Chapter 738: Could It Be You Who Killed Them?
Chapter 738: Could It Be You Who Killed Them?
"I'll help you!"
By now, Lida had already reached behind Kuro. The moment she spotted Giruon standing before Kuro, she said nothing, immediately transforming into her maiden form and staring down the opponent like a warrior facing a mortal threat.
Compared to Kuro, Lida felt the danger more acutely.
The aura this man gave off was like that of a wild beast—extremely dangerous!
"White hair? And that fluctuation hidden within his body..."
Giruon glanced at Lida and said, "The Luo Family's unarmed combat techniques genius? In normal times, I'd kill you outright. But now, there's someone else I want to kill even more."
"Leave. He's not someone you can handle", Kuro said. "Besides, he'll make a perfect test subject for my new blade."
"A new blade?"
Lida, who had been about to leave upon hearing Kuro's words, froze as her gaze fell on the long katana in Kuro's hand.
"Where did you even get this sword? Who did you steal it from? This blade—"
Even at a glance, Lida could sense a terrifying killing intent radiating from the weapon.
There was no doubt it originated from Kuro—this was the same frenzied killing intent she'd sensed earlier. Could this blade somehow materialize Kuro's killing intent?
Kuro rolled his White Eye. "Can't it just be something the Old Man bought or picked up?"
"Impossible!" Lida snapped. "You're not that kind of person!"
Kuro: "... ..."
"Hurry up and go. Don't delay my blade test."
"Oh."
Lida didn't linger. That opponent was genuinely dangerous—she couldn't defeat him, so she'd leave it to Kuro.
Unlike certain people who stubbornly stayed in battlefields despite their weakness, becoming burdens that forced fighters to waste energy protecting them.
What? Where had she seen that before?
In storybooks, of course.
If you can't fight, just leave—why stay and become a burden? That never ended well.
As for Kuro...
Kuro would never lose!
With Klah and Sazil, Lida withdrew. The latter two had wanted to leave long ago. Sazil didn't even dare approach—Kuro's blade emanated killing intent so intense it made his legs tremble. Being able to retreat felt like divine mercy.
Klah wasn't faring much better, drenched in cold sweat.
"Truly terrifying killing intent, Kuro. How did you cultivate to this stage?"
At that moment, two figures emerged from opposite directions. Kaku stood with hands in pockets, staring at Kuro in astonishment.
Zoro, gripping her Kinpura, stared gravely at the Yokai Blade in Kuro's hand.
"Could it be one of the Famous Blades? So you've obtained a legendary weapon", Zoro said.
"What are you two doing here? Finished your cleansing?" Kuro glanced at Kaku and Zoro.
"After something this big happened, and you're in a fight, how could we not come? Did you kill a world noble?" Kaku chuckled.
"Are you joking with the Old Man?" Kuro glared at Kaku.
"Considering the killing intent, I actually thought a world noble must've provoked you somehow." Kaku shrugged.
Everyone in the Navy knew Kuro's reputation—petty-minded, short-tempered. After an assassination attempt, he'd directly confront Big Mom herself. If a world noble provoked him and got slashed, no one would find it strange.
Which is why the previous Sengoku Fleet Admiral, and the current Sakazuki Fleet Admiral, always avoided assigning Kuro to guard Mariejois or interact with world nobles. That alone spoke volumes.
In the Navy, plenty of people despised world nobles. Do you think those who stayed in the Navy actually liked them? Nobles' affairs were always handled by Fleet Admirals, Admirals, and the Chief of Staff.
Lower-ranking Navy officers, aside from those desperate to climb the social ladder, generally avoided World Government interactions entirely.
Kuro led this faction—confronting World Government officials head-on with curses and insults.
Officials knew well how the Navy's Golden Lion despised them. Unless absolutely necessary, no one volunteered to support or take orders from him.
Most preferred contacting Lucius Kro instead.
But Lucius Kro...
Everyone knew he rarely answered calls, and even when he did, it made no difference. The entire Headquarters knew Lucius treated Kuro like his own son.
"Need help?"
Zoro glanced at Giruon. "This guy seems tough."
"Pass."
Kuro tightened his grip on the Yokai Blade. "Earlier, when I killed two pirates, he didn't even move. If he wants a one-on-one fight, I'll indulge him. Instead of interfering, you two should evacuate the innocents. This man is the mastermind behind the world noble's murder, but being Tezoro's subordinate makes Tezoro the true culprit. This place is already too dangerous."
"I am not Tezoro's subordinate", Giruon rumbled. "I merely accepted his invitation here to kill the world nobles."
"That doesn't matter."
Kuro's grip firmed. "Whatever your motives, we'll report it how we see fit. The World Government needs a scapegoat. A man willing to die holds little weight. In this situation, without massive casualties, the higher-ups won't settle for nothing."
...
Headquarters, Admiral's Office.
Lucius Kro smiled as he stared at the Transponder Snail, listening to the voice through the receiver.
"Borsalino, act now! Three world nobles died in Gran Tesoro. No matter what, someone must pay!"
"Oh~ How terrifying~ Did world nobles die?" Lucius Kro pouted, feigning surprise.
"Yes, this is enormous! A humiliation for the World Government, a severe provocation! We must retaliate, show the world the World Government's authority! World nobles' status is unshakable!" The voice screamed through the receiver.
"Ahh, the Old Man knows. He'll handle it", Lucius Kro chuckled.
World noble casualties always required Admirals to intervene.
But it had been a long time—too long since such a major incident last occurred.
Previously, world nobles often sought Admirals to resolve their issues, until two years ago when Luffy's Crew injured a world noble, marking the first time an Admiral addressed a "world noble casualty" incident.
And that was just injuries. This time, three were dead!
The shockwave rippled through both the World Government and the Navy.
"What Did The Navy DO With Your Time? Three Vice Admirals—Golden Lion, Momousagi, And Tatsumaki—Were ON That Ship! How Could You Let World Nobles BE Murdered?! IS The Navy Still Worthy OF Existence? Investigate And Resolve This Immediately!" The voice roared again.
"Kuro?"
Lucius Kro blinked. His narrow eyes suddenly gleamed with sharpness.
"The Old Man's moving."
He hung up the Transponder Snail, leaned back in his chair, and gazed through the open door at the scenery beyond.
"Kuro's there? Could it be... Kuro did this? How terrible!"
(End of Chapter)
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