"I absolutely cannot accept this! That kind of man has no right to be a noble!"
"He's a born inferior! A crawling insect! The only thing he can't be is the king of this country!"
Outlook III's rage erupted so suddenly that even Kuro raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.
From any rational standpoint, a blood-related son inheriting the throne made more sense than an adopted drunkard with no royal lineage.
But Kuro wasn't here to meddle in family drama. His only concern was the interests of the Gawain Pirates—and securing the stability of their rear base in the East Blue.
"I don't care about your family issues," Kuro said coolly. "I'm simply stating the facts."
Outlook III fell into a brooding silence, though his eyes burned with unspoken fury. Clearly, his resentment toward Sabo had not faded with time.
Still, faced with the might of the most powerful pirate group in the East Blue—and the weight of his own hidden secrets—he knew he had to proceed cautiously.
After a few tense moments, he finally spoke.
"Can you really guarantee that the World Government won't hear about any of this? That none of it will be exposed?"
Kuro smiled.
The fish had taken the bait.
He knew exactly what Outlook III feared. As long as the Celestial Dragons received their tribute, the World Government would turn a blind eye to any usurpation. But if the truth were made public, it would become a matter of face—and then even the smallest offense would demand a response.
"Of course," Kuro replied with a casual shrug. "We're not interested in dragging you down with us."
He added, "Our goal is simple: recover the funds owed to Raven Port."
At the mention of Raven Port, Outlook III glanced toward Stelly's corpse. His gaze was cold, filled with scorn.
"I should have known."
"I placed far too much hope in you."
"Sabo—rebellious as he is—still held no loyalty to the kingdom. And you… you were just a fool."
"I told you: a king should never sacrifice credibility for petty gain."
"Seems it's time I put my faith in my real heir."
He turned back to Kuro, his expression now composed.
"Let's talk terms."
"Hmph," Kuro snorted, folding his arms. "Start by repaying Raven Port's debt."
Outlook III nodded without hesitation.
"That's reasonable. It is a debt the Kingdom of Goa owes."
"There's more."
Kuro continued, "Raven Port is hosting the East Blue Martial Arts Tournament soon. We're raising sponsorship funds."
He held up three fingers.
"Three hundred million berries. Take it or leave it."
Outlook III didn't answer right away. His eyes narrowed as he pondered the implications.
He hadn't reached his position through incompetence. Even raising a halfwit like Stelly to the throne had taken shrewd calculation. And now, he saw the deeper potential behind this tournament with startling clarity.
"Mmm… With a high-profile event like this, the whole world's eyes will turn to Raven Port. It could breathe life into the entire region's economy."
He paused, then looked Kuro straight in the eye.
But he didn't trust a single word this pirate said.
If he wanted certainty, only one path remained.
"I want in."
"I want a share in the martial arts tournament."
"With full control of the Kingdom of Goa, I can help smooth out any future issues—quietly."
Kuro froze.
His gaze sharpened instantly, sizing Outlook III up with dangerous intent.
Until now, only Gawain had seen through the tournament's potential so quickly. That someone else could read the play unnerved him.
The air grew tense.
Only the soft drip… drip… of blood from Gin's iron crutch broke the silence, as he stepped up beside Kuro, the remnants of Stelly still clinging to the weapon.
Snap.
Snap.
Snap.
"…Deal," Kuro said at last.
Outlook III exhaled, relieved. He cast a wary glance at Gin—because he knew. If Kuro had said no, the devil-faced man beside him would've taken his life without hesitation.
Just as he had done to Stelly.
The Next Day
The Kingdom of Goa issued an official obituary.
King Stelly, it claimed, had fallen to his death in an accident. His father, Outlook III, would now inherit the throne.
The entire country erupted in chaos.
A father succeeding his son? It was unheard of. Several noble families rose in rebellion, leading armed forces toward the capital.
War loomed over the kingdom.
But none of it concerned the Gawain Pirates.
Kuro and Gin, after cremating Jand and the others, quietly departed with the repayment funds—and Outlook III's generous "sponsorship."
As for the question of shares? That would be Gawain and Grayza's decision.
Meanwhile
News of what had happened in the Kingdom of Goa and Loguetown spread like wildfire among the East Blue aristocracy.
And now, Gawain's flag was no longer just a symbol.
It was a warning.
The nobles—who once scoffed at Raven Port's invitations—were now scrambling. Terrified, they began pouring in sponsorship money just to stay in Gawain's good graces.
A Few Days Later
East Blue — Raven Port
A massive red dragon soared through the sky above the harbor, kicking up powerful gusts. Banners snapped in the wind. Even after repeated sightings, the port guards couldn't help but feel reverent awe.
But among the Gawain Pirates, only joy showed.
"The captain's back!"
"That monstrous aura—no matter how often I feel it, it still sends shivers down my spine!"
Van Augur gazed at the enormous beast in the sky, then down at his rifle in his hands.
The idea of challenging Gawain on the spot quickly evaporated.
There was simply no point. Against that size, even Senriku's bullets would be meaningless.
Zoro grinned beside him.
"The captain once said," he muttered, "a true swordsman can slice a flying dragon from the sky."
Van Augur blinked, then turned slowly toward him.
"Young man… that's a very dangerous thought."
"Hmp!"
Zoro smirked, unfazed. In fact, he looked more excited than ever.
But after a pause, he decided to shelve the idea for now.
"Anyway," he added, "about that dagger you mentioned—still selling?"
Van Augur eyed him, puzzled.
"You're a swordsman. What do you want with a dagger?"
Zoro's face flushed.
"Don't worry about the swordsman's business!"
Seeing this, Van Augur stopped questioning and nodded.
"Fine. Took it off a group of pirates who tried to raid the port. The quality's way above average."
"Two hundred thousand berries."
"Are you trying to rob me?!"
"It's your choice. You think it's expensive? I think it's a steal."
Zoro clenched his jaw, feeling the pain in his wallet.
"…Fine!"
[TL/N: LOL. He's definitely copying Hawkeye style of fighting weak swordsmen with a dagger if challenged. Lmfao!]