https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-508-The-Arrogance-of-the-Old-School-Navy/13537997/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-510-The-World-s-Swordsmen-Only-You-and-I-Remain/13538024/
Chapter 509: My Mind and Body Have Already Taken the Float-Float Form
Chapter 509: My Mind and Body Have Already Taken the Float-Float Form
The towering man was none other than the protagonist of this incident—Buggy the Clown.
He had learned from the island where he captured Boa Hancock’s sister that the Snake Princess had already been summoned elsewhere for a meeting. This meant his original plan to take them down one by one was no longer viable.
He needed a new strategy.
Just as expected, those people would definitely spread the news about him capturing the Snake Princess’s sister. The Snake Princess would surely return, and the Navy would come too once they heard.
These people, this ship—it was all bait.
Once the Navy and the Seven Warlords of the Sea arrived here, Marineford would become empty. If even Marineford, the strongest fortress protecting Mariejois, was left unguarded, the subordinate base at Shabondy would be nothing to fear.
Bombard Mariejois with cannon fire! The day of vengeance was finally arriving!
“Wald, hey.”
Jack the Disaster perched on his shoulder, watching his sinister profile as he spoke. “Do you still remember our dream?”
“Dream?”
The tall man with moss-green hair tossed a walnut in his palm, then crushed it with a single squeeze. With a crisp crackle, the nut disintegrated into powder that spilled from his open hand.
…
“Big brother, I want to go on an adventure with you!”
…
The distant memory felt like yesterday, yet now it had long since shattered into unrecognizable fragments in his mind.
“Dreams are nothing but the luxury of the defeated. As for me, such things have never existed!” Wald declared coldly.
These words made Jack the Disaster shudder slightly, murmuring, “Wald…”
…
Marineford.
With Boa Hancock and Law having left, Kuro could only end this meeting.
“Brother, you guard Marineford, and I’ll watch over Shabondy. Let’s cooperate and keep each other safe.”
Kuro said to Storbery.
Not that he actually needed to guard anything. Unless some accident occurred, Wald would already be finished.
“Hey, want to come over for a drink?”
After greeting Storbery, Kuro turned to Hawk-Eye.
“Oh? Got any good wine?” Hawk-Eye raised an eyebrow. “If it’s not good, I’m not drinking.”
“Are you kidding? Don’t I always have the best? Admiral-grade special reserve—let me treat you.” Kuro waved his hand grandly.
Gramps’s stockpiles were practically his.
Whether cigars or alcohol, he was all about indulgence, not austerity. Life in the Navy had to be enjoyable, or what was the point?
As they spoke, he and Hawk-Eye walked outside together. A girl was floating midair nearby, watching the Navy at Marineford. Seeing Hawk-Eye exit, she immediately drifted over.
“Hey, I just saw Boa Hancock and Law leave!”
“Eh? She can fly?”
Lida, standing behind Kuro, tilted her head in surprise at the floating girl.
Pink twin tails, a crown on her head, an umbrella in hand—she floated alone through the rainy sky.
Klah adjusted his glasses, eyeing the several white, comical figures floating around the pink-haired girl. He felt a sense of caution.
Those things didn’t feel friendly at all.
“Hmm? This woman…”
Kuro rubbed his chin. “She looks familiar.”
“She’s called Perona.”
Hawk-Eye said, “She used to serve under Gecko Moria. By coincidence, she ended up at my place and stayed.”
“Perona, huh.”
Kuro glanced at the ghosts beside her. “Ah, right—the Ling-Ling Devil Fruit.”
In Kuro’s memory, this woman’s Devil Fruit ranked among the Bug-class abilities.
While the ghosts had no offensive power, anyone they passed through would suffer intense negativity. No matter one’s willpower or strength, against an ability bordering on miracle, all resistance was futile.
“Tsk, Navy, don’t look at me, you hear? I despise you lot!”
Perona frowned. “It’s because of your war that Gecko Moria’s officers vanished!”
According to the newspapers after the Summit War, Gecko Moria had died in battle.
But in reality…
Kuro recalled seeing him alive and well back then.
He didn’t know what happened afterward.
But the old Seven Warlords weren’t so easily killed.
Especially Gecko Moria—he’d once challenged Kaido himself.
Back then, Gecko Moria was truly strong. Now, though…
When Kuro saw him during the war, he already seemed broken, devoid of spirit.
Call them silver medalists if you’re polite. Call them losers if you’re not.
…
Kuro invited Hawk-Eye aboard his warship to proceed to Shabondy.
“Come to think of it, it’s been a while. Your crew’s grown quite a bit.”
On the deck, Hawk-Eye glanced at Kuro’s subordinates. “I’ve heard of ‘Colossal Shield’ Kas’s reputation. His subordinate is that ‘wanderer,’ right? Pity he’s not a swordsman of great strength.”
“Hey, sometimes you’ve got to enjoy life. Don’t you get tired chasing duels every day?”
Leaning against the deck rail, Kuro bit down on his cigar. “In terms of swordsmanship, no one in the Grand Line rivals you.”
“Is that so?”
Hawk-Eye sized Kuro up with a smirk. “Don’t you want to try challenging the title of World’s Greatest Swordsman?”
“Don’t joke around. I’m no match for you.” Kuro waved his hand dismissively. “If you want a fight, go find some pure-blooded swordsmen. I’m not pure—I’ve long since taken the form of the Float-Float Fruit.”
In pure swordsmanship, Hawk-Eye was still number one. Though Kuro had improved greatly in recent years, he still felt a gap between them.
But that gap had narrowed significantly compared to before.
Still…
Why bother competing?
He had no ambition for the title of World’s Greatest Swordsman.
Leave that to that idiot Zoro.
Once those brats set sail in half a year, the world would finally quiet down.
Let them wreak havoc in the New World as they pleased. It wasn’t his problem anymore.
The warship sailed toward Shabondy.
Marineford wasn’t too far from Shabondy, and they arrived quickly.
Waiting at the port were Wilbur and Sengoku, who had already received word.
“Kuro, big brother.”
Seeing Kuro disembark, Sengoku greeted him first.
“Oh, Sengoku. Is Shabondy alright?”
“Of course! With me here, nothing will happen!” Sengoku thumped his chest proudly, the sound echoing like thunder.
“Good work.” Kuro nodded, then turned to Wilbur. “Wilbur, prepare some drinks—I’m treating Hawk-Eye.”
“At once!” Wilbur saluted sharply.
“Hmm? Hawk-Eye?”
Only now did Sengoku notice Hawk-Eye disembarking at the port behind them. “You actually came? That’s surprising.”
This man, aside from being forcibly conscripted, attended meetings only on a whim.
Since the old days, the Navy had never counted on him showing up.
Who’d have thought he’d actually attend this time?
But…
Why was he brought to Shabondy by Kuro instead of going after Wald?
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(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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