https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-410-If-Not-Navy-Should-I-Become-a-Farmer-/13537394/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-412-Marineford-is-Also-Entrusted-to-You/13537408/
Chapter 411: Headquarters Will Provide Compensation
Chapter 411: Headquarters Will Provide Compensation
"Why do you have to become an Admiral? You don’t need to accept a promotion, right? Didn’t that old man Garp do exactly that?"
Seeing Kuro slumped like a beached fish, Lida asked in confusion.
"You think I’ve got Garp’s kind of achievements?!" Kuro snapped. "Of course I’ve thought about it! If I’d taken down Rocks like Garp did, I’d refuse the promotion too!"
Garp could afford to reject promotions because of his immense contributions to the World Government. That old man had both the strength and the track record to do as he pleased. Even then, his defiance had limits within the Navy.
Kuro had considered refusing the promotion himself, but after weighing it all, he knew—he wasn’t Garp. Without comparable feats, he couldn’t afford to be defiant. Not unless he took down all Four Emperors single-handedly.
But that was even harder than becoming an Admiral.
"Whatever, just leave me alone. I need some peace." Kuro waved a hand dismissively, slumping back into his chair.
"Peace? Who’s 'Peace'?" Lida perked up, confused.
"…Never mind."
"Mr. Kuro."
Suddenly, the door burst open as Klah strode in. "Headquarters has issued new orders."
"Refused!" Kuro immediately shook his head, firm as a rock. "Tell them I’m still recovering from my fight with Lucius. I won’t be fit for duty for another decade!"
"This order from Headquarters…" Klah hesitated.
"It’s us!"
Two heads popped through the doorway.
Garp’s head was lower, grinning like a fool while crunching on a rice cracker. Sengoku’s head loomed above, his beard and mustache snow-white, flashing a pair of comically exaggerated peace signs.
Thud!
Kuro tumbled off his chair.
"Mr. Sengoku?! Mr. Garp?!"
Scrambling up, he glared, teeth gritted. "What are you two doing here?!"
"Didn’t the old man say he’d come visit?" Sengoku strode in, jabbing a finger at Kuro with a laugh. "Where’s this ‘residual injury’ you’re hiding? You look perfectly fine to me!"
"Of course I’m here!" Garp barged in too, roaring with laughter. "And this time, we’re playing for keeps!"
"And we brought Headquarters’ orders with us", Sengoku added.
"Which means you, Kuro", Garp chimed in.
The two old men tag-teamed the announcement, then declared in unison: "Effective immediately—you’re promoted to Vice Admiral!"
"I’m not—"
Kuro instinctively protested, but froze mid-sentence.
"Vice Admiral?" He stared at the pair.
"Stay calm, Kuro", Sengoku said, settling onto the couch. "The World Government considered it carefully. Sakazuki fought for your promotion to Admiral, but the vote failed."
"Ah, well… no hard feelings", Kuro said, suddenly composed. "Promotions depend on historical currents, right? Vice Admiral’s great too."
Compared to his worst-case scenario—being shoved straight into Admiral—this was practically a miracle. Even a slightly worse outcome wasn’t so bad now.
Wait…
Did I just fall for the broken window effect?
"Good to see you understand", Sengoku nodded, sighing. "Headquarters owes you this one."
"No, no, really—this is perfect!" Kuro waved his hands. "More than enough!"
Sengoku shook his head, smiling faintly. "That’s why you’re one of the Navy’s finest, Kuro."
"Being an Admiral’s no fun anyway", Garp chuckled. "Too much freedom lost!"
"Only you think that, Garp", Sengoku shot him a glare before continuing. "Your posting’s changed too. The World Government thinks West Blue’s not a good fit anymore. Sakazuki’s moving Headquarters—G-1 and Marineford are swapping bases, so…"
"Wait, Mr. Sengoku—I’m only a Vice Admiral now, right?" Kuro interjected. "You’re not sending me to Marineford, are you? That’s a stretch."
Marineford’s swap with G-1 meant it was no longer the Grand Line’s most dangerous zone—just a magnet for reckless pirates itching to test the Navy’s strength. Stationed there, Kuro would be buried in work.
"Definitely not Marineford", Garp laughed. "Though you’ve got the strength, you’re still too green for that post. Heheh."
Phew…
"Not so fast", Sengoku cut in. "You’re going to Shabondy."
Kuro’s eyes widened. "Shabondy? The Grand Line? But I was only promoted to Vice Admiral—"
"Think we’d send a Vice Admiral to the Grand Line? Don’t be absurd", Sengoku said. "The Four Seas Branches never station anyone above Vice Admiral there."
Kuro knew that already. But still…
"Mr. Sengoku, I’ve invested a lot here! What if Pegasus Island falls into chaos after I leave?"
"Those heavy artillery batteries on the shore keep it stable", Garp grinned. "No pirate’s dumb enough to sneak-attack now."
Kuro had fortified the port with firepower that had already destroyed several reckless pirate ships a year ago. He barely needed to lift a finger anymore.
"Pegasus Island’s reputation’s solid now", Sengoku added. "You’d just stagnate here. Let your subordinates handle it—they’ve earned their stripes."
"Orders are orders", Sengoku concluded. "Your job’s to follow them."
Kuro twitched his lips.
Try saying that into a Transponder Snail. See if I answer.
"You two came here knowing I’d refuse, didn’t you?"
"Can’t skip it", Sengoku said flatly.
"Fine. Leave me alone for a bit", Kuro muttered, waving them off. "Go play hot springs or something."
"Let’s hit the hot springs, Sengoku!" Garp whooped. "I’ll steam for an hour!"
"Old man steams for two hours!" Sengoku shot back.
"Three!"
"Four!"
The two old men bickered their way out.
"Damn nuisance…"
Once they left, Kuro lit a cigar, gazing into the distance. "Shabondy, huh…"
…
"Kuro’s still got some bitterness", Sengoku said once they’d left the base, his smile fading.
"Who wouldn’t?" Garp chuckled. "Headquarters only cares about optics, not the men on the ground."
"Zeff’s…" Sengoku sighed, looking to the sky. "I’d hoped the World Government would rein in after that incident. Since we can’t make him Admiral, let’s at least compensate Kuro elsewhere. We can still name him a candidate for Admiral—Headquarters has that authority."
"Fair point", Garp nodded. "That brat’s strong enough for it."
(End of Chapter)
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