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Chapter 432: Old Woman
Chapter 432: Old Woman
Two days later.
The residential district of Area 70 and the Navy station in Area 60 had both been purged without exception.
Except for Area 10, Area 20, and the 0 Area—legendary territory no one dared enter—the rest of the Shabondy Archipelago had been completely cleared of threats over these two days.
As for the corpses...
Kuro didn’t care. By his standards, everyone killed had deserved it.
Perhaps one out of ten executed might not have warranted death, but they’d still been close. None could be called truly innocent.
After all, even those he’d spared weren’t innocent by strict definition—just not guilty of major crimes.
Amidst so much bloodshed, the survivors would surely remember this for life. As for causing trouble again...
Judging from the emotions Kuro had sensed through his Observation Haki recently, these people probably wouldn’t dare. Some had even been so terrified their personalities changed entirely, leaving them meek and submissive.
Next on the agenda were Areas 10 and 20. As for the final 0 Area, Kuro planned to deal with it last. That would be a major operation—Kuro had sensed many people hiding there.
The 0th Area connected to other regions through multiple passages. If they split their forces, it would become chaotic. If even one person escaped, he’d have to hunt them down later—a hassle he wanted to avoid. Better to resolve everything at once.
Besides, not everyone there was wicked.
13th GR.
“Hey, Kuro, why are we here?” Lida tugged at his coat, curiosity in her voice.
Everyone else had already begun purging Areas 10 and 20. To minimize Navy casualties, Kuro had deployed all his subordinates except Lida, who was too lazy to move.
Yet he hadn’t stayed in the tourist or park areas either. Instead, he’d come here personally, wandering into this district and stopping outside a bar.
Lida stared at the signboard, reading slowly: “Shaki’s Ransom Bar? There’s a bar with such a name? Does the owner here charge exorbitant prices?”
“Who knows? Let’s go in and see.”
Kuro narrowed his eyes. He vaguely remembered this bar...
Stepping forward, he pushed open the door. A crisp bell chimed as a soft female voice greeted them:
“Sorry, we’re temporarily closed. The Navy’s conducting inspections—”
A young woman with short black hair, a cigarette tucked behind her ear, and a spider-patterned shirt stood behind the bar. She’d barely spoken the first sentence when her eyes landed on Kuro’s uniform.
“Oh my, a rare guest—Navy,” she said, surprised. “We don’t have any suspicious individuals here. Just me.”
“Is that so? No suspicious individuals?”
Kuro glanced around the bar’s interior, then shrugged and sat at the counter. “A cocktail, and for her—milk.” He pointed at Lida.
“Hey, Kuro! I’m already an adult!” Lida snapped.
“Don’t be childish.”
Kuro reached to pat her head, but she swatted his hand away. Climbing onto the stool beside him, she slammed the counter. “Hey, bar owner! I want a drink too!”
“Oh my... Such a young Navy officer?” The woman glanced at Lida’s navy-hooded cloak, smiling gently. “Better listen to your senior officer and stick to milk, sweetheart.”
Without waiting for Lida’s reaction, she turned to prepare their orders.
“You—!” Lida started to glare but froze mid-sentence. Her eyes widened as she studied the woman’s silhouette—her delicate backline, her cigarette-smoke curls. Blinking rapidly, she looked confused.
“What’s wrong?” Kuro asked.
“She’s...” Lida pointed at the woman. “Her life aura feels oddly ancient, but she doesn’t look like it. It’s nowhere near as strong as my senses suggest.”
“Oh my, age is a woman’s secret, you know. Just like yours, little girl.”
The woman turned, placing a cocktail and a milk bottle before them. “I’m Shaki, the bar owner. A law-abiding businesswoman. Surely the Navy isn’t here to harass me, Commander Lucius Kro?”
She looked at Kuro. “Your reputation’s been spreading like wildfire lately.”
“Is that so? I’d say it’s mostly exaggerated. Men like Lucius Kro—any stray cat or dog could take them down if they got lucky. There are too many old men like that in the Grand Line. For all we know, there might be one hiding in your bar right now.”
Kuro’s tone carried hidden meaning.
“My bar does have an old man,” Shaki replied. “But he’s a peaceful soul at heart. He’s traveling right now. When he returns and sees how you’ve brought peace to Shabondy, he might behave even better.”
“Let’s hope so. Tell that old man not to cause trouble.” Kuro fixed her with a stare.
“I’ll pass along the message.”
Shaki took a drag of her cigarette. “Well, finish your drinks and leave. I don’t welcome Navy officers here. A shop owner should at least have the right to refuse customers, shouldn’t they?”
“I don’t plan to linger. Just deliver the message. But...” Kuro sipped his cocktail, setting the glass down. “You, old woman. I’ve heard you deal in intelligence.”
“Oh? Is there intelligence even the Navy can’t obtain? How intriguing.”
Leaning on the counter, Shaki’s shirt gaped slightly at the chest. “What intelligence do you seek? If Navy officers promise to ignore my bar in the future, I might share it for free.”
Kuro wasn’t the least bit interested in her offer.
Come on—she was likely sixty if she was a day. What appeal could she have?
“I’ve just arrived here,” Kuro said. “Tell me about the 0th Area.”
“That place...” Shaki straightened, studying him. “No one’s ever dared to target it. It’s too deep. Purging it entirely would be a nightmare. Do you really have the resolve?”
“Hey, just answer him!” Lida snapped.
“Oh please, today’s girls have such bad tempers. Careful you don’t end up unwed.” Shaki sighed dramatically.
“Whether I get married is none of your business! Right, Kuro?” Lida glared at him.
“Huh?”
Kuro blinked. How had this turned into his problem?
Before he could respond, Shaki continued: “But now’s your chance, Commander Lucius Kro. Because of your actions, many fugitives have fled to the 0th Area. But it’s not simple. Decades ago, it became the last refuge for criminals. Over time, it’s turned into a town. Many dangerous individuals are hiding there now. If the newcomers clash with the locals, it’ll make your job easier.”
She paused. “The intelligence I’ve received is that a former Level 6 Impel Down prisoner is surviving there. His name is Olesys Sharp. You Navy officers should know him.”
“‘Blazing Flame Bearer’ Olesys Sharp?” Lida’s eyes widened.
“You know him?” Kuro turned to her.
“Back when I was wandering the Grand Line before meeting you, I heard rumors. He was wanted for arson in Shabondy. After that, he vanished—turns out he was locked in Impel Down. So he escaped?” Lida nodded.
“Blazing Flame Bearer?”
Kuro frowned, his expression darkening.
He’d extended his Observation Haki to the 0th Area before, but hadn’t sensed any particularly strong presences. The strongest aura there didn’t even match a pirate worth 50 million.
If this man truly came from Level 6 of Impel Down, his strength should far exceed that...
What was going on?
(End of Chapter)
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