Chapter 524: That Handsome Navy Officer
Chapter 524: That Handsome Navy Officer
Silvers Rayleigh had already returned—that much Kuro already knew.
Among all of Shabondy, his life aura was the most intense.
But as long as he didn’t cause trouble and kept quietly crafting his coated membranes—even if he occasionally stole something—Kuro had no intention of interfering.
He and Silvers Rayleigh maintained a mutual non-aggression pact. After all, that old man was notoriously annoying.
Still, since he’d been back for so long without causing any issues, things seemed under control. Shaki must’ve delivered the warning properly. Kuro decided to leave him be.
As long as he stayed put, when Luffy’s crew eventually set sail, Kuro could even make another trip to Headquarters to “report” and pretend not to notice anything.
Getting rid of trouble? That was his favorite pastime.
Before long, Klah completed Kuro’s request and entered the office. “Mr. Kuro, Mariejois is ready.”
“Fine. Let’s move.” Kuro nodded, rising to leave.
“Hey, Kuro—your hooded cloak.”
Lida grabbed the hooded cloak from the coat rack and tossed it over Kuro’s shoulders.
The hooded cloak billowed as Kuro stepped outside. Someone was already waiting for him.
“Mr. Kuro, I’ll definitely hold this place down!” Wilbur declared loudly.
“You say it like I’m off to die or something. No need to be so dramatic—I’ll be back in a few days.”
Kuro rolled his eyes and turned to Sengoku. “Sengoku, I’m leaving patrol to you.”
“Leave it to me—I’ve got this.” Sengoku thumped his chest proudly.
Wilbur and Sengoku—interior and exterior defense—formed Shabondy’s “absolute defense.” Sengoku himself claimed to be the world’s greatest defensive expert, and with him stationed here, Kuro had no real concerns.
Kuro knew Sengoku’s strength well.
His Haki was at the third stage, External Release—just one step from Internal Destruction. If he pushed further, he’d reach the same level as Kuro: mastery of fully integrated Supreme Haki.
At the third Haki stage, Sengoku was nearly unstoppable in the early Grand Line. And he had the Pacifista too.
Sengoku joined the Navy specifically to deploy the Pacifista.
As the gateway to the New World, Shabondy was a pirate’s inevitable path. The Pacifista stationed here were extremely effective.
After all, each one cost as much as a capital ship, and their combat power condensed the might of a warship into a single unit.
Wait a second…
Aren’t those basically warship men?
“Let’s go.”
Kuro waved, bidding farewell to the remaining officers with Klah and Lida. He brought a group of Navy personnel to the World Government’s base in Shabondy and descended to Mariejois via the elevator.
Besides Klah and Lida, he needed some underlings too.
How could he go without a proper entourage?
He might dislike fighting, but as a veteran Navy officer, he still needed to maintain appearances.
Even someone as reckless as Garp always brought a squad of subordinates wherever he went.
With underlings, you didn’t have to do everything yourself—and it looked impressive.
Sure, he could fly, but bringing Klah, Lida, and others made it unnecessary. Why use personal abilities when you had warships?
From Shabondy to Mariejois stretched a massive, elongated staircase. At its summit stood the gates to Mariejois.
“Open up.”
Kuro grumbled at the two armored soldiers guarding the entrance, their long spears in hand. He had little patience for these types.
“Yes, sir!”
The soldiers, already informed, saluted and used the Transponder Snail to notify the interior. With a creaking groan, the heavy gates swung open, revealing Mariejois in its entirety.
Lida and Klah had visited before. Without a word, they avoided the central stone path and walked along the side.
No one wanted to tread that path.
Lida’s Observation Haki already sensed the truth, and Klah, his own Observation Haki sharpened, could now perceive the evil lurking beneath the self-propelled stone path.
“This thing… every time I see it, it makes my skin crawl.”
Klah glanced at the path, adjusting his glasses. Blue veins pulsed faintly on his knuckles.
Since rescuing a dancer in Shabondy, he’d developed an instinctive aversion to slavery.
“Less talking. This isn’t your concern.”
Kuro pulled out a cigar, patted his pockets, frowned, then gestured to a Navy officer.
The officer instantly understood, producing a match and lighting the cigar with both hands.
“This isn’t something you can fix.”
Kuro exhaled a plume of smoke, his expression darkening.
This was one reason he disliked coming to Mariejois.
If he ignored it, he could pretend to be an ostrich. But seeing it firsthand… it always soured his mood.
“Hmm?”
Walking, he suddenly raised an eyebrow toward the ancient city.
There, a massive vitality aura pulsed.
“Tatsumaki? His vitality’s surprisingly strong. Heard he hasn’t eaten in three years…”
Kuro muttered, “How’s he still alive? Is being handsome really enough to survive?”
He’d heard Tatsumaki was handsome, but it was just hearsay. He’d never seen him in person.
As a new Navy recruit, the Marine Headquarters never officially confirmed anything. Those eager to curry favor lacked qualifications, while those qualified looked down on the idea.
Like Yi Xiao Brother, who’d become an Admiral but still lacked a stable faction. The Navy under him followed duty, not loyalty.
Tatsumaki’s rumored laziness—practically a shut-in—meant no one met him unless he allowed it.
Of course, someone must’ve seen him, but Kuro himself had holed up in Shabondy, never meeting him.
“That doesn’t add up. I’m this handsome and still need to eat. How can anyone be better looking than me?”
Kuro raised a skeptical brow, clearly unconvinced.
As the group passed the ancient city, preparing to descend via the elevator at the far end, a sudden voice rang out behind them.
“Hey, Navy! Navy!”
A dazed, idiotic voice called. Kuro turned to see a fat fool with a shovel-shaped head, swaying like a monkey, waving his arms wildly.
“It’s Charloss.”
Klah whispered to Kuro.
“Ignore him.”
Kuro turned to leave.
“Hey, Navy! Handsome Navy! That really handsome Navy officer—don’t go!”
Instantly, Kuro halted and faced him. “What do you want?”
Charloss panted, running up and grinning. “It’s really you, Navy! Your advice last time was great. Is Shabondy’s danger over now? I want to go capture some slaves.”
(End of Chapter)
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