on the pirates, he said, "Being this arrogant? Watch out for a tsunami to wreck your ships."
"Haha! Now the Navy's begging the elements for help!"
"Typical Navy - we pirates have real integrity. Real men ride the waves no matter what storm comes!"
"Right! Even Whitebeard declared the treasure exists before his death. Only Navy cowards chase myths!"
"What's a tsunami? Even the sea..."
One pirate continued, but suddenly his eyes widened. The final words choked in his throat.
For between the warship and Pirate Ships, the sea water had suddenly surged, forming a towering wall of water in the narrow space between ships. Like a sky-obscuring tsunami, it crashed toward the pirate vessel.
Boom!
Not just that single ship, but the entire line of Pirate Ships were swallowed, overturned, and shattered by the colossal Grand Line waves, dragged into the sea and devoured by the ocean.
Kuro exhaled a puff of smoke, the white plume fading into the air as he gazed at the suddenly calm sea. His voice was calm.
"I warned you to watch out for a tsunami. Grand Line's a strange place - sudden tsunamis happen all the time. You kids are just too young, too inexperienced."
He turned back toward the port's main street, where stunned civilians stared in shock. "You all saw it. It was a real tsunami, right? Just a harmless comment - you can't call that an attack."
"Exactly", Klah nodded. "They were simply unlucky to be ambushed by Grand Line's strange natural phenomena."
"Right", Sazil vigorously agreed. "Grand Line has so many weird occurrences! I once heard about an entire Deserted Island where every animal vanished overnight, leaving only bones. They blamed it on a 'Gluttonous Demon,' but really, where would a demon like that come from in this world?"
Kuro glanced at Lida.
"I don't remember that", they scratched their head, thoroughly confused.
Forget it. This kind of thing's normal around here. Nothing to get worked up about.
(End of Chapter)
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