https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-243-The-Navy-Caused-It-the-Navy-Must-Resolve-It/13536603/
Chapter 244: Where's My Big Ship?
Chapter 244: Where’s My Big Ship?
After finishing off Poropa, Kuro flew back to the base. The moment he landed, Ensign rushed over clutching a Transponder Snail.
"Commander, it’s—it’s Fleet Admiral Sengoku on the line!"
"Huh? Old man Sengoku?!"
The moment Kuro spoke, the open Transponder Snail erupted with a roar.
"Kuro!! What the hell did you do?!"
Kuro turned his head sideways, casually digging his finger in his ear. "What do you mean ‘what did I do,’ Sengoku? You’re about to retire. Could you tone down the volume a little? Have some dignity, you know?"
"Don’t you dare play dumb with me!" The snail’s voice barked again.
"Dumb? Who’s dumb? I’m craving garlic bread", Lida raised an eyebrow.
"..."
"What exactly happened at Moe Island?!"
"Nothing much."
Kuro shrugged. "Just had a friendly chat with the local Lord. He got overly excited—probably because I’m too handsome—and started sprinting around. Dug a tunnel, got crushed by a landslide, then swept away by a tsunami."
"You know how the Grand Line is, right? Landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, sudden sea freezes, random lasers shooting from nowhere… all perfectly normal stuff."
"I’m truly saddened. He was a good guy, though admittedly short. You know Sengoku? Short. Really short. Fat too. Like an egg. Honestly."
"Enough! Kuro! I’m not here for your nonsense! The government called me directly! Do you understand what that means?!"
"I’m about to retire and still dealing with the chaos you disobedient Marines create! You’re just like Borsalino! Can’t you ever make my life easier?!"
"Bonaparte Poropa had dealings with the World Government and connections to the World Nobles. Killing him has put us in a very difficult position! Now settle this mess at Moe Island! I don’t want another complaint from the government or anywhere else reaching Headquarters!"
"Hello? Hello? Strange signal… Sengoku, I’m cutting this call. Catch up later."
Kuro ended the call.
"Commander, was that really—" Ensign awkwardly held up the Transponder Snail, unsure whether to put it away.
"Silence! I’ve made my decision. Right now, contact the Navy on the ship and have them secure the lower district!"
"Understood!"
Ensign snapped to attention, quickly dialing the call.
"What are you planning, Kuro?" Lida asked.
"What else? Fighting pirates."
Kuro scoffed. "The locals are already neutralized. Pirates aren’t blind. They’ll notice something’s wrong with the security force here. Once they catch wind, they’ll raid these streets in a heartbeat."
"I make my own decisions, and I clean up my own mess. Haven’t you heard what Sengoku said? Control the situation here. This place is strategically located—two navigational routes with dozens of shipping lanes. It’s practically a mini-Shabondy. Wasting it as a Marine Base would be criminal."
Poropa’s methods disgusted him, but eliminating him required cleanup. The solution? Simple.
If pirates and chaos were the problem…
Why not establish a Marine Base here?
Kuro slammed his five fingers into the ground—Boom! The ruined upper district fortresses lifted into the sky, realigning to march toward the lower district.
……
Pirate Captain Bertoro, leader of the Four Corner Hat Pirate Crew, had been sailing for years. A native of East Blue, he’d scraped into the Grand Line with a measly bounty and worked his way up to a 30 million Belli bounty.
In a sea where average bounties barely reached three million, he wore his number proudly.
East Blue wasn’t just about weaklings—it produced elite pirates like him!
His survival relied not on brute force, but sharp intellect and instinct. Like now—the eerie commotion from the upper district caught his attention.
"Captain, look! The guards by the shops have lowered their weapons."
A crewmate pointed at the silent, spear-wielding sentinels outside the stores.
As a neutral zone, the area’s strength deterred pirates. Those stoic guards wielded elite soldier power in overwhelming numbers. Ambushing here would be a losing battle.
But if opportunity struck? No one would pass up this wealthy target.
"I see it."
Bertoro narrowed his eyes. Observing the upper district’s unrest earlier, plus that formidable Navy force appearing… probably meant the local ruler had been captured.
He knew that short, fat tyrant bought slaves and kidnapped innocents. Many of those standing guards were once civilians—some he’d even seen before.
"This is our chance!"
Bertoro’s eyes hardened. "Gather the crew! We’re seizing this town!"
"Captain? But this is Moe Island! Robbing here will make other pirates hunt us down! We’ll never get supplies here again!"
"We’re pirates! Do you think pirates earn love from rivals?!" Bertoro snapped. "Pirates chase treasure and chase adventure! Otherwise, what’s the point? This island’s gone years without a raid. Let’s be the first! Let the Four Corner Hat Pirate Crew’s name shake the Grand Line!"
"U-understood!"
The crewmate hesitated, then bolted toward the port, his steps slightly frantic.
Bertoro sighed. That subordinate always rushed things. Now was the time for calm—rushing like that would alert other pirates. Hurrying away without composure would make anyone think he’d been chased.
"That’s why I’m captain, not you. True leaders keep their composure inside. As the Flower Country of West Blue says: ‘One who harbors thunderous storms within yet maintains a face as calm as still waters is worthy of becoming a naval commander.’"
Bertoro smirked, turning toward the town. "This place will be the first—"
He suddenly sprinted full speed toward the port, faster than his subordinate, practically clawing at the ground in urgency.
Above, dark fortress clouds descended from the upper district like a storm.
Crashing into that would turn anyone into paste!
Damn it! His subordinate should’ve warned him first. He’d deal with pirate justice later!
Reaching the port, Bertoro froze at the sight.
The Grand Line’s waters stretched empty.
No ships remained where a bustling fleet once anchored—just endless waves.
"Where’S MY Ship?!"
He screamed. "That huge ship of mine! Where’s my crew?!"
Even escaping should’ve left the ship visible. But now—nothing.
A wave crashed—a Four Corner Hat sculpture floated past among scattered ship debris.
"Ahhh… So it sank."
Bertoro touched his chest, exhaling relief—then his eyes bulged. His mouth hung open, eyes popping out.
"MY Ship’S Sunk!!!"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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