https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-310-Healthy-Peace-s-Martial-Arts-Grand-Tournament/13536854/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-312-You-Bully-Me-When-Navy-Isn-t-Here-and-Even-Bully-Me-When-Navy-Arrives-/13536856/
Chapter 311: You Look So Fierce, You Must've Stepped on Ants Before
Chapter 311: You Look So Fierce, You Must’ve Stepped on Ants Before
The street where Kuro stood was already crowded due to its proximity to the port, but during the Grand Festival, the throng swelled to at least several thousand people.
Under Kuro’s Killing Intent and the Navy’s gunpoint supervision, the crowd obediently split into two lines, forming two long queues.
Why two lines? Because no one believed they were guilty.
“Kuro, Mr., they’re lined up.”
Klah approached and reported.
Kuro glanced over, then scoffed, “You call this a line?”
“Kuro, Mr., there are too many people. We can’t verify them all individually—it’d take too long.”
Klah shrugged helplessly. Their time was limited, after all. This meant no one would willingly step to the left. Everyone in the middle claimed to be innocent pirates.
Of course, pirates have integrity.
“Klah, let me teach you something today—sometimes, we can be subjective.”
Kuro strode toward the right line of self-proclaimed innocents. At the front stood a tall man in a black dress uniform.
When Kuro approached, the man swallowed hard and instinctively straightened his spine, like a child caught misbehaving.
He couldn’t help it—Kuro’s aura was terrifying. Resistance was impossible.
Ordinary people might not understand Killing Intent, but their instincts screamed at them to comply.
Kuro stopped before him, staring levelly at the man. The man’s scalp prickled, his body rigid with discomfort.
“Yakuza?”
Kuro suddenly asked.
The man instinctively nodded, then realized his mistake and frantically shook his head.
“No, Navy officer! I’m an innocent civilian!”
Bang!
Kuro slammed a hand onto the man’s head, swung him sideways, and sent his body flying through the pirate line to the left, crashing into the farthest structures.
Kuro spat disdainfully, “Wearing black in West Blue and claiming you’re not Yakuza? Yakuza even dare to think they’re innocent? You’ve got less integrity than pirates—they at least admit they’re pirates.”
These words made the pirates in the middle, who were being held at gunpoint, puff out their chests proudly.
Being praised by an enemy was the highest honor.
“Exactly! I’m a pirate sailing for my dream!” A pirate roared, “Real seafarers aren’t cowards like them!”
Kuro nodded in approval.
Makes sense. I’ll randomly pick a few pirate crews to sink later.
“All of you wearing black dress uniforms—move to the left!”
Kuro barked at the lines.
Under his Killing Intent, the Yakuza couldn’t resist. A sea of black-clad figures peeled away, lining up on the far left.
They had no choice. Besides their instinctive fear of the cigar-chomping madman before them, the gleaming weapons trained on them left no room for defiance.
“I’m not moving!”
A black-uniformed man was surrounded by Navy guns but refused to budge. Trembling under Kuro’s Killing Intent, he screamed defiantly,
“I’m a respectable merchant doing business here! You Navy have no right to treat me like this! I’ll file a complaint with the World Government—believe me!”
“Oh, really?”
Kuro grinned, waving casually, “Drag him over.”
Several Navy officers yanked the struggling merchant toward the left. His feet scraped wildly against the ground as he fought to resist, bellowing, “I’m a respectable merchant! I’ve paid taxes to the World Government! I’ve sold goods to the Celestial Dragons! I demand to see the Five Elders! I demand to see the Five Elders!”
“Kuro, Commander, maybe he really is a merchant…”
Phil hesitated, stepping forward, “This could damage the Navy’s reputation.”
“Phil, Commander, this is all for Justice,” Kuro declared solemnly. “The Navy risks complaints to maintain order, rooting out criminals who’d sow chaos in World Government allied nations. They’ll understand.”
“But if he truly sold goods to the Celestial Dragons…” Phil worried.
“Anyone who’d sell to those scum isn’t a respectable merchant,” Kuro snapped.
“Kuro, Commander!” Phil yelped, sweating bullets as he lunged to cover Kuro’s mouth.
“Ah,” Kuro scratched his head, “My bad. Just pretend you didn’t hear that.”
Everyone present sweated profusely, staring at Kuro in horror.
Could someone actually say such things?
Was this Navy officer insane?
Better not provoke him.
Now, the remaining black-uniformed figures had no fight left. They shuffled meekly to the left.
If even a World Noble could be insulted so casually, what couldn’t this man do in Insect Country?
Once all black-uniformed figures were on the far left, Kuro resumed patrolling the lines.
No one dared meet his eyes. Everyone stared straight ahead, backs rigid.
Kuro paused beside a particularly burly man.
“Navy officer, I’m not Yakuza! I’m not even wearing black! I’m just a martial artist here for the Martial Arts Grand Tournament!”
The man’s face, thick with muscle and menace, twisted into a comically forced smile.
Kuro nodded, appraising him. “Not Yakuza, no. But you look fierce enough to crush ants underfoot. That’s wanton slaughter. You’re guilty. Anyone with your physique is guilty. All of you—move to the left!”
That’s the reason?!
Klah facepalmed. Now he understood what “subjective” meant—picking on whoever you disliked.
“You’re being too unfair!”
A burly three-meter-tall giant clenched his fists and charged Kuro, “Don’t insult martial artists!”
Kuro watched emotionlessly. As the man neared, he casually swung a whip kick into the giant’s waist, sending him flying leftward. The massive body crashed into a cluster of pirates, taking out several before embedding them all into the far left structures, leaving a deep dent.
“Hmph.”
Kuro exhaled cigar smoke, “Don’t worry—I’m Navy. I won’t frame innocents. I know my limits. He’ll recover in a few days. Klah, send some money for his medical bills later.”
“Yes, I’ll handle it,” Klah muttered.
“Hey, isn’t that Karl?”
“Looks like it. The famous martial artist—kicked out cold by a Navy officer!”
“He’s too dangerous. Better obey and move left. He’s Navy—won’t harm us.”
“The Martial Arts Grand Tournament—”
“Forget it. I don’t want to end up like Karl.”
Murmurs spread as martial artists shuffled obediently to the left.
Now, the left line had swelled significantly.
Kuro compared the crowds. The right line was still too long.
“Not enough. Still too many. Need more.”
The remaining standers weren’t weak—certainly not ordinary civilians, who’d already been weeded out. Even armed merchants had survived his Killing Intent. He could afford to be bolder.
His Killing Intent wasn’t at full strength. If it were, few would stand. He’d calibrated it carefully—too strong, and he’d have no one left to screen.
His gaze swept the lines, finally settling on those wearing martial arts uniforms. They were the most numerous, the most evenly distributed.
Kuro approached one man, who blurted out nervously before Kuro could speak:
"Naval Officer", the martial artist said, "I'm a martial artist here to compete. I'm not a pirate, not a mobster. I don't wear black uniforms, run businesses, or have that bulky physique famous martial artists have. I don't look menacing. I walk carefully not to crush ants. Though I cultivate, I never bully people - only spar with peers. Surely martial artist duels aren't considered crimes?"
"Not at all", Kuro nodded.
"Then can I stay in this team?" His eyes flickered with smugness.
Besides him, half the group listening wore identical smirks. This was their victory as ordinary martial artists!
"Hmm..."
After hesitation, Kuro suddenly pulled out a cigar box and offered one. "Smoke? Top quality stuff."
"Er... Thanks, Naval Officer."
The martial artist extended both hands carefully to accept it.
Suddenly, Kuro snatched the cigar back, barking, "Smoking? You're clearly up to no good! I can tell you've got dirty thoughts! To prevent accidents, all your type - come with me!"
"However, given no criminal records found, you can form a separate team and leave later by personal vessel or warship. Phil Commander."
"Aye, Kuro Commander!"
"You contact nearby base warships to pick up these 'smokers' and safely send them home."
"But Naval Officer, you smoke too! Why call us bad guys?" Deng Shi protested.
Kuro glared. "Cigars are Navy specialty - we must taste them. And in Grand Line, Navy's word is law! Stop arguing or I'll kick your ass out personally!"
...
This was pure bullying, right?
In broad daylight, the Navy was clearly harassing citizens.
This crackdown halved the team instantly. Left were scrawny martial artists lacking presence, plus fainted civilians and merchants.
Kuro had to save face - can't overdo it or no one would compete. Embarrassing otherwise.
Weaklings fighting weaklings?
At least maintain appearances.
Navy escorted the "identified" suspects toward the port.
Once the group left, the street became eerily empty.
Kuro waved behind. "Sorry for the disturbance. We'll remove and arrest threats. Protecting citizens is Navy's duty - no thanks needed."
The remaining crowd exchanged glances, all sharing a bead of sweat on their foreheads.
Thanks?
"Won't merchants wake up furious? Without them, business plummets."
A frail martial artist pointed at the unconscious, "Looks like wind could blow me over, but I can handle 2-3 ordinary guys."
He was a martial artist - amateurish, true. Came to Insect Country since it was nearby, just for excitement.
"Forget them! Think - Navy took all elites! This is our chance!"
A similarly weedy martialist's eyes shone. "No rivals, just skill! Maybe I can become famous!"
Right!
The skinny fighter froze, then ecstatic. Strong men gone - could they commoners shine in arena? Fame beckoned!
This ignited hopes among remaining competitors, cheering Kuro's back.
"Naval Officer! Not just here - other streets have criminals! We'll lead you, point them out!"
The crowd surged toward Kuro.
As for merchants waking later...
Who cares?
"Heard that? Popular support", Kuro smirked to Klah. "Navy's justice truly resonates."
Klah glanced at two hundred pursuers versus their two-three thousand captives radiating killing intent. Swallowing hard, he thought: Where's this support?
Near port, Kuro addressed ordinary martial artists: "Take your ships home. No? Wait for warships. As for you lot..."
He eyed the "screened" criminals and pirates. "Ten minutes! If ships don't sail by, I'll toss you all into Grand Line - swim home!"
Opposing thousands stood silent under killing intent. None dared resist, fearing the fate of famed martialist Karl twitching nearby in Navy ropes.
Ships found, vessels departed. Soon ten ships sailed Grand Line.
Merchants' luxurious yachts, skull-flagged pirate ships, mafia vessels, and two martial artist group ships separated at sea.
Who knew pirates' next moves? Better part ways.
Kuro narrowed eyes watching pirate ships.
"Klah."
"Aye. Intelligence reports two pirate crews ambushing civilians: Guli Pirate Crew and Astair Pirate Crew. Those two ships."
Klah frowned. "Kuro Sir, we can only pursue one now."
"We'll help!" Phil volunteered.
"No need."
Kuro stretched his neck, crouched, palm dipping seawater.
Eyes closed, he grinned. "Time for surprise prizes! Two lucky pirate ships... Sink!"
The last words darkened.
Light flashed in his eyes.
"Lion's Might!"
Underneath fleeing pirate ships, whirlpools erupted like lion mouths, devouring ships whole.
Portside Navy watched vessels disintegrate, souls swallowed.
Sea calmed, floating debris marking their passing.
"Done."
Kuro stood, shaking water off as Phil and martial artists gawked. "Phil Commander, coordinate warships here. Guard these folks. We'll check next district."
Walking, he paused.
"You won't escape, right?"
Crowd shook heads violently.
"Good kids. Though you smoke, I trust you'll reform." Winking, he departed with Navy.
(End of Chapter)
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