https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-962-All-These-Wanted-Posters-Are-Fake-/13540423/
Chapter 963
Three warships sailed the Grand Line in a triangular formation.
After feasting and resting for a full day, Kuro and Gramps departed, following the Log Pose’s direction toward Headquarters. However, they wouldn’t reach Headquarters directly. Upon arriving at a nearby Marine Base, they disembarked, allowing the warships to carry them onward while receiving basic medical treatment at the facility.
On the lead warship, Lucius Kro and Kuro rested inside the largest cabin.
Lucius Kro still wore his traditional Wano Country attire, though bandages peeked from his collar. Seated in a chair, he sipped tea from a small cup.
Across from him, Kuro’s face was half-swathed in bandages, his body similarly wrapped. Leaning back in his chair, he held a cigar between his lips, a bottle of red wine and a half-filled glass resting on the table before him.
Comparatively, Kuro’s injuries were more severe than Gramps’. While the Life Return technique had healed him somewhat through voracious eating, his Devil Fruit ability lacked the transformative bodily regeneration of "Superman-type" powers.
Luffy, for instance, possessed rubber-like physiology. As long as he wasn’t missing limbs, he could fully recover through food and rest—a process that took little time. But Kuro lacked this convenience. Healing required external aid.
At this point, eating alone had reached its limit. To accelerate recovery, he needed Lida. Even then, rest remained essential. Whether he liked it or not, this was his excuse to slack off openly—he’d never pretend to be "normal" under these circumstances.
Lucius Kro lifted his teacup, sipping slowly before asking, "Have you finalized the Seven Warlords of the Sea roster yet?"
"Not that fast", Kuro exhaled smoke. "Mihawk, Boa, Joker, and Crocodile—four already. Add Joe Rudolph, the half-catfish Fishman who captured Pizarro. That’s five. Rudolph helped take down Blackbeard at G-3 too. Seems solid, but we should set his bounty officially."
Watching smoke curl through the air, he continued, "Bounties mean different things to different people. For Rudolph, a wanted poster is both a badge of honor and a warning. He needs recognition, but we must make it clear—accepting the Warlord title means there’s no stepping back."
The Seven Warlords enjoyed immense rights. While Kuro could subtly curb their power, the title itself carried weight—reputation, influence, and wealth demanded balance. Beyond standard restrictions, he had personalized methods for each. After all, with only seven, customization was inevitable.
The World Government had been too vague. Their approach relied on transactional deals to achieve goals, like leveraging Donquixote Doflamingo’s resale of Wano’s weapons or using the Warlords as deniable assets for dirty work. But the costs were high.
Kuro rejected that model. One monkey, one tether. Seven monkeys—seven restraints.
For Mihawk, it was mutual respect. Their friendship ensured cooperation unless Shanks was involved. Dueling? Absolutely not.
Boa Hancock, isolated in the Calm Belt, had her own territory. So long as she didn’t lose her mind, she wouldn’t risk Kusnake Island’s annihilation. Kuro ensured her pride remained unchallenged.
As for Luffy—his Grand Line antics were chaos, but the Marines’ anti-pirate campaigns were inevitable. Boa Hancock, a legendary female figure, wouldn’t stoop to disgraceful acts.
Crocodile, Northern Army Commander, had blacklisted reputation in World Government states. As a Warlord, influence grew faster than fighting pirates in the New World.
Buggy? Without the Warlord title, he’d be a mere pirate. His crew might be troublesome, but only mildly.
Joe Rudolph needed the Warlord status for his people. A bounty ensured that failure meant losing both privilege and his tribe’s protection. He’d avoid that at all costs.
Kuro had contingencies—should Rudolph falter, he’d retain his status unless corruption weakened him. Degradation through Warlord rights would be his own fault.
In Kuro’s eyes, Warlords needed strength in some form. Physical power was ideal—everyone but Buggy had that. Influence? Buggy’s idiotic escapee crew outclassed the others in sheer chaos potential.
Hunting them was pointless. Most intelligent escapees had fled already. Chasing the rest risked scattering them further, and their idiocy might provoke retaliatory disasters. Leaving them under Buggy’s command was efficient.
"Ooh, setting bounties? Scary stuff. How much should we offer?" Lucius Kro pouted.
"Three hundred million Beli. Safe middle ground. In the New World, it’s neither intimidating to weaker pirates nor disrespectful to strong ones. Low bounties look up, but they’re weak. High bounties won’t back down—I’ll let Rudolph handle those fights himself."
Warlord bounties shouldn’t be too high. Overpriced, and even 100 million Beli pirates would hesitate. The sweet spot terrified the weak and provoked the strong, keeping the Warlords proactive.
"Still two spots left", Kuro added. "Better to wait. Better a gap than a fool. The World Government took years to recruit Warlords—don’t expect speed from me. We’re not inviting stray cats."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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