https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-351-No-One-Understands-Warriors-Better-Than-Me/13536937/
Chapter 352: Even I've Got the Build of a Strong Man!
Chapter 352: Even I've Got the Build of a Strong Man!
Donald was taken away by Klah for processing. Though he had decent combat strength, protocol had to be followed. Even as the base commander, Kuro could only start him as a Branch private first class. Gaining a promotion would take more than just strength.
"So what are you here for? Want to join the Navy too?"
After finishing with Donald's paperwork, Kuro turned his attention to Ju Geng, who had been chatting happily with Lida.
"Oh? So you want to eat that kind of food? Hmm, I'll go learn how to make it."
"Then I'll leave it to you, Ju Geng elder sister!"
The two women were deep in conversation and completely oblivious to Kuro's question.
Kuro twitched his lips. "Ju Geng?"
Lida noticed the question and turned to Ju Geng. "Ju Geng elder sister, Kuro is calling you."
Ju Geng looked stunned as she turned toward him, clearly confused.
Of course she hadn't heard him. This woman had selective hearing at best.
Kuro took a deep breath to calm his irritation before asking more gently, "What brings you here?"
"Wait! Let Lida ask!"
Before Ju Geng could answer, Kuro quickly raised his hand to stop her. This woman had a pretty face, but her ears were as useless as her tendency to twist words.
Lida repeated the question.
This time Ju Geng understood. Nodding, she answered, "Besides wanting to travel overseas, King Luo Wei of Insect Country also asked me to deliver something."
She pulled out an envelope from her robe and placed it on Kuro's desk. "This is from Luo Wei."
"For me?" Kuro frowned slightly as he picked up the envelope and started opening it. "What could that guy possibly be sending me?"
As he opened the envelope, a letter and a certified check from the World Bank fell out.
The letter had just a few words:
"Hey bastard! The Martial Arts Grand Tournament prize is yours now. Insect Country doesn't go back on its word! Also, take good care of my sister!" - From the World's Greatest unarmed combat techniques genius, Luo Wei.
Kuro raised an eyebrow and examined the check. A lot of zeros followed by an '8' at the beginning.
Eight hundred million!
"Let me see what it says."
Seeing Kuro's expression, Lida leaned in curiously.
Kuro handed her the letter. "It's from your aloof older brother. Also, looks like they finally sent the Martial Arts Grand Tournament prize money."
The three hundred million sponsored by the Luo Family plus the five hundred million from Insect Country totaled eight hundred million Beri. Originally meant for the Martial Arts Grand Tournament, it had now been given to Kuro.
"Eh?"
Lida tilted her head slightly. "Brother?"
She had no problem calling him that. Lida had always been pretty laid-back, and after spending so much time with Kuro, family matters seemed even less important.
As she had said before, she was Flo Lida, but she considered herself his sister too.
"Eight hundred million!"
Kuro wasn't short on funds these days. As a promoted base commander, everything he needed was reimbursed through public funds. Developing a hot spring resort wasn't that expensive, and even Lida could cover her own living expenses with her salary.
But eight hundred million Beri was still a massive sum.
Though he didn't need the money, who wouldn't want more?
This was twice the bounty of a Luffy!
"Eight hundred million!"
Lida had seen the check now and was practically bouncing with excitement. "With that much money, I can eat whatever I want! Get the most premium ingredients and the tastiest treats! I could even buy lots of pretty things!"
"It's all yours", Kuro said with a smile as he ruffled Lida's hair. "Though I'll set aside part of it for investment in Pegasus Town. If we relied only on taxes from the residents, we'd be stuck for ages."
He had become just like Mongar from Base 153. The taxes from Pegasus Island, his Navy base, essentially became his own funds.
The World Government had completely relaxed control over Navy base taxes, leaving them entirely under the Navy's discretion.
"Eh? You're giving it to me? That's so nice!" Lida looked surprised. She had assumed Kuro would take it himself, but she didn't mind either way. Kuro would never mistreat her.
"The money your brother gave you belongs to you. What do I need with so much? Enough is enough."
His food and drinks were covered by the Navy. As for weapons, he quickly retired Navy-issued ones to his Heavenly Treasure Vault. With his rank, any request he made was instantly approved.
Most of his living expenses were Navy-funded. His own money was mostly spent on the town - meals and a few new outfits for himself, and the occasional accessory for Lida.
Gold? That wasn't worth much.
He wasn't some broke pirate.
"As for you", Kuro turned to Ju Geng, "what kind of experience are you looking for? Do you want to face stormy seas? Travel the Grand Line? Or perhaps something more stable?"
Lida repeated the question since this woman could barely hear adults, let alone men.
Ju Geng thought for a moment. "I want to cook many different cuisines. I'm not really interested in Grand Line adventures. If I could have a more stable cooking job with occasional chances to see new things, that would be perfect."
"Then join the Navy. Your cooking is really good, and I quite enjoy it. I'll make sure to find you a proper position."
Lida translated again.
Ju Geng considered for a moment before nodding. "That's acceptable. Please take care of me from now on." She gave Kuro a polite bow.
"Lida, show her around town", Kuro said.
"Got it!"
Lida raised her hand enthusiastically. "Ju Geng elder sister, I'll show you around town. We can buy some ingredients too. Today I really want to eat your cooking."
Ju Geng smiled. "Sure thing! I met some good spice merchants on the merchant ship I came on. I wanted to buy some of their seasonings anyway."
They walked out together, but suddenly Lida turned back.
She studied Kuro's face carefully, leaving him puzzled, before finally leaving.
"Ju Geng elder sister, let's also buy some new clothes. I think Kuro has gotten taller recently."
Arm in arm, they exited the Marine Base.
With the two women gone, Kuro slumped back into his chair, propped his feet on the table, and lit a cigar, smoking slowly.
"Tch, my clothes are getting tight again. Have I really been growing taller lately?"
His legs felt the tightness in his pants, not from weight gain but simple vertical growth.
This wasn't the first time this had happened.
Lately, Kuro had gone through many new outfits. His old clothes had all become too small.
Now, he must be about two meters and forty-five centimeters tall, and he still seemed to be growing.
"Heh! Even I've got the build of a strong man."
Kuro chuckled, exhaling a satisfied stream of smoke.
In this world, being just one and a half meters tall looked decent, but compared to the generally two-to-three-meter tall denizens, it lacked something.
Though the phrase "strong men" had some ominous connotations in this world, Kuro could live with just being tall.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
