The smoke and dust dissipated, and Vergo stood in the crater, looking up at the man in the air.

"The Golden Lion truly lives up to its reputation..."

This man isn't a fool like Smoker.

Moreover, their strengths are worlds apart.

He wasn't like those arrogant navy guys like G-5; he knew how powerful this man was.

He is a being that even the young lord must be wary of, possessing the combat power to destroy a country single-handedly.

When Smoker invited the man, he still harbored a glimmer of hope, thinking that perhaps the man was just there to check on the local customs and would leave after a short while.

After all, based on the young master's intelligence and his own analysis, although he was petty, he was a lazy guy who would ignore things if he could.

But looking at it now...

"Do you know my true identity now, Jin Ni?" Vergo said in a deep voice.

"What can't the World Government find out?"

Kuro exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "Even a dead skeleton can dig up a bounty poster from decades ago. You, who only joined the Navy a little over ten years ago, are being rather childish."

Brook of the Straw Hat crew didn't have a bounty before; his only bounty was that old wanted poster for a living person from decades ago.

The world government managed to find out.

He couldn't understand how a person with flesh and blood could connect with a skeleton.

So what, just because the hairstyle is similar?

In the end, the World Government found out and put a new bounty on him.

Whether Vergo actually found out or not, Kuro didn't know. Perhaps the World Government knew, but chose to forget it because of Doflamingo's role.

But he didn't care about that.

As Smoker said, he was also a lieutenant general, and it would be bad to act rashly.

But this is bad; it's good for Kuro.

If the world government is unhappy with his messing around and demotes him, that would be fine too.

Even if he doesn't get promoted, he won't lose out either way.

So what? The world government can kill the old man and make room for him, right?

Kuro realized when he was promoted to lieutenant general that he wouldn't be able to get promoted any further anyway.

Moreover, opportunities to mess around with colleagues are rare, and since there are no side effects, and if things get out of hand, you might even get demoted, so you might as well do it more often.

Kuro gripped Shusui tightly, his domineering aura sweeping across the blade, crackling with golden lightning.

"Slash Wave!"

A massive slash, outlined in black and gold and with a hint of crimson in its center, descended straight down.

Upon seeing the slash, Vergo broke out in a cold sweat. Without thinking, he dodged to the side, avoiding the rapidly descending attack.

Boom!!

He was currently in a corner of the nearby sea. Under this slash, the land in this corner was directly cut open, separating the foundation of the island and leaving that isolated corner to drift on the sea.

"You rascal..."

Vergo roared, "Are you going to kill me?!"

"No, I'm not that cruel. You've served in the Navy for over a decade, so we still have some connection."

Kuro said, "I have a good relationship with that flamingo, so I'll give him face. Half-dead is fine. I also want you to say something."

Upon hearing the mention of flamingos, Vergo paused for a moment, then said, "I knew it, you did."

Bang!

He suddenly slapped the land he was on, and the small platform floating on the sea shot straight out.

Kuro smiled, his floating figure heading straight in that direction.

"Where do you think you can run to on the high seas?"

Vergo, using the land that Kuro had cut open on the sea as a boat, took out a Den Den Mushi, slapped it to make it speed up, and dialed a number.

Soon, the Den Den Mushi on Kuro's wrist rang.

Kuro frowned, opened his wristwatch, and revealed the Den Den Mushi.

"Jin Ni! Stop! Let's just leave the G-5 matter alone, don't get involved!"

A voice came from inside.

Who the hell are you?

Kuro was taken aback. He thought it was someone from headquarters, or even the old man, but this voice... he had never heard it before.

"I am a high-ranking official of the World Government..."

"roll."

Snap!

Kuro closed his watch, exhaled a puff of smoke, and said, "What the hell is it that calls me? I'm taking Vergo today, not even if the Five Elders come!"

Kuro has his own code of conduct.

If you say Vergo is just a double agent who specializes in passing on intelligence, Kuro might let it go. But the Navy and the World Government are like sieves, with so many double agents that Kuro is used to it.

Kuma, a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and a member of the Revolutionary Army.

The World Government also has spies from the Revolutionary Army and pirates, and even spies from so-called big shots in the underworld.

The navy is even worse, especially after the global conscription, it's become a mixed bag.

Even if one day the old man told him that he was actually a revolutionary army cadre who had become a general through infiltration, Kuro wouldn't be surprised.

It's not surprising that Vergo is a traitor.

He served in the navy for fifteen years, so he was naturally a hard worker and rose through the ranks through diligence.

The position of lieutenant general is not easy to attain; it requires merit.

Regardless of Vergo's motives, he can't get promoted without fighting pirates.

He had killed quite a few pirates to reach the rank of Vice Admiral.

If Vergo were just passing on intelligence or reselling weapons, Kuro wouldn't really care.

But the key point is that this guy seems to have been involved in a series of shady activities, especially child trafficking.

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!