Kuro was naturally impatient. He had only enjoyed a short period of peace since he stormed into Wano Country, and now trouble was brewing again.

After leaving Mary Geoise, Kuro flew back to Red Harbor and went into a restaurant. There weren't many Marines in the restaurant; many had received his orders to go out and find Straw Hat and Teach, but there were still a few left.

At one of the tables, several acquaintances were sitting.

He sat down directly on it, grabbed a piece of meaty leg, and started gnawing on it.

"Oh? Why are you back already? I'm not looking for you anymore."

An elderly man with white hair and a long white braid and beard turned his head and asked.

The Warring States period.

The short-haired old man next to him, who was quickly and voraciously eating, was Garp.

"I was so angry I was hungry. Why did you two come along? I heard I didn't call you this time." Kuro bit off a piece of meat, chewed it a few times, swallowed it, and then asked.

"We don't have enough manpower, so I was asked to do this by my superiors."

Sengoku paused, his glasses gleaming, and said, "Sakazuki... is injured?"

Kuro paused in his eating, then nodded, "Mmm..."

"You don't look too good, Kuro."

Sengoku pondered for a moment and said, "Go straight to Red Harbor... You didn't come down from Mary Geoise, did you?"

Kuro quickly finished off the meat leg, then picked up the bottle and, without pouring it into a glass, downed the entire bottle, saying with slight displeasure:

"Stop guessing. It makes you seem like you're some kind of genius. I know you have the mind and intellect of a Buddha. Now teach me what to do. The higher-ups want Sakazuki to step down and me to become marshal. Isn't that absurd?"

Sengoku, looking as if he'd expected this, sighed again: "You probably guessed it. Ever since Sakazuki refused the orders from above, I knew this day would come. I've said it before: we can't openly fight the World Government. We have many ways. The Navy's prestige may be gone, but as long as the pirates are eventually wiped out, it'll all be worth it..."

If he were still the Fleet Admiral, he wouldn't refuse the World Government's orders. A Navy retreat would damage the Navy's prestige and allow pirates to return to the Great Pirate Era. However, as the Navy weakens the Revolutionary Army, once stability is achieved, the higher-ups still won't let pirates run rampant. Especially after the battle on Water Star Island, they won't let anyone else become the Pirate King and will continue the war.

If a second war breaks out, the World Government will fully support them until the war is over, at which point their navy will be truly fearless.

Unfortunately, Sakazuki wouldn't act that way.

"You're good at dealing with those above, but the key is you're not a marshal."

Kuro said, "Let's not talk about what will happen next, let's talk about what to do now."

"Pfft, hahaha, isn't it a good thing for you to be a marshal?"

Garp finished his food, chuckled, and said, "The Navy needs new faces too."

"I've never heard of a newcomer directly reaching the top."

Kuro said irritably, "Stop laughing there. Besides, my appearance isn't a good thing, especially for you, Garp."

These words startled Garp, who then chuckled softly, "A man of the sea, he always has to pay a price for his decisions..."

"Do you really think so?" Kuro looked at him.

Garp just smiled, but his eyes held a hint of melancholy and sadness. He said softly, "I... have failed as a family member."

“Alright, Garp, we’re human, not beasts. This isn’t worth discussing. On the contrary, Kuro, what would you do if your child suddenly became a pirate?” Sengoku asked.

Break his legs!

Without pausing, Kuro shouted, "What a joke! I'm already an admiral, about to become a fleet admiral, and I'm so famous on the high seas. Why would I give up being a proper second-generation marine and become a pirate?"

After saying that, he paused, glanced at Garp again, and said nothing more.

Yes, we're all human, what right do we have to criticize each other? It's perfectly normal to let them win.

but...

"Things have come to this point, there's nothing we can do, Garp."

Kuro slowly said, "Unless your grandson surrenders himself, obediently goes to Impel Down, and promises never to be a pirate again, then he can have some freedom of action, serve a period of time in prison, and then be released."

But even a fool knows that this is impossible.

Therefore, he had no other solution but death.

Pirates will never become heroes. A pirate is a pirate. No matter how the order changes, he will always represent the pirate's position.

Not all pirates are like Straw Hat, or 'adventure pirates' like him; they are extremely rare. The Navy knows better than anyone what most pirates are like.

Sometimes, the person who understands you best in this world is not yourself, but your enemy.

If pirates are really so righteous and have such dreams, why would the Navy even exist?

Since the birth of pirates, the navy has existed.

Because those pirates, yes, they truly and genuinely threatened the lives and property of the people.

Those pirates, in the name of 'dream,' plunder and destroy, because they have a dream, so they act with a clear conscience...

Stop joking!

Kuro sees no sympathy for pirates other than ruthless destruction, whether based on his stance or his own values.

He might believe that everyone has various reasons for doing bad things, that even the most hateful person has a pitiable side, but knowing this is one thing, having experienced so many pirates, he has naturally encountered some pirates who were forced into that state by the world.

But so what?

He's now in the Navy, and even a Navy Admiral. When facing pirates, there's no other way but to capture and kill them.

"Become a marshal, Kuro."

Sengoku then said, "Sakazuki is already injured. Since it's in the newspapers, the pirates will definitely be overjoyed. I know you have a way of dealing with this. So, become the Fleet Admiral, take care of those pirates, and let the seas return to peace after so long."

He stood up, patted Kuro on the shoulder, and said meaningfully, "As for what you want to do after peace, that's your business. After all, you'll be the Fleet Admiral by then, and no one will stop you."

These words made Kuros think.

yes...

If he were to force himself to retire with such great achievements, nothing would happen.

By then, the world will no longer be dangerous, and he won't have to leave the Navy. But with the prestige to end the pirate era, even if he doesn't leave the Navy, they will still give him face.

After all, wasn't the reason I joined the navy back then for safety?

He's already gone this far, why not seize the opportunity and make the sea truly safe?

As long as the ocean is safe, isn't he safe too?