https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-647-Taking-It-Counts-as-Keeping-It-Right-/13538912/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-649-If-You-Die-Life-Won-t-Have-Tragedies/13538914/
Chapter 648: Navy is Lawful
Chapter 648: Navy is Lawful
"Kshhhkshhkshh... Looks like I'll have to take emergency measures."
Inside the room, Donquixote Doflamingo's severed corpse lay motionless, still grinning grotesquely. Behind the swordsman with the broken leg, the intact form of Donquixote Doflamingo reappeared, lifting his foot—but failing to kick the crippled swordsman.
He glanced downward, his face twisting into its signature wicked grin: "Luffy!"
The Luffy-costumed figure had protected Cyrus.
With a flick of his hand, five fingers strung with threads shot forward. Simultaneously, the headless clone rose, its single arm slashing upward to seize the Luffy below.
Boom!
A cloud of dust erupted from the ground.
From the haze, Luffy and the injured swordsman soared out, crashing into the wall.
"Dodged it? Kshhhkshhkshh..."
Donquixote Doflamingo chuckled, his grin widening: "Pica."
Boom! Boom!
The ground rippled like water, sending shockwaves across the battlefield. A stone colossus emerged, its massive hands bursting from the earth to crush Luffy and his allies before dragging them underground.
"Kshhhkshhkshh... King Riku—no, Riku Dold Iii."
Donquixote Doflamingo's malevolent gaze fixed on the sole figure still above ground—King Riku. His voice dripped with mockery: "Let's relive that scene from ten years ago."
"You're going to—"
King Riku's pupils constricted as memories surged. His face paled: "No! Don't do this, Donquixote Doflamingo! Please!"
"Kshhhkshhkshh! Can't blame me!"
Doflamingo tilted his head back, laughing wildly: "It's all your fault! If you hadn't meddled, I wouldn't have to do this! Sugar passed out—ten years of work ruined in an instant! I have no choice!"
"Donquixote Dofla—"
Before King Riku could finish, the stone arm tightened, choking off his words.
"Watch closely! Ten years ago was just child's play. This time, I'm going all out!"
Doflamingo extended his five fingers. From the clone's neck, countless threads erupted, piercing the sky like fireworks.
"Let me remind you what hell feels like!"
"Not happening."
Suddenly, a voice cut through the chaos.
Doflamingo froze, turning his head.
Kuro approached leisurely, Lida trailing behind him, a cigar dangling from his lips: "Your ability still has limits, right?"
Gladius instinctively stepped back, sweat beading his forehead: "Golden Lion?!"
Doflamingo paused, his voice darkening: "Kuro, you know my ability?"
"Vaguely", Kuro replied, eyes following the threads blooming across the sky like white fireworks.
"Whatever—pirates, soldiers, officials, do as you please. But keep your 'Parasite Threads' away from Navy and civilians."
"Kshhhkshhkshh! You think I can control that precisely? I'm Dressrosa's king! My freedom is my own!" Doflamingo spat. "You're just Navy—you have no right to dictate me!"
"Oh?"
Kuro's eyes lowered. He crouched, pressing his palm to the ground.
A breeze stirred, rustling clothes and hair before sweeping across Dressrosa.
"I admit—I have no right to stop you. But as Navy, saving civilians is my duty. If this 'King' refuses, I'll handle it myself."
"Of course", Kuro added, "if civilians suddenly escape your ability's range and start spreading rumors... well, that's none of my concern."
He stood, brushing dust from his coat: "You can do whatever you want—just don't pressure civilians. That's all."
"You think I won't take you down?!"
A blue vein throbbed on Doflamingo's temple, but his body remained frozen.
Take me down? Impossible. If you actually managed it, I'd thank your ancestors eight times over.
Seeing Kuro's unshaken smirk, Doflamingo gritted his teeth:
"Tch. Fine. For your sake, I'll spare Navy and civilians. But control your new Admiral! That brat claiming to abolish the Seven Warlords? Kshhhkshhkshh! Will Navy's balance really shatter through a rookie?"
"Internal matters—none of your business."
Kuro slapped Doflamingo's shoulder, his grin widening: "I'm easygoing if you're reasonable. My rule? If I don't see it, I don't interfere. The world's full of unlucky souls—I can't save everyone. But if I witness something... well, I'll act. That's Navy for you."
"Right, Kuro's easygoing!" Lida chirped. "Hey, maid! My food earlier was dirty—get me more!"
Baby-5 perked up: "M-Me? Yes! Right away!" She skipped off, beaming: "I'm needed again~"
"Navy... you..."
King Riku stared at Kuro. Had this man alone forced the terrifying Doflamingo to restrain his Birdcage?
"King Riku?"
Kuro turned to the hooded elder with the muscular frame, his smile softening: "Your Majesty, take care of yourself. Dressrosa still needs your guidance."
Whoosh!
With a flash, Kuro's blade severed the stone hand gripping him, the force sending King Riku soaring free.
"What do you mean, Kuro?"
Doflamingo's grin turned venomous: "You think I'll lose?!"
Kuro walked to the broken wall, gazing at the chaos below: "I believed in you. You promised to take this seriously—but then toys became humans? Impressive. Your Devil Fruit users are certainly... unique."
"An accident", Gladius muttered. "We'll fix it."
"Don't report to me—we're not hierarchical. You're just pirates. But..."
Kuro leaned on the rubble, eyes scanning the battlefield: "You're pathetic. Is every pirate-ruled nation this wretched?"
Another blue vein throbbed. Doflamingo inhaled sharply, his grin returning: "Kshhhkshhkshh! What are you implying?!"
"Don't lose."
The wind tugged Kuro's cloak as his voice carried:
"Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, Gramps, myself—we Navy can't afford that shame. If you fall, everything you've built will vanish."
Doflamingo's expression darkened, then erupted into laughter: "Kshhhkshhkshh! Doubting me? Those brats? I'm laughing just thinking about it!"
Kuro shrugged, silent.
Unlike Yi Xiao—who used Navy to enforce his own Justice—Kuro, the old-school Navy, operated strictly within the system.
Their Justice existed within rules and procedures.
To radicals or civilians, Navy might seem far from righteous. After all, how could a 'hero' casually chat with a criminal kingpin?
Kuro often claimed to be a 'good man,' but he knew true goodness wasn't his style.
The world wasn't black and white.
Kuro had limits.
Navy, by nature, was lawful.
Whether that lawfulness meant mercy, neutrality, or cruelty... well, that remained unclear.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
