https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-640-Human-Shaped-Misfortune-Machine/13538847/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-642-Chaotic-Fists-Defeating-the-Old-Master-/13538850/
Chapter 641: Finally, Someone Understands Me! (Transition)
Chapter 641: Finally, Someone Understands Me! (Transition)
Moer had joined the Golden Lion, but since he wasn’t officially enlisted, they couldn’t treat him as a full Navy member. So they let him stay aboard the ship, free to do as he pleased.
Except for restricted areas, Moer could wander the ship at will. But more often than not, he’d end up in Kuro’s office.
It wasn’t because Kuro believed in superstition and wanted Moer’s bad luck to help achieve his goals. Definitely not.
It was simply because the messenger he’d chosen needed to familiarize himself with the job. That was all.
Inside the office, Kuro glanced at the man standing at the door, appearing to be dutifully on guard.
“Hey, how long have you been in the New World?”
No response.
Moer’s eyes were wide open, staring blankly into the distance, motionless as a statue.
“Moer?”
“Hmmph…”
A soft snore escaped Moer’s nose as his head bobbed forward. A bubble formed at his nostril.
Kuro’s forehead twitched with a faint blue vein. With a flick of his finger, the pen on his desk shot forward, spearing Moer.
Plop!
The pen burst his snot bubble and jabbed into his nose.
“Ow!”
Moer jolted awake, clutching his nose and yanking out the pen.
“Ah, Vice Admiral Kuro! I was on duty!” he stammered, suddenly straightening up with a serious expression.
“You think the Old Man’s blind?”
Kuro arched a brow, waving a hand in exasperation. “Shape up! You’re not even Navy yet.”
Moer’s laziness was legendary—infuriatingly so. During their Grand Line voyage, even Kuro had heard tales.
He spent most of his time sleeping or lying on the deck staring at the sky, looking oddly melancholic. But when asked, his mind was utterly blank.
And he was disgustingly slovenly. Even Ju Geng couldn’t understand his slurred speech, muttering, “We don’t need oil for cooking anymore just by looking at him.”
Disheveled, grimy, and oily, he resembled a middle-aged man who’d lost his dream. No need for “resembled”—he was a middle-aged man who’d lost his dream.
“I asked how long you were in the New World.”
“A few months. Not that long.”
Moer yawned. “We were using Grande Port as our base, expanding outward. Holy Maiden Saleria thought it’d be easier if we cleared out nearby threats first. It was also to target you lot.”
Saleria’s plan wasn’t just a random pit stop.
They’d aimed straight for G-3’s vicinity.
G-3 had few pirates, and its Navy base was infamous enough to deter many. Eliminating G-3’s Navy first, then nearby pirates, would let them seize the region piece by piece.
But they hadn’t even completed the first step before Kuro showed up.
“Not bad,” Kuro said, shaking his head with disdain. “But naive. Once the Navy gets wind of this, they won’t back down. If they react—sending anyone here—it’ll all fall apart.”
Even if Kuro weren’t here, Headquarters would’ve sensed something amiss and dispatched a Vice Admiral. Exposure was inevitable.
Even if Saleria’s ability affected a Vice Admiral, the anomaly would still be detected. Then the Navy would send elites.
And Saleria would still fall.
If not, an Admiral would come next.
“During your months in the New World, did you notice any pirates or issues nearby?” Kuro asked.
Moer shrugged. “G-3’s area is pretty safe. But elsewhere… pirates in the New World are different. They’re terrifying. Almost every pirate surviving here has their own territory.”
It was true. Unlike the Paradise or Four Seas, New World pirates weren’t just lone ships seizing fame. They were dangerous, each with their own domain.
These domains formed criminal empires radiating outward. The largest? The Four Emperors—the strongest in the New World.
But even lesser ones weren’t to be trifled with. Surviving under the Navy’s and Four Emperors’ gaze meant power.
“Know who fired on G-3?” Kuro asked.
“Huh? G-3 was attacked? By pirates?”
Moer blinked. “That’s Navy hero Garp’s territory, isn’t it?”
Even he, indifferent to Grand Line affairs, knew Garp’s name.
“He’s retired. It’s mine now.”
Kuro pulled out a cigar box, tossed one to Moer, then lit one for himself. A spark flared at the tip as he exhaled a plume of smoke.
“The Old Man’s lost face. Need to fix that, or the news of G-3’s attack spreading will stir up the pirates. That’d be a mess.”
“Sounds annoying,” Moer agreed, raising a thumb with a grin. “I get you!”
A faint smile tugged at Kuro’s lips.
That was another reason he kept Moer around.
Finally, someone in this world understood his thoughts!
Not about promotions, fame, or justice.
Just wanting to live safely and comfortably.
And Moer, this slovenly middle-aged wreck, understood it perfectly—because he, too, was a “middle-aged wreck.”
What? Twenty-somethings aren’t middle-aged wrecks?
In the eyes of past youth, twenty was practically ancient!
“Though I really don’t know,” Moer shrugged, lighting the cigar. “I gave Saleria back my ‘sloth’ power long ago. I’ve been guarding Iron Maiden the whole time.”
He popped the cigar in his mouth, struck a match, and inhaled. “Huh, quality stuff. Navy life’s great, huh?”
“You don’t need ‘sloth’—you’re lazy enough. If you’re sleepy, just go nap somewhere.”
“Huh? Seriously? I don’t have to fake guard duty anymore?” Moer asked, hopeful.
Kuro waved him off, leaning back with a report in hand.
“Yi Xiao’s brother has already headed to Dressrosa.”
“Yi Xiao?” Lida, munching snacks on the couch, blinked. “Vegapunk? What’s he doing there?”
“Sent by Fleet Admiral Sakazuki,” Kuro said, biting his cigar. “That flamingo pulled a disappearing act. Headquarters wants to check things out. But it’s nothing to do with the Old Man.”
(End of Chapter)
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