n

n

nHeadquarters

nOf course, Kuro would not admit it, let alone the fact that he had stabbed him.

n“Tch, forget it, as long as it helps.”

nAt least that cut should have been a decisive one. He didn’t care what kind of justice Kuro had, but it did help.

nAt this time, a Marine ran over with Den Den Mushi and said: “Colonel Smoker, Headquarters phone!”

n“I am Smoker,” Smoker took it and said.

n“It’s Colonel Smoker. Regarding the crusade against Crocodile, the upper echelons of the government have decided to award medals to you and Captain Tashigi, and they have decided to promote the two of you.”

n“Give out medals?”

nSmoker looked at Den Den Mushi and said in a deep voice, “Have you listened to my report? We are not the ones who defeated Crocodile.”

n“It’s useless, Smoker. When the government decides, it’s better for you to listen,” Tina advised.

n“When are you free to attend the medal ceremony?” Den Den Mushi continued.

n“Hey, help me tell the old man in the upper level.”

nVeins appeared on Smoker’s forehead.

n“Smoker!” Tina shouted.

n“To hell with them!”

nSmoker slammed the phone and hung it up.

nSeeing that the call was hung up, Tina sighed. “It’s useless. You can’t refuse the government’s decision, as long as you are still a Marine.”

n“My heart is as clear as a mirror, everything I do is justice.”

nSmoker said, “This kind of thing is not justice!”

nPirates defeated pirates that they were limited by conditions and could not catch. Smoker had mixed feelings about this.

nEspecially when he was saved by Luffy.

nHe did not know what justice was, but he felt comfortable in his heart and that was justice!

nKuro’s words were not wrong.

nAs for Kuro, he did not care about this. He was relieved that he did not hear his name from Den Den Mushi. Without him, he would not be promoted and would not attract attention.

n“I need to go back to Headquarters and talk to the higher-ups.”

nSmoker said and prepared to get off the ship.

nTina looked at him in silence.

nAs a good friend, she knew Smoker too well. He was a stubborn donkey who did whatever he wanted. Otherwise, he would not have been sent to East Blue.

n“Kuro, we’re leaving.”

nKuro shrugged, nodded to Tina, and was about to get off the ship. When he passed Femboldi, he suddenly patted him on the shoulder. “Do a good job. I think highly of you. You were my target before.”

n“?”

nFinboed looked confused. ‘What do you mean?’

nHe would not understand how much Kuro envied Fimboldi’s life in the past.

nAfter getting off Tina’s ship, Kuro and others boarded Smoker’s Battleship and went all the way to Marine Headquarters.

n… .

nA few days later.

nSmoker hung up the phone and looked at the two new bounty lists on the table in silence.

n“100 million.”

nLida leaned over and looked over. “There’s also a Green Algae Head, 60 million. Isn’t that one of the two people who defeated Crowe in Logue Town?”

nWhoosh!

nAs soon as she said this, Crowe immediately appeared and looked at the two wanted posters.

n“Straw Hat Kid, 100 million? Rolo Noah Zoro, 60 million.”

nBoth of them were fated with Crowe.

n“100 million, 60 million…”

nCrowe murmured.

nIf this amount was in the East China Sea, he would be a great pirate.

n“Is it because of the defeat of Crocodile? Although the government covered up this fact, the bounty was raised and the span is very high.”

n“Indeed.”

nSmoker nodded. “As long as I am Marine, there is a limit to my willfulness, so what we need is status. Kuro, are you interested in coming with me?”

nHe looked at Kuro, who was lying on the deck and taking a nap.

nHearing this, Kuro shook his head.

n‘And he ran away with you?’

nIt was already very troublesome to run to Alabasta. If he ran again, he would go to the New World.

nWho likes to go to the New World?

n“Alabasta, I have already accompanied you there. Next, it is your turn to keep your promise. Give me a place that is absolutely safe. I want to retire there… No, I don’t think I am strong enough. I want to improve my strength there.”

n“Don’t worry, it’s absolutely safe. You go to the headquarters for training first.”

nSmoker said with some meaning in his words.

nHowever, Kuro did not feel it. He was full of joy now. Smoker would definitely not scare him, so that place must be safe and stable.

nKuro waved his hand and said politely, “Actually, it doesn’t have to be so safe. For example, I think the Roguetown you were guarding before is not bad. Although there must be pirates, I don’t mind.”

n“I will try my best, I will be safe, don’t worry.” Smoker nodded solemnly.

nBeside him, Crowe adjusted his glasses, but he felt that something was wrong, but he didn’t know what it was.

nHowever, it would be great if he could find a safe and stable place. At least he could live a peaceful life.

nCrowe couldn’t help but begin to imagine that day.

nWait …

nAbsolutely safe.

nAnd very stable.

nThere will be no pirates nearby.

nCrowe’s eyebrows were twisted together. He looked at Smoker and then looked at Kuro, who had begun to imagine his future life. His face twisted into a strange expression.

nBetter not say it…

nOtherwise, he always felt that he would be affected.

n… .

nMarine Headquarters is a place close to the Holy Land, Mariejois. It has a triangular trend with Judicial Island and Impel Down. Its location is a special whirlpool sea area. If the Gate of Justice is not opened, once pirates enter, they will drift in that sea area forever.

nAfter sailing for a while, Kuro and others finally arrived at the Marine Headquarters.

nMarine Headquarters is located on the island of Marin Vando.

nIn addition to Headquarters, the buildings of Marin Van Do are mostly Marine families.

nKuro and others got off the port, glanced around, and sighed. “Headquarters… We have to go.”

n“This is Headquarters.”

nLeda was excited. “There will be a lot of good food. The cafeteria in Headquarters must taste good!”

n“Headquarters…”

nCrowe adjusted his glasses and laughed at himself. “I didn’t expect a former pirate like me to not only become a Marine but also come to Headquarters.”

n“In short, don’t go too far and don’t show your strength. Otherwise, don’t talk about returning to East Blue, I can’t even find a safe place on the Grand Line.”

nKuro instructed the two of them.

n“We understand.”

nThey all have this in common.

nLeda just wanted to be full, preferably safely, and she had her own ways of how to be stealthy, no, how to be safe.

nThere was no need to mention Crowe. He could hide his strength in a small village for three years. It was too normal for him to show a little ordinary Marine strength in Headquarters.

nAs long as he trained normally and Smoker found someone to help him, Kuro could go back with his headquarters title.

nHow wonderful.

nAnd Smoker …

nAdmiral’s office.

nSmoker pushed the door open and came in. He said directly: “Kozan, I want to talk to you about someone.”

n