https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-962-All-These-Wanted-Posters-Are-Fake-/13540423/
Chapter 961: "You've Seen the Future—Why Not Bow?"
Chapter 961: "You've Seen the Future—Why Not Bow?"
At the sound of his name being called, Jinbei was stunned and turned his gaze immediately.
What he saw was no small sight.
A familiar face—bare-chested, scarred, and biting a cigar.
Beside him, another familiar figure calmly sipping tea.
"Golden Lion?! Lucius Kro?!"
Jinbei immediately assumed a combat stance, eyes wide. "What are you two doing here?!"
An Admiral. A former Admiral candidate. Why would they appear in such an ordinary town?
To hunt Luffy?
No, that didn't fit.
Were they planning to invade the New World again?
But he saw no traces of residual energy from warships anywhere.
"Just grabbing a bite on the way. No need to get so tense", Kuro said, exhaling a puff of smoke. "Though... that self-introduction of yours is quite amusing. The Straw Hat Pirates' helmsman? You actually joined Luffy's crew? You gave up your Seven Warlords of the Sea title just to join a rookie pirate band? You're really going backward."
During the Marine War, Jinbei had been imprisoned in Impel Down after protesting the Navy and World Government's treatment of Ace.
At the time, Fleet Admiral Sengoku had hoped Jinbei would calm down—keeping him locked up as insurance against rebellion if he refused to comply.
But Jinbei did the unthinkable—he escaped.
From that moment, he was stripped of his Seven Warlords of the Sea title and vanished into Fishman Island.
Rumors spread that he had allied with Big Mom, but now...
A helmsman?
A former Seven Warlords of the Sea serving as helmsman for a rookie pirate?
Unbelievable.
"It's not a rookie crew!" Jinbei snapped, his expression serious. "Luffy will become the Pirate King! I will be the helmsman who steers the Pirate King's ship!"
"Hmph. Let him escape from Wano Country first", Kuro scoffed. "Besides, what's so great about being Pirate King? Anyone who reaches the end without playing dirty gets the title. What meaning does that have?"
Roger had secretly copied poneglyphs directly from Big Mom back in the day, barely clashing with her. Though Roger could evenly match Whitebeard in his prime, Big Mom herself hadn't been weak either. If they'd truly fought, Roger might not have claimed the title so easily.
As for Luffy...
He had a long way to go.
That level of strength? Kaido probably just toyed with him. While Luffy had potential, challenging two Yonko frontally?
Even gods wouldn't help.
"Wano Country?" Jinbei caught the implication. "What happened to Luffy there?"
"Aren't you here to see for yourself?"
Kuro shrugged, gesturing to an empty chair. "But since we haven't met in ages, why not sit? I have something to ask you."
Kuro still respected old Seven Warlords of the Sea. Survivors of the Grand Line who'd held their titles deserved respect.
Though he bore no ill will toward Jinbei—the fishman was an honorable man.
Jinbei pressed his lips together, stepping forward. "What do you want? We're enemies!"
Two overwhelming presences stood before him. If Kuro used his ability to manipulate seawater, even jumping into the ocean wouldn't help.
"Enemy? Wait until your captain actually escapes Wano Country. Right now, you lack the qualifications, Jinbei."
Kuro waved a hand. "Intelligence says you allied with Charlotte Big Mom. If you came as her representative, I'd take you seriously."
He paused, watching Jinbei sit. "You know I now control the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
Jinbei nodded. "Crocodile joined your new Seven Warlords. That's common knowledge."
Kuro smiled. "Unlike the World Government, I hold no grudges. Jinbei, you defected at Marineford and escaped prison, but you never caused deaths. If you return, I'll keep your position open. With the Ryugu Palace now in World Government negotiations, you could help fishmen and merfolk integrate faster."
"Reinvite me?"
Jinbei hesitated, then shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, but I've pledged allegiance to Luffy. I am the Straw Hats' helmsman now. My goal is helping Luffy become Pirate King! Golden Lion! Lucius Kro! Even if I must fight both of you here, I won't yield! For I am the future helmsman of the Pirate King!"
"You say that..."
Kuro leaned back, cigar clenched. "You want me to be your helmsman?"
"Huh?" Jinbei bristled. "Don't mock me!"
Kuro shook his head with a faint smirk.
Becoming Pirate King? Anyone could claim that title.
He had no doubt Luffy could defeat Kaido and Big Mom together. But whether Luffy truly deserved the title?
The modern definition was strange—strength or crew size didn't matter. Reaching Laugh Tale was the sole requirement.
By that logic, he himself was Pirate King.
He had the Log Pose to Laugh Tale!
Think the closest to the Pirate King throne must be a pirate?
Wrong! It's the Navy!
Not the Yonko. Not the Seven Warlords. Not some Grand Line silver medalist!
No. It was him—Lucius Kro!
If someone truly wanted the future Pirate King title, the one holding Laugh Tale's Log Pose was already sitting there, ready to claim it.
You want to serve the "future" Pirate King? That means serving him.
Having seen the future, why not bow?
"Forget it. Do as you like, blue fatty." Kuro lounged back, feigning indifference.
Jinbei blinked. "You won't arrest me? I was ready to fight!"
"I'm on medical leave. HQ gave no orders—why bother? Of course, if you really want captured, old man..." Kuro rolled his eyes toward Golden Lion.
He was still healing. Too lazy to move.
"Oh~ Scary. Fighting the 'Sea Hero' Jinbei?" Golden Lion exaggerated, raising one finger.
Jinbei gritted his teeth, suddenly bursting upward, demolishing the roof into a gaping hole. Through it, he dropped a bag of gold coins.
"Consider it compensation!"
His voice faded into the distance.
"Tch."
Kuro glanced outside, shaking his head.
"Kuro, letting him go just like that?" Golden Lion chuckled.
"You didn't act either. You're an Admiral—if HQ ordered me, wouldn't I obey?" Kuro said.
Why arrest Jinbei? Let him stir up trouble for Kaido and Big Mom in Wano Country.
That man's combat power could certainly accomplish it.
(End of Chapter)
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