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Chapter 606: Such a Lot of Gold!
Chapter 606: Such a Lot of Gold!
"Ah! The Golden Lion?!" Kas suddenly exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. "I understand now, Kuro, sir!"
Understand what? You keep saying you understand but you never do.
Kuro rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed by Kas’s enthusiasm. He waved a hand dismissively. "Enough. Take me to the office first. Everyone else, find your positions on the ship. Kas, you’ll handle the deployment of your navy division."
"Kuro, sir, please follow me. Your quarters are in the largest fortress over there", Wilbur said, pointing toward the central bastion of the fortress cluster.
That was Kuro’s domain.
At the very top of the fortress was Kuro’s private room—a single, spacious chamber with the highest ceiling. Directly below it was his office.
The office was equally grand. Before a massive square desk sat a golden chair padded with soft velvet cushions. In front of the desk were two large sofas, each flanked by a coffee table. The entire space was lavishly decorated, exuding opulence.
A pair of navy flags stood proudly at the entrance, adding to the regal atmosphere.
The lower levels contained empty rooms, their purposes yet undecided. Wilbur had focused solely on Kuro’s needs during the ship’s construction, leaving other arrangements for later.
"Listen up. You can choose your offices in this main fortress, but for living quarters, pick rooms in the other bastions", Kuro said after inspecting his chambers. He plopped down onto the golden chair, shifting his weight to get comfortable before leaning back with a satisfied sigh.
It had to be said—though the ship was ostentatious, it was undeniably luxurious. The finest materials had been used, rivaling even the splendor of Mariejois.
"Eh? We’re not staying together?" Lida asked, her voice tinged with disappointment.
Kuro rolled his eyes again. "Why the disappointment? We’ve never shared quarters before. Go pick your own room."
"Fine. I’ll take the bastion next to yours", Lida muttered, crossing her arms. "And for my office, I’ll take the floor below you."
"Do as you like. Let Wilbur know if you need anything", Kuro replied. "Klah, you should get familiar with the layout too."
"At once, Kuro, sir", Wilbur nodded eagerly.
Kuro still had tasks for him—this meant he hadn’t lost his trust.
What a relief!
"Now then", Kuro said, crossing his legs and resting his chin on one hand while the other idly tapped the golden sculpture of the armrest.
Boom!!
Outside, the colossal Golden Lion suddenly rose from the sea, sending a cascade of seawater spraying into the air.
"It’s flying! It’s actually flying!"
The navy crew nearby stared skyward, their expressions a mix of awe and disbelief.
"Vice Admiral! The ship’s flying!!" they shouted, panic creeping into their voices.
"Calm yourselves. This is normal", Vice Admiral Togeko replied, his gaze fixed on the ascending vessel. "The Golden Lion is Vice Admiral Kuro’s ship. There’s no cause for alarm. As navy officers, you must remain composed—showing panic only exposes your weaknesses to enemies."
"Y-Yes, Vice Admiral Togeko!" The crew snapped to attention, saluting sharply.
Still, Togeko couldn’t help shaking his head. "Kuro, you show-off. A ship this massive taking flight on a whim… but then again, it’s not surprising anymore."
The ship soared higher, vanishing into the clouds until it was beyond sight. Under Kuro’s command, it set course for the Red Line.
Inside the Golden Lion, three thousand navy crew members manned their stations, though their roles were largely ceremonial—the ship’s flight relied entirely on Kuro’s abilities. Elsewhere, the rest of the crew dispersed to select their offices and quarters.
Kuro leaned back in his chair, gazing through the floor-to-ceiling window at the endless sky ahead. His fingers twitched idly as he steered the ship. "The Old Man acts like this… how’s he any different from that old fool Shanks? Still, if we can stay airborne, maybe it’s not so bad."
Flying above the clouds meant no pirates to bother them. Even if the ship was conspicuous, it wouldn’t matter if no one could see it.
But in the end, there was no need.
Ships were meant for sailing, not hovering in the sky. If he spent all his time using his powers to fly, he’d never encounter anyone—and no one would find him either.
After all, he was still a navy officer.
...
Paradise.
Beyond the Red Line, opposite the New World.
"My men—we’re back!!"
A massive, weathered pirate ship surfaced from the depths, its coated membrane glistening as it broke through the waves. On the deck stood a rugged captain wearing a tricorn hat, his hand gripping a blade as he roared to the sky.
"Oooh!!"
The crew erupted in cheers, pumping their fists.
"We’ve finally escaped that hell!" one pirate sobbed with joy. "I never want to set foot in the New World again! Paradise is where it’s at!"
"Aye, Paradise is our home!" the captain grinned maliciously. "The New World is behind us. From now on, we’ll raid right here in Paradise. We survived that hell, and now we’ll carve out a glorious future!"
To them, the New World had been a living hell. Surviving was a miracle in itself.
Back here, their hardened Haki would make short work of any rivals. Even the navy wouldn’t dare challenge them now.
"Let’s rest up, then hit a town to announce our return!" the captain laughed.
"Oooh!!"
As the pirates celebrated, a shadow loomed overhead.
One crewmate looked up, stunned. A brilliant golden light blazed in the sky, descending rapidly.
"Is… the sun falling?" he murmured.
Then realization struck. "Something’s falling!!"
The crew turned in unison, staring at the radiant golden object plummeting toward them.
Boom!!
The object struck the sea, unleashing a towering wave that slammed into the pirate ship, nearly capsizing it before tossing it far ashore.
"What in the world is that?!" the captain bellowed, straightening his hat as he stared at the horizon.
The golden object emerged from the mist, its form slowly revealing itself.
"Gold! It’s made of gold!!" a pirate screamed. "It’s a golden ship!"
"Such a lot of gold!! So dazzling!"
"A golden ship… a legend?!"
The captain’s eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a greedy grin. "A treasure beyond measure… My men, let’s move! We’re claiming that ship!"
(End of Chapter)
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