https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-600-Twenty-Six-Years-A-Dream-Unchanged/13538674/
Chapter 599: Kuzan, You Absent-Minded Drifter
Chapter 599: Kuzan, You Absent-Minded Drifter
The crimson sun climbed higher into the sky.
The battle had ended, and the night’s darkness gradually faded. From the eastern horizon, the sun’s golden edge slowly rose, painting the sky with dawn’s light.
On the sandy shore, the gathered Navy soldiers halted their movements, forming a silent circle around the scene.
In the center, Kuro unsheathed Autumn Water, swinging it in one fluid motion to fling off a spray of blood.
Zeff had already collapsed to the ground during Kuro’s strike.
A faint smile lingered on his face—part relief, part fulfillment.
“Hmph.”
Kuro exhaled softly, resheathing Autumn Water as he stared down at Zeff, his expression a tangle of emotions.
The surrounding officers stood in solemn silence, their faces equally somber.
After a long pause, Kuro closed his eyes. “Farewell, Teacher Zeff.”
Zeff had fallen in their joint assault.
Killed by those he once trained—his former disciples. And the final blow, delivered by Kuro, his last student, sealed his fate.
“It’s over, then.”
Borsalino approached, his mirrored sunglasses reflecting the light as he glanced at Zeff’s body. He followed Kuro’s gaze to the distant ice wall and added, “Come to think of it, did that icehead show up too?”
You know the answer, old man.
Kuro rolled his eyes—white—a clear sign of disdain. Whether Kuzan came or not, you’d already know, wouldn’t you?
But it hardly mattered now.
“What about Zeff’s body?” Kuro asked.
“Back to Headquarters, of course. Even if he left the Navy, he was never branded a criminal. No rule forbids us from burying a civilian,” Lucius Kro shrugged.
“Fine. But—”
Kuro crouched beside Zeff, gripped his right hand, and with a sharp twist, removed the prosthetic leg.
“This’ll be my keepsake.” He held up the limb.
No objections arose.
After all, a memento from the dead was only natural.
Once Zeff’s remains were secured, the group dispersed.
They couldn’t linger here. Nearly every high-ranking Navy officer had gathered for this mission—Base Commanders and duty-bound leaders from across the seas. Only Zeff’s unique status had compelled them all to assemble.
Their task complete, they set sail without delay.
“Kuro, aren’t you leaving?”
Lucius Kro called from the harbor.
“I’ll stay the night. Tired,” Kuro replied.
Lucius nodded. “Suit yourself. The old man at Headquarters is waiting. You do have that new post to take up, y’know.”
With that, he boarded his ship and departed.
Once alone, Kuro shook his head, glancing toward a distant rise. “Oi. Watching long enough? Time to come out.”
“Aww, caught me,” Kuzan chuckled, scratching his head as he stepped into view. “Thought I’d stay hidden.”
Right. Like that ice wall wasn’t visible for miles.
Kuro’s lips twitched.
“Zeff Teacher!!”
As Kuzan emerged, two figures burst from behind him—Ai En and Binz, sprinting to the shattered mechanical arm on the sand, wailing in grief.
“I was about to leave, but… these two are my juniors, sorta. Or seniors, depending on perspective. You were the last to join, after all,” Kuzan shrugged.
“Cut the crap!”
A blue vein throbbed on Kuro’s temple. Seniority?! Since when?!
“Me? A junior to you? An Admiral candidate?!”
“Anyway, that’s how it is. Can I take the mechanical arm?” Kuzan gestured to the debris. “Not Navy anymore. Need a memento.”
“Do what you like. No one else wants it. Honestly, Vegapunk’s a fool—why a mechanical arm? A simple prosthetic would’ve sufficed. Reliance on gadgets never ends well.”
“You’re one to talk!” Kuzan jabbed a finger at Kuro’s waist.
“Shut it! The Old Man was a swordsman and a Devil Fruit user! Not some barehanded brute!”
Kuro snarled. “Finish your nonsense and vanish, or I’ll arrest you! Arrest you, pirate of Blackbeard’s crew!”
“Aww, harsh words,” Kuzan chuckled, eyeing Zeff’s body. “Still… not a bad end. A man fulfilling his final wish? Admirable. What about these two? The Neonavy’s crushed plenty of pirates, but without Zeff, survival’s bleak.”
“Speak plainly!” Kuro snapped, stomping over to kick Binz’s shoulder.
The two halted their sobs, glancing up.
“I told Zeff—if he fell, I’d take you in. You’re ex-Navy now, but rehiring’s possible. Join me?”
He owed Zeff a debt. And they were his dōjō brothers and sisters—no way he’d let them flounder in the New World.
As Kuzan said, without Zeff, the Neonavy would crumble, hunted by vengeful pirates. The soldiers could retire quietly, but these two? No way.
“Join the Navy again?” Ai En blinked, then shook her head. “No. I’ve lost faith. I’ll stay by Zeff Teacher’s grave.”
“Same here!” Binz declared.
“Not asking,” Kuro growled. “You’re Neonavy officers—pirates will target you. As family, I can’t stand by. And you’re Devil Fruit users—better I watch you. Zeff cared for you. He could die fulfilled, but you? Your goals aren’t done. Fighting pirates? The Navy’s your best bet.”
“Or,” he jabbed a thumb at Kuzan, “you’d rather tag along with this Madao?”
“Oi, ‘Madao’? Sounds insulting!” Kuzan whined.
“Clarifying: a wandering, jobless drifter. Especially you, Kuzan. From Admiral to vagabond? Pathetic.”
“Touching,” Kuzan sighed, turning to the pair. “Still, tagging with a drifter’s no life. Rejoin the Navy. No shame. You want pirates? Let’s hunt them together.”
(End of Chapter)
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