"Don't kill me! I have information to exchange with you!" Kuro had lost all his previous composure, his face now filled with terror. Only by truly experiencing having his power completely plundered by Lu En could one understand that despair.
Years of effort, years of training and battle-forged power, all snatched away in an instant. All that remained was a crippled body, now barely able to stand. And for a pirate, having one's power taken away meant having everything taken away!
Monster! Kuro, due to the sudden loss of power, couldn't even stand steadily, collapsing onto the ground and looking up at Lu En, his eyes filled with terror, not even daring to look into Lu En's eyes. In the East Blue, he was considered a well-known pirate, but he had never seen such a monster.
Whether it was before, when this man merely glanced at him, he felt an irresistible force sweep over him and lost consciousness, or now, this man had stolen everything from him through unknown means. Kuro, in front of this man, was like an ant, capable of being crushed at any moment. He was not worthy to look this man in the eye. Now, completely terrified, Kuro only wanted to live.
"Information?" Lu En's lips curled.
"Ye-yes, I'm the former captain of the Black Cat Pirates, but I can actually still command the Black Cat Pirates. Tomorrow, tomorrow the Black Cat Pirates are coming to attack this village. Even if you're this strong, under that kind of chaos, it would be impossible to keep this village completely unharmed,
right? Spare my life, and I can help you take down all those guys. Hey, Usopp, you're friends with them, right? You don't want the villagers to get hurt, do you? Tell them to let me go." Kuro swallowed hard. After speaking, he immediately looked at Usopp.
"What?!" Usopp's face drastically changed. Kaya also covered her mouth, unable to believe this was the true identity of Klahadore, the butler she had once trusted most.
"Then, why did you infiltrate here as a butler, and still plan to command the Black Cat Pirates to attack this place?" Lu En's expression remained unchanged, as he asked indifferently. Although Lu En, knowing the plot, already knew the reason behind this, having Kuro say it himself would completely shatter all of Kaya's illusions.
"I..." Kuro's throat was dry. He remained silent for a long time.
"Not going to say?" Lu En's eyes narrowed. "Then, go die."
"I-I'll talk! I infiltrated here for this family's fortune! I was increasingly annoyed by the Marines drawn by my ever-growing bounty, so I faked my death to hide my identity. Then, I spent three years gaining the trust of the villagers here.
Tomorrow, when the Black Cat Pirates kill Young Lady Kaya and make her write a will leaving all her property to me, I can legitimately acquire this fortune and live a stable life." Kuro was completely terrified by Lu En and immediately spilled everything. As for why he didn't lie, under such extreme fear, Kuro's mind had already collapsed, so how could he lie?
"Klahadore..." Kaya covered her mouth, looking at Kuro in disbelief. This butler, whom their family had saved and treated like kin, was actually planning to kill their entire family.
"Spare me, and I'll tell you the location of those scoundrels in the Black Cat Pirates. I won't be a pirate anymore, just spare my life." Kuro at this moment only wanted to live; he didn't care about Kaya's feelings at all.
"Whoosh! Bang!" A continuously extended fist heavily struck Kuro's face, with such force that it deformed his features.
"Using your comrades' lives to save your own, you trash, you don't even deserve to be called a pirate. Comrades are not to be used like this." Luffy's face was filled with anger as he looked at the motionless Kuro on the ground. Zoro's lips curled slightly.
Lu En, on the other hand, glanced at Nami. Nami pursed her red lips, understanding Lu En's meaning. In her mind, she recalled what Lu En had said about betting his life to help her, coupled with the earlier princess carry. Nami's heart stirred with ripples.
"Hey, Luffy, you haven't asked where those pirates are yet!" Usopp shouted, clutching his head. Then he quickly ran to Kuro, shaking him repeatedly, trying to wake him up. "Hey, wake up, you! Where are those pirates!" Usopp's forehead was covered in cold sweat as he continuously shook Kuro.
But Kuro's entire strength had been taken by Lu En. At this moment, his physique was similar to that of a normal villager. Struck by Luffy's enraged punch, how could he possibly wake up?
"Damn it!" Seeing that Kuro truly wouldn't wake up, Usopp slammed his fist heavily on the ground.
"You go tell the villagers that pirates are coming tomorrow; then they can just leave, right?" Zoro said, crossing his arms.
"The villagers won't believe me. I've always lied to them about pirates coming." Usopp looked pained.
"Usopp, I can go tell them." Kaya coughed twice, speaking with some difficulty. Her body was already weak, and the Kuro incident had further impacted her, making her feel unwell for a while.
"No, who knows if Kuro hid anything, like if his signal isn't there, those pirates won't attack. If Kaya, you go and tell them, but then the pirates don't come tomorrow, even you won't be trusted by everyone.
By the time those pirates really come, it'll be too late." Usopp's pessimistic and timid nature made him immediately think of the worst-case scenario. The reason he constantly lied to the villagers about pirates coming was because after his father Yasopp went to sea to become a pirate, Usopp's mother fell gravely ill.
Seeing his mother suffering and still missing his father, Usopp suddenly had an idea. He shouted "Pirates are coming!" in the village so his mother would hear. Usopp's mother heard his shouts, gained hope for Yasopp's return, and her health improved somewhat.
So Usopp continued to shout "Pirates are coming!" every day. This habit continued even after Usopp's mother passed away. This hid Usopp's longing for his deceased mother.
Furthermore, Syrup Village itself was very lonely on the sea. In fact, the villagers were also very bored every day. After chasing and scolding him every day, Usopp could still see some villagers smiling happily. So, Usopp persevered even more. But now, years of lying also made Usopp taste the bitter fruit.
"Hmm? You're not asking us for help?" Lu En looked at Usopp, a curve forming at the corner of his lips.
"This is my village. Only I have the responsibility to protect it. And I don't even know if those pirates will really come tomorrow. If they don't come, will you stay here indefinitely? You have your adventure, right? How can I shamelessly ask for your help?" Usopp turned his head. Although he was afraid, he still spoke loudly. "Good! I, Captain Usopp, will go outside the village to resist those pirates!" Usopp puffed out his chest.
"But your legs are trembling." Nami looked at Usopp.
"Damn, damn it! This is not a joke! There really are pirates! Can't be this timid!" Usopp looked at his continuously trembling legs, his forehead covered in cold sweat, forcefully slapping his legs with his hand. "Yeah, I'm scared, so what? Go ahead and laugh if you want." Unable to control his trembling legs, Usopp looked up and shouted loudly.
"No one's laughing at you. Who would laugh at a truly brave warrior of the sea?" Lu En said slowly.
"Lu En... I, am I a brave warrior of the sea?" Usopp's nose suddenly stung as he heard Lu En's words. Becoming a brave warrior of the sea was Usopp's dream. And Usopp had also witnessed Lu En's power. To be recognized by such a man, Usopp felt his mouth go dry.
"You, you wouldn't be pitying me, would you?" Usopp was still very insecure at this moment.
"Who would bet their life out of pity to fight pirates, you idiot!" Luffy shouted loudly, then looked at Usopp and smiled. "Hehehe, and what's all this about 'our adventure'? Aren't you already our nakama?" Usopp's eyes widened. He looked at Luffy, who was grinning and extending his hand to him, in disbelief.
"You, you want to join us, Usopp?" Lu En's lips curled, looking at Usopp.
"Hmph." Zoro said nothing, only revealing a smile. Usopp was inherently timid, Zoro could see that, but for the sake of the village, he could muster the courage to face pirates. Such a man, he also admired.
"Luffy! Lu En! Everyone!" Usopp's eyes instantly reddened, and he lunged towards Luffy.
"But I want to be the captain."
"I'm the captain!"
"Vice-captain would be fine too."
"Don't say stupid things!"
...
Lu En looked at Usopp, who was squabbling with Luffy, and a slight smile curved his lips.
"Usopp joins the Straw Hat Pirates. Loadable entries updated."
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