Usopp walked ahead, dejected, occasionally glancing back furtively at Raymond, his long nose slightly red from nervousness.
He wanted to speak several times but held back, ultimately just lowering his head and leading the group with heavy steps through the village path toward Kaya's mansion.
Syrup Village was quiet and peaceful. Villagers curiously sized up the group of Marines, their whispers occasionally reaching their ears.
Soon, a magnificent white mansion appeared before them.
The mansion was surrounded by lush trees, and its garden was dotted with flowers of various colors, giving it a particularly elegant appearance.
Two bodyguards in crisp suits stood before the mansion's main gate. They wore sunglasses, their arms crossed in front of them, with an air that warned strangers to keep their distance.
When they saw Usopp approaching with a squad of Marines, they immediately stood up straight, on alert.
Just then, the main gate slowly opened, and a tall, thin man with round glasses, wearing a black butler's uniform and with his hair slicked back, appeared in the doorway.
His gaze was cold and sharp. He habitually pushed up his glasses with the heel of his hand, the lenses reflecting a cold glint of light.
"Usopp, are you here to disturb the young lady again?" Kuro's voice was low and calm, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.
Usopp swallowed hard and stammered, "M-Mr. Klahadore, it's not me this time... It's this Marine officer, he's looking for Kaya..."
Kuro's gaze shifted to Raymond, a flicker of vigilance in his eyes that he quickly concealed.
He bowed slightly, his tone respectful yet distant. "Sir Marine, may I ask what business you have with my young lady? She is not well and is unable to receive guests."
Raymond smiled slightly and took a step forward. "I am Kaya's distant cousin, Raymond. I have come specifically for the matter of our betrothal, arranged before birth. Please announce me."
Kuro's fingers paused for a moment, and the gaze behind his lenses suddenly turned cold. He slowly straightened up, his voice still calm. "Forgive my bluntness, but I have never heard the young lady mention a cousin like you, nor have I ever heard of any betrothal."
Raymond shrugged, his tone light. "It's an old family matter. Kaya may not be aware of it. However, since I am here, I should at least meet her and clarify things in person."
Their gazes met, and invisible sparks seemed to fly in the air. Usopp stood to the side, cold sweat beading on his forehead, feeling the oppressive atmosphere was suffocating.
After a moment, Kuro stepped aside slightly, clearing a path. "In that case, Mr. Raymond, please come in. However, the others will have to wait outside."
Raymond nodded, instructed his men to go to the market to purchase supplies, and then stepped into the mansion. Kuro followed closely behind, closing the gate behind them.
Usopp was left outside, pacing anxiously but helpless.
"What if he really is Kaya's relative... I hope Kaya will be happy. Maybe her illness will get better..."
The last rays of the setting sun filtered through the leaves, casting a mottled green light on Usopp's face. He stared blankly at the treetops, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Inside the mansion, the corridor was wide and quiet, with exquisite oil paintings hanging on the walls and soft carpets underfoot.
Kuro walked ahead, his back straight and cold. Raymond, meanwhile, casually looked around as if he were very interested in the grand house.
"Miss Kaya is waiting in the living room," Kuro said without turning his head. "I hope your arrival will not disturb her."
Raymond chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm here to propose a marriage to bring her good fortune!"
Soon, they arrived at the living room. Sunlight streamed through the French windows onto the soft carpet. Kaya was sitting upright in a carved armchair, her slender fingers nervously intertwined. Her pale face looked particularly frail in the sunlight.
"Young Lady!" Kuro bowed slightly, his voice as gentle as if he were a different person. "This Mr. Raymond claims to be your distant cousin."
Kaya looked up, her water-blue eyes filled with confusion. "Cousin? But my parents never mentioned having a cousin who was a Marine..."
"It's been a long time, Cousin Kaya! I am the son of your mother's cousin. I've come specifically to fulfill the marriage contract between our two families."
"M-marriage contract?" Kaya's eyelashes fluttered, an unprecedented confusion appearing in her eyes.
"That... that's impossible! My father never mentioned it..."
Just then, Kuro suddenly interrupted coldly, "Mr. Raymond, your lies are far too clumsy. I am perfectly clear on the young lady's family background. There is no such person as you."
Raymond was unperturbed. "We met once when we were little. Miss Kaya has probably forgotten!"
"May I ask, Mr. Raymond... do you know the names of Miss Kaya's parents?" Kuro pushed up his glasses with the heel of his hand, a viper-like gaze staring intently at Raymond through the lenses, his fingers unconsciously stroking the cat claws hidden in his cuffs.
His plan to take over the mansion was about to be set in motion, and now some overconfident Marine had shown up to disrupt things. This couldn't help but stir a murderous intent within him.
"Uh, that was a long time ago, I can't recall the names right now... But I don't think that should interfere with my marriage to Miss Kaya!" Raymond showed not the slightest bit of embarrassment, instead flashing a brilliant smile.
Kuro's mouth twitched, the look behind his lenses growing even colder.
"Mr. Raymond, if you continue this nonsense, I'll have you thrown out! The Kaya family is respectable and has no fear of you Marines!"
At this point, Kaya understood what was happening and couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. "Klahadore, please don't speak like that. A visitor is a guest. It's already evening, please entertain Mr. Raymond for me and take him for a simple meal... I'm feeling a bit unwell, so I'll return to my room!"
"Mr. Raymond, please follow me!" Klahadore's face once again wore the respectful smile of a butler.
Raymond shrugged. "That's more like it. After Kaya and I are married, I'll be your master."
Kuro's knuckles turned white under his cuffs, but he maintained a perfect smile. "This way, please. Dinner has already been prepared in the dining room!"
Lunch at the Kaya household was always exquisite and refined. The long table was covered with a snow-white linen tablecloth, and the silver cutlery gleamed in the sunlight.
Maids quietly served cream of mushroom soup, pan-seared sea bass, and freshly baked garlic bread. The aroma of the delicious food filled the dining room.
Raymond sat brazenly in the guest of honor's seat and began to feast.
The food at the 16th Branch was rather plain, so being able to eat such a refined meal was a rare treat for him.
No wonder this fellow Kuro had gone to such lengths to abandon his former pirate identity, just to live as a wealthy man in Syrup Village.
A life of ease was indeed desirable, provided, of course, that one had endless money to spend.
Halfway through the meal, Kuro suddenly left for a moment. When he returned, he was followed by a man in a Marine uniform.
Raymond glanced at the man's epaulets: two silver stars and a horizontal bar, clearly the rank of Major.
So, this fellow Kuro was indeed colluding with the Marines. Otherwise, in the original story, the Black Cat Pirates' ship could never have stayed outside the village for seven or eight days without being detected by the Marines.
"Mr. Raymond, this is Major Leman of the 153rd Branch. He is currently on vacation in Syrup Village... I thought since you are both Marines, you would surely have much to talk about, so I took the liberty of inviting him over. I trust you don't mind, Mr. Raymond?" Kuro bowed slightly, a subtle glint flashing in his eyes.
Major Leman was burly, his face etched with resolute lines carved by the sea wind. He strode forward with a condescending attitude and questioned directly:
"You're Lieutenant Raymond, is that right? Which branch are you from? Syrup Village is under the jurisdiction of the 153rd Branch. For you to bring a team here..."
Before Leman could finish his sentence, a cold glint of light suddenly flashed. He only felt a cold sensation on his neck, and then blood gushed out.
His eyes widened, and he instinctively clutched his throat, but hot blood still poured from between his fingers. After a few seconds, he collapsed heavily to the ground, twitched a few times, and then went still.
Seeing this, Kuro took two steps back in disbelief, his voice trembling for a rare moment. "M... Mr. Raymond, what is this?"
Raymond slowly sheathed his sword, the friction of the blade against the scabbard making a hair-raising metallic sound. He sighed, stood up, and pointed at the corpse on the floor. "Kuro, dispose of this body for me. I assume you know how to do that, right?"