https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-668-Old-Man-Has-Tolerated-You-For-Far-Too-Long-/13538971/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-670-He-s-the-Person-I-Admire-Most-/13538973/
Chapter 669
Chapter 669
"Navylord, greetings. I'm deeply grateful you protected us during the war", David Pancha said, bowing respectfully to Kuro before continuing, "May I ask, what business do you have with me?"
The man was towering—easily over eight feet tall. Though his frame was lean, his every movement radiated raw strength. His exposed arms and neck hinted at well-defined muscles beneath his simple attire.
But that wasn’t the most striking part.
Clang!
Crash!
The metallic clatter of chains echoed.
Donquixote Doflamingo’s voice dripped with menace: "This aura... How many generations has it been? You still haven’t forgotten, huh? Kill them and release me! Kshhhkshhkshh! You are a Pansha, after all!"
David merely glanced at Donquixote Doflamingo before ignoring him entirely, lowering his head humbly as he clasped his hands together. His posture was stiff with nervousness, the picture of a provincial farmer who’d never seen the world beyond his village.
Well, because that’s exactly what he was.
"David Pancha." Kuro’s tone was blunt. "I’ll be direct—do you want to become king?"
The air seemed to freeze.
Every person inside the tent—CP0 agents included—fixed their eyes on David.
"King?" David blinked, instinctively echoing the question. "What king?"
Kuro gestured at the ground. "This land. This kingdom called Dressrosa."
David’s body stiffened. After a brief pause, he chuckled bitterly. "Navylord, Dressrosa’s king is King Riku."
"He’s abdicating. Immediately." Kuro replied.
"Just a humble pig farmer, I’m no noble. Even if King Riku steps down, the throne should go to Princess Viola or another qualified noble of royal lineage." David’s voice was earnest, almost meek.
"Nobility?" Kuro arched an eyebrow. "Aren’t you forgetting your own noble title in Dressrosa?"
"What? Nobility?" David stammered, his eyes widening in shock. "Impossible! We’ve never been nobility. My father was a pig farmer, my grandfather too, and his father before him. Our family’s always been pig farmers. Nobility? No, we’re definitely not nobility."
Kuro exhaled smoke from his cigar before pressing, "Whether you know or not doesn’t matter. My question is—do you want to be king?"
David bowed deeply, forcing a smile. "Navylord, please don’t mock me. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. I still need to clean up the pig carcasses at home."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and exited the tent.
Kuro narrowed his eyes, watching David’s retreating figure. "His aura’s surprisingly strong, but it feels… off. Powerful one moment, fragile the next."
"Like a rusted sword", Lida added.
"Precisely", Kuro agreed. "This man’s hiding something. Right now, though, his spirit seems… incomplete."
"Earlier, you said ‘they still haven’t forgotten.’ Forgotten what?" Kuro turned to Donquixote Doflamingo. "Never mind. You won’t say."
"Kshhhkshhkshh! He doesn’t want it, Kuro!" Donquixote cackled. "Since he won’t take the throne, find someone else!"
"Silence, loser", Kuro snapped. "You’ve no right to speak. If he refuses, we’ll need to consider other candidates."
He had no intention of leaving the tent—not until Sengoku arrived.
Yi Xiao remained indifferent. CP0’s presence was clear—if they stepped out of line, Donquixote Doflamingo would die before they reached the door.
After all, the Navy’s justice was procedural: capture pirates, then deliver them to Enies Lobby for trial. Assassinating prisoners wasn’t their style.
Outside the tent, a masked figure with black-and-white pupils watched David leave. He pulled out a small Transponder Snail and dialed.
Elsewhere in Dressrosa, in a hidden chamber, a shadowy figure hung up the Transponder Snail.
"Golden Lion Vice Admiral’s made his decision. He’s forcing King Riku to abdicate. He’s chosen the Pansha family to inherit the throne, not any of our clans."
"Pansha? Impossible! That family’s a laughingstock!"
"They refused, but it’s still a threat. Eliminate them. That existence can’t be allowed to survive."
"Not yet. The Navy’s watching. We’ll need another method."
---
"Is it going to rain?" David muttered, gazing at the gloomy sky as he neared home. "Need to hurry. If it rains, the pig blood will wash into the streets. Can’t trouble the neighbors."
"Hey! David!"
A sudden shout.
Thud! A trash bag smacked into him.
David turned to see an elderly woman glaring. "Why’d you keep walking? You should’ve stopped when I called! Now trash hit you!"
"I’m sorry, Granny." He bent to collect the garbage. "Shall I throw it away for you?"
"Exactly! And toss yourself while you’re at it!" she spat.
David grinned sheepishly and continued on his way.
He needed to reach the outskirts faster. Rain was coming.
---
"David! I’m broke! Give me some money!" A lanky man blocked his path, demanding casually.
"I’m afraid I’m broke too, sir", David replied.
Smack! A punch to his chest.
"You’ve got no money either? Damn, your body’s like iron! Now I’m even more pissed!"
"If this punch helps you vent", David smiled gently, "then it’s worth it."
"David! Show us a trick! We’re already upset about losing our homes!"
"Ha! David’s just a pig farmer. What trick could he perform? Maybe reassemble pigs from their guts?"
"Actually, that’s not a bad idea!"
The crowd jeered. The Pansha family had long been Dressrosa’s favorite joke.
The tradition was ancient—no one remembered its origin. Once a laughingstock, always a laughingstock.
As mockery rained down, a voice echoed in David’s mind.
"David, remember—we’re knights. Our family’s history is one of chivalry. Help the helpless, but never wield a sword. We’ve no right to."
"Remember—we were betrayed. Abandoned!"
"Remember—Donquixote betrayed us!"
His father’s voice, endlessly repeating.
David lifted his gaze, recalling Kuro’s words.
Nobility?
He shook his head. "No. We’re not nobility. Never were."
He stared at his garbage-stained hand.
"Just servants. Just knights. Just… swords never allowed to rise."
"Just a pig farmer, nothing more."
Shaking his head, he trudged on.
In a shadowed corner, Moer leaned against a wall, adjusting his Navy cap’s brim lower. A smirk tugged his lips.
"Indeed… an interesting man."
"David!"
A voice halted him as he finished disposing of the trash.
Turning, he blinked. "Walis? What happened to your face?"
Walis’s bruised face twisted with rage. "Because you called the Navy, Father beat me!"
"I’m sorry to hear that." David bowed.
"Don’t mock me!" Walis grabbed his arm. "I’ll get revenge! Come with me!"
"Where are we going?"
"To teach you a lesson!" Walis sneered, dragging him toward a ruined building.
He gestured with a grin. "I can’t hurt you, but they can! I met some people who wanted to mess with you too!"
"See? My new friends!"
The ruins erupted with movement. A gang emerged, encircling them. Each was muscular, armed with blades or guns. At their center stood a barbarian over ten feet tall, wielding two massive axes.
"This is David! The guy who’s never felt pain! Let him taste it today!" Walis roared.
The burly man licked his lips. "So you’re David Pancha?"
"Yes, sir—"
Bang!
A gunshot split the air.
David’s pupils constricted. He reflexively dodged.
A crimson bloom erupted on his shoulder.
The gang closed in, murder in their eyes.
(End of Chapter)
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