"L-Lord Genrou, I've done as you asked and brought over all the treasure from our pirate ship."
"Do you need me to do anything else? Just say the word—I'll climb mountains or dive into fire for you!"
Jango wrung his hands, his tone groveling as he looked up at Genrou.
The gruesome fates of Sham and Buchi had completely shattered his mental defenses.
Now, all he wanted was to preserve his own life. As for pride or anything else—that had long been thrown away.
"You're good. You can scram."
"Make sure you take your crewmates with you."
Genrou waved his hand and slung the treasure chests over his shoulder, walking toward Zoro and the others.
Receiving this permission, Jango was overjoyed. He immediately began dragging his crewmates away, not even sparing the dead.
He had no intention of making even the slightest mistake now that he had a chance to leave alive.
"Are you sure about letting them go?"
"If they come back to this village later when we're not around, they could cause real trouble."
Zoro took one of the treasure chests from Genrou as they walked side by side.
"Relax. All those who survived, Jango included, had some of their bones subtly fractured by me."
"From now on, they'll live like ordinary people. If they exert themselves too much, the pain will be unbearable. Even if they return, they won't be a threat."
Genrou smiled.
"No wonder you're the vice-captain. You think of everything. But where'd you learn those kinds of techniques?"
"Zoro, don't forget what I used to be. I know plenty of ways to break someone without killing them."
"I see... You're a scary man, Genrou. Good thing you're not our enemy."
"Heh. If you could say that without releasing such strong fighting spirit, I might actually believe you. Give it up, Zoro—I've no interest in crossing swords with you. Let's go find Luffy instead."
With that, Genrou walked past Zoro toward Nami, Kaya, and the others.
…
A few days later—off the coast near Syrup Village.
On a Marine battleship with a large "Crane" (鶴) kanji on its sails—
"To think... the infamous Captain Kuro, who was supposedly executed, is actually still alive."
"They say he was a master strategist. So the Kuro that got executed years ago must've been someone you arranged to take your place, right? The real Captain Kuro."
"Now tell me—who did this to you and your crew?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru stood with arms folded, staring down at the captured Kuro and the Black Cat Pirates.
Kuro raised his head, his face grim as he glared at her in silence.
He still couldn't believe it. Three years of planning, destroyed in one day by Genrou.
And now he'd woken up on a Marine ship.
He turned sharply and shot a death glare at Jango beside him.
"Captain Kuro, please don't look at me like that—I had no choice!"
"It was already a miracle we escaped from that bastard Genrou. I didn't want to run into the Marines either!"
Jango looked utterly defeated.
They'd thought they were free, only to bump into a Marine battleship… and one led by none other than Vice Admiral Tsuru of Marine HQ.
"Hm? Did you just say 'Genrou'?"
"He's the one who defeated you?"
"Where is he now?"
Gion's eyes lit up. She immediately stepped forward and questioned Jango.
They had spent days searching the seas for Genrou. Any lead now was priceless.
"You're looking for Genrou?"
Kuro narrowed his eyes, shifting his gaze from Gion to Tsuru.
"We are indeed pursuing him."
"From your expression, I gather you bear quite the grudge against him."
"How about this—share what you know about him, and we'll take him down for you. Let the Marines handle your revenge."
Tsuru sat down across from Kuro, sensing the resentment in his eyes.
"Heh… hahaha… Interesting. How very interesting."
"I don't much like you Marines, but if you're going to take down that bastard Genrou, I'd be more than happy to help."
"Listen up—our encounter with them was in Syrup Village..."
…
"Sis Tsuru, are we heading straight to Syrup Village now?"
"Judging by the timing, Genrou and his group might've already left."
As they walked through the ship's corridor, Gion looked at Tsuru and asked.
"We'll go regardless. We have to investigate."
"Gion, this goes beyond just Genrou now."
"You heard them—there's a boy named Usopp who recently joined Genrou's pirate crew. He may be the son of Yasopp, a Red-Haired Pirates officer."
Tsuru's brows were furrowed, her expression grave.
Even she hadn't expected to stumble upon someone potentially connected to a Yonkou out here.
Gion nodded. With her experience, she immediately grasped Tsuru's concern.
In the Straw Hat Pirates, Luffy was Garp's grandson. Genrou was a notorious criminal who had killed a Celestial Dragon.
And now, if Usopp really was the son of a Red-Haired officer… this "rookie" crew had a dangerously heavy weight behind it.
If something happened to Usopp, even the Red-Haired Pirates might take action.
"Um, I overheard you talking about Genrou just now…"
"Have you found him already?"
A mature woman's voice cut into their conversation.
"You're still here, Naomi? Didn't I tell you that you could leave?"
Gion frowned slightly and turned to look at the treasure hunter Naomi.
"I already told you—I have nowhere else to go."
"Right now, all I want is to find that perverted scoundrel Genrou."
"Since you're looking for him too, why not bring me along?"
"If you'll let me, I'm even willing to join the Marines."
Naomi said seriously.
Gion sighed and turned to Tsuru.
"She seems determined. We can give her a shot. Let her start as a recruit."
"She's a woman—she'll fit into our family just fine."
Tsuru stood on deck and turned to Naomi.
"Recruit, go put on a Marine uniform."
"Then come with us to Syrup Village. If Genrou is still there, we'll capture him."
Hearing that, Naomi's face lit up.
She gave a slightly awkward salute to Tsuru, then ran off to borrow a uniform from a nearby female Marine.
"Then let's move."
With Tsuru's order, the Marine battleship turned its course and began sailing for Syrup Village.
…
(End of Chapter)
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