Chapter 863: Going Separate Ways
Chapter 863: Going Separate Ways
The two troublemakers who constantly itched for big scoops were finally being relocated. Assigning them a long-term mission to manage safety along the Navigational Route would not only occupy their restless spirits but also serve as a practical solution.
“Long-term convoy escort? Dressrosa?”
Kas and Wilbur exchanged glances before breaking into knowing grins.
“So that’s the plan, Kuromr.? You’re really going through with this?!” Kas’s voice cracked with excitement.
Klah remained silent, deftly picking up a piece of meat and placing it on Kuro’s plate with exaggerated courtesy.
His role was complete. What followed was Kuromr.’s own matter to resolve.
Kuro said nothing, his gaze dropping slightly as guilt gnawed at him. He felt almost ashamed to face Kas.
After all, Kas had sworn eternal loyalty to Justice Quotes, determined to confront pirates head-on. Kuro shared that resolve, but he also valued adherence to protocol.
What he truly craved was a secure, Comfortable peace.
Dumping Kas on a tourist Navigational Route felt like an injustice.
But for the sake of future stability…
Kuro avoided Kas’s pleading stare, clenched his teeth, and nodded. “Yes. I agree with Klah’s suggestion. Let’s do it.”
For a fleeting moment, he sensed Kas’s body tremble—was it disappointment? Guilt tightened his chest.
Yet to chase their respective dreams, sacrifices were inevitable.
He had no intention of losing his temper again, nor reliving the nightmare of Bartholomew’s debacle. Another reckless outburst might cost him his life at the hands of the Four Emperors.
His strength wasn’t enough yet. His safety wasn’t assured.
Kas… forgive me for this small injustice.
As for Kas—
Kas was thrilled. Beyond thrilled.
Accumulating strength!
Dressrosa!
Weren’t these two keywords enough?
David had assembled a faction there, creating a Debang organization. This tourist industry was a joint venture between Kuromr. and David. Plus, Kuromr. had previously advised David on stabilizing domestic affairs—meaning Kuromr. was fully aware of the operation’s intricacies!
Yet Kuromr. had never brought it up. Was the development too insignificant to warrant discussion?
David was moving too slowly!
Deploying them would accelerate progress.
As Navy, they couldn’t intervene openly, but a convoy escort mission provided the perfect pretext.
Wilbur shared the same ecstatic reasoning.
Sending them to Dressrosa?
Wilbur had been waiting for this!
Though David had deeply studied the Justice Quotes Research, his knowledge wasn’t up-to-date. Without Kuro’s presence, he’d missed out on the latest philosophical insights—these vital news updates needed prompt delivery.
And better yet, he could engage David in discussions to exchange perspectives on the Justice Quotes, spreading its core Justice principles across Dressrosa!
If he didn’t witness this firsthand, it’d be an eternal regret!
Wasn’t Kuromr. assigning them precisely for this?
“I’ll complete your mission without fail, Kuromr.!!”
Kas and Wilbur roared in unison, making Kuro flinch.
“Ah, no need to get so worked up. Let’s stay calm,” Kuro stammered awkwardly.
He forced a smile. “As for funding—spend freely! If you’re short, I’ll request additional resources from Headquarters. Your needs come first.”
A meager apology for the moral compromise… but at least he could compensate through the budget.
The offer only intensified Kas and Wilbur’s excitement.
This was like handing a pirate a treasure map!
“This is the indirect support weapon we’ll give David!!” the two declared again, voices thundering.
“Alright, settled then,” Kuro sighed, turning to Ai En. “And you?”
He speared a piece of meat, dipped it in sauce, and studied her.
“Just fulfill the Navy’s duties,” Ai En replied simply.
Since joining his faction, this woman had remained on the periphery—trustworthy, as Zeff’s disciple and a member of the same lineage.
“Fine. You’ll handle safety near the G-3 sea area,” Kuro nodded, assigning the task.
With Binz, she could handle standard pirates. Lida and Klah were on permanent standby in G-3. If things turned dire, reinforcements would arrive.
Other matters weren’t worth dwelling on. The banquet was primarily for Kas and Wilbur.
Fen Ni was buried in experiments, rarely leaving his lab.
Ju Geng, the chef, stayed in the kitchen.
Moer, a middle-aged deadbeat, was either sleeping or chasing women.
Sazil, Klah’s subordinate, rarely ventured out but handled routine patrols without issues.
Kuro popped the saucy meat into his mouth, savoring the moment.
“This G-3 sea area sure knows how to nourish a man,” he mused aloud.
…
The next day, Kas and Wilbur departed with four warships, officially beginning their escort mission along Dressrosa’s tourist Navigational Route.
Kuro watched them go, puffing his cigar with contented relief.
Good. Settled. Everything under control.
Time to enjoy a stable, peaceful “convalescence.”
Seated in his office, gazing at the shrinking warships, he bit down happily on his cigar.
If his safety goals weren’t met, this injury might take ten years to heal!
“Kuro! Kuro!”
The door slammed open as Lida bounced in. “Someone from your hometown’s here!”
“Huh?!”
Kuro nearly choked, the cigar slipping from his lips. “My hometown? Who?!”
His hometown? Had someone from his past slipped through the cracks?
“Some guy named Oji. Claims he knows you. He’s waiting at the port,” Lida said casually.
Kuro’s expression flattened.
That hometown. Phew. For a moment, he’d feared his dark past as a tyrannical warlord had caught up with him, and his family was here to drag him home in chains.
“Oji, huh. Long time no see. Definitely someone from my past. Let him in—we’ll catch up,” Kuro said, feigning nonchalance.
Oji—Shelz Town’s old merchant. Back when Kuro was a boy, this man had constantly tried luring him onto trade ships, hoping he’d inherit his business and fulfill their shared dream of becoming the King of the Sea Merchants.
But that felt like a lifetime ago. He’d barely seen Oji since age six. Even less after joining the Navy at fourteen.
It had been over a decade.
Yet what brought this man here now?
Soon, following Lida, a balding man in his fifties appeared at the office door, clutching a large trunk. Spotting Kuro, he grinned broadly.
“Long time no see, little Kuro! Look at you—earning a reputation, becoming a Vice Admiral with a codename!”
No mistaking it.
Despite the years, Kuro could still see traces of the man’s younger self.
“Uncle Oji,” Kuro stood, returning the smile. “It has been ages. Haven’t heard from you in over ten years! What’ve you been up to? Business expanding?”
(End of Chapter)
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