https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-332-Navy-Perhaps-also-Justice-s-Partner-/13536902/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-334-As-Long-as-There-Are-No-Strong-Men-There-Are-No-Weaklings/13536904/
Chapter 333: The Path to Kingship
Chapter 333: The Path to Kingship
"I still want to go to the Martial Arts Grand Tournament."
Ju Geng hesitated for a moment but firmly restated his decision, speaking to Kuro: "Thank you for offering me a place in the Navy, but I really can't leave these kids and this land behind."
"Meh, do whatever you want", Kuro shrugged. "If you change your mind later, come find me on Pegasus Island. As for the Martial Arts Grand Tournament, we can go together—I have business in Tui Town anyway."
"Kuro?" Lida looked at him.
Kuro ruffled Lida's hair. "No one's responded to my calls so far. Those people in Tui Town aren't giving me face, so I'll have to confront them in person."
"Rest early tonight. We're leaving at dawn."
"Alright, got it."
Lida nodded, glancing toward Tui Town with a conflicted expression.
The deer hadn't finished eating, but Kuro and the Navy members had already eaten two of them. The children devoured another. The leftovers wouldn't touch the rest, which made Ushida feel even more grateful.
Late at night, after everyone had retired, Kuro stood by the stream, smoking a cigar and silently staring at the moon.
"Kuro..."
Klah emerged from the shadows and approached him. "That stunt you pulled earlier—"
"You noticed?" Kuro asked.
"Yes." Klah adjusted his glasses. "The direction those four islands fell matches the four towns of Insect Country. And you deliberately let the Revolutionary Army escape. Are you trying to help them?"
"Don't put it like that, Klah. It was just coincidence. Everything was too convenient—no one could have predicted my powers would misfire while I was testing whether that blind old man was part of the Revolutionary Army. The explosion just happened to hit the town. As for the Revolutionary Army's location? Beats me."
Klah stayed silent, waiting for him to continue.
Kuro extended his hand, staring at his fingers. "That explanation should suffice. After all, CP3 was unconscious, and the narrative's in my hands now. That's good enough. At the end of the day, even the Navy has to respect the world's rules. This much is enough to satisfy my conscience."
He didn't care about destroying towns at all.
You think the hawks would do any better? They'd probably cause even more chaos.
Though Kuro hated to admit it, he'd become a Navy elite—a well-known figure. This kind of minor incident would earn nothing more than a scolding from Sengoku.
What was the big deal about obliterating a few towns? They ordered him to capture the Revolutionary Army, not the other way around.
Besides, actions like these forced the World Government to weigh the consequences of deploying him—the destructive potential he carried.
Everything was going perfectly according to plan.
...
The border between Insect Country and Flower Country was a narrow strip of land. From here, either nation could launch an invasion.
The two countries had been locked in conflict for some time now.
Insect Country had deployed its entire military force here, facing off against Flower Country. Full-scale battles hadn't erupted, but localized skirmishes occurred daily—miniature wars breaking out constantly.
Equipped with new weapons, Insect Country had the upper hand in combat. Flower Country barely maintained balance through sheer combat power.
Yet today, Insect Country had unexpectedly retreated.
The mood inside Insect Country's camp was grim.
Under flickering lantern light, soldiers eyed their comrades with suspicion.
Inside the command tent, a group of white-haired elders sat in tense silence.
"How much longer are we wasting here? Tomorrow's the Martial Arts Grand Tournament. If we don't return in time, the Patriarch will be furious."
A white-haired elder licked his lips, smirking. "Luo Wei, why not just cut half their throats now? If we eliminate them, even if some Revolutionary Army survives, they won't pose a threat."
"Silence!" Luo Wei glared. "Do you want us to lose this war? We're winning!"
"Who cares about that?" The elder shrugged. "The Patriarch's orders are what matter. Whether we win or lose has nothing to do with us."
"Enough! I'm in command here!" Luo Wei slammed his fist on the table, his voice darkening. "We leave at dawn. We can reach the Martial Arts Grand Tournament in time. For now, monitor them, but don't abuse the soldiers recklessly. They're the foundation of our victory."
"Yes, yes—we know you're the Patriarch's favorite, so you call the shots. But give us a little face, will you? By blood, I'm your uncle."
The elder stood, addressing Luo Wei. He was middle-aged, with a white beard and curly white hair—a trademark of the Luo family's noble bloodline. His face bore a strong resemblance to Luo Wei's.
"Uncle?" Luo Wei scoffed. "Are you joking, Luo Da? The Luo family honors strength above all. You, or your son Luo Shan—if you can defeat me, you can do as you please. Until then, obey my orders. There's no room for family sentiment here!"
"Tch, such an ungrateful brat. Fine, have it your way", Luo Da waved a hand dismissively, yanked the tent curtain aside first, and strode out.
"I'll take my leave as well." Another Luo family member murmured before exiting.
One by one, the Luo family members departed until only Luo Wei remained alone in the tent.
He narrowed his eyes at the empty space and said softly, "Come out."
A crow emerged from a hole in the tent's ceiling, landing on Luo Wei's shoulder.
"The World Government has discovered us. That famous Navy captain Lucius Kro is in Insect Country too. He's a problem—he's stronger than we anticipated." The crow spoke in a low, thin voice.
"Lucius Kro..." Luo Wei rolled the name around, his voice deepening. "So he finally arrived."
"There's also someone with him who might be from your Luo family. What should we do?" The black crow pecked at its feathers.
"No need to interfere. They won't stop us. However..." Luo Wei's eyes gleamed with cold calculation. "This is an opportunity. That Lucius Kro might become a nuisance to the Patriarch. Now is the perfect timing. I was already hesitating whether to act tonight, but they've forced my decision."
The crow fell silent for a moment. "There are other options. You don't have to take this path."
"This is the only safe way. All the blame will fall on me alone. Inform your Chief of Staff—the king is his, and the Luo family is mine. Tonight..."
Luo Wei clenched his fist, his voice sharp and deliberate: "We launch the coup d'état!!"
He strode out of the tent, his final declaration echoing:
"Let Luo family blood be the first step on my path to kingship!"
(End of Chapter)
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