Chapter 426: Tsk, World Noble
Chapter 426 – Tsk, World Noble
"Hey, you over there, Navy! Grab that red-haired girl—she’ll be my new slave!"
Charloss barked the order as soon as he spotted the Navy.
Kuro extended his hand, reaching toward the Shanks girl.
Predictably, the Navy didn’t resist. No one dared defy a World Noble.
The young girl’s face twisted in despair, her eyes instinctively squeezing shut.
If she’d been contemplating death moments ago, that impulse was now shattered. The thought of suicide vanished as quickly as it had come.
Once proud of her fiery crimson hair, she now felt only despair and regret.
The hand clamped around her wrists sealed her resignation.
Was she about to be dragged before that World Noble?
Would Father and Mother come save me if they heard the news?
No… better they don’t come. They’d only die.
The grip yanked her upright. When she opened her eyes, the spark in them had dimmed.
Plop.
A warm sensation spread across her scalp.
Kuro ruffled her hair, saying gently, "Run along now. If you don’t hurry home for dinner, your parents will worry."
At his words, the ashen emptiness in the girl’s eyes flickered with life.
She stared at Kuro, her lips trembling before finally whispering, "Eh?"
"Eh? What ‘eh’? Go home! Can’t you understand simple orders, girl?"
Kuro released her head with an impatient wave, stepping aside to clear her path.
At his gesture, the ranks of Navy behind him parted, creating a corridor.
"I… I can go?" she asked reflexively.
"Huh?" He arched a brow. "If you’re not leaving, what’re you waiting around for? Get lost already!"
With a grunt of impatience, he shoved her backward, propelling her forward.
The girl bolted down the path the Navy had cleared. Her eyes, once lifeless, now blazed with renewed brightness. Sprinting, she suddenly halted, turned, and bowed deeply. "My name’s Elza! Thank you, Navy big brother!"
Without another word, she vanished into the distance.
A faint smile tugged at Kuro’s lips. He turned to the kneeling crowd. "What’re you lot kneeling for? The Navy’s here to root out suspicious elements in Shabondy. Everyone, return home and wait for us to inspect your residences! Now—scram!"
As he spoke, he let slip a thread of Killing Intent.
The kneeling civilians paled, instinctively scrambling to their feet and fleeing.
Once the first ran, the rest followed.
Soon, the park’s pathways were emptied of all who’d knelt there.
"Navy!!"
Charloss roared, "What the hell are you doing?! I told you to get me a slave, you bastard!"
Kuro finally turned to face Charloss, casually digging his pinky into his ear. "Huh? Did you say something? Sorry, I didn’t catch that."
"Quickly! Grab that red-haired girl, you lowly, stupid Navy!" Charloss bellowed, jabbing his golden spear at Kuro.
At those words—
Lida’s expression darkened. Klah adjusted their glasses, a glint of cold steel flashing across the lenses.
The Navy ranks behind them stiffened.
They were Headquarters Navy—men who’d heard of Kuro’s deeds. They knew he’d slain Lucius, only to be demoted to Shabondy by the World Government’s decree, reduced to a mere Vice Admiral.
Their resentment toward this World Noble had already simmered. Now, this insult?
Kuro, chewing lazily on his cigar, strode toward Charloss.
At his movement, the Navy behind him surged forward in unison, spines straight, steps synchronized, the ground trembling beneath their march.
The sudden display of might made Charloss shudder.
What was the Navy doing?
The white-uniformed ranks advanced. Charloss’s guards instinctively stepped forward. The black-clad aide beside him barked, "What do you think you’re doing? Navy!"
"What ‘what’?" Kuro halted before the soldiers, glancing at Charloss. "I couldn’t hear the World Noble clearly. Should I stand closer to listen? The Navy answers directly to the World Government. Are you implying I’m your enemy? Are you calling me—Lucius Kro, Navy Vice Admiral, direct subordinate of Admiral Lucius Kro, current commander of Shabondy Marine Base and joint commander of Marineford—your enemy?"
"Lucius Kro?!"
The aide blinked, eyes widening. "The Lucius Kro who defeated Lucius?"
Charloss hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, yes! Now hurry and get my slave!"
"Patience, World Noble. What’s your name again?"
"This is Charloss Holy!" the aide snapped.
"Ah, Scum Survivor", Kuro said with a nod.
"Charloss Holy! Where’d you learn that ridiculous accent?" the aide growled.
"Details, details. I’ve got speech quirks—don’t mind. Point is, Shabondy’s in rough shape lately. Pirates, black gangs, thugs everywhere. You’d be safer returning to Mariejois. Let me clean things up first. I heard a World Noble got roughed up by pirates last year."
Charloss’s face contorted. "That was me, Navy! That damned pirate—"
"Ah, so it was you! No wonder you’re so pale", Kuro said, then quickly added, "Not that I mean anything by it. Point is, Scum Survivor, you’d better leave. Pirates like that are crawling all over Shabondy now."
He exaggerated, "If you stay, and we’re not around? Your fate might make last year look merciful!"
"T-there are that many pirates?!" Charloss stammered.
"Loads! Super loads! I just fought seven—no idea where they ran off to."
Charloss nodded, patting the massive slave beneath him. "Come on, useless thing! We’re leaving!"
The slave stirred, lifting its head to gaze at Kuro.
The deadened eyes flickered.
"Move, you worthless beast!" Charloss snarled.
Hiss!
A wisp of Black Radiance sliced through the soldiers. Before anyone reacted, the slave’s head severed, blood spraying.
"Yaaah!!"
Charloss recoiled. "What happened?! Why’s its head gone?!"
"You!" The aide’s face turned to stone. He hadn’t seen the strike, but he knew—only this Navy could’ve done it.
"What’s wrong? The noble here hates his slave. I did him a favor", Kuro said, turning to his men. "Right, Navy?"
"Vice Admiral Kuro did right!" the Navy roared in unison.
The sheer volume sent ripples through the air, making the aide’s hair flutter.
"See? Everyone agrees. Your master’s lost his mount. Won’t you carry him? Or do you want him to sully his feet on this filthy ground?"
"You—"
Gritting his teeth, the aide knelt before Charloss. "Charloss Holy, please mount my humble back."
"Fine."
Charloss stepped onto the slave’s corpse, then onto the aide’s back. "Hurry—back to Mariejois!"
"Yes!"
The aide fled, Charloss clinging to him. The armored soldiers followed, vanishing into the distance.
Kuro watched them go, a contemptuous smirk playing on his lips.
"Tsk… World Noble."
(End of Chapter)
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