https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-33-My-Actions-Are-As-Clear-As-A-Mirror-All-My-Deeds-Are-Justice/13535754/
Chapter 34: Impressive! So Impressive!
Chapter 34: Impressive! So Impressive!
The beautiful Commander wearing a hooded cloak stood aside, watching the scene with astonishment. The inflexible Smoker seemed unusually amiable toward this lethargic man—was this really the same Smoker?
And Tashigi was treating this man named Kuro with obvious respect as well.
But this Navy... she'd never seen before. Definitely not one of Smoker's subordinates.
"Tina's surprised", murmured the woman.
"Oh, forgot to introduce", Smoker said, "This is Kuro, an Ensign from East Blue. He's here for training at Headquarters. A damn bastard who hides his strength deliberately."
Kuro turned toward Tina. "Pleased to meet you. But please don't believe Smoker—I'm actually quite weak, and my rank is low too. Commander Tina needn't pay me much attention."
"Pleased to meet you", Tina replied, scrutinizing him closely. "Despite your words, Tina finds you intriguing."
Indeed, he exuded laziness—his every facial expression dripped with nonchalance.
Almost like a certain old man...
Just without that lecherous vibe.
"Hey! Captain!"
At the warship's dock, Zangao and Fenbodi carried armfuls of flowers for their daily tribute to Tina. As they arrived, Zangao spotted Klah standing behind Kuro aboard the ship like a butler, his sunglasses nearly falling from shock.
"Captain?!"
Fenbodi hesitated, then burst into laughter. "You idiot, address her as Commander! Did you forget you're not a pirate anymore, Zangao?!"
"No, no! Not Commander Tina! That's Captain! Klah Captain! My former pirate captain!"
Zangao pointed at Klah, shouting. "Commander Tina, that man in black is a pirate!"
"Pirate?!"
At his words, Tina's eyes widened. In an instant, she materialized before Klah, her arm swinging forward. Klah didn't even have time to react before her limb pierced through him. A black iron ring coiled around his body, binding him tightly.
"So hard!"
Klah struggled on the ground, realizing the iron's unbreakable rigidity.
"Still want to resist?"
Tina lifted her boot, preparing to ensnare Klah's legs in black bindings too. But suddenly, a hand landed on her shoulder.
"Hey, mind doing me a favor? He's my subordinate."
Kuro scratched his head. "You're making my life difficult here."
"Your subordinate?"
Tina halted, turning to Kuro's smiling face. "Recruiting pirates now? Tina heard from Zangao about him—Zangao's former captain, 'Cunning' Klah."
"'Cunning' Klah was already captured. His bounty disappeared with the arrest. My subordinate just happens to share the same name."
"Oh? Tina finds that hard to believe. And when has the Navy ever accepted pirates before?" she asked.
Kuro glanced at Zangao below, then back at Tina. "Zangao was different—he was declared innocent by the Supreme Court. He joined as a civilian."
"But this man", Tina pressed, "his bounty was revoked, yet proving his true identity would justify arrest."
"Tina, let him go. This man is Navy now."
Smoker spoke up. "Piracy's in the past."
"You defending someone? Tina's truly surprised."
Tina examined Smoker, her boot hovering over the black bindings. "But if you insist..."
With a flick of her foot, the black rings dissolved.
"Devil Fruit user?"
Klah rose, wary now. He'd barely reacted—this woman's speed was terrifying. No wonder she was a Navy Commander.
He'd once taken pride in mastering mid-air steps, but now? Now he realized how far he had to go...
"Zangao..."
Klah ignored Tina, fixing his gaze on the trembling figure below. "Didn't expect you to join the Navy, huh?"
"You joined too, Captain!" Zangao shouted.
"Silence!"
Klah's temple throbbed. He shot Kuro a resentful glare.
This Navy gig? He wanted no part of it.
He'd believed Kuro's promise of peace.
What a joke.
Taking the fall for others, being used as a tool, getting hunted—it was all bearable.
But now barely aboard the ship, he'd been subdued by a fellow Marine?
If the past few years as a butler hadn't tempered his temper, these people... these people...
Klah surveyed the deck.
Lida, emotionless as he munched snacks.
Smoker, puffing his cigar.
Tina, just lighting another cigarette.
Kuro, casually swiping another smoke from Smoker.
"...Impressive! So impressive!"
Klah's foot stamped, his suitcase clattering to the ground as he vanished.
Reappearing behind Zangao, his cat claws "Ten Blades" crossed at the man's neck. "I've missed you dearly, Zangao... my former subordinate."
"Shi-Captain..."
Zangao swallowed hard. "Let's talk this through, please!"
"Shaving?"
Tina's eyes widened. "Tina's surprised."
"Stay away from my best friend!" Fenbodi lunged, fists swinging. "Feel the might of 'Iron Fist' Fenbodi!"
"Iron Fist?"
Lida paused mid-bite, instinctively glancing over—then sighed in disappointment.
What colossal ego earns that title? Such names aren't taken lightly.
"Your subordinate has quite the reputation", Smoker remarked. "Didn't he used to be a Lieutenant?"
Fenbodi, also from Marine Headquarters, was familiar to Smoker.
"To pardon Zangao, he was demoted. But he's strong—working with Zangao, they've become capable subordinates. Now they just need merits."
Tina eyed Kuro. "But compared to your subordinates... Tina's disappointed."
Bang!
Her words barely finished, Zangao and Fenbodi crashed down together.
Combined, they still couldn't match Klah.
Even without his former self's strength, Klah had mastered "Shaving" and developed Moonstep independently.
Their scuffle was mere child's play. No one took it seriously—Klah was Navy now, even enlisted under the Branch.
"Branch?!"
On the ship, Zangao gaped at Klah, then laughed boastfully. "Captain, no—Klah! I'm now a Headquarters recruit! Headquarters! At the Four Seas Branch, I'd be a corporal!"
Then he was punched.
"How's Tashigi? Still unstable?" Tina asked Smoker.
Smoker exhaled smoke silently. "She's a woman of integrity. Leave her be—she'll adjust. Though some could learn from her principles... unlike certain people. Hey Kuro, you were there—why didn't you stop Klah Crocodile? Letting a pirate defeat him!"
Tina turned, surprised. Smoker claimed he was strong, but stopping Klah Crocodile?
"I lack that ability", Kuro shrugged. "Besides, pirates fighting pirates—nothing unusual."
"You..."
Smoker ground his teeth. A slash wound on Klah Crocodile's body had weakened him. Smoker suspected Kuro, but the man refused to admit it.
And knowing his stubborn nature... he never would.
(End of Chapter)
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