https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-344-I-Thought-of-Something-Happy/13536919/
Chapter 345: Second Stage
Chapter 345: Second Stage
Another day passed before they finally returned to Pegasus Island.
With the Pirate Alliance gone, the island’s situation had improved dramatically. Only days had passed since their last visit, yet the civilians had already regained their spirits, bustling through the streets with renewed energy.
Buildings were being repaired, shops reopened, and the town pulsed with life. Though only a single town remained inhabited on the island, time would attract new settlers. In decades, Pegasus Island would flourish into a thriving metropolis.
The warship docked at the port as Kuro and his companions disembarked. Residents spotted them and greeted with waving hands and bright smiles.
“It’s Commander Kuro! He’s back!”
“And Major Klah! Hello, Major Klah! Back from your mission?”
“Hey, Major Lida! Want some fresh roasted sweet potatoes?”
“Hell yeah!”
Lida’s eyes lit up. In an instant, he dashed to the stall, where a grinning auntie shoved a steaming roasted sweet potato into his hands.
Klah smiled warmly, exchanging nods and waves with the crowd.
Yes, this was it. This was peace.
No endless battles—just harmonious daily life. This was Klah’s ultimate goal.
Being a Marine wasn’t so bad.
He’d once worried about Kuro’s methods. But if this tranquility could last, they’d all live comfortably here.
How wonderful!
The group strolled through the town, reaching the central Marine Base. The usual sounds of training were absent. Only dozens of Marines stood stationed inside.
“Commander Kuro!”
The highest-ranking officer present, an Ensign, hurriedly saluted upon Kuro’s return.
“Where’s Kas?”
Seeing only a handful of soldiers, Kuro’s brow twitched with concern.
“A distress call came from the Twin-Horse Kingdom days ago. Lieutenant Kas departed to deal with pirates,” the Ensign replied.
“Just pirates?”
Kuro exhaled in relief. The West Blue held no formidable pirates. Even capturing one wouldn’t grant a promotion. There weren’t enough high-profile pirates for Kas to chase anyway.
If some over-100-million-Belly pirate appeared, Kas was skilled but not reckless. He wouldn’t target them directly. Even the Marines would flee from such a threat. Not every pirate confrontation ended in a fight.
Shaking his head, Kuro strode into the base.
Back on Pegasus Island, freedom resumed.
Lida, now idle, wandered the streets. Klah, still savoring the warm welcome from residents, circled the town again.
Kuro returned to his office atop the base. Leaning back in his chair, cigar clenched between his teeth, he gazed out the window with contented ease.
“Now’s the time for a 1482 Marine Calendar vintage wine and a slab of Wano Country beef. Wait—Wano hasn’t exported beef in ages. That idiot Kaido’s too busy hoarding his weapons to capitalize on his own damn specialties.”
Muttering curses, he summoned a Marine to relay orders to the chef.
Returning home meant indulging.
This comfort-loving faction of his joined the Marines for one reason: taxpayer-funded feasts, a cozy life, and a dash of petty authority.
In this Grand Age of Piracy, beauties remained beauties, champagne and fine dining unchanged, while luxury cars merely swapped for warships.
Fenbodi truly lived the dream back then.
Comparing him to his own life…
What a miserable failure!
“Finally clawed my way out of this mess,” Kuro exhaled a puff of smoke, musing happily.
A knock echoed. A Marine entered, reporting, “Mayor Jaguar has arrived with the hot spring excavation team.”
“Hot springs?”
Kuro recalled the prior plan and nodded. “Let him in.”
Soon, Jaguar entered, accompanied by a towering man.
“Commander Kuro, meet the renowned hot spring excavator—the legendary hot spring innkeeper of the Grand Line, Nirvana!”
Jaguar grinned.
“Appreciate the effort, Mayor Jaguar.”
Kuro nodded, studying the tall man. His dark skin contrasted with his purple robes. Lips pressed together, eyes rolling skyward, arms crossed in stern silence. His hair spiked like spider legs, and white wings resembling chicken wings jutted from his back.
“A Skypiea native?” Kuro blinked, recognizing the figure.
Nirvana remained motionless, no response.
“You know Enel?” Kuro pressed.
No reply.
“Mute?” Kuro’s face twisted. “You brought a mute?”
“No, no!”
Jaguar smacked Nirvana’s back, urging, “Officer Nirvana! Commander Kuro’s speaking to you!”
Stirring at last, Nirvana shifted, still rolling his eyes but quirking his expression faintly.
“I… spoke already.”
“???!”
When?! Am I deaf?!
Kuro frowned, then snapped his fingers. “Oh! It’s you!”
He remembered now—the eccentric fool was one of Enel’s Four Divine Envoys. Always forgetting his tasks mid-rant, yet somehow completing them regardless.
His presence here meant Enel truly vanished, chasing infinite lands on the Moon.
“Alright, Mayor Jaguar, take him to survey the island. Let him start excavating,” Kuro dismissed, losing interest.
Arguing with an idiot risked catching the madness.
“Commander Kuro, my name’s Jaguar.”
“Got it, Mayor Jaguar. Take him away, Mayor Jaguar,” Kuro waved them off.
“Enel… What a waste. That Devil Fruit… If I’d known we had Lida, the King of Fortune, I’d have visited Skypiea during my Headquarters days,” Kuro sighed.
The Float-Float Fruit was decent, but Logia-type powers were irresistible. The Goro Goro Fruit, a top-tier Logia, had even Kuro drooling.
Sure, Lida’s “King of Fortune” trait wasn’t foolproof—Kuro had recently checked Lida’s shoulder bag for risks, finding no Devil Fruits. But 80% of his past “digs” yielded treasures.
Had he rushed to Skypiea then, maybe he’d have slain Enel and claimed it.
“Bah, no use dwelling on it. Better focus on developing Float-Float. Now…”
Kuro clenched his fist, staring at the sky.
“It’s like I don’t need to expend physical strength anymore.”
Beyond the initial activation cost, sustaining his floating constructs now required no effort.
He’d reached the second stage of his ability—Shanks’ former realm.
(End of Chapter)
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