Chapter 58: Rogues Pirate Group?
Chapter 58: Rogues Pirate Group?
Kuro lounged in a deck chair, blowing smoke rings as he gazed at the calm cerulean sea and sky. Unlike the treacherous Grand Line, this East Blue Sea felt delightfully comfortable to him.
All the strong pirates were in the Grand Line, and aside from risking their lives to cross the Calm Belt, no one had the skill to traverse its windless expanse.
The weather followed basic logic here, people were weak, there were no real dangers. With such peaceful waves, why didn't anyone appreciate this safety? Why did everyone still want to go to the Grand Line?
Kuro casually raised his wine glass for a sip and asked Navy beside him. The other was a sergeant.
"How much longer to Base 153?"
The sergeant saluted. "Reporting, Ensign. We're currently in 155 Branch Jurisdictional Waters. Estimated arrival at Base 153 is one and a half days."
This ship carried nothing but privates to recruits. Those with actual rank were rare indeed.
Besides himself - the highest-ranking Ensign - this hundred-man vessel had only Sergeant Lida and another sergeant beside Kuro, plus six corporals including Klah to command the navy's full hundred personnel.
The term 'corporal' here wasn't like his past life where they commanded exactly five navy. Strictly speaking, a corporal was now more like a battle squad leader.
When Kuro served as a sergeant in East Blue, commanding patrol cruisers, a sergeant was effectively the captain. The sergeant acted as both strategist and first mate, while corporals were frontline squad commanders.
Lida, however, was utterly useless as a strategist. As Kuro's direct subordinates, both Lida and Klah never handled matters personally. They left daily tasks to the other sergeant, saving themselves the effort.
Hearing the report, Kuro glanced toward the open sea and gave a slight nod. One and a half days - fine. Regardless, he'd already reached East Blue. With Base 153 so close, could Kas really slip through his fingers?
"Enemy pirate ship sighted ahead!"
A navy manning the watchtower suddenly shouted downward.
"General alert!"
The sergeant barked an order. Navy members drew weapons while others manned cannons.
Headquarters elites fighting East Blue's weak pirates? Too easy. Even a recruit from Headquarters, if transferred to East Blue, could immediately become a Branch Corporal. With a few more accomplishments, they'd quickly rise to positions like Branch Sergeant.
The sergeant raised his telescope. "Ensign, it's a pirate ship. It appears engaged in fierce battle with a warship."
"A warship?"
Kuro blinked in surprise. "Whose flag? What's their bounty?"
The sergeant hesitated. "This..."
As a Headquarters member, why would he bother memorizing East Blue pirate bounties? Especially ones too insignificant for Headquarters to care about.
Even the infamous Luffy gang from East Blue - the one that destroyed Enies Lobby - only gained Headquarters attention after reaching 30 million bounty. All others? Unless specifically noted, he simply didn't know.
"Klah."
Kuro called out.
The nearby Klah reluctantly rose, took the sergeant's telescope, and looked through it.
"It's the Rogues Pirate Group."
"???"
Kuro nearly toppled from his chair at Klah's words.
"Who?!"
Seeing Kuro's shocked expression, Klah replied confusedly. "The Rogues Pirate Group. Their captain, Rogues, has a 250,000 Beri bounty. They started in East Blue just two years ago. What's wrong?"
Klah had served as a butler in East Blue, but that didn't mean he ignored maritime affairs. He might miss newcomers who'd set sail recently, but any moderately famous pirates from the past half year? He knew them all.
He just couldn't understand why Kuro was so shocked. Had this pirate group given Kuro trouble before? That couldn't be. If they'd clashed, their bounty wouldn't be 250,000 - it'd be 250 million minimum.
Of course Klah didn't know Kuro's shock. The truth was, without Kuro's built-in plot strategy, even proper navy personnel younger than him wouldn't have recognized what the Rogues Pirate Group represented.
That pirate crew was supposedly erased from existence by the World Government.
Kuro snatched Klah's telescope and looked through it himself. He wanted to see what kind of fool dared use the name "Rogues".
On the distant sea, a warship and pirate vessel were exchanging cannon fire. Explosions around their hulls sent towering waves crashing against both ships.
The ships were dangerously close now. Kuro could even see navy members exchanging gunfire with pirates across the distance.
These pirates were clearly stronger than their navy counterparts, pressing their advantage relentlessly. Yet the navy fought with incredible tenacity - even when injured, they dragged themselves forward to keep fighting.
Strong battle will.
"Fire. Sink the pirate ship." Kuro ordered.
Only 250,000? When Kuro served as a sergeant, he'd casually captured pirates with higher bounties. Besides, a warship was already fighting them.
"Aye, Ensign!"
The sergeant relayed orders. The warship accelerated toward cannon range. When within distance, the main cannon targeted the pirate ship and fired, striking its midsection.
Boom!
The pirate ship exploded with a massive gash, water rushing in as it began sinking.
The attack alerted the pirates to the second warship approaching. The previously fierce pirates panicked, giving the navy opportunity. Navy gunfire intensified, and several cannonballs struck the pirate ship at close range, worsening its damage.
Naval battles rarely involved flashy individual fights. Here in the Four Seas, even Devil Fruit users were doomed if their ship sank.
Under continuous bombardment from two warships, the pirate ship finally disintegrated. Pirates fell into the sea, their fighting spirit broken as navy captured them.
Soon, Kuro's warship docked with the other vessel.
"I am 155 Branch Ensign Chatham. Thank you for the rescue! We've chased the Rogues Pirate Group for days, finally caught them but underestimated their strength. Without your help, we might've failed."
The navy officer on the other ship, visibly injured, saluted with his men.
Kuro stood to return the salute. "Standard procedure. We're all comrades. Mutual aid is natural. I'm Headquarters Ensign Lucius Kro."
Those words made Chatham's eyes widen instantly.
"Lucius Kro?!"
He exclaimed excitedly. "So it's really you! The navy hero of East Blue! Your will, delivered by Kas Sergeant, deeply inspires subordinates. We're moved by your spirit. Never thought I'd meet you in person! Ensign Kro, rest assured, we'll spread your will and fight pirates to the end!"
"???" Kuro tilted his head, thoroughly confused.
What will did I spread?
Why are you so excited?!
Kas, you idiot, what nonsense did you spread?!
"Everyone! Our navy hero Kuro has defeated the pirate Rogues!"
Chatham shouted enthusiastically to his crew.
The words sounded... unsettling, somehow.
(End of Chapter)
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