Chapter 433: Navy Fools?
Chapter 433: Navy Fools?
Kuro had immense confidence in his Observation Haki. It was his livelihood, the tool he'd relied on since his East Blue days to gauge threats. Back then, there hadn't been many opponents capable of endangering him.
But in the Grand Line, his Haki had detected danger more than once—though sometimes, he'd simply been unable to avoid it. The only exception had been the Lion Ape on Pegasus Island, whose strength he'd failed to perceive through Haki at all.
Could this so-called "Blazing Flame Bearer" possess a similar ability?
"Bururu bururu bururu!"
The Transponder Snail on Kuro's wrist suddenly rang. He flipped open the lid, and Klah's voice boomed out.
"Mr. Kuro, the purges in the 10th and 20th Areas are nearly complete. A large group of criminals has entered the 0th Area. Shall we launch the final assault now?"
"Oh? They're faster than I expected", Kuro mused, nodding. "Wait for me to arrive first. Then have all Navy forces stationed at the 0th Area's entry points launch a coordinated attack. We're cleaning out the 0th Area today."
"Understood!"
After Klah's confirmation, Kuro hung up, drained his drink, and stood to face Shaki.
"When your old man comes back, tell him to retire peacefully. Let him enjoy his twilight years and save up some coffin money. If he keeps stirring trouble, he won't be staying in Shabondy anymore."
"I'll be sure to deliver that message", Shaki smiled.
Kuro pushed open the bar door with a wave of his hand and stepped outside.
Shaki maintained her smile as she watched him leave, then picked up two empty glasses from the counter to wash. As she worked, her hands suddenly trembled, and a glass slipped from her grip, shattering on the floor with a sharp 'crack.'
She stared at the fragments, crouching to gather them one by one while murmuring bitterly, "I wonder if he's more like a lion or a dragon? That young Navy officer is terrifying. Little Monkey, will you really manage to set sail from here someday?"
"You seem awfully familiar with that woman", Lida remarked, her tone sharp as she walked beside Kuro.
"Shaki? She's an old pirate who retired forty years ago. She's just a normal citizen now. But her husband and I have... history. You've met him before."
Kuro chewed on his cigar. "Last year in Shabondy, he nearly cleaved me in two with his sword."
"Pluton?!" Lida's eyes widened. "That's Pluton's wife? Forty years ago?"
She glanced back at the bar door. "She doesn't look a day over thirty. I'm jealous."
"Jealous? Don't make me laugh. I remember you stopped aging at sixteen thanks to your Devil Fruit ability. You could make a whole army of women green with envy", Kuro chuckled.
"That's different", Lida's eyes narrowed. "Anyway, don't interact with her again. I dislike her."
She's Silvers Rayleigh's wife, after all. No matter her age, a married woman is off-limits!
Kuro shrugged. "Fine, fine. You're the boss. Why would I bother with that old hag anyway? She's pushing sixty!"
Auntie this, Auntie that, Auntie's pockets full of cash?
From 13GR, the pair quickly reached the 10th Area's entrance to the 0th Area. This region had no GR divisions—the World Government had never thoroughly explored it due to its depth.
At the bridge's entrance, Klah already waited with a group of Navy officers.
"Mr. Kuro, there's a situation", Klah reported urgently. "A group just entered the 0th Area from the 20th Area side."
"What?" Kuro frowned. "Didn't I order everyone to stay put? What happened?"
"It's that World Noble Charloss. Commander Massey escorted him and a group through the 20th Area. Our men there didn't dare stop them."
Klah adjusted his glasses. "I just received this report."
Kuro's expression darkened. "Who? That Scum Survivor? I thought he returned to Mariejois!"
"We don't know for sure", Klah replied. "According to reports, Charloss was accompanied by a man who appears to be the former owner of an auction house. They mentioned something about slaves before entering together."
Kuro rubbed his temples. "Forget it. Proceed with the original plan. Let that idiot learn what real danger feels like. Does he think the Navy is his father?"
"Understood!" Klah barked into his Transponder Snail. "Launch the final assault now!"
Navy forces stationed at all entry points sprang into action, sprinting forward with swords drawn and guns raised, crossing the bridge into the 0th Area.
Though the 0th Area was a primeval forest of towering Alchemilla mangroves, Kuro had sufficient manpower—three thousand Navy troops would conduct a grid search. If they failed to find anything, it wouldn't be his incompetence, but rather these Navy fools needing retraining.
Inside the 0th Area's dense jungle, treehouses clung to massive redwood trunks. Two factions faced off beneath them—bullet holes pockmarked the ground where ragged figures lay fallen. The survivors wore patched clothes, bark-made sandals, and long hair tied haphazardly with vine threads—clearly indigenous inhabitants. Shackled wrists and ankles marked them as former slaves.
Opposite them stood an unusual coalition. Foremost were pirates in colorful headscarves wielding blades and spears, flanked by rigid Navy soldiers led by the towering Commander Massey. Behind them, a World Noble rode a colossal slave, surrounded by heavily armed guards. Two black-clad men stood at the soldiers' flanks, while beside them loomed a tall, gaunt man in a fur coat, his tongue flicking out to lick his lips.
"Charloss Holy, these are the escaped slaves from seven years ago", the gaunt man sneered. "Leave them to me, and I'll prepare a grand auction. The 0th Area's natives—former resistance fighters—have been tempered by nature. Their primal essence will make exquisite slaves, perfectly suited to your tastes."
"I just want obedient ones", Charloss sniffed. "What was your name again?"
"Morro, Charloss Holy", the man bowed. "Rest assured, I'll break them to your specifications."
"Then capture them already! Unforgivable! Property mustn't escape!"
"Hey, you!" a pirate captain wearing a tricorn hat snapped at Massey. "You promised to let us leave safely after we led you here!"
Bang!
A bullet shattered the pirate's skull. Morro lowered his smoking gun, smirking. "Oops, my bad. But who allowed you to stare directly at the noble Charloss Holy? This is a World Noble we're talking about!"
The captain clenched his fists, face darkening. "Do your job. Once it's done, you'll leave safely. The Navy is just the World Government's lapdog anyway."
Morro blew smoke from his barrel, tongue flicking out to moisten his lips. "You pirates destroyed my auction house—my World Noble-appointed business. If you don't perform admirably..." He gestured to the jungle. "You'll find leaving... difficult."
"I understand", the captain growled, turning to face the natives. "Surrender now!"
"Never!" A young man with twin braids by his ears gripped a wooden rifle, teeth gritted. "I'll never let you capture us again! Officer Sharp is coming to save us! Just like seven years ago, Sharp Officer will defeat you all!"
"Sharp?" The pirate captain blinked, then grinned maliciously. "It was that old fraud who sent me the message leading here!"
(End of Chapter)
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