Chapter 59 The "Mission: Impossible" Scheme Fails! Borrowing "Light" to Lower the Gaze

Awesome!!

If not for the completely inappropriate time and place, Crozer would have loved to raise his hands high on the spot and cheer with unbridled joy.

Starting from today.
He! Little Ze! Is the most loyal number one henchman under Boss Kizaru!

If anyone ever dares to insult Boss Kizaru to his face again, calling him slick, slimy, wretched... thirty-eight other derogatory adjectives omitted here... a salary thief, a Marine undercover agent!

Crozer will be the very first person not to let them off the hook!

What "Kowai"~?
Clearly, it is "Kawai"!

"Defeat" Kizaru!
Obtain Grade-A bait!
I wonder what kind of ability can be fished out...
Flash form? Yellow Flash? The Beta Capsule?

Hehe~
Crozer fell into a brief daydream.

"Little brother Crozer, I truly don't mind having a small friendly spar with you. But the script's arrangement might not turn out quite the way you imagine~"

Looking at Marine private Crozer, who was failing to suppress his excitement, the corner of Kizaru's mouth curved into a subtle arc, exuding an aura of utter wretchedness.

"Speed is power. Have you ever been kicked by the speed of light?"

The basic conditions of both parties had been roughly negotiated, and the remaining details only needed to be handled in accordance with Marine regulations.
Kizaru stopped inserting himself into the conversation, leaving the conversational floor to Crozer and Zephyr.

Recovering from his thoughts about the Grade-A bait, rationality reoccupied the high ground of Crozer's brain.
He looked at Zephyr and eagerly asked, "Instructor Zephyr, when will I be executing this pirate undercover mission?"

"Very soon, within the next couple of days."

Seeing that the conditions discussed by Kizaru were basically within his tolerance range, Zephyr stopped brooding and explained.

"After the elite training camp concludes, every elite Marine enjoys a three-day vacation. My plan is for you to board a Marine warship tomorrow under the guise of a 'vacation' and head to the Sabaody Archipelago, officially launching the undercover operation from that island!"

The Sabaody Archipelago!
A fantastical island filled with bubbles!
I wonder what kind of fishing world corresponds to this bubble island...
Such thoughts flashed and vanished in Crozer's mind.

Connecting this with the "escape plan" Kizaru had just mentioned, Crozer couldn't help asking, "So my making a clean break from the Marines, or rather, starting to make a name for myself under the identity of a pirate, will take place at the Sabaody Archipelago?"

Zephyr nodded. "That is correct! However, as for the specific plan, I will notify you tomorrow."

Crozer's brows furrowed in a manner almost imperceptible.
He actually trusted the "escape plan" Zephyr mentioned; after all, the designer of this plan was none other than the renowned great strategist of the Marines—Vice Admiral Tsuru!

The problem, however, was that Vice Admiral Tsuru did not possess wall-hacks!
Perhaps in the eyes of Zephyr and Tsuru, Crozer's escape plan would surely fool everyone, including all members of the elite training camp.
Yet Crozer knew very well that this cohort of the Marine elite training camp also harbored an undercover agent from pirate forces!

A senior officer of the Donquixote Family and the original Corazon—Vergo!
Vergo's existence was precisely why Crozer had just proposed his fourth demand to Zephyr and Kizaru!

Doflamingo dispatched Vergo to infiltrate the Marines as an undercover agent.
And I, in turn, will rope Vergo into the pirate undercover plan!
Making a real pirate go undercover as an undercover pirate—that scene promised to be exceptionally interesting.

Crozer could instantly conjure up the title of a story collection in his mind:
《The Family Boss Sent Me to Infiltrate the Marines, Only for My Superior to Arrange Me as an Undercover Pirate Re-Infiltrating the Family》!

Inception within Inception!

Regrettably, Crozer's condition had been rejected by Kizaru.
At this moment, he had no way to reveal Vergo's true identity to his two superiors either.
Able to successfully infiltrate the Marines—and an elite training camp with extremely rigorous vetting procedures at that—the Donquixote Family must have poured immense effort into fabricating Vergo's identity!

Nor could Crozer possibly explain how he came to know Vergo's true identity!
What was more...
He and Vergo were still Marine comrades-in-arms who shared a "bond of life and death"!

'I can only hope that Zephyr and Tsuru's so-called escape plan can actually fool Vergo... Otherwise, what the hell am I even going undercover for? I'll just end up handing Doflamingo leverage against myself instead...'

At this thought, Crozer asked with lingering reluctance, "Instructor Zephyr, is there really no way I can bring a few good comrades along with me to execute the undercover mission?"

Crozer continued, "You know, people like Vergo, Vergo, and Vergo! Our relationship is genuinely great; he certainly wouldn't refuse my request!"

Vergo certainly wouldn't refuse Crozer!
'Mr. Vergo, you surely wouldn't want Admiral Zephyr to discover your undercover identity, right?'

"No! The undercover mission demands an extremely high level of confidentiality! Other Marines must not know about this matter, and they certainly cannot be allowed to participate!" Zephyr shook his head.

"However, Tsuru did suggest that you might take a few familiar companions along with you to the Sabaody Archipelago tomorrow. Doing so might actually enhance the realism of your operation to break away from the Marines."

What a masterstroke!
Vice Admiral Tsuru really knows what she's doing!
Crozer thought with a trace of surprise.

Unfortunately, the plan to drag Vergo onto the ship had failed...
Still, for now, it seemed this was the only way.

Mistaking Crozer's reluctance for anxiety and panic stemming from the impending undercover operation—which made him instinctively want to drag a few good friends along—Zephyr offered words of comfort.

"I know your relationship with Vergo is close, and the two of you frequently train together to hone yourselves. But this undercover mission must absolutely not be exposed to Vergo!"

Crozer opened his mouth, at a loss for words.
The complete asymmetry of information led Zephyr to believe that Vergo was truly an honest and upright Marine.
In reality, however...
If Crozer were to genuinely turn pirate, the very first "outsider" to realize something was amiss would undoubtedly be Vergo!

I'm merely a fake pirate, yet that guy is an authentic one!
That was certainly a headache-inducing predicament...

"I understand," Crozer said glumly, feeling rather stifled inside.

Wearing an expression of "this pupil is worth teaching," Zephyr nodded with satisfaction and proceeded to instruct him on various details requiring attention during the undercover operation.

"When executing the undercover mission, make sure never to expose your true identity to outsiders—especially when maintaining contact with Marine Headquarters. You must exercise extreme caution and secrecy!" Zephyr reminded him.

"I recall you managed to capture a 'White Den Den Mushi' by chance on that winter island near the Kingdom of Lulusia, correct?"

Crozer replied, "Yes."
That chubby white snail, owing to its rather cute appearance, was frequently borrowed by female soldiers to be fed and cared for while aboard the training ship.
If Crozer remembered correctly, that White Den Den Mushi was currently in Hina's possession.

Zephyr said with satisfaction, "Very good! The White Den Den Mushi can effectively enhance anti-wiretapping capabilities during Den Den Mushi communications!"

Naturally, Crozer understood this logic; the [White Den Den Mushi] was a Grade-D item he had fished out himself, and its item description was crystal clear.

"In the future, will my contact with Marine Headquarters be communicated directly with Instructor Zephyr or Boss Kizaru?" Crozer raised his doubt.

"Not at all." Zephyr shook his head.
"There will be a designated Marine responsible for your dedicated contact line. She currently works as a clerical staff member in Impel Down, and her intelligence classification level is also very high."

She?
Crozer keenly captured the intelligence hidden within Zephyr's words.
Becoming an undercover pirate also comes with a "exclusive customer service young lady"?
Not bad at all!

After offering a few more reminders, Zephyr dismissed Crozer from the office, instructing him to prepare for tomorrow's operational plan.
"Don't forget the time! Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, Pier 13 of the town, board the sightseeing passenger ship bound for the Sabaody Archipelago!"

...

Stepping out of the headquarters building, Crozer returned to the collective dormitory, where he encountered Smoker, who had been waiting for a long time.

"What did Instructor Zephyr want with you?" Smoker asked. "Have the assignment results for the training camp really come out?"

Crozer casually brushed him off. "Yeah, Instructor Zephyr assigned me the rank of Headquarters Colonel! Aren't you envious?"

Naturally, he was making this up; Zephyr hadn't even had the time to discuss his military rank assignment yet!

"How could I not be envious!"
Smoker's eyes were practically turning red; staying to work at Headquarters was the ultimate aspiration of most Marines!
"I wonder where I'll end up being assigned..."

Given your prickly temperament, no matter where you're assigned, you'll probably be demoted to the Four Blues soon enough...
Crozer looked thoughtfully at Smoker.
The high probability was that he'd be dispatched to Loguetown, where his daily routine would consist of arresting comedic performers—ah, no!
Waiting for the right opportunity to capture two future Emperors of the Sea!

Crozer smoothly changed the topic. "That's right, to celebrate my military rank assignment, I plan to take a trip to the Sabaody Archipelago tomorrow to relax. Care to join me?"

Smoker hesitated slightly. "Go to Sabaody? That's bound to cost a lot of money..."

"Don't worry! All expenses tomorrow are on me, fully covered!"
Crozer patted his chest, projecting an air of supreme generosity.
After all, the over five million Berries he had previously acquired from defeating Marines and fishing had been sitting around without an outlet for spending!

Smoker nodded. "Count me in, then! Should we bring along a few others?"

"You, me, Vergo! And Pacifista—wait, scratch Pacifista! I've been getting annoyed with that guy lately." Crozer rattled off the roster.
"You, me, Vergo! Just the three of us!"

"Alright! I'll go let Vergo know right now; he lives in the collective dorms too!"
Smoker made to turn around, only to be grabbed by the arm by Crozer.

"Hold on! Let's knock out today's challenge mission first!"
Smoker turned back around. "What?"
"Have a match with me!"

...

[You have defeated an elite Marine with an overall evaluation of Grade D!]

Dragging the unconscious Smoker back to the collective dormitory, Crozer tossed him aside.
As for the task of notifying Vergo, that could wait until evening!

Returning to his room, Crozer fished out the Grade-D bait he had just acquired from defeating Smoker.

"Despite the previous fishing trip, today's luck doesn't seem all that great!"
Crozer's gaze flickered.
"Still, since I ran into Boss Kizaru, maybe I can borrow a bit of his light?"
"Let's try one more time!"

Crozer cast the Grade-D bait into the dimensional sea, using his finger as a rod and his will as a line, initiating [Fishing].

"Boss Kizaru, please bless me with a good pull! Let's not get another Italian cannon this time!"

[Fishing in progress...]
[Harvest type of this fishing session: Ability Trait]
[Grade-D Ability Trait: Hokuto Steel-Shattering Grip]
[Ability Origin: Fist of the North Star]
[Trait Description: An ultimate-tier technique of the Hokuto Shinen]
[Trait Effect: Substantially amplifies finger strength, allowing one to tear through steel bare-handed and effortlessly crush enemies' bodies and bones]
[Trait Evaluation: Steel-Shattering Finger]

Silently browsing through the light curtain prompts, Crozer suddenly felt the ten fingers of his hands grow abnormally rigid.

"What the actual f***!"

Special thanks to "Zhen Jinwan Fan Ni de Pai" for the 100 Qidian coins tip!!
...

The update is a bit late.
Originally, I intended to split it into chapters, but I realized adding another standalone chapter would just be padding the word count...
So I posted another 3k chapter instead.
Today's total word count has reached 6k.
However, since it's split into two chapters, I can't quite count it as clearing my backlog, which is rather sad...

About to enter the Sabaody Archipelago and start running wild!
(End of this chapter)