Chapter 974: You're the Admiral, Your Whole Family's Admirals!
Chapter 974: You're the Admiral, Your Whole Family's Admirals!
One month later.
East Blue. Baratie Restaurant. A ship several times larger than the Baratie itself had anchored nearby.
Outside the restaurant's entrance, the former waiters had been replaced by Navy personnel. Several uniformed Navy soldiers stood rigidly at attention, rifles in hand.
Inside the dining hall, Navy officers stood guard duty. Except for two tables occupied by Navy men in hooded cloaks, the place was nearly empty.
There had been customers earlier, but they left after finishing their meals. Then the Baratie announced it would no longer serve guests.
They simply couldn't serve anyone else.
Though only two tables were occupied, the kitchen bustled with frantic activity, chefs moving as though feeding a crowd.
Indeed, those two tables alone warranted such service.
Or more accurately, one particular white-haired Navy officer at one table could make anyone feel like they were facing an army.
This was Kuro's group. After leaving Carnival Town, they'd leisurely cruised through the Grand Line, then cut straight through the Calm Belt to reach East Blue. Their first stop, naturally, was Baratie Restaurant.
Because Lida insisted she wanted to eat here.
Two tables. Kuro, Klah, and Lida shared one. Moer, Sazil, Ju Geng, and Fen Ni occupied the other.
As subordinates of subordinates, they naturally accompanied the group.
Sazil served under Klah, so he stayed when Klah remained. Ju Geng was Lida's direct subordinate. Likewise, Fen Ni now reported to Lida. Moer, Kuro's messenger, remained Kuro's responsibility even after being promoted to commander, though he often vanished mysteriously.
They were all aboard the ship and accompanied Kuro to dine at Baratie.
"It's been a while since I visited Baratie last", Kuro leaned back in his chair, cigar dangling from his lips.
"Yeah, I haven't been here in ages either", Lida nodded eagerly.
"Cut the act", Kuro rolled his eyes. "Don't think I don't know you come running to East Blue whenever you're bored. You visit this place way more than me."
Even during her time at G-3, whenever she had free time, Lida would hunt for gourmet food. She'd frequently return to East Blue for Baratie meals. Otherwise, she'd just snack inside her office.
"Stop exaggerating", Lida turned her head sideways, denying everything. "Actually, I come here very rarely."
"Behave yourself. If you must wander around East Blue, just stick to that. Don't go roaming the New World. It's too dangerous. We haven't even located Marshall D. Teach's position yet", Kuro warned.
The old saying goes: better to be robbed by pirates than hunted by them.
Marshall D. Teach, that idiot, coveted not just Kuro's abilities but Lida's as well. Though their last battle had temporarily silenced him, maybe even kept him away for good.
But gamblers often acted unpredictably. Who knew what crazy stunts Teach might pull? It was better to stay cautious.
"You calling the New World dangerous sounds a bit overdramatic", Zeff interjected, entering with a wispy dish missing one leg. The wooden peg replacing his calf clicked against the floor. "If even you think it's perilous, then for the new generation, the New World must be hell itself."
"Zeff..." Kuro glanced at him. "Seems you returned safely."
"Thanks to you", Zeff smiled. "We left the next morning after you visited, so we made it back safe and sound."
Back then when Bartholomew came, Kuro's arrival had prompted Zeff to leave the following day.
Sure enough, news later came that the island had been completely destroyed.
"If you're here on vacation", Zeff asked, "are you just taking a break? Then East Blue might soon get a new Admiral?"
"Are you cursing me?" Kuro's glasses flashed angrily. "Why say such bad luck? Old man, I'll let your twenty-year retirement pass without incident, but push me again and I'll throw you into Impel Down myself. Ever heard of retired officers getting off scot-free? No such rule exists!"
Zeff looked helpless. Was becoming an Admiral really so bad?
Kuro's subordinate Klah silently watched, thinking: "He's not wrong, though. Becoming Admiral is a Navy officer's honor."
But for Kuro, Zeff might as well have cursed him.
You're the Admiral! Your whole family's Admirals!
He was doing just fine.
No annoying subordinates, no G-3 responsibilities. Vice Admirals Kas and Wilbur had taken over, as had Ai En.
Ai En patrolled G-3 while Kas and Wilbur handled Dressrosa's tourism industry chain, ensuring G-3's safety concerns were resolved.
Kuro had no urgent matters. The two rights he held weren't pressing. Sword's expected reports were quiet, as Gramps predicted. No updates in a month. The Transponder Snail might as well be dead.
The Seven Warlords of the Sea could wait. He'd find them eventually.
Right now, life was blissfully easy. Admiral?
Not a chance.
That position meant endless trouble. Above, dealing with the World Government. Below, managing Navy affairs. Always chasing powerful pirates.
Admirals dealt directly with Four Emperors. If not for those threats, Admirals wouldn't mobilize.
But if Kuro became Admiral, every deployment would mean facing danger.
Top hated it. Bottom meant hassle. Externally meant risk.
Admiral?
Only someone insane would take the post.
He'd rather die jumping from this place than let Gramps force him into the position.
Besides, Kuro knew the timing.
Gramps still had years before retirement. By then, the world might stabilize. New faces would emerge, ready to take charge.
Why should he become Admiral? That'd just bring endless headaches.
Bang!!
Suddenly, a deafening explosion shook the entire Baratie.
Lida had just begun serving a bowl of soup when the shockwave caused her to jerk, spilling liquid onto her pants.
Kuro frowned. "What's going on? Someone check outside."
"I'll handle it."
Sazil rose from the other table, heading toward the exit.
This was his second visit to East Blue. He'd performed poorly the first time, but now he'd seize the opportunity to prove himself.
After all, he was a Commander now. Time to show some Commander authority.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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