"Kuzan?"

Nekomamushi and Inuarashi, the cat and dog respectively, were both startled. Inuarashi's pupils dilated wildly as he said, "I know that name. Isn't that a Marine Admiral?"

"A general?!" The others' eyes widened.

If it's a general, doesn't that mean he's on the same level as that glittering guy?!

"He's no longer an admiral; he's retired from the Navy, but..."

Yizang stared intently at Kuzan, his body tense and unable to relax.

But they are still enemies.

Although he said he was no longer a Marine, Izo didn't think he would be merciful to them. This guy was on Teach's side during the "Battle of Settlement"!

Because of his existence, the Whitebeard Pirates suffered a crushing defeat, allowing Teach to encroach on their old man's territory.

A cool breeze swept across the shallows, making people shiver involuntarily. The tall, thin man raised his hand, and his palm seemed to emanate an extremely chilling aura, causing everyone's bodies to tense up, ready to attack.

Kuzan scratched the back of his head and said, "Oh my... don't be so nervous, I don't mean any harm. I just wanted to ask how to get to the Flower Capital."

"Flower Capital...Are you going to find Clow?!" Izou questioned.

"Oh my, I just realized it's someone I know. It's been so long, Izou."

Kuzan greeted them and then asked, "So, how do I get to the Flower Capital?"

Everyone fell silent. They didn't want to tell Kuzan that even if he left the Navy, he would never oppose it. They had heard that he had a good relationship with Jinni, and if he went to the Flower Capital, the situation would become even more difficult for them.

But there's no point in not telling him this; you can just ask around and find out.

"That white peak is where the City of Flowers is located."

While everyone hesitated, Hiyori Kozuki pointed to the enormous, towering peak behind them and spoke honestly.

"Princess!"

Denjiro shouted, "How can you say that at a time like this!"

"Huh? Can't I say? I was just asking for directions," Hiyori Kozuki said, puzzled.

"Ah, thank you..."

Kuzan nodded, and, while the others were on guard, he walked past them, leading the penguin with a resolute and tough-guy look towards the back.

This relieved Izang. In any case... given their size, they wouldn't be a match for this person if he suddenly attacked.

Just as he relaxed, the walking body suddenly stopped.

Kuzan stopped, turned around and looked at them, his gaze sweeping over each of them.

"Ara..."

Kuzan thought for a moment, then sighed: "Speaking of which, we should just arrest you, so that when Kuro asks me later, I won't say that I did nothing."

The cold wind howled even more fiercely, causing Izo's heart to sink to the bottom. He took a deep breath and gripped the blade in his hand...

...

"General, general!!"

On the fifth floor, Sazir rushed in and shouted at Kuro, who was guarding Kaido and drinking and smoking, "Come on, someone's here!"

"Um?"

Kuro raised an eyebrow and said, "So what if someone's here? Why the panic? The Seven Warlords of the Sea have arrived, haven't they?"

"No, it's not one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Someone even stronger has arrived... it's..."

"It's me."

Just as Sazir was about to ask who it was, a voice came from behind him. He turned around and saw the tall, thin man standing behind him, waving and saying, "Yo..."

Kuro was taken aback, then clicked his tongue: "What are you doing here, Kuzan?"

With that, he waved for Sazir to leave.

"I've come to see you. You've done something so big. I'm very curious, so I came to see this grand occasion."

Kuzan walked over, unceremoniously grabbed a bottle from the triangular wine rack, glanced at the label, and said, "Tom Peli? This wine is quite expensive, but I don't think it tastes as good as Sherry."

Kuro rolled his eyes, pointed to the liquor shelf below, and said, "Sherry is down there. Also, if you don't know how to drink it, don't drink it. You're just getting poorer and poorer as you go off to be a pirate, aren't you?"

Kuzan shrugged: "Well, it's okay to try something else."

He uncorked the bottle, not caring that the floor wasn't dirty yet, sat down on the ground, took a sip of the drink, and then looked at Kaido: "Yo, long time no see, Kaido."

"Aokiji brat?"

Kaido sneered, "Oh ho ho ho, what a feast! You, who cooperate with pirates, are still in contact with the Navy? As expected, you are not to be trusted."

"Well, I just stopped being a Marine, that's all. I didn't say I would definitely become a pirate." Kuzan took another sip of his drink. "There's no bounty for me on the high seas."

Kuro clicked his tongue and said, "Where did you get this information? Did Tsuru tell you?"

"Oh dear, do you have to ask such detailed questions, Kuro?" Kuzan laughed.

Kuro said irritably, "I think you should show more respect to your superiors, Kuzan, the squad leader of 'Sword,' huh?"

"Don't worry about the details, come to think of it..."

Kuzan glanced at Kaido again, "To crush the Four Emperors era in one fell swoop, what a grand move. But just as I thought, even if the Four Emperors era ends, the world will not change. What's the point of us Marines doing this?"

Kuro put down his bottle, puffed out a puff of smoke from his cigar, and said, "Have you gone mad from being a pirate? It's precisely because of our existence that pirates aren't so rampant in this world. Otherwise, look at this guy..."

He pointed at Kaido and said, "Without us, the Four Emperors wouldn't be holed up in the New World. Where could they possibly go? It wouldn't be unreasonable for them to occupy one of the four seas."

Kaido, who was being pointed at by Kuro, grinned even more savagely.

"Oh, I was just venting. After all, I'm just a lost soul searching for justice."

Kuzan smiled. "So, what are you going to do next? Go find Teach?"

"Why would I look for him? How could I possibly catch someone like that so easily? Do you expect me to play hide-and-seek with him in the ocean? The fact that you managed to get here means you haven't been in much contact with that bastard Teach, right?"

Kuro rolled his eyes. "It's not me who's going to deal with him, it's those ambitious pirates. All we need to do now is observe. The New World is not our territory anyway, let them make a scene."

“Is that so…” Kuzan said meaningfully.

He didn't come here simply because he heard the news. Having traveled for so long, he's been to many places, including... Dressrosa!

However, there are still some questions that need to be clarified in person.

But judging from Kuro's nonchalant reply, this guy... is hiding something very well.

“Yeah, you’ve come at the right time. Take over for me. I’m tired of seeing that face every day,” Kuro said to him.

I don't know what this guy is here for, but he can fill in for him. Kuzan's strength is more than enough to deal with Kaido.