https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-563-Isn-t-That-Perfectly-Normal-/13538544/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-565-If-You-Can-t-Resist-Just-Enjoy-It/13538559/
Chapter 564: I'm Good Just Because
Chapter 564: I'm Good Just Because
"You guys have such weird expressions", Kuro said, eyeing the two suspiciously. He exhaled smoke from his cigar and sighed, "As a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral and Admiral candidate, having a major base in the New World is perfectly normal, right?"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Then it's also normal for the World Government to publish reports about the Navy after I left Silvers Rayleigh's life and death uncertain, just to boost their reputation, right?"
They nodded again.
"So what exactly are you two finding strange? What about the Old Man doesn't make sense?" Kuro blew out another puff of smoke.
Lida opened his mouth but hesitated, his words caught between his teeth.
Perfectly normal. Of course it was perfectly normal.
Kuro was simply reacting like any standard Navy officer would.
Right? Exactly! This was how things should be!
But... for a normal Navy officer, this was normal.
The key issue was—Kuro wasn't a normal Navy officer!
Others might not know, but Lida and Klah, who had followed him the longest, had seen Kuro's most unguarded, authentic side. They understood his true nature.
A man plagued by paranoid delusions, yet exceptionally skilled at self-hypnosis—someone who craved safety and comfort above all else.
Someone who would pull any dirty trick to achieve that goal.
Would he really think this was normal?
Klah quietly leaned toward Lida. "Hey, Lida... do you believe this?"
Bang!
Before Klah's words finished, Lida transformed into his maiden form and slammed a heavy, forceful punch into Klah's abdomen.
The unguarded strike nearly made Klah vomit. Bending forward and clutching his stomach, he grimaced in pain.
"Why did you hit me?!"
"Does it hurt?" Lida asked.
"Hurts like hell!" Klah hissed, trembling.
"Good. If it hurts, then we're not dreaming." Lida nodded.
Transforming into a young girl, Lida approached Kuro with concern. "Kuro, are you okay? Did Fen Ni give you medicine?"
"Pfft, what are you talking about", Kuro snapped, shooting him a glare. "This is my normal self, you know. Now scram."
With a flick of his finger, the newspaper in Wilbur's hands and the documents in Klah's flew to Kuro's side.
"Go do your missions. I'll keep resting."
As Kuro turned toward the door, he kicked the threshold clean through without noticing, striding inside.
Lida and Klah exchanged glances, then looked upward.
Bang!!
Moments later, a wispy slash tore through the office wall, bursting skyward in a cloud of debris.
Lida and Klah wore identical expressions of "As expected."
"Eh?!" Wilbur yelped, "What's going on?! What's happening?!"
"Nothing, nothing. Perfectly normal operation. This is normal now. C'mon, let's go do our missions."
Klah adjusted his glasses and hurriedly grabbed Wilbur's shoulder, steering him outside.
Right now, they couldn't afford to provoke Kuro's wrath. It'd bring nothing but bad luck.
Gaaaahhhhh!!!
Inside the office, Kuro roared in fury.
Autumn Water had already been unsheathed, cleaving through the desk and chair in front of him. Shards of wood and floating paper scraps filled the air.
Was he normal?
He was normal!
Perfectly normal anger!
How many times had this happened now?
Shouldn't he be numb by now?
After seeing Wilbur's newspaper—magnified tenfold—Kuro's heart had turned ice cold.
The World Government's usual dirty tricks—regardless of whether someone lived or died, they'd first boost their own influence.
After all, they controlled the news channels.
Whether they'd later be proven wrong? They never cared.
Fine, he could ignore that. This wasn't the first time with newspapers and reports.
But what about that file?!
Garp resigned?
They gave me G-3?!
That made no sense!
No logic at all!
Kuro had thought he could stall a while longer. After all, he hadn't chosen his base location yet. Even if he did, if no space was available, they'd either build a new base or give him a small one to grow gradually.
Time was on his side. He could take it slow, quietly cultivating his power in the New World.
But...
What the hell was G-3?!
Among Marine Branches in the New World, G-3 was the most infamous!
This was shoving him straight onto the roasting rack!
But he couldn't show anger in front of his subordinates. He'd already ranted enough. Just now, he'd convinced himself he was a diplomatic type who should persuade through reason, not rage.
Yet this frustration just wouldn't dissipate.
Back in the office, he'd finally lost control.
"What the hell is this nonsense?!"
Kuro took a few ragged breaths and activated the Transponder Snail on his wrist, dialing immediately.
"Connect me to Lucius Kroadmiral."
"Understood! This is Golden Lion Vice Admiral? We'll connect you right away."
"You better run over there. Gramps won't answer calls himself", Kuro muttered.
Soon, the Transponder Snail crackled with a sleazy voice. "Hello, Kuro? You there?"
"Gramps! What the hell's going on?! Why did Garp hand over G-3?! What did you guys do?! Listen, pressuring an old Navy like this will make people lose heart! I don't need G-3! I wouldn't even go to the New World! You don't have to consider me so much!" Kuro exploded.
"Tsk, Kuro. Garp himself insisted on giving G-3 to you. He said he owed you a favor, and since you'd mentioned something similar, it was more like you pressured him."
"What?! I pressured him? When did I say that?!" Kuro blinked, confused.
"Oh~ You said you had no foothold in the New World, so as soon as Garp returned, he voluntarily stepped down from his G-3 Base Commander position."
"I—"
Kuro opened his mouth, but a wave of helplessness washed over him.
That wasn't what I meant!
I meant I had no foothold, so I didn't want to go!
I asked him to plead for mercy for his grandson, and this is how he repays me?!
I shouldn't have been so merciful. I'm good just because I'm so damn good!
"Kuro, since it's decided, come quickly. Report to Headquarters soon. As for Shabondy... the higher-ups say it's your decision, but the old man thinks you could leave it to Sengoku for solo training."
The Transponder Snail's sleazy voice continued, "Also, there might be a mission for you. When you come to Headquarters, the old man will tell you."
Crunch!
Kuro crushed the receiver in his grip.
Even now, the old man still won't stop burdening me with more trouble?!
He tossed the broken cigar end, lit a new one, and stood in the hole torn through the wall, facing sunlight with a troubled expression.
His already lifeless eyes seemed even duller, devoid of any luster. Even the sunlight failed to bring a glint to his gaze.
(End of Chapter)
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