Chapter 788: You Actually Went to See a Fish?!
Chapter 788 – You Actually Went to See a Fish?!
"Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!!"
Kuro sneezed three times in quick succession inside the office, then squirmed in his chair to scratch his back.
"What's wrong?" Lida asked, glancing over.
"Dunno", Kuro shrugged. "Am I catching a cold? My back's been itching like crazy too."
"Huh? Do you even get sick?" Lida tilted her head cutely.
A blue vein pulsed on Kuro's temple. "Of course I get sick, you idiot! Call a Navy medic. With how huge the New World is, who knows what infections are lurking out there."
Fen Ni wasn't around, but Golden Lion's ship had a navy physician onboard anyway. Truthfully, Kuro didn't quite trust Fen Ni's medical skills. Sure, her diagnostic abilities were decent, but her pills always had weird side effects. Her alchemy skills were just plain terrible.
When it came to treatment, better to go with an experienced old medic. Old medics had seen it all.
"Vice Admiral..."
As Kuro debated heading to the infirmary, Klah stepped in. "Pirates have appeared in our jurisdictional waters' towns."
"Pirates?"
Kuro frowned. "What kind of pirates?"
"Mostly small fry. The local commander already mobilized, but... it's not just one location."
Klah pressed his lips together. "Pirates have surfaced across the G-3 sea area, including Dressrosa."
"As long as they're handled."
Kuro leaned back, hands clasped over his mouth. "The World Meeting's happening, so most admirals and top forces are away. Of course the gutters' vermin would crawl out when a town's left defenseless."
He'd do the same if he were a pirate. These were obviously small-time crews, which G-3's remaining forces could handle easily.
"Still..."
Kuro tapped his fingers on the desk. "With things so wide open, pirates aren't the only ones moving."
The Revolutionary Army would definitely seize this opportunity. They'd target their pre-selected objectives without hesitation.
But that wasn't Kuro's problem.
Once he delivered this Ajitan to Mariejois, he'd return to G-3 and ignore everything else.
After the World Meeting concluded, there'd be no major issues left, right?
Future events would unfold in the New World – completely beyond the Navy's scope, even beyond the World Government's reach.
That straw-hatted idiot Luffy, with his 1.5 billion bounty and roasting on a spit, would have Kaido to keep him busy.
What they did after that didn't interest Kuro at all.
If Luffy somehow killed Kaido, the New World would just descend into deeper chaos – perfect for the Navy's peaceful detachment. If he failed, the world would remain unchanged. Either way, nothing different.
After sailing for over half a month, the ship finally reached its destination.
"Red Line..."
Ajitan stood on the deck, staring at the colossal Red Line towering beyond sight.
The legendary mountain range encircling the entire world, now revealed before his eyes.
Beyond that continent lay their true destination – the Holy Land, Mariejois.
David mused, "Too bad we're coming from the New World. If we'd departed from Paradise, we could've ascended through Shabondy. I hear that place's amazing."
Besides, that was where Lord Roger's base once stood.
He itched to visit.
But departing from the New World meant their only access point to Mariejois was this specific Red Line passage. They'd disembark from the Navy's small island below.
Right now, their vessel moored there. The gangplank lowered, and Kuro led the Navy officers and two Kings ashore. The welcoming crew lined the path, saluting sharply.
"Vice Admiral!"
A Commander stood rigidly at attention. "Welcome to Mariejois!"
"Cut the formalities. Take us up", Kuro muttered impatiently, chewing on his cigar.
Truthfully, he hated this part. But rules were rules – he had to personally escort these Vips to Mariejois to complete the mission.
"Understood!"
The Navy Commander nodded, guiding them toward the elevator.
The structure mirrored Shabondy's design – an elevator ascending to the grand staircase outside Mariejois, leading to the gates.
"This is it..."
Ajitan gazed at the temple-like architecture, stunned into silence.
David clenched his fist, staring at the dazzling district, then at the colossal Pangu Palace beyond. His fist tightened again.
He would do it!
For Lord Roger, for peace – he'd see it through!
After entering the gates, Kuro glanced at the Great Road leading to Pangu Palace, frowning faintly. "Avoid the central path. Take the side routes."
He offered no explanation, and the others asked nothing.
By the time they reached Pangu Palace's entrance, a crowd had already gathered.
Among them stood several unusual figures that immediately caught Kuro's eye.
The largest was a radiant figure with flowing pink waves cascading down her shoulders, delicate straps adorning her azure top. Below, a massive crimson fish tail shimmered like a living light, her alabaster skin glowing with a pearlescent sheen.
"A mermaid?"
The group gasped.
"Whoa! She's huge!" Lida's mouth dropped open.
"Vice Admiral..."
Klah pushed his glasses up, murmuring, "Seems the Mermaid Kingdom sent representatives. That's Princess Shirahoshi – the mermaid princess whose beauty rivals the 'Snake Princess' in legends."
While countless beauties existed worldwide, debates about the "World's Greatest Beauty" remained inconclusive due to subjective bias.
The general consensus placed both Boa Hancock, the Snake Princess, and Shirahoshi, the mermaid princess, at the pinnacle.
Though many had seen Hancock's beauty, few had glimpsed Shirahoshi's visage.
But objectively speaking...
Kuro wouldn't dare declare a definitive winner between them. But judging by proportions, he'd place his bet on Shirahoshi.
"Let's go check her face", Kuro exhaled smoke, striding forward.
Might as well see this legendary mermaid princess up close since we're here.
"Huh? Kuro, what are you up to?"
Lida snapped out of her daze, suddenly wary.
"See the legendary Princess Shirahoshi! How often do you get to witness such a rare beauty? Not checking her out would be a shame", Kuro shrugged, heading straight for the mermaid.
You call yourself a tsundere girl with a killer figure and more money than sense, ready to spend your whole fortune just to hang out with me, and you're actually choosing to go gawk at a fish?!
(End of Chapter)
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