"Grandpa, Grandpa!"
Outside the office, Kuro shouted as he approached.
Kizaru's office layout is similar to Sakasugi's, the type where the door is not closed. As soon as Kuro approached, he saw Kizaru talking into a microphone.
As Kuro's voice sounded, he looked up and pressed the microphone, smiling as he watched Kuro approach.
"Old man, look what I got for you."
Kuro pointed at the cigar box floating beside him and smiled.
"Oh, Kuro, have you found the owner of the box?"
Kizaru still remembered this and said, "That's really surprising. You are still persevering. I thought you had given up long ago."
"I found it by chance. I didn't do it too deliberately. Here, old man, this is for you. This thing is good. Don't say that I don't repay you. I cheated you so many cigars, now I'll give you a better one."
Kuro sat opposite Kizaru and waved his hand. The floating cigar boxes fell on the desk one by one.
"Oh, are these all for me?"
"Of course, I have good things, how can I not be filial to you?" Kuro said indifferently, "You don't have to thank me, I told you earlier that you are not bad to me, then I will give you retirement and burn joss paper when you die."
Even if he had taught his enemies, he would burn paper during festivals, let alone the old man.
"There is such a thing…"
Kizaru quietly stared at Kuro, his gaze making Kuro a little uncomfortable.
He twisted his body unnaturally and said, "Grandpa, why are you looking at me?"
Kizaru chuckled and said, "Well, I was just thinking that when I first saw you, you weren't tall. In the blink of an eye, you grew so big."
Kuro rolled his eyes. This is as if you have seen me grow up, although there is no difference. At that time, he was not as tall as he is now. Now he is already three meters tall.
"Your height has grown, and your strength has also grown." Kizaru said meaningfully: "You can also take charge."
"Not at all, it's still early."
Kuro smiled and said politely, "Don't say something that will cause misunderstanding. I thought you were going to quit, but how is that possible?"
"Oh, then what if I really retreat?" Kizaru said with a smile.
"He really retreated? Impossible."
Kuro confidently blew out a mouthful of smoke and said, "How can the higher-ups let you go so easily? How can they retreat just like that? Unless you don't even want to be a Marine anymore, just like that Madao Kuzan."
There was a precedent for this.
When Garp retired, he was not allowed to leave the Marine, so he became a recruit coach.
When Sengoku stepped down, he also could not withdraw from the Marine Corps and was put in the position of a Grand Inspector.
There is no way for people like them to leave the Marine peacefully. Once they leave the Marine, it means that there must be something they can't get over.
This is also because someone has to be responsible for the top position. If it is someone like the old man, how can it be so easy to step down? Unless the World Government needs someone to take over, otherwise, the old man will definitely not step down.
Why should he retreat? His combat power is still the same. The World Government is so annoying. How can he agree to it without benefits?
Seeing Kuro's disbelieving look, Kizaru chuckled. "Well, that's it. Go back first, Kuro. We have a party meeting in a few days."
Marine's faction is quite open and aboveboard. Where this person comes from, where that person comes from, it is clear and traceable. They have never hidden it. Maybe some people don't say it, but the default will be that way.
Kuro found Kizaru's words a little strange. He touched his chin and muttered, "We have a faction meeting?"
He had been under the old man for a few years and had been directly under him since the beginning. Why had he never participated in such a thing?
Kizaru chuckled and said, "Because it's not necessary, but something has happened recently. Anyway, that's it."
"Feel free."
Kuro shrugged and said, "I will withdraw first. I will come on time."
"This is a small faction meeting, you can come yourself." Kizaru reminded.
"Okay, I got it."
Kuro did not look back. He waved his hand and walked straight out.
Kizaru looked at Kuro's back for a long time and suddenly said, "It's so scary. Are you still hiding it? Then I will help you."
… .
A few days later, Sam William went to Headquarters.
When he came to Headquarters, there was still a little interlude. His ship docked a little far away and he flew here by his own ability, but on the way here, he met Stolobelli who came back and fought with him.
The battle was evenly matched because there was not much time left and the noise of the battle had attracted the attention and support of many people. They directly surrounded William. The latter saw that the situation was not good and only said that he was here to be Shichibukai.
Then, he was carried to the headquarters.
In Kuro's office, he frowned and looked at this fellow countryman who only had the headquarters on him. After a long time, he said, "Not bad, he is still polite, much more polite than the last person who broke in without permission."
He was talking about Law, that rude kid who broke into the headquarters without saying hello.
"Golden Lion, no, Vice Admiral Kuro, I accepted your invitation."
William stared at the neighbor's child and said slowly: "I also made my feedback. I came to be Shichibukai."
"Chloe."
In response, Kuro only called out once. Beside him, Crowe immediately handed the prepared document to William. William did not look at it and directly picked up a pen to sign his name.
"Aren't you going to look?" Kuro asked curiously.
"I heard about the New Shichibukai, so I won't watch it," William said.
Kuro nodded. "Okay, you're quite forthright. Don't think about getting any influence in East Blue. Get all your remaining industries out and put them on the route you chose. Of course, it's not impossible to put New World. You can put it anywhere, but don't think about East Blue. In addition, this cigar is good. Give me a little of it every year. I don't need you to make an industrial chain, just give it to me alone."
"No problem, I promise, but I have a condition…"
William took a deep breath and looked at Kuro. "If I feel that I can surpass you one day, I hope you will not hesitate to teach me."
After experiencing life and death and breaking through the magic barrier, William's obsession still hasn't disappeared. He wants to challenge Kuro, but this time he will wait for a good opportunity.
"What are you thinking about? Line up."
Kuro bit his cigar and cocked his head. "If you want to deal with me, you have to beat Mihawk first."