https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-319-Is-My-Charm-Really-That-Bad-/13536864/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-321-Don-t-Waste-Food-You-Little-Brat-/13536866/
Chapter 320: Noisy
Chapter 320: Noisy
Kuro realized he might have misjudged things.
The locals of Tui Town seemed to be living well enough—dressed neatly, their bodies healthy and sturdy. Through his Observation Haki, he sensed that the people of this country all exuded similar auras. While his Observation Haki couldn’t detect specific emotions or conditions, its vast range allowed him to gauge the strength of someone’s aura. He’d assumed they were all thriving.
But Naruga’s words unsettled him.
Insect Country’s primary income stemmed from exporting military force—almost entirely through the Luo Family’s might. The nation itself was small, with no notable local specialties. The only highlight was its well-preserved environment, but paired with Naruga’s comments, this now seemed suspicious.
If development was forbidden, of course the environment would remain unspoiled. But that also meant humans could gain nothing from nature—not even a blade of grass or a single tree.
Thinking back, that woman, though beautiful and fair-skinned, had a pale, malnourished look, as if suffering from chronic nutrient deficiency.
After walking through the woods, Kuro finally spotted a small village from a nearby hilltop. The settlement was picturesque, with traditional Insect Country flat-roofed houses neatly scattered across the fields. Ahead of the town stood a towering, ancient tree serving as a landmark, surrounded by farmland that seemed like a rustic paradise.
Yet the fields were overgrown with weeds. The houses, upon closer inspection, were dilapidated—though clean, their weathered wooden planks rotted and riddled with holes. A few emaciated children ran about, their skeletal frames starkly unlike those of healthy children.
A poverty-stricken village, where hunger seemed inevitable.
“Is this the place?” Naruga approached, glancing at the village before nodding.
“Commander Kuro, there’s no need to rush to find that woman. I understand your sense of duty, but our priority is locating the Revolutionary Army. Rest assured, once we capture them, reporting minor merits like this poaching case will be easy.”
His words deepened the surrounding silence.
Kuro stood with his back to Naruga, his face obscured by drifting cigar smoke.
Lida shrank back, giving Naruga a look usually reserved for corpses.
Klah adjusted his glasses, his hand dropping to his side as his index finger subtly extended.
When Kuro still ignored him, Naruga’s lips twitched. Was this man really going to reject even his most generous overture?
“Hey! Kuro! Did you hear me?!”
Naruga’s temper flared. No matter how strong or important Kuro was, this insolence was unforgivable. After all, Kuro was just a Commander. Both served the World Government, but Naruga’s rank far surpassed his.
At least a little respect was due!
As Naruga’s hand reached toward Kuro’s shoulder, and Klah prepared to intervene, Kuro suddenly turned his head. His eyes glowed faintly red, locking onto Naruga.
“Noisy.”
A torrent of Killing Intent erupted around Kuro, coalescing into swirling black-gold threads that surged toward Naruga and the CP3 agents behind him.
Fluster!
A flock of birds fleeing the distant woods stiffened mid-flight and plummeted.
Naruga, struck directly, stumbled backward, collapsing onto the ground. His body trembled violently before his eyes rolled back and he fainted. The agents behind him collapsed instantly.
“Don’t interrupt me while I recalculate Insect Country’s situation. It’s annoying.”
Kuro glanced at the unconscious Naruga, closed his eyes, and reopened them—his red glow now gone.
He’d recalculated, using the children’s auras as a baseline. Expanding his awareness nationwide revealed a stark contrast. The residents of the four towns exuded far stronger auras than the rest of the country. The others shared the same weak, malnourished aura as these villagers.
In short, aside from the four towns in Insect Country, the entire nation was suffering like this.
“Let’s go down and see.”
Kuro descended toward the village.
Klah swallowed, eyeing Naruga’s unconscious form. “A man who can’t read the room…”
Even Lida hadn’t dared speak to Kuro in that moment. Why provoke him with such tasteless remarks?
Leaving the CP3 agents unconscious, Kuro, Lida, and Klah walked downhill toward the village. The ancient tree, a symbolic landmark, divided the village path from the outside world. As Kuro stepped past it, he halted abruptly.
The remaining Navy guards exchanged puzzled looks but dared not question him, simply halting in place.
Lida and Klah, however, eyed nearby bushes with suspicion.
Kuro, the cigar still between his teeth, stared at a thick rope strung between two trees. A crude net of rocks and broken branches hung above it—a simple trap.
“This obvious? Do you think I’m stupid enough to fall for it?”
He addressed the bushes. “Come out, brats.”
Rustling.
Three children leaped from the bushes—two boys and a girl, no older than seven or eight, their bodies frail and thin.
“You! Who are you, and what do you want here?!”
The leading boy, gripping a thick branch as a weapon, stood trembling. Behind him, the girl clutched a slingshot, half-hiding behind him, eyes wide with fear. The other boy clutched two rocks, his legs unsteady.
Kuro pointed at the hooded cloak draped over his shoulder. “Navy insignia. Don’t recognize it?”
The boy shook his head defiantly. “Don’t care! Leave now, or else I’ll hit you!”
Kuro nodded slightly. This confirmed it—those outside the towns were dangerously isolated from information.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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