Chapter 662: An Issue of Attitude
Chapter 662: An Issue of Attitude
Liku’s words plunged Kuro into an eerie silence.
After a long pause, Kuro finally uttered one word.
“Huh?”
His tone brimmed with disbelief, confusion, and a hint of disdain.
“Old man, I’ve gotta call you out on that remark.”
Kuro stepped forward, standing tall to match Liku’s imposing height, locking eyes with him. The killing intent lingering in Kuro’s gaze from his recent combat made Liku instinctively retreat a step.
“King, please step back!”
Cyrus hopped forward on one leg, positioning himself protectively in front of Liku, his body tensed against Kuro.
That killing intent—Liku might not have fully grasped its weight, but as a warrior, Cyrus sensed it immediately. Though faint, it was enough to set his nerves on edge.
This Navy officer before him was a man forged in blood and carnage! The danger radiating from him rivaled even Donquixote Doflamingo’s.
“Cyrus, huh?”
Kuro’s eyes swept over the one-legged swordsman. “I know who you are—a fairly renowned swordsman. While we Navy don’t meddle in Kingdom affairs, there are some things we need to discuss.”
He gestured at his soot-streaked coat. “Look at me—filthy! You think this is just random bad luck? And this crater behind me?” He pointed at the massive chunk of land torn away. “You blind? Couldn’t you see Charlotte Big Mom barreling through?”
Cyrus stiffened. He’d sensed the earth-shaking battle two days ago—the clash of titans that had raged for 48 hours. Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors, was a living nightmare.
Liku piped up from behind Cyrus: “The Four Emperors were targeting you, yes. You protected the people, which was right. But Luffy’s crew also saved my nation.”
“Huh?!”
Kuro spat out a plume of cigarette smoke, the gray cloud enveloping both men. “Get this straight—I’m not talking about whether you let some petty pirates go! My issue is your attitude, old man! You released them, fine! But why the hell did you have to stand there and preach about it? And why drag the King’s authority into this? You don’t have a clue how that title was even obtained, do you? Who do you think saved your country? Did the old man do it? My brother and I fought the Four Emperors for two days straight! Two days! You have any idea what we went through?!”
“Big Mom came for me? If you’d let her loose, you wouldn’t be standing here—Dressrosa wouldn’t have a single stone left to stand on!”
Whether from Kuro’s roar or the raw aura radiating off him, both Liku and Cyrus took a step back.
“Big Mom… Is it really okay to call her that?” Cyrus swallowed hard.
“…Apologies. I didn’t consider that,” Liku muttered, lowering his head.
Kuro glanced at him before turning to Minorin. “Did the neighboring nations acknowledge the broadcast?”
“They transmitted it to nearby countries,” Minorin confirmed, then hesitated. “Kuro… calling Luffy a ‘petty pirate’ might be too dismissive. Fleet Admiral Sakazuki’s been struggling with them lately.”
“Boroboroboro!”
Suddenly, a Transponder Snail nearby crackled to life. A Navy officer clutching the device rushed over.
“Report! It’s Fleet Admiral Sakazuki calling!”
Kuro shot Liku a glare. “Navy business—no outsiders allowed. Scram. We’ll settle the rest later.”
The two men and their soldiers withdrew without protest.
Yi Xiao activated the Transponder Snail.
“Sakazuki,” he greeted.
“Vegapunk?” The voice from the Snail was gravelly and grim. “Big Mom retreated?”
“Correct. After two days of battle, she withdrew when things turned unfavorable,” Yi Xiao nodded.
“Unforgivable! If you’d held her off longer, Sengoku might’ve arrived in time to trap her!”
Sakazuki paused. “As for Luffy’s crew and Law escaping—don’t blame yourselves. You were pinned down by Big Mom. You’ve done enough.”
“No, Sakazuki. I believe the Navy should apologize to Dressrosa. The darkness that festered here was born from the World Government’s and Navy’s inaction. Evil took root because we failed to act.”
The Transponder Snail fell silent. After a long pause, Sakazuki’s voice returned—laced with both confusion and rising anger. “Huh? Evil? Took root?!”
The Snail crackled faintly, drawing Kuro’s sharp gaze.
“I’ll handle this.”
Before Yi Xiao could continue, Kuro snatched the receiver. “Brother, let’s not air this right after combat. We’re Navy—we’ll sort this internally.”
Kuro knew exactly what Yi Xiao intended to say.
Yi Xiao had always believed Dressrosa’s corruption under the Seven Warlords was a mistake—a belief evident in how he’d held back during his fight with Sabo. As a Navy officer, he felt bound by rules, but as a man, he’d bet on Luffy, believing the Navy had no stake in saving Dressrosa.
A dangerous stance.
If Yi Xiao kept pushing, he’d clash with Sakazuki. Better to handle this internally than let it blow up publicly.
Kuro leaned into the receiver. “Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, it’s me. Where are you now?”
“Kuro?” The anger in Sakazuki’s voice dulled slightly. “You’ve done well. I’m at Mariejois now.”
Of course. He’d be with the Five Elders. Arguing now would only corner Sakazuki.
“Let’s discuss Dressrosa later, face-to-face.”
“As for Donquixote Doflamingo—Big Mom should’ve warned us first. That damned King Riku slipped us a fast one.”
He meant Riku’s failure to notify the World Government or Navy of Doflamingo’s defeat and his own ascension to the throne. The latter wasn’t a major issue, but the former damaged the Navy’s prestige.
As for the World Government’s reputation…
The World Government could kiss his ass.
“Let the higher-ups handle this. We still have time.”
Kuro scanned the area. “I’ll personally oversee Donquixote Doflamingo until Sengoku arrives.”
(End of Chapter)
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