Chapter 49: Guā!
Chapter 49: Guā!
"Shut up! Isn't my business also your business?!"
One Piece World's Greatest Hot-Head shouted like this.
Blueno stared at Kuro for a moment before murmuring slowly, "I'm sorry, but I've already done my best. After all, you're just too weak to work with us. If you were just a bit stronger, you could join our team and complete missions together."
"That's not what I meant at all!"
Kuro almost roared.
"I'm sorry", Blueno said slowly while lowering his head.
"Guā! Crap, my mouth's even messed up from getting worked up!"
Kuro had originally wanted to say "Get lost!" but his tongue slipped out of excitement.
He pressed his forehead, took a deep breath, and waved his hand dismissively, "Forget it, forget it. If we keep talking, you'll really end up putting me on your team. Let's just leave it at that."
Blueno was still reflecting slowly, enunciating each word, "Unsatisfied? But this is already the limit of what I can do. I saw you helped clean up the mess and thought you were a responsible Mr. Navy."
Kuro glared at him, then suddenly slapped himself several times.
Shut up, you idiot!
"Mr. Kuro, please don't, please don't!"
Klah quickly stepped forward to stop him.
"Let's go, let's go. If I keep talking to this slowpoke, I'll end up cutting him down."
Kuro took several deep breaths and walked out of the bar, leaving Blueno alone in his self-reflection.
"Wasn't I doing enough? I've already done my best."
"Damn it, what a pain in the ass!"
Kuro shouted furiously as soon as he stepped outside.
Meeting such a blockhead really left him helpless.
"Mr. Kuro, it's not like we have no options."
Klah said quietly while adjusting his glasses that gleamed under the moonlight, "There's still one method."
When the two turned to look at him, Klah continued, "We can be 'late'. Since this is an intelligence mission, they must value speed and efficiency. If we're late, they won't wait for us and will have to admit we couldn't make it in time."
Right!
After all, Blueno had already refused them first. The order from Lucius Kro was merely to establish contact. Now that Blueno had redirected them to the Navy unit coming later, that was his unilateral decision.
Though they had already notified the Commander and couldn't refuse, they could still be late.
CP9 always operated secretly without making a big scene. If they pretended to know nothing, they could easily delay.
"Starting tomorrow, all of you get out and scout. Find any news about the incoming Navy ships. Under no circumstances should we make contact."
Kuro set the plan.
They found a hotel and stayed for a day. The next morning, Kuro sent Klah to buy several sets of civilian clothes. To avoid recognition, he stopped wearing Navy uniforms altogether.
Lida was quite pleased. Staying longer meant she could sample more of Water 7's delicacies.
Especially that juicy meat dish and Water 7's unique sea salt – absolutely delicious! She also kept an eye on all the ports for any Navy presence.
Kuro hadn't seen Tina either. Probably resting for a couple days before heading elsewhere.
Perfect, no one to get in the way.
Still, just to be safe, Kuro decided to check Water 7's back areas. After all, this was a secret mission – what if their landing spot wasn't the main entrance?
Plus, Kuro wanted to keep watch for one thing in particular – Luffy's ship. Once he spotted it, the story would begin and he could stay holed up in the hotel.
But today, Kuro found nothing unusual. Water 7 was unusually peaceful.
Lida, however, had spent three million Beri of his money accumulating snacks.
Women, no matter their age, always get obsessed with certain hobbies – shiny things or delicious foods. They're like dragons, never having enough.
Well, it's his child after all. Spending money is fine.
Kuro had plenty of money now. If needed, he could make a trip to Skypiea. The golden land had tons of gold being used as decorations. He'd just take it for himself and maybe exchange it for things valuable to the locals.
Plus, only a handful of people knew about Skypiea. It was practically risk-free.
...
Captain Gero, captain of the 'Samurai Pirate Crew', earned the nickname 'Oni Samurai' due to the two upward-curving fangs on his lower lip and his demon-like face.
He was an old pirate, notorious for robbery, murder, and trafficking – unapologetic about his crimes.
"Here's Water 7 ahead. Drop anchor and find a shipwright to fix our ship."
Captain Gero told his pirate subordinates while staring at the wasteland ahead.
His ship was practically falling apart, patched everywhere with wooden planks. The demon figurehead at the bow was missing half its face.
"Tch, bad luck running into the Black Cage, but at least we escaped. We'll fix the ship here and get in a round of robbery."
Captain Gero licked his lips in excitement.
"Captain! There's a kid ahead!"
One pirate shouted excitedly through his spyglass, "A really cute little girl! She'll fetch a high price!"
"Oh? Just arrived and already found good prey?"
Captain Gero snatched the spyglass to look.
There, on a boulder in the wasteland, sat a little girl licking an ice cream.
Her rare white hair and delicate features radiated endless vitality.
This little girl would be so much fun to torture!
"Drop anchor and capture her!" Captain Gero ordered excitedly.
The pirate ship docked quickly. Before the ship even finished anchoring, the demon-faced man leapt ashore, rushing directly toward Lida.
"Little girl, all alone? Want Uncle to take you to see the goldfish?"
Captain Gero grinned evilly.
"Hmm?"
The white-haired girl lifted her head toward Captain Gero, then turned to look at the pirate ship docking and the approaching pirates grinning maliciously.
"Oh, pirates."
"That's right! We're pirates, but we're good guys!"
Captain Gero's eyes burned with desire.
"Uncle, is your bounty high?"
Lida finished her ice cream, licking the remains from her lips as she asked.
Captain Gero laughed heartily, "Bounty? You little girl understand those? I'm Captain Gero, the 'Oni Samurai' with a bounty of 36 million Beri!"
"That's above average."
Lida looked at him, "Well, Kuro once said – if you meet pirates without ill intent or criminal history, just let things be.
But if they're hostile... no need to let them earn merits. Sorry, Uncle, your journey ends here."
Lida raised a finger, pointing at Captain Gero from a distance.
"Fly Fishman Karate."
Bang!
A gaping hole appeared in Captain Gero's forehead.
His face still wore the frozen evil grin, not yet registering what happened. His body toppled backward with a loud thud.
At the same time, Lida stood up, instantly shifting to her teenage form. She kicked out at the approaching pirates.
"Calm Step."
(End of Chapter)
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