https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-801-Undercover-Agent-Count-Me-In/13539284/
Chapter 800: I Have the Pacifista
Chapter 800: I Have the Pacifista
On the Grand Line, the Golden Lion sailed with several warships, its golden light blazing across the horizon.
Inside Golden Lion's office, Kuro sat in his chair as the Transponder Snail on his desk rang. Beside him stood Lida and Klah.
Lida had stopped snacking nervously, while Klah stood rigidly upright. Kuro's face had remained dark since boarding the ship - his expression hadn't improved for a moment.
The Transponder Snail suddenly lit up with an image.
"Yeah, this is Smoker."
The screen displayed a smug face with three cigars clenched between its teeth.
"It's me, Kuro", the vice admiral's deep voice rumbled.
"Kuro, what brings you calling for support? Aren't you supposed to be executing that royal family escort mission?"
Kuro inhaled deeply before replying, "Smoker, my base was sabotaged - by Douglas Bartholomew and Buenafesta."
Silence followed.
"I've been authorized to take full charge", Kuro continued. "You're investigating this, right? Report your progress to me."
"Did you really get authorization?!" the voice in the snail snarled. "Headquarters has been denying news of Douglas Bartholomew's survival!"
"If he'd just stayed dead, we could've pretended he was. But now..." Kuro's cigar clenched between his teeth, smoke curling upward, "If he's not dead, I'll make sure he never rises again. If he is, I'll dig him up and scatter his ashes!"
A heavy pause filled the air.
"Looks like you're really furious this time, Kuro", Smoker's voice lowered. "I've been investigating and reporting. That's why I didn't join the escort mission this time. I've tracked some leads but haven't pinpointed their location yet. I can confirm Buenafesta, that war profiteer, has been actively sending invitations to numerous pirates. I'm closing in on his trail, but I need more time."
"I'll wait."
Kuro's voice darkened again. "Do whatever it takes, Smoker. Find that location, no matter what."
He opened his drawer and pulled out a miniature golden Transponder Snail. This device lacked a microphone, appearing more like a solid golden artifact with a button on its shell.
Biting down hard, he growled, "The Old Man can still deploy the Pacifista!"
The Pacifista!
That authority had been entrusted to him by Gramps long ago, though Kuro had never used it. This was a devastating weapon - deploying one could annihilate an entire region through indiscriminate firepower.
But reducing it to just destroying ten capital ships would be underestimating its true threat.
The real power of Pacifista lay in its five elite Vice Admirals commanding warships, supported by countless Marine elites. That was the true force behind the Pacifista.
Kuro knew this firsthand - Douglas Bartholomew had once been defeated by this very system. Back then, Admiral Sakazuki had led the operation.
Though the current Pacifista wasn't as formidable as before - most monsters having either become Admirals or defected - Kuro still retained temporary command authority. The World Government might not approve, but Kuro had long since stopped caring. He only wanted Bartholomew's head.
"Pacifista, huh?" The voice from the snail caught. "So Admiral Lucius Kro actually gave you access to that? Never heard of this before."
Of course not. No one had dared provoke him like this before.
Even those pirate alliances that had broken through the G-3 area hadn't drawn such wrath from him. But this was different - this was a direct provocation from a pirate!
Failure to respond would destroy not just his reputation, but his very authority. Who was this fugitive? Just a jailbreaker, former crewmate of the One Piece or not. How many old men had Kuro eliminated?
"You don't need to understand, Smoker. Just know I have it."
"Understood. I'll inform you immediately with any news."
The connection cut. Kuro hung up, continuing to smoke in silence as golden ash drifted upward.
"Vice Admiral Kuro", Klah finally spoke, lips pressed together, "Pacifista was supposed to be your last resort against the Four Emperors. Is this the right time to deploy it?"
"Don't be ridiculous", Kuro scoffed. "Pacifista might make the Four Emperors cautious, but it's not them who've crossed me - it's damn Bartholomew and Buenafesta!"
First, his subordinates were gone. Second, his fortress destroyed. No room for negotiation. If he didn't handle this properly, his hard-earned position would collapse, inviting more arrogant pirates to challenge him. Combined, these were nothing short of a direct slap to Kuro's face.
This grudge would not be forgiven. Kuro would see it through.
...
Two days later, the Golden Lion arrived at G-3 fortress with its warships. The journey from Marineford to G-3 hadn't taken long, but Kuro had spent the time waiting for Smoker's report while heading back.
Though rage burned within, he understood urgency wouldn't help.
Fen Ni had already stabilized the situation at G-3, organizing medical treatment for the wounded. But when Kuro finally saw the fortress with his own eyes, his killing intent erupted, blanketing the Golden Lion and its fleet.
The navy personnel trembled under the oppressive force.
The magnificent G-3 fortress lay in ruins - its grand dome completely shattered, surrounding structures reduced to broken walls and debris. Half the fortress had been utterly destroyed.
Though residual energy remained, Kuro could tell this devastation had been caused by sheer brute force.
From start to finish, the residual combat energy indicated only one fighter had done this.
He could imagine the invader's audacity - crushing the navy with pure strength until they couldn't breathe, couldn't move, then systematically destroying the fortress.
As the fleet halted, Kuro disembarked with an increasingly gloomy expression.
Fen Ni had already arrived to greet him, saluting with a pained expression.
"Vice Admiral Kuro, I did my best", Fen Ni said.
Though not a skilled healer, Fen Ni could diagnose and coordinate other medics' treatments. For them to admit failure meant complete failure.
"Tell me the numbers", Kuro muttered, dreading the question.
How long had it been? How many years since he'd suffered such a loss?
Even during his time in East Blue, as long as he'd been present, nothing like this had ever happened.
This was the first time in years.
(End of Chapter)
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