Chapter 586: You Won't Believe Me When I Say I Found One Piece
Chapter 586: You Won't Believe Me When I Say I Found One Piece
He sensed it. The continent beneath his feet felt like it belonged to him.
"What's going on?" Kuro asked Lida.
"Your treasury fell from the sky!"
Lida emerged from Kuro's arms and explained, "You were sent back to the past, and since your powers weren't suppressed, your treasury dropped down. Garthia is gone."
"Gone?"
Kuro blinked. "What about the people?"
"People—"
Before Lida could finish, she suddenly froze. "Wait... the people seem to be reappearing."
Kuro didn't need her to explain further. He could already sense human auras gradually emerging across the continent.
On the warship, some residents' auras flickered too.
These were the survivors Feld the Hidden hadn't managed to evacuate. Klah had placed them aboard the warship under Navy protection, sparing them from annihilation.
"What the hell is this?"
Kuro exhaled a plume of smoke, looking bewildered. "Did that old man die?"
"He's dead."
Lida nodded and recounted Feld the Hidden's actions and words.
"Acting on curiosity?"
Kuro raised an eyebrow, his tone skeptical. "Someone actually said that? That old man was truly strange."
He'd come here specifically to travel back in time, allowing the Heavenly Treasure Vault to fall and sink the island?
If none of this had happened, the island would've been fine. What was this—shooting himself in the foot?
Or was history's grand tide immutable?
"Call G-5 and have Smoker send some warships to evacuate the civilians. Find them a new place to settle."
Regardless, Kuro bore some responsibility for this island's destruction.
At least no lives were lost.
Saying this, Kuro impatiently added, "So in the end, Old Man hates the New World."
Two days later, G-5 warships arrived to rescue the remaining residents.
Only then did Kuro raise his hand, lifting his precious treasury beyond the clouds and into the sky.
"You've got to be kidding me."
Smoker stared at the colossal object piercing the cloud layer until it vanished, wiping sweat from his brow. "What the hell did you drag into this world?!"
He was genuinely shocked. Though he knew Kuro had collected islands using his Devil Fruit powers, Smoker had always assumed they were minor trinkets. But this sky-obscuring monstrosity?
"Just a small collection."
Kuro waved his hand dismissively. "Thanks for the help. Make sure the civilians reach safety."
"A small collection? You better start drafting your report to headquarters."
Smoker grumbled, "You show up, and an entire archipelago vanishes. Who did you fight? One of the Four Emperors?"
If Kuro had lost, that treasury would've crashed down again.
If it fell on that continent, it would've annihilated an entire nation.
Without even trying, this guy had become a nation-killer!
And it was effortless.
"I told you—I found One Piece", Kuro said.
Smoker froze. "One Piece? Luffy?!"
Kuro rolled his eyes. "Are you joking with Old Man now?"
"You started it!"
Smoker retorted. "Anyway, looks like your vacation's over. This archipelago belonged to the World Government. You'll need to explain this mess. Let me know if you need help covering your tracks."
"Don't worry about it", Kuro shrugged, his expression indifferent.
Worried about this?
The World Government trying to pin this on him?
He'd welcome it.
Let them transfer him back to the Four Seas?
Did they dare?
If they did, he'd face the consequences head-on!
Let them throw every demotion and disciplinary action they had at him!
"Fine, as long as you're confident. I'll take the people and go. G-5's fortress still has undeveloped islands we can settle them on."
Smoker bid farewell and sailed toward the Grand Line. Many aboard cast lingering glances at Garthia.
"Hey Feld the Hidden, what are you staring at?"
One crewmate nudged a man in his thirties. "Even if you look, your hometown won't come back."
"It wasn't really home", Feld the Hidden replied, glancing back. "We only settled here twenty years ago. Time makes you sentimental, but since it's gone, it's gone. Besides, I've got a dream to fulfill—I'll become a traveling adventurer."
"Haha, you've been chasing that dream for fifteen years. Good luck!"
As Smoker led the survivors away, Kuro couldn't linger either. He wanted to stay, but headquarters had contacted Klah, ordering their immediate return. The World Government would handle Garthia's aftermath.
Within a day, Kuro received confirmation.
Garthia's destruction was resolved.
The World Government's news broadcast claimed a massive earthquake had obliterated the archipelago, but all residents were rescued safely.
Kuro's role in the destruction was unmentionable. As a Navy officer and symbol of Justice, such an act would tarnish the Navy's honor and the World Government's reputation.
As for the World Government disciplining Kuro? Unthinkable.
Not only was he famous within the Navy, but his power to destroy entire archipelagos made them reluctant to provoke him.
If they dared act, they wouldn't be the World Government.
Besides, Kuro was now the second-in-command of a key Navy faction. The World Government would weigh these factors carefully.
They wouldn't blame him even if he'd slaughtered everyone on the island.
Earthquakes were common in this oceanic world. Losing a few islands to natural disasters was nothing unusual.
Back at headquarters, Lucius Kro made a call, his face reflected on a Transponder Snail screen. "Oh~ Kuro, who did you meet this time? You destroyed an archipelago—aren't you hurt?"
The Transponder Snail's voice replied, "Almost got killed by an old man. A sixth-level criminal sent me twenty years back. I met One Piece and had a fight."
"Oh~ How terrifying", Lucius Kro chuckled, though his tone clearly said he believed not a word.
Who would buy this story?
You destroyed the current archipelago—what does twenty years ago have to do with it?
"Whatever, forget that. Just come back first. Your subordinates Kas and Wilbur have arrived. Wilbur even built your ship. He worked really hard."
"A new ship?"
The Transponder Snail displayed a raised eyebrow. "Did it follow my specifications?"
"Supposedly. Your subordinates claim it's built to your exact standards. Old Man even helped a bit."
"Fine, I'll be back."
Click.
Lucius Kro hung up and stroked his chin. "Twenty years ago..."
Wait, wasn't there a call back then asking him to find Gramps?
Or maybe not. It was too long ago.
"Whatever, not important."
Lucius Kro picked up his nail clipper and started trimming his nails.
(End of Chapter)
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