Chapter 384: Who Wouldn't Want to Become a Kamen Rider?
Chapter 384: Who Wouldn't Want to Become a Kamen Rider?
Lucius Kro staggered, lifting his head to see three figures floating in the sky.
One wore a black dress uniform, bouncing around while adjusting his glasses as if stepping on invisible platforms.
A young girl sat cross-legged on a floating stone platform, munching potato chips with obvious amusement.
The leader, with jet-black hair and icy eyes beneath sharp brows, cut a striking figure despite his cold demeanor.
Their hooded cloaks billowed dramatically in the wind.
"Navy?"
Lucius Kro narrowed his eyes.
"Is it the Vinsmoke Family?" Kuro asked, glancing at the man.
"Hey! What's the Navy doing here? This is our private matter - you Navy dogs have no authority!" Yūji shouted, clenching his cylinder canister.
"Again?"
Kuro tilted his head, smirking. "So you know what happened to those missing Navy officers."
"None of your damn business! Get lost, Navy!" Yūji roared, raising his weapon. "If you don't leave now, I'll kill you!"
"Oh~ How scary", Kuro drawled, leaning back. "So you really are the Vinsmoke Family."
"Shut up, Yūji!" A pink-haired woman suddenly snapped, rising to bow respectfully toward the sky. "Forgive my foolish brother's temper. We've had no contact with any Navy officers - perhaps you should investigate elsewhere while we're in the middle of war."
"Rēji, what are you doing?!" Yūji exclaimed.
"Lucius Kro", the man finally spoke, his voice calm. "What brings you from your West Blue to North Blue?"
As a warlike family, they'd all witnessed the Summit War a year ago. Lucius Kro's standout performance hadn't gone unnoticed - the young noble who'd been studied extensively since his school days, now considered equal to famous Vice Admirals.
Damn it! Why does this keep happening?!
Kuro winced internally. After nearly a year of hiding, his identity was still recognized.
"I didn't want to come either", Kuro scratched his head, looking down at them. "But someone disappeared here - Gramps asked me to check. How about this: tell me what happened to them, I'll report back, and you can keep playing your Four Nations War."
"I don't know."
Vinsmoke Judge shook his head. "Why would I know about such matters?"
"Oh? But your son just said 'again' - you did encounter them, didn't you? Just a simple question", Kuro grinned. "It won't kill you to answer."
"I said I don't know! Investigate it yourself!" Gajeel snapped, waving dismissively. "If you keep bothering me, I'll file a complaint with the World Government."
Kuro blinked in surprise. Since when did the World Government listen to pirates? This guy must have serious influence over global policies and bounty decisions - far more reliable than that useless Insect Country.
"If that's how it is..." Kuro pulled out a cigar, lighting it with deliberate slowness. "I'd be really troubled if you didn't share some information."
As smoke curled from his lips, the silver-lit sky suddenly darkened. A massive shadow blotted out the moonlight.
Whoosh!
Everyone looked up as a colossal rock hurtled down.
"A meteor!"
"Run for it!"
The soldiers from all four nations froze in terror as the battlefield emptied in seconds.
Boom!!!
The rock slammed into the ground like a mountain, sending shockwaves that split the battlefield in two.
"See? Even the heavens pity my troubles", Kuro said lightly, exhaling smoke. "If you won't talk, more of these might fall."
"You bastard!" Gajeel growled.
While Gajeel fumed, the others remained expressionless - emotionless beings who'd never known fear.
"This is annoying!" Yūji snarled, crushing his canister. Smoke erupted, revealing a green-clad figure in tight-fitting combat gear with gloves, armored boots, and a black hooded cloak bearing the number '4'.
"Transform!"
Lida's potato chip crunching paused mid-bite. "He transformed! Look, Kuro!"
I'm not blind, Kuro thought, rolling his eyes.
Klah adjusted his glasses excitedly. "I know! It's 'Winch Green' from Germa 66's wicked legion! Hero Sora fights him all the time - he can compress air into pressure attacks!"
Why do you know this so well?! Kuro shot him a glare.
But he understood. Who wouldn't want to become a Kamen Rider?
"Hey", Kuro called out, studying Yūji's new form. "How much for one of those battle suits? I'd prefer armor over the spandex, if you catch my drift."
"Winch Jet!"
Yūji lunged, air blasts erupting from his wrists in concentrated beams.
"Join those missing Navy officers!" he roared.
Kuro's eyebrow lifted. "Calm Step!"
Klah's rapid kicks slashed through the air beams, creating shockwaves that rippled across the battlefield. Landing gracefully, he pushed up his glasses. "Fighting wicked legions makes me a hero too - just like Sora!"
"You're not real!" Yūji spat. "Sora doesn't exist!"
The others remained silent, but Gajeel and Rēji exchanged uneasy glances.
"Explain", Kuro demanded. "What happened to those Navy officers? As a World Government member state, you owe me an explanation. I'd hate to fight you when you're this strong."
"Yūji, you idiot", Gajeel sighed, pulling out his own cylinder canister. "When will you learn to control that temper? Still, you're my proudest creation - minor flaws don't matter." He stood straighter. "Destroy him."
(End of Chapter)
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