https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-281-Not-Stepping-on-Ants-Is-Actually-Pretty-Hard/13536752/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-283-I-ve-Got-Absolutely-No-Tolerance-for-Neets-You-Know/13536754/
Chapter 282: A Pirate's Evil Deserves Navy's Wrath
Chapter 282: A Pirate's Evil Deserves Navy's Wrath
Outside the cave, Kuro sauntered here at a leisurely pace, chewing on a cigar while listening to the clash of battle echoing from within. He exhaled a puff of smoke.
"Lucius Kro."
A figure emerged from beside the cave entrance, stepping forward with a stern expression. "Please don’t interfere."
The person was lean and cloaked in a hooded robe, revealing only a delicate face.
"You're the one—what was your name again? Oh well."
Kuro smirked, clearly entertained. "You should’ve noticed me much earlier. Even though my aura is merely here, your powers should allow you to see beyond reflections. Why didn’t you act?"
While delivering the pirates of Swan Island to their fiery fate, he’d repeatedly sensed someone watching him. Among this island’s denizens, only the Devil Fruit user who’d consumed the Reflection Devil Fruit could evoke such a feeling of being surveilled. If someone could project reflections from Pegasus Island to here, this would be trivial.
Shu Di Ka didn’t answer Kuro’s question. "I saw your performance during the Top War. Ehrnando is confident he can defeat you, but I disagree. Therefore—"
Huh?
You want to take me down early?
You don’t have the means, though.
Kuro raised an eyebrow, his left hand resting on the hilt of Autumn Waterhilt, thumb nudging the guard. He was ready to draw and strike down the Devil Fruit user.
Against Devil Fruit users, his approach was always swift—better to eliminate them before they could cause trouble.
"Please don’t stop Ehrnando. I beg you!"
Shu Di Ka suddenly dropped to her knees, prostrating herself in a dogeza before Kuro, her forehead touching the ground.
"We know our crimes are grave, a disgrace to the Navy. But if you let Ehrnando achieve his goal, we’ll accept our punishment!"
Kuro’s thumb eased slightly. Watching Shu Di Ka kneeling, his expression turned perplexed.
"Zeff Teacher, in truth, holds Ehrnando in the highest regard", she continued, raising her head earnestly. "He’d sacrifice everything for Zeff—even back when Zeff’s decision led to his family being murdered by pirates."
*
*
Bang!
Bang-bang!
Zeff’s left arm erupted in Armament Haki as he lunged at Ehrnando, who blocked the strike effortlessly.
"Back then, I revered and trusted you completely, believing your idea of Justice was the true path. The Navy’s duty is to capture pirates, leaving trials to the judiciary. How noble that belief was!"
Ehrnando shoved Zeff’s arm aside, unleashing Fist Burst Charge to send Zeff stumbling back. "It was I who captured that pirate, trusting your Justice. Yet my family became its sacrifice! Why?! Just because of your non-killing principle?!"
"From that day onward, I’ve hated you!"
*
"Ehrnando doesn’t truly hate Zeff Teacher", Shu Di Ka interjected. "Though his family perished, we’re Navy. We knew the risks."
Kuro found himself nodding. The Navy was indeed a perilous calling. While most in this world might be fools, there were still those who’d stop at nothing—slaughter, vengeance, you name it. Being a Navy officer meant risking your life daily.
*
"What did your non-killing principle earn you? Nothing! Your arm, your students—all lost because of your principles and Justice!"
"That pirate still lives!"
"Ehrnando!!" Zeff roared. "Why bring this up?!"
*
"Seven years ago, Zeff Teacher was ambushed, his entire ship destroyed, leaving only Ai En and Binz alive. Zeff lost an arm that day, and his strength has waned ever since."
Shu Di Ka’s voice trembled as she spoke. "We revere Zeff Teacher so deeply that we began questioning—what if Zeff started killing pirates? Would he grow stronger, no longer vulnerable to threats?"
"So Ehrnando resolved to do something—"
Her eyes burned with conviction. "Make Zeff Teacher kill!"
"If Zeff starts slaying pirates, the Grand Line will tremble at his name. He’ll rise again, stronger than before!"
Kuro’s eyes narrowed as he gazed at her. Finally, he spoke: "You two… really are fools."
Changing a strong man’s belief isn’t easy. Even if Zeff wavers, his convictions won’t shatter readily.
Kuro hadn’t known Zeff before this encounter, but having fought him now, he understood—the old man’s ideals were unyielding, even in his twilight years.
The World Government’s future misdeeds wouldn’t shake Zeff’s faith in the Navy. What link did the World Government have to the Navy, after all?
But if a former Navy prodigy turned pirate and forced Zeff to abandon his principles… now that could work.
*
"Rise again?" Kuro scoffed, exhaling smoke. "More likely, he’ll become a parody of himself. Truly foolish."
The old man valued Justice and his students above all. His students butchered by pirates, then one becomes a pirate himself? If his ideals are betrayed again, Zeff might spiral—perhaps even seek to annihilate the New World itself, regardless of innocent lives.
In Kuro’s memories, Zeff did attempt that, though he was dragged into a movie plot by some fool chasing the One Piece.
But reality isn’t so absurd. Based on Kuro’s experiences, the Pirate King would probably end up thrashed by Zeff.
"Don’t call us fools!"
Shu Di Ka shot to her feet, teeth clenched. "We’ve staked our futures and honor to restore Zeff Teacher to the hope-filled man he once was!"
"We’ve stained our honor, become killers, criminals beyond redemption. Our evil deserves death!"
Her blood-soaked aura reeked of malice—Kuro could smell it without even using Observation Haki.
To Kuro, she was a dead woman walking.
After a pause, he said, "So… you’ve been seeking death all along?"
"Yes. The moment we found Zeff Teacher, our mission was complete."
Shu Di Ka smiled faintly. "I lack Ehrnando’s resolve to face him directly. But as a Navy officer, you can fulfill my wish, can’t you? A pirate’s evil deserves the Navy’s wrath."
*
Kuro lowered his gaze. Today… it’s still two chapters updated. I face you all with shame.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
