https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-608-Your-Haki-Can-t-Match-My-Hardened-Will/13538685/
Chapter 609: Navy's Prestige (×) Pirate Attractor (√)
Chapter 609: Navy's Prestige (×) Pirate Attractor (√)
After Sazil's return, the Navy members submitted the treasures they had obtained, which Klah then inventoried before reporting to Kuro.
"Captain Kuro, this time we seized three full bags of loot—plenty of gold coins from various nations, and some gold ornaments. The overall purity wasn't high, but I brought the highest-quality pieces. The rest is valued at around fifty million Beri."
As he spoke, Klah placed a small cloth pouch on the table. Opening it revealed several well-crafted gold ornaments.
Gold was hard currency—at least in this world. The Beri was also pegged to gold.
"Old Rules, convert it to cash and distribute it. It's not much anyway", Kuro said.
Fifty million Beri divided among three thousand people meant over ten thousand each—better than nothing.
"Hey? There's a crown here!"
Lida hopped off the sofa, rummaging through the pouch. She picked up a golden crown, placed it on her head, and spun around to show Kuro. "Do I look good?"
"That's grave goods—why are you wearing it? If you want a throne, just make your brother abdicate."
Kuro rolled a White Eye, then absently touched the gold earring on his lobe. This piece had once shattered and was repaired, but Lida didn't know—and couldn't know.
With a flick of his finger, a gemstone-studded gold necklace from the pouch floated upward, hovering before Lida.
"This one's nice. Play with it", Kuro said.
"Hmm, a necklace?"
Lida tossed the crown aside and grabbed the floating necklace, grinning. "Kuro, is this a gift from you?"
"Play with it for now. When we find a good accessory artisan, I'll get you a better one", Kuro replied.
"Okay~"
Lida fiddled with the necklace, barely listening as her full attention stayed on the jewelry.
"Klah, take the rest and let the others pick what they like. Let them play with it. Don't sell the better pieces", Kuro instructed.
As for Beri, he had plenty. Pegasus Island had earned a fortune, and half the taxes from Shabondy went to him.
Originally, he should receive two-sixths, with one-sixth going to Sengoku, and the remaining three-sixths to Gramps.
But Gramps had little interest in money. In the end, he took only Kuro's share and transferred his own portion to Kuro.
Truthfully, Kuro had to insist just to get him to accept it.
Regardless, Gramps had stood by him, so repayment was necessary.
Kuro could be indifferent, but he had to show proper respect.
Now, the only one left to honor in life was Gramps.
The rest were already ashes and incense.
After dealing with that pirate ship, the Golden Lion sailed from the Grand Line toward the Calm Belt, heading back to the East Blue.
He wouldn't make the ship detour through Paradise. A round-trip voyage was fine on the way here, but now he needed to return to pay his respects.
But the Grand Line was still a mess. Even after the Summit War, the World Recruitment, and the Navy's stabilization efforts, pirates never ceased.
Especially on the Grand Line, when a massive golden ship sailed by, any pirate who spotted it inevitably came to investigate.
No matter their intentions, gold always drew them in.
Even if pirates saw the wrecked ship ahead, they still tried their luck.
As the saying went: Try and die.
Pirates discovering the Golden Lion kept rushing forward, only to sink into the sea.
Boom!
Boom! Boom!
In his office, Kuro lay in his chair, listening to the cannon fire outside. A faint blue vein throbbed on his forehead.
"What the hell are they doing?!"
Kuro sat up, roaring, "Can't a guy sleep?! Klah! Klah!!"
Klah soon appeared at the office door, panting slightly. "Coming, Captain Kuro."
"What's going on out there?!"
Kuro pointed at the flames outside the window, his blue vein bulging. "Can't anyone rest?! What's the situation? Do they think I'm some kind of demon king? Are they trying to dismantle Old Man's ship?!"
How many days had passed?
They hadn't even reached the Calm Belt's border. In this short time, every pirate they encountered attacked.
From millions to tens of millions in bounty, even famous pirates in Paradise, the moment they spotted the Golden Lion, they charged in—only to be sunk by cannon fire or eliminated by Navy officers led by Kas.
Technically, this was efficient. But it was annoying as hell!
"Are they blind?! Can't they see Old Man's ship is a warship?! This is the most prestigious warship in the Navy!"
Kuro bared his teeth. "Aren't they afraid? Don't they know Old Man's here?! Are they that desperate to die?!"
Initially, Kuro considered just flying the ship again, but then he thought—wouldn't that mean he feared pirates?
He was a Navy Vice Admiral and an Admiral candidate! Could he really be scared of pirates in Paradise?
If it were the Four Emperors, that'd be one thing—he couldn't fight them. But backing down from small-time pirates? Where would that leave his reputation?
At first, he figured with so many crewmates, picking off reckless pirates would be easy. And it was.
But still—he was annoyed!
From dawn to dusk, cannon fire never ceased.
Even at night, he could hear explosions while trying to sleep.
"Captain Kuro..."
Klah swallowed hard. "The Golden Lion's Navy flag is inherently small, and this is a golden ship. It's natural for it to attract greedy types."
"Natural? Natural my ass!"
Kuro snapped, "If Old Man's trip to Paradise is like this, going to the New World would have pirates charging like dogs after meat! Wait, no—like dogs after meat!"
The Golden Lion was majestic, but damn it—it was a pirate attractor!
They'd already collected so many pirate heads, planning to find a Marine Branch to exchange them for merit.
The Commanders like Klah couldn't be promoted, but Lieutenants like Sazil might get a boost.
As for Ai En, after Kuro spoke with Gramps, Headquarters approved her reemployment as a Commander. She had previously held a dual role as a scientist, so after boarding the ship, she applied for a research institute and started tinkering with projects.
Binz became a Commander.
Their former Neo Navy had a Commodore, but Togeko captured him and sent him to Impel Down.
As former colleagues, Headquarters naturally wouldn't let him die, but he'd still face consequences. After serving his sentence, Togeko mentioned considering his release.
In the Navy, there was still camaraderie. No need to make things life-or-death. One lesson, like Zeff's, was enough.
(End of Chapter)
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