These words silenced Kuro. He tilted his head back and exhaled a puff of smoke, watching the steam-like smoke swirl above.
“Hey, don’t stay silent,” Smoker said.
What do you want me to say?
Kuro shrugged. "Putting aside the fact that I don't know exactly when I'll take over, secondly, I'm not Kuzan. He can do whatever he wants, but I can't. Why do you insist on barging into Wano Country, that pirate meat grinder? Just let them fight like dogs. Why barge in?"
Kuro couldn't understand this. With his way of thinking, he would definitely let the pirates decide the winner among themselves first.
What's with the One Piece title? It's just a big name. The bosses are actually easier to deal with than the mobs, especially in this vast ocean, which is comparable to the Souls series.
Once the second half of the New World war has concluded and a single victor has emerged, wouldn't it be better to gather forces and take them down in one fell swoop? Going to that meat grinder now, especially as a single naval officer, would make him an easy target.
"I have people I want to arrest myself."
Smoker's expression was solemn. "I have a feeling that if we don't capture anyone in Wano Country this time, we'll never have another chance."
Kuro paused, then asked doubtfully, "Straw Hat Boy?"
Smoker nodded.
"Why do you keep thinking about this guy?" Kuro rolled his eyes. "Is he that charming? You've been obsessed with him since the East Blue days. There are so many pirates in the world, what difference does it make who you catch?"
“He’s different. You know Kuro, you’ve met him.” Smoker said in a deep voice, “If that guy is left unchecked, he’ll cause even bigger trouble. Although I don’t dislike him, he’s a pirate, and I have to capture him!”
"Come on, you're the only one who cares about such a small fry. What, you're just being nice to me, aren't you?"
Kuro sighed. "Someone like Straw Hat Luffy is beneath him. It's less about vision and more about being willful. He can just keep saying he wants to be the Pirate King and actually become one? If he did, the title of Pirate King wouldn't be worth anything. Instead of wasting your time, you should think about becoming stronger, Smoker... I'm not trying to be mean..."
"You were almost killed by Doflamingo last time, weren't you? You're a Logia type, so you should work on improving yourself. After Kuzan left, you're the only one left in your faction's younger generation. You need to live up to expectations and be ashamed. All you think about all day is catching this and that. If you're not good enough, then stop trying to do things that aren't your strengths. If you keep going like this, Coby will surpass you."
"Hey, I didn't come here for you to criticize me!" Smoker's temples bulged with veins. "Besides, how could that Coby guy possibly surpass me! I'm not weak at all!"
"Alright, alright, whatever you say. We can discuss going to Wano Country later. The current situation isn't something you can handle by making a move alone. The pirates are like landmines right now; they'll explode if you touch them. Sending people over there randomly could easily lead to misunderstandings among the pirates. If you say you're going to capture Straw Hat Luffy, will anyone believe you? You represent the Navy." Kuro said directly.
There's no need to hide his relationship with Smoker; it's better for him to speak frankly.
“You disagree?” Smoker asked.
"I'm not a general yet, what do I have to agree to? Let's discuss it again." Kuro waved his hand.
"Hmph, you've become timid now that you've risen to a high position." Smoker clicked his tongue, then stood up and left Kuro's room without lingering.
"Hey, hey, hey, how can you talk like that? What do you mean by cowardly? Let me tell you, I've never been afraid of anyone since I debuted. Don't slander me."
Kuro didn't even stand up. He just said something to Smoker's back and watched him leave. After he was completely gone, Kuro shrugged, leaned back on the sofa, and chewed on a cigar, lost in thought.
Not long after Smoker left, Kuro walked in and said, "Mr. Kuro, the venue has been rearranged. Shouldn't we be making preparations?"
"Yeah, another dinner party. Seriously, why did they have to say seven days? Seven days is so damn long." Kuro sighed again.
“Mr. Kuro, why don’t you take a rest? I’ll handle things until it’s someone important…”
"What the hell are you talking about!"
Kuro glared at him. "A promise is a promise. Besides, what is an important person? The entire Navy should be an important person. Even if you're tired, you have to give them face. Do you think it's all because of that idiot Smoker, who's so straightforward that even the higher-ups are annoyed by him? Hey, he wants me to go to Wano Country. Doesn't he know how he got his position as the G-5 base commander? If it weren't for Kuzan transferring him and Vergo being a traitor, he wouldn't have had a chance at all."
"Lieutenant General Smoker?"
Chloe pushed up her glasses. "What happened?"
"Hey, he asked me to transfer him to Wano Country."
Kuro laughed, "Running that way, he must want to die. This guy is despised by everyone because he's too impulsive. Among his peers, only Tina was willing to help him and clean up his messes a lot. If it weren't for Tina's faction of advisors, Smoker would probably still be stuck in the East Blue."
"That's just how G-5 is. It's rare for them to speak up for Kuzan. Although Kuzan transferred him there, he was only a vice admiral at the time, not the base commander. It was only because Vergo got into trouble that he got the opportunity. But those higher up who dislike him have been watching him closely. Now that they're transferring him to Wano Country, it's like exile. Nobody cares about his life or death. They'll just fight over his G-5 position. Don't think everyone in the Navy is a good person. Yes, they're all good in terms of faction and colleagues, but if there's a real opportunity, everyone will fight for it. Otherwise, what's the point of having factions?"
That's just how the ocean is, and Kuro knows its cruelty very well; neither side is as beautiful as a fairy tale.
So, from the beginning, all he wanted was to be a local tyrant, but that doesn't mean he didn't understand the essence of things.
"Just like the old man..."
Kuro muttered to himself, then gave a bitter laugh, stood up and said, "The old man is free now. Well, it's been more than ten years. He's a sixty-year-old man. Why keep dragging him along? He retired without ever mentioning retirement to me. It's obvious he's determined. He's tired, so I'll take over. As the junior, I have to be self-aware."
“Mr. Kuro?” Kuro’s eyes widened.
Is this...an awakening?!
"Klo".
Kuro smiled and patted Kro on the shoulder, "You'll have to work harder from now on."
It'll be tough on you. You'll have so much to do later, and I don't want to deal with all that clutter every day.
Kro straightened up and said seriously, "It's no trouble at all to do things for you!"
No longer hiding it?! No, he hasn't said it explicitly yet, but these words mean that he can be more open about his actions from now on!
He, Chloe, understands everything...
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