Chapter 51: Haki Isn't a Miracle Cure
Chapter 51: Haki Isn't a Miracle Cure
After greeting T. Pengen Commander, the train set off toward Enies Lobby.
"Apologies, but the Fifth Carriage is already full."
T. Pengen deeply bowed to Kuro and the two standing behind him.
"No worries, no need to be so formal", Kuro shrugged nonchalantly.
"No, it's my failure as a superior officer."
T. Pengen threw himself onto the floor, shouting, "If you don't mind getting disgusted, please sit on my body! Though you aren't my subordinates, as fellow Navy personnel assigned to the same mission, I'll take full responsibility!"
"T. Pengen Commander!"
The Navy inside the carriage gasped in admiration.
"I failed my subordinates by letting them stand! I, T. Pengen, bear the guilt!"
"...Fine, forget it. I'll just take an earlier carriage."
Kuro sighed, rubbing his forehead as he led Lida and Klah toward the front carriages.
This train had seven carriages. The fifth was filled with Navy personnel. The sixth and seventh held government staff, while the fourth served as the Logistics Carriage, overseen by CP7's Wajee.
"Wanna try some ramen, dear Navy members?"
Pushing a food cart, Wajee wandered through the carriage.
"Ramen! Wow!"
Lida's eyes sparkled in the fourth carriage. "It looks delicious!"
"I'm in charge of this train's logistics, and my cooking skills are top-notch! Want to know my ramen recipe?" Wajee grinned.
Kuro tugged Lida's sleeve, replying to Wajee, "Just give us bread and water. Thanks."
He knew Wajee's reputation for playing with food. No matter how good it smelled, Kuro wasn't touching anything from this creep.
Passing the fourth carriage, they reached the third. This carriage only held one person – a man with pale skin wearing a tight short-sleeved shirt and a feathered hat.
Nero first froze in shock, then shot up shouting, "You again!"
"Eh?"
Lida tilted her head, staring at him before suddenly exclaiming, "Oh! You're that government intelligence officer! Which CP unit are you in?"
Gritting his teeth, Nero spat, "You're on this train too? So you're part of the prisoner escort squad. Tell me – after I mysteriously collapsed, what did you do to me, CP9's Combat Genius Officer?!"
"We didn't do anything! You just collapsed randomly, so we left. What happened to you?" Kuro feigned ignorance.
"Don't play dumb! My Hair..."
Nero started roaring, then suddenly stopped himself, gripping his hat tightly. "You really don't know?"
The three shook their heads in unison.
Nero studied their expressions, finding no deception. "Fine. Better you don't know."
If they were clueless about his hair mishap, he'd never reveal his now-bald head – that'd invite endless mockery.
"Well, you keep watch here."
Kuro dismissed further conversation, leading his companions onward.
The second carriage was eerily silent. As the door opened, three of the four occupants turned.
"Ah, it's you guys – good Navy", Blueno greeted.
Kaku and Kalifa glanced over without speaking. The fourth figure, wearing a tall hat, was CP9's strongest fighter in eight centuries – Rob Lucci.
"Hey Blueno. We're moving to the front carriage – the others were full", Kuro said, deliberately ignoring the empty third carriage.
The CP9 members didn't care about such trivialities. Watching them leave, Lucci finally spoke, "Blueno, didn't I say these guys were too weak to be useful? Why are they here?"
"They're dutiful Navy members. Including them in the escort makes sense", Blueno replied.
"Whatever. Just don't let them bother me", Lucci muttered.
"Actually, is it okay letting them go to the first carriage? Nico Robin's there. What if they become hostages?" Kaku asked.
"Doesn't matter. Their choice. Our mission is safely returning Nico Robin to Enies Lobby", Lucci closed his eyes.
He held no regard for these Navy members. Even if Robin used them as hostages, so what? Eliminate the hostages, and the problem disappears.
Exiting the second carriage, Lida whispered to Kuro, "Those were CP9? That pigeon guy and long-nosed one, I saw them at a bar before."
"Right. Don't underestimate them. That pigeon guy is CP9's strongest fighter in eight centuries."
Klah adjusted his glasses, eyes gleaming. "Strongest fighter, huh?"
As a Six Styles practitioner himself, Klah had always wanted to test his skills against them.
Kuro glanced at him, "Don't get any ideas. Excluding Devil Fruit abilities, their unarmed combat power measured purely by spiritual energy – you'd only beat that woman. Blueno's slightly stronger than you, and the other two? That long-nosed guy's at 2200, while Rob Lucci's at 4000."
"Four thousand?! That's insane!" Klah's eyes widened.
Lida raised a finger, "So much!"
Lida's spiritual energy after mastering Six Styles was 3000. Without factoring in her Devil Fruit ability, Lucci would struggle against her one-on-one.
Klah smirked, "Four thousand's nothing! I have Haki!"
Kuro gave him a serious look, "Don't get cocky. Haki's just an amplifier. Even if your Observation Haki senses his movements, you can't keep up. And who says Lucci doesn't have Haki?"
Luffy had unconsciously used Armament Haki's 'Encasement' in the East Blue. It'd be absurd if Lucci lacked Haki. Six Styles practitioners naturally developed Haki in Kuro's experience – Lucci had just spent too long undercover in Water 7, delaying cultivation.
Besides, lack of Haki didn't automatically make someone inferior. Observation Haki could predict movements, but useless if your body couldn't follow. Armament Haki boosted defense and attacks with its invisible armor, even resisting some Devil Fruit abilities – but claiming Haki guaranteed victory over martial artists was foolish.
Kuro never felt safe relying solely on Haki. In this world, there were too many freaks whose abilities could bypass Haki entirely. Safety always came first.
"Is that you?"
In the first carriage, Robin stared at Klah, finally demanding, "Why are you here too? Why would someone of your strength join this mission?"
Klah pointed at himself, confused. "Do I know you, miss?"
(End of Chapter)
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