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Chapter 486: The Tightest Man
Chapter 486: The Tightest Man
One week later.
Shabondy.
Kuro had returned a few days earlier and had been staying put in Shabondy ever since.
He felt like his body had been hollowed out after his recent outing and needed serious rest.
As for what he’d done…
“Oh~ Kuro.”
Lucius Kro was in his office, speaking to him. “About the outcome of that matter…”
After dropping Kuro off in Shabondy, Lucius hadn’t left but instead lingered around, though no one knew why.
Kuro didn’t mind, though. The guy was an Admiral—wherever he wanted to go, he could go.
“What outcome?”
Kuro was leaning back in his chair, legs propped up on the desk. Hearing Lucius’s words, he jolted upright, legs down, body tense.
He’d acted recklessly before, not thinking through the consequences of confronting Charlotte·Big Mom. The incident had already stirred up the Navy, and if the World Government decided to punish him instead of rewarding him, all his efforts might be for nothing.
Lucius Kro said, “The World Government believes this matter shouldn’t be publicized, so your actions have been buried. How terrifying, the World Government.”
“Buried?”
Kuro’s face lit up. “That’s great! I mean, what a shame!”
Realizing he shouldn’t look too happy, he immediately scowled, feigning outrage.
“How could the World Government do this? I’ve served the government, fought the Four Emperors! Not even a word of comfort?!”
Lucius Kro chuckled. “Actually, the government plans to conscript you to Mariejois.”
Kuro froze, staring at Lucius Kro for a long moment before finally speaking.
“Huh?”
He pointed at himself. “Me? Mariejois?”
His tone suggested he’d just heard an absurd fairy tale.
“Gramps, you’re joking, right? You want me to go to Mariejois?”
Kuro shook his head furiously. “No way! You know I’m not suited for that, Gramps!”
Are you kidding?!
Him in Mariejois?
Even if he didn’t already despise those idiots, he’d still be a terrible fit. What if some World Noble decided to slap seastone cuffs on him one day? Mariejois would be doomed.
“Sakazuki and the old man refused, though.”
Lucius Kro’s next words made Kuro roll his White Eye.
Could this old man stop gasping dramatically? It was terrifying!
“Still, you’ve been promoted.”
“Wtf?!!”
Kuro shot up, eyes wide. “You said the World Government wouldn’t publicize it! How come I’m promoted now?!”
“This is an internal compensation,” Lucius Kro said, eyes narrowing. “The World Government may not want noise, but the Navy won’t let its own down.”
“So everyone’s been promoted one rank.”
One rank? One rank!
That would make him a Vice Admiral—
“Of course, Kuro, you’re excluded. Sorry about that.” Lucius Kro’s face twisted with mock regret.
You gotta be kidding me!
This is a heart attack waiting to happen! You old bastard!
He’d almost thought he was doomed!
From Lucius Kro’s explanation, Kuro learned that Kas was also excluded from the promotion—having already been promoted to Commander after the Pegasus Island incident. As for Kuro’s merits, though buried by the World Government, the Navy still wanted to reward its own.
Kuro himself couldn’t be promoted, but his subordinates could. The Navy’s internal commendation had elevated all his crew.
Klah and Lida were now Commanders. Donald became a Lieutenant, and Sazil, Ju Geng, and Fen Ni were Lieutenants too.
Kuro didn’t care much about his subordinates’ promotions.
“Confirmed?” He raised an eyebrow, pressing Lucius Kro. “No more twists, right? I’m definitely not getting promoted?”
“Oh~ Kuro, these things can’t be rushed,” Lucius Kro said.
Yada Zai!
Kuro nodded furiously. “Right, right! No rush! I’m young! Let me wait thirty or fifty years—no, longer! I can wait! It’s all for the greater good!”
He struck a pose of noble sacrifice, then lowered his head, a flicker of bitterness flashing across his face.
See? It’s not that I don’t want to rise—it’s just that fate won’t let me! Don’t blame me!
But I’m still a good Navy officer with dreams of a beautiful future!
“Is that so?” Lucius Kro grinned.
“Exactly!” Kuro nodded like a chicken pecking rice.
World Government, I love you so much right now!
“Well, just keep thinking that way. Have your subordinates come to Headquarters for the medal ceremony. The old man’s off now. Oh, and Sengoku’s your responsibility.”
“Don’t worry, Gramps. You go ahead,” Kuro urged.
The longer this guy stayed, the more likely he’d drop another dangerous command on him. Last time, he’d been ordered to investigate something and ended up killing Lucius.
Live and learn.
No more mistakes like that.
After seeing off Lucius Kro and Storbery, Kuro stretched lazily at the port. “Finally gone. No more trouble.”
“Big Brother Kuro! You’re amazing!”
Sengoku stood beside him, watching Lucius Kro leave. “I’ve heard so much—defeating Lucius, storming Charlotte·Big Mom’s Totto Land alone! You’re famous in the Navy now!”
“Shoo! Shoo!”
Kuro waved him off. “You want this reputation? I’ll give it to you!”
“Big Brother Kuro, I’ll earn my own reputation through my own strength!”
Sengoku missed the sarcasm, mistaking it for encouragement. He clenched his fist, full of conviction.
“Sure, sure.”
Kuro rolled his White Eye, walking away. “By the way, you’ve officially joined the Navy. What about the Science Division?”
“This big brother is the world’s tightest-lipped man! I won’t say Vegapunk bastard’s ‘Ssg’ is almost complete! Even you, Big Brother Kuro, won’t hear a word!” Sengoku declared.
Kuro smirked. “You just said it.”
“Huh?”
Sengoku blinked, then recovered. “I chose to say it! I won’t speak unless I want to! I’m the world’s tightest-lipped—”
“Yeah, yeah. The tightest man. Enough chatter. What’s your rank now?”
“Commander.”
“Commander, huh?”
Kuro bit his cigar, glancing at Sengoku. “Well, you’ve earned it. Work hard. Gramps left you to me—I’ll give you special training regularly. In this world, you can’t reach your goals without strength.”
Especially after fighting Charlotte·Big Mom, he felt an urgent need to grow stronger.
Right. His cultivation still wasn’t enough.
He needed to develop more techniques, forge a stronger body.
Otherwise, facing Four Emperors again would be disastrous.
(End of Chapter)
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