As Xia Nuo and the others excitedly toured the inside of the ship,
Northeast of Shirley Island, inside a relatively secluded hotel,
A tall figure draped in a black cloak sat expressionlessly on the balcony, gazing at the sunset slowly sinking below the distant sea.
"What a boring life..."
The man known as "Hundred Plans" Kuro muttered softly.
He had roamed these seas for quite a few years. As he entered middle age, the fiery passion and excitement of his youth had faded, and he had begun to grow tired of this kind of life.
Especially these past few years.
Of all the Great Pirates in the East Blue with bounties exceeding ten million, nearly every one had died at the hands of that man named Xia Nuo, except for Buggy, who had fled back to the Grand Line.
Yet he alone had been left alive.
Having suddenly stood out from the crowd, he had become the target of everyone's attention. Those Marine dogs and greedy bounty hunters pursued him more relentlessly than ever, forcing him into hard-fought battles from time to time.
He had stopped at Shirley Island this time because he had been forced into a sea battle a few days ago.
The ship had suffered severe damage, leaving him no choice but to come here and find a professional shipbuilding company to repair it.
Perhaps he should find a way to escape this situation as well.
Then he could find a countryside estate with beautiful scenery and spend a few peaceful years living like a wealthy retiree.
As he was thinking, Kuro suddenly heard hurried footsteps pounding up from the stairwell.
"Why are you back so soon?"
Kuro knew who it was without looking. He frowned. "Didn't I tell you two to visit a few more shipyards