https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-293-The-Lasting-Benefits-of-a-Loyal-Dog/13536786/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-295-The-Fight-s-Just-Starting-You-Thief-/13536790/
Chapter 294: Don't Bother Me With Such Trivial Matters While I'm Trying to Relax!
Chapter 294: Don’t Bother Me With Such Trivial Matters While I’m Trying to Relax!
Merchant gritted his teeth and roared, “You’re asking me something you already know! Are you deliberately trying to humiliate me?!”
“Oh?”
The white-haired man aimed his finger at Merchant, flicked it, and the straightened white citrus pith shot forward, piercing through Merchant’s chest and embedding itself in his flesh.
“Aaaaah!!!”
Merchant let out a guttural scream of pain, clutched his chest with both hands, and twisted his face in agony.
The white-haired youth smiled, lazily peeled more citrus pith, popped an orange segment into his mouth, and continued manipulating the fibrous strands with his fingers.
Under his touch, the pith hardened again, stiffening into needle-like filaments.
Haki Hardening.
For ordinary people who hadn’t awakened Haki, they couldn’t see the Haki’s “color.” All Merchant knew was that soft citrus fibers had suddenly become unyielding.
The stabbing pain and maddening itch from the embedded pith tormented him—intense enough to make him want to claw at his wound, yet any movement sent fresh waves of agony through his body.
“Just kill me!” Merchant growled through clenched teeth.
The white-haired youth hopped off the ship’s bow, strolling leisurely toward Merchant.
“Death is sometimes a mercy,” he said, his voice calm. “Compared to dying, this world holds far crueler punishments. You’re feeling it now, aren’t you—the torment?”
He raised his hand toward Merchant, closed one eye, and mimicked a flicking motion. “If you refuse to answer my questions, this agony will only intensify.”
Though smiling, his expression chilled Merchant to the bone. This grinning demon was worse than any nightmare.
“It’s a weapon shipment for Insect Country! You already knew that, didn’t you? The World Government and the Dark World will investigate too—it’s Joker’s cargo!”
“Insect Country? Joker?”
The young man’s smile stiffened. The orange in his hand crushed into pulp, dripping juice onto the deck.
“This is truly…” he muttered, turning toward the sea. “They’ve dared to rob from their own doorstep. Worse, they didn’t even succeed. Otherwise, Joker would’ve had to pay us compensation.”
As he turned, Merchant’s pupils constricted. On the back of the youth’s coat was a crimson emblem—four overlapping vajras forming a complex, blood-red pattern.
He recognized that symbol.
“You’re…!”
“You’re Luo! You’re Insect Country’s Luo!” Merchant shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. “Hurry to Pegasus Island! Our shipment was seized by the local Navy there—go reclaim it!”
“Ah, I suppose I’ll go,” the youth said casually.
“That’s great!”
Merchant pushed himself upright, face flushed. “If it’s you, you’ll definitely take it back! I want that Navy captain to pay! Hurry, I’ll even forgive you for killing my crew!”
“I’ll go, yes. But when did you get the illusion I’d bring you along?”
The young man turned his head, flicked his arm, and the needle-like citrus pith shot forward as a silver blur, piercing through Merchant’s forehead.
Merchant’s expression froze. His body crumpled with a dull thud, lifeless.
“Worthless,” the youth snorted. “Can’t even deliver cargo without getting intercepted by the Navy. Change course—head for Pegasus Island. We’re reclaiming our shipment.”
A black-haired man with long, straight hair approached and bowed.
“Officer, Pegasus Island is controlled by the Pirate Alliance. Their leader is Ehrnando. If the Navy’s involved, it means they’ve clashed with him. Someone strong enough to force Ehrnando from Pegasus Island won’t be easy to handle. Shouldn’t we return home first and—”
“Hmm?”
The youth’s gaze made the man shudder. He lowered his head instinctively but forced himself to finish, “Reassess the situation.”
“Hey.”
The youth’s voice was soft, almost gentle.
The man swallowed hard. “Yes, sir.”
He barely raised his head when a sudden blow sent him flying backward, slamming into the mast with a deafening crack.
The youth tossed the mangled orange pulp at the fallen man, lifting his chin proudly. “Who am I?”
The man trembled on the deck, forcing himself to meet the youth’s eyes. “You… You are Luo Wei, the greatest prodigy of the Luo family.”
“And my principle?”
“Don’t interrupt while you’re speaking.”
Luo Wei nodded, his smile returning. “Get up. Just don’t make the same mistake again.”
His tone was warm, like a patient elder scolding a misbehaving child—though the bloodstained deck told another story.
“Yes, sir.”
The man struggled to his feet, clutching his chest. He swallowed the metallic taste of rising blood, his face pale with pain.
“Set course—we’ll take this ship to Pegasus Island. Let the Dark World deal with the consequences of ambushing the Navy.”
Luo Wei’s eyes narrowed, a playful glint in his voice. “Navy, huh? I’m looking forward to this. If they’ve driven out the Pirate Alliance’s base, they must be formidable. Wonder how many punches they’ll survive?”
……
“Mr. Kuro, the survey is complete.”
Inside Pegasus Town’s base, Klah entered with a report, approaching Kuro who lounged in an armchair.
“There’s geothermal activity beneath Pegasus Island. We’ll need professionals to tap it. I’ve contacted ‘Nirvana,’ a renowned hot spring developer from the Grand Line. Rumor says he personally excavated his massive hot spring resort.”
“Handle it however you like. I trust your judgment,” Kuro waved a hand lazily. “And Lida—stop making noise when you eat! How many times must I say this? I’m finally getting a moment of peace!”
He glared at Lida, who munched like a chipmunk beside him.
“And why are you crunching an orange so loudly?!” A vein throbbed on Kuro’s forehead.
Lida pouted. “Eating quietly isn’t tasty!”
“Enough! Eat outside—don’t disturb my peace!”
Kuro massaged his temples, shooing them away.
Klah bowed and retreated.
“Fine, I’ll eat elsewhere,” Lida muttered, quickly finishing his orange and grabbing a bag of potato chips before heading out.
The office fell blissfully silent.
Kuro slumped lower in his chair, lit a cigar, and exhaled a plume of smoke. “Ahhh… peaceful.”
Stationed on a Marine Base in the West Blue suited him just fine. No need to face Grand Line’s monstrous strongmen. No Headquarters bureaucracy smothering him. Life was good.
“Once the hot springs are developed and this town flourishes, I’ll be set for life. Just indulge in gourmet meals, find a girl I like, and tour the seas on a warship. Sounds perfect,” Kuro mused, eyes half-closed in daydream.
Promotions?
Bah! What West Blue rank could compare to the Grand Line? Four Seas pirates were nobodies. Even non-lethal captures wouldn’t earn a promotion.
Smoker, that idiot, probably went mad chasing pirates at G-5 for two years before becoming a Vice Admiral.
Here? Nothing. If he got promoted faster, he’d report the Navy brass for nepotism himself!
Bam!
The door flew open as Lida burst in. “Kuro! Kuro!”
Kuro’s lip twitched. “What now, my dear captain?”
“The merchant ship we sent off earlier… it’s back!” Lida pointed outside.
“What?!”
Kuro raised an eyebrow. “Back? Then sink it! Don’t bother me with such trivial matters while I’m trying to relax!”
(End of Chapter)
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