Chapter 779: Don't Panic When Trouble Strikes
Chapter 779: Don't Panic When Trouble Strikes
After a moment, Ajitan reentered with a smiling face, followed by servants pushing a cart fully loaded with food.
"Apologies for the wait. Please, enjoy your meal."
As the servants began serving the dishes, Ajitan personally placed a plate of meat in front of Kuro. "Please try this. It's Kolf Kingdom's specialty—Grilled Cliff Frog."
The plate held a single frog, its massive body nearly filling the dish. Decorative floral accents adorned the edges, and the meat glistened with oil, making it look incredibly appetizing.
The moment the dish hit the table, Lida swiftly pulled the plate toward herself. Without caring about getting her small hands dirty, she grabbed the frog and took a bite.
"Mmm! Delicious!" Her eyes sparkled as she turned to Ju Geng. "Ju Geng, big sister, make sure to remember this taste later, okay?"
"Did you run out of your own food already? Why are you stealing mine?" Kuro rolled his eyes.
Ajitan let out an embarrassed chuckle. "I'll go get another plate."
"Stay seated."
Kuro pressed his finger downward, and the air itself seemed to compress with force, pushing Ajitan back into the main seat.
"As a king, you need some royal presence. That's where you fall short compared to your eccentric father—you've got a lot to learn", Kuro said casually.
Ajitan opened his mouth, his expression turning wry, but he said nothing.
Kuro dragged the dish of "Grilled Cliff Frog" from the servants toward Lida, who was already devouring her meal. He poured himself a cup of wine and another for Ajitan.
"There's no need to rush. When handling matters, you must remain calm. No matter how panic-stricken you feel inside, stay composed on the surface. Look at me—I'm always calm about everything."
Sure, that's easy when nothing's ever truly scared you.
Klah silently scoffed. He'd seen his superior commander's helpless rage far too many times to count.
Now, he could only offer a detached critique since it didn't directly concern him.
"I understand."
Ajitan forced a smile. "I'll keep my composure."
"There we go! Perfect. Come on, let's toast."
Kuro raised his wine glass, clinked it against Ajitan's glass, and drank deeply.
Though he said those words, the worry on Ajitan's face never truly faded.
Kuro stopped paying attention to him and began eating alone, occasionally placing dishes he liked onto Lida's plate. After nearly an hour of feasting, he finally set down his knife and fork.
"About time."
As he stopped, the Navy side, except for Lida, collectively paused their eating.
As for the CP faction, they barely touched their food—they were never here to dine.
"Lida, stop eating."
Kuro glanced at the still-ravenous Lida and called out.
"Okay!"
Lida quickly stuffed a piece of meat from her plate into her mouth, gulped it down with a "Mmmph!" before responding.
"Moer, things are moving. I'll provide support with my location details later—have Lida sense my position."
With that, Kuro stood and walked toward the window.
"Klah, assemble the Navy. Be ready at all times."
"Understood, Mr. Kuro", Klah adjusted his glasses.
Kuro pushed the window open and twisted his wrists. "Alright, time to get to work. Can't eat for free, after all."
The moment he finished speaking, his body lifted into the air, flying out the window. With a "Boom!" a shockwave rippled around him, instantly leaving behind a blurred afterimage. Like a falling star, he shot off in one direction.
Ajitan stared, stunned, as Kuro's silhouette faded from view. "He can fly."
"Don't be so surprised! Of course Kuro can fly—he's amazing!" Lida lifted her small head proudly.
"So that's the Float-Float Fruit?"
Shalria said, "The spoils from defeating the great pirate Shanks—Golden Lion Vice Admiral's signature ability."
Lucci nodded. "He's already surpassed his predecessors. In this man's hands, this ability has been developed to unimaginable heights."
High above, Kuro's flight left a trail of turbulent air as he surged forward. In his perception, that stubborn old man was about to clash with those pirates.
Meanwhile, in a vast rocky expanse, a group of pirates marched forward.
Leading them was a mountain of flesh, a pipe clenched between his teeth, his gaze fixed straight ahead.
But soon, his steps halted. Before him stood a solitary figure in the open space—slender and upright, like those growths in rock crevices that never back down: proud, yet alone.
The man.
Sheridan stood there, puffing on his pipe, smoke drifting outward. After a long moment, his eyes swept over the empty left sleeve on the man's arm.
"Been two years since we last met, Noardi. Or should I say..."
He closed his eyes slowly. "No, more accurately, we haven't met in over twenty years. The you before me now—I don't recognize at all."
"Noardi!!"
Sheridan's pirates shouted. "The culprit who enslaved us!"
"Kill him!"
"That's right—kill him! He's alone! Does he seriously think he can enslave us again?!"
Faced with the pirates' outrage, Sheridan waved his hand. Instantly, silence fell around them.
"Sheridan",
Noardi hesitated, lips trembling. Then, his facial expression hardened. "So you want to invade my country?! Sheridan!"
"Your country? Or should this be our country?!"
Sheridan gritted his teeth. "It's not some Enslaved Miners' Nation anymore! It's a pirate nation! A pirate nation with pride!"
"So you'll allow these people to massacre our citizens?! To create destruction?! Using Bomb Rock?!" Noardi's fury deepened.
"I don't care! Those without pirate honor deserve death! You too, Noardi! I'll take that throne and restore the pirate nation's glory!"
With those words, Noardi extended his remaining right hand toward them, palm open.
The pirates simultaneously took a step back, cold sweat pouring from their faces, panic etched into their expressions.
This was why they'd hesitated to attack Stone King City!
Noardi had lost, but he hadn't died yet!
How many had become complete, helpless slaves the moment that hand opened?
"Will you enslave me again?!"
Sheridan's body trembled. His mass of flesh splattered outward like mud, scattering in all directions. The gelatinous clumps landed on the ground, bouncing like jelly.
"Two years ago, I trusted you and paid the price. I never imagined you'd become this detestable! But not anymore—you'll never enslave me again! I know how to dodge your ability!"
Others might not know, but Sheridan understood clearly—over twenty years ago, shortly before his capture, Noardi had obtained a Devil Fruit: the Slave-Slave Devil Fruit. By touching material mediums like stone or metal, he could transform them into collars. Anyone bound by those collars would lose control of their bodies, forced to act according to Noardi's commands.
Back then, he had believed this was a sign of Kolf Kingdom's upcoming golden age. Even after being sent to Impel Down, he'd never abandoned hope, always dreaming of the day he could break free.
His dream had come true—he had escaped. But the Noardi he met again was someone entirely different.
Unforgivable!
Absolutely unforgivable!
(End of Chapter)
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