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Chapter 693: Old Era's Nemesis
Chapter 693: Old Era's Nemesis
"Ice Prison Warrior?"
Wilbur rolled the name around in his mouth before asking, "A big pirate?"
Kas nodded. "I've reviewed countless pirate profiles for Mr. Kuro, including criminals who escaped from Impel Down. That man's appearance and fighting style leave no doubt. He's the Ice Prison Warrior, Fatima Ams, with a bounty of 270 million. That was ten years ago."
"Ten years ago..." Wilbur's gaze turned grave as he stared at the opposing ship. "So he's an escaped Impel Down prisoner?!"
"Ho ho ho ho!"
A laugh echoed from above. Armsman leaped from the sky, launching himself downward.
His dual blades raised high, his face gruesome as his tongue lolled out, fixed on the Warship below.
"Let me split you all in two!!"
White tassels erupted from his curved blades, carving lines through the air as he swung downward.
Slicing apart a Warship? Child's play for him.
"This guy!"
Donald gripped his cross spear, his Haki surging into the weapon tip as he prepared to counter.
But as he looked up, a massive shadow suddenly loomed overhead, engulfing the entire Warship.
"Shine!!"
Armsman's shrill cry split the air as his body accelerated downward, blades cleaving.
Yet at that moment, he abruptly froze mid-strike. Something had caught his attention. His descending blades erupted with cold energy mid-air, altering trajectory as the force propelled him backward onto his own commandeered Warship.
Boom!!
A golden object crashed down beside the Warship, creating a towering wave across the sea.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Cannonballs aimed at the Warship exploded against this new object, revealing its true nature through the smoke.
A Golden Ship, many times larger than a Capital Ship, its hull entirely encased in golden plating and steel, exuding luxurious menace.
The cannon fire barely scratched its golden hull.
Every pirate present could distinguish real gold from gilding.
This was 24-karat.
The dragon-lion-goat hybrid figurehead at the bow gleamed unmistakably.
Gold!
Greed flashed in the eyes of pirates aboard the five Warships.
Their expressions hardened. Brode grinned, his eyes darkening. "Someone formidable has arrived."
Kas stared dumbfounded at the Golden Ship before bursting into tears.
"It's Mr. Kuro! Mr. Kuro has finally come! Even for us who've suffered disgrace in the name of Justice, Mr. Kuro is still here!"
"Mr. Kuro!!" Wilbur roared, voice breaking.
Donald exhaled in relief. "He finally arrived. If he'd been any later, we'd have been finished."
The Golden Ship positioned itself between the two forces, its side facing the five Warships. A group stood ready on its deck, eyes locked on their enemies.
Ju Geng silently unslung his bow.
Fen Ni pulled out a vial.
Sazil cracked his knuckles, eager.
Binz crossed his arms.
Ai En drew twin daggers from her thighs.
Klah kept one hand in his pocket, adjusting his glasses with the other.
Lida stood rigid, every muscle coiled like a spring ready to unleash.
Kuro's left hand rested casually on the hilt at his waist, his gaze coldly assessing the five Warships.
Wind whipped his hooded cloak as it billowed.
"The main event has arrived!"
The pirate captain grinned wickedly. "No need to hunt him at G-3. He's coming to us! How arrogant, arriving in such an attention-grabbing ship. Does he really trust his own strength that much?!"
"I want that ship!"
Brode laughed. "That's the kind of vessel that should carry my journey through the New World. That ship deserves to be my steed!"
"Ho ho ho ho! Not so fast. I want it too", Armsman licked his lips.
Their mission's true target had been revenge against the World Government and Navy. They'd specifically targeted this figure heavily promoted by the Navy recently, determined to show those institutions that pirates wouldn't be bullied.
Golden Lion!
The man the Navy hailed as 'Old Era's Nemesis'!
The five observed Kuro as he studied them in return.
Frankly, none were familiar to him.
"Klah."
"At your service, Mr. Kuro."
Klah's eyes swept across the group, starting with the hooded figure. "That's 'Ice Prison Warrior' Fatima Ams, 270 million bounty. Arrested ten years ago, locked in Impel Down's sixth level."
He turned to the knight with the inverted cross necklace. "'Plague Knight' Cape Bessy, 280 million. Same timeline—both captured ten years ago in Impel Down's sixth level. Interesting story—when our Navy caught them, it was because their duel caused too much destruction."
Kuro's expression shifted.
He studied Armsman and Bessy, their costumes and surnames amusing him. "Fatima? Cape? Crusade or Crescent Moon Campaign?"
Klah's gaze settled on the captain-like figure.
"'Big Croc' Mojas, 300 million bounty. Captured fifteen years ago, another escapee from the prison list."
Then to the scar-faced man with slicked-back hair.
"'Black Hand' Brode, 350 million bounty. Grand pirate from twenty years ago, also on the escaped criminal list."
"All bloody escaped convicts?"
Kuro's eyebrow twitched. His expression darkened.
The ten-year-old bounties barely mattered—bounty systems were already out of control by then.
But fifteen and twenty years ago?
Those bounties were real money.
Three hundred million and above? These two had real teeth.
Klah's eyes widened as he focused on the oldest figure with wild white hair. "This can't be right. This man shouldn't be on our list... The records I received didn't include him!"
Kuro's eyes narrowed. "Grand pirate?"
"Grand? No—Gigantic!"
Lida interrupted.
Her gaze locked on the old man, horrified. "Why is he here?!"
"You know him?" Kuro's voice sharpened.
Lida had sailed the Grand Line. Any pirate she recognized wouldn't be some nobody.
"Mr. Kuro, that man is dangerous."
Klah swallowed hard. "Six years ago, he fought Shanks and lost. We arrested him then."
"That battle is exactly what earned Shanks his Emperor title. Before that, this man was the strongest contender for the New World's Three Emperors. Grand pirate 'White Hair' Smiths, bounty two billion six hundred million!"
(End of Chapter)
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