Three days later.
G-3 Fortress.
In a luxurious private room in the cafeteria, there was a large round table, which was now full of people, including Kikyo and the Navy officers of the Kuro faction.
On the round table sat a huge bronze pot, the bottom of which was hollowed out, from which a bronze pillar extended, from which flames rose. In the bronze pot above, steaming red and white soups were being prepared.
Next to the copper pot, there were various kinds of raw food.
Thin slices of animal meat and fish fillets, wild vegetables whose names I don't know, and mushrooms that aren't red umbrellas with white stems.
In front of everyone was a small dish containing dipping sauce.
Everyone stared at the steaming copper pot, remaining silent, because the owner had not yet arrived.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and Kuro, dressed in a gold suit and wearing a cloak, walked in with Lida and Kro.
Everyone stood up at that moment.
"Sit down, sit down..."
Kuro sat down directly in the seat facing the door, and gestured with his hand to indicate that they should sit down.
"Kuro, is this what you asked me to describe to Kikyo-neechan?"
Lida sat next to him, biting her finger, her little nose twitching slightly, and a hint of drool dripping down her cheeks. "It looks delicious."
Kuro specifically instructed Lida to explain to Kikyo that there were two soups, one red and one white, plus vegetables that could be eaten after being briefly boiled, and a prepared dipping sauce. That's right, it was hot pot.
He picked up a white napkin from the table, skillfully hung it around his neck, and then looked at everyone.
"I'm the kind of person who drinks and smokes but doesn't get a perm, and occasionally has some tea. Today, I thought I'd treat you to a meal from my hometown. First of all, you are all cadres I'm close to. The future of G-3 and the safety of the surrounding waters all rest on your shoulders."
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions...
Lida's mouth watered as she looked at the hot pot, wondering how it should be eaten.
Kro adjusted his glasses, seemingly unconcerned.
Ain sat upright, though she rarely heard Kuro speak. She should listen, but she didn't seem to understand him very well.
Binz is the same.
Donald was examining the hot pot, thinking to himself that he seemed to have seen something similar in the Flower Country.
Sazir was lost in thought, wondering if he should also be promoted since the others had all been promoted.
Moore was yawning and didn't hear a word.
Fanny was engrossed in writing her experimental notes, her entire body, including her face, completely covered. Now, she had gained some control over the Plague Fruit's abilities and was ready to come out and meet people.
Kikyo... she couldn't hear clearly.
Well, basically no one seemed to be listening attentively, except for two people...
"Mr. Kuro, you're too kind!"
Cass stood up again, excitedly saying, "It's all thanks to your guidance! I, Cass, used to be just a lowly sergeant in the East China Sea, but now I'm a brigadier general in this unit. It's all thanks to your guidance that I've achieved what I have today and been able to carry out this 'unyielding justice'!"
"Stop, stop, stop..."
Kuro waved his hand and said, "I haven't finished yet."
After gesturing for Cass to sit down, Kuro cleared his throat, took out a cigar, lit it, and said:
"Secondly, this is hot pot, which is one of the specialties of my hometown. You have to try it, so I'm treating everyone to hot pot today."
"Thirdly, regarding the current overall situation of the ocean and the future development of G-3, I would like to hear your suggestions. Come, let's eat and talk."
As soon as Kuro finished speaking, Lida couldn't help but ask, "Can we eat now?! How are we supposed to eat this? Is that soup for drinking?!"
"no..."
Kuro picked up his chopsticks, took a very thin slice of meat, dipped it in the red broth, and then put it on Lida's plate, saying, "Just cook it like this, and then eat it with the dipping sauce."
Lida picked up a slice of meat from the plate, dipped it in the sauce, stirred it, and then put it in her mouth. Instantly, her eyes lit up, and she let out a "woof" like a cat's meow. Her chopsticks shot out like a blur, and she imitated Kuro by picking up slices of meat and stuffing them into the soup.
"Then... I'll speak first."
Kro stood up, picked up the plate in front of Kuro, and started stuffing a few slices of meat into the pot while saying, "I'm in charge of G-3's internal affairs, so I'm not very clear about the patrols, but recently, apart from repairing the fortress, the biggest expenditures have been for Brigadier General Cass and Brigadier General Wilbur. I think we should reduce that expenditure a bit."
Before they arrived, Kuro had already given the order to take advantage of his current 'injury period' and quickly shut down G-3, thus beginning his 'retirement' life.
But before that, he needs to figure out what these people's intentions are so he can assign them tasks.
The province is full of strange people doing strange things, especially Cass; we have to figure him out.
But he couldn't say it himself, so he had to ask Kro to do it for him. Kro's words were a test.
How could he not know where these expenses are going?
Kuro himself accounted for one-fifth of G-3's expenditures. After the guns and cannons allocated by headquarters were replaced with new ones, all the old ones were sent to him.
Another fifth of the profits were divided up by the other captains at G-3 Fortress, including Crowe himself.
There's nothing that can be done about it. The entire navy has this habit, and Kuro can't change it even if he wants to. He's lived here for over twenty years and has long since become corrupt and decadent. When he was an officer in the East Blue, he shared all the benefits with everyone. Now, although he's not short of money, he can't let his subordinates go hungry.
Salary is salary, and benefits are benefits; they are different.
Besides, there are other captains here besides his own faction, and they are dividing up the spoils. Are his subordinates just going to get a fixed salary? What kind of boss does that?
Aside from maintaining a conscience, Kuro's other actions are no different from those of a warlord. That's just how the navy is in this world; there's nothing you can do about it.
"Reduction?!"
Cass frowned and looked at Crowe. "Excuse my bluntness, Commodore Crowe, we cannot eliminate them now. Although many pirates have disappeared in the nearby waters, our navy is not limited to these areas. We should break into the chaotic areas of the New World and wipe out those pirates in one fell swoop, so that the seas can be filled with justice!"
“That’s right! Brigadier General Cass is absolutely right! We should take advantage of the chaos in the new world and spread our justice to the front lines!” Wilbur echoed from behind.
Alright, these are the two, no doubt about it.
Kuro directly quoted Kuro's pre-set words, saying, "Our Navy, of course, takes justice as its principle, but we also have to consider the actual situation. The Navy as a whole is accumulating strength and waiting for the results of the second half of the New World. We should not go against this principle, so the principle of G-3 now also requires accumulating strength."
"How about we try a different approach? Mr. Kuro and David's all-inclusive tour package in Dressrosa also needs the navy. Since this is our own business, why don't we go there and provide long-term escort services?"
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