"There's only one slope leading into the village, and the rest are cliffs," Usopp explained, gesturing toward the hill.
"It's impossible to get in easily. As long as we defend this slope, the village won't be attacked."
Luffy tilted his head. "Really? That easy?"
"It's easy to say, but the next question is our combat power. What can you do?" Usopp looked at the group expectantly.
"Cut!"
"Stretch!"
"Steal!"
"Watch the show!"
"I'll run away!"
"You want to fight too, you bastard!" Luffy lunged forward and strangled Usopp by the neck.
"I was just kidding—let go! I'm gonna die—cough, cough!" Usopp flailed in panic.
Inside the mansion—
"Mr. Klahadore, you're back."
The white-haired servant, standing on a stepladder and polishing the chandelier, greeted the returning butler.
"Where's Miss Kaya?"
"She's already asleep. She looked pretty tired…"
Then the servant recounted Usopp's morning visit to the mansion.
Klahadore adjusted his collar with a slight frown. "I didn't expect this to happen when I was away on business in the next town. That young man, Usopp, really is a handful."
"He even said you were a pirate," the servant chuckled while wiping the chandelier. "Speaks without thinking, hahahaha…"
Klahadore gave a polite chuckle. "Haha, that's right."
He walked to a nearby table and picked up a glasses case. "What's this?"
The servant smiled. "Miss Kaya bought those for you. She said Tomorrow is the third anniversary of your arrival here."
"Anniversary?"
"She noticed your glasses often slip down, so she specially ordered these for you. Such a gentle and considerate person~"
The servant dabbed at his eyes with the cloth he'd been using to polish the chandelier.
Klahadore, his back turned, pushed up his glasses with his palm, a dark smile spreading across his face. "Anniversary… Come to think of it, tomorrow is the anniversary…"
He glanced at the crescent moon outside. "Tonight… should I call it exciting? Or blood-boiling?"
Bang—
With a sudden motion, he hurled the glasses case and its contents to the floor, grinding them under his heel.
"Mr. Klahadore! That was a gift from Miss Kaya!" the servant gasped.
"I'll accept her gift," Klahadore sneered, "but not this thing… I'll take everything in this mansion."
Shk—
From his sleeve, he extended the iron claws hidden beneath.
Before the servant could react, Klahadore slashed—
Swish—
Thud—
The servant collapsed, blood pooling beneath him.
Tap, tap, tap…
Klahadore strode into Kaya's room, his claws still slick with blood, gleaming under the moonlight.
He stood over her sleeping form, claws inches from her neck.
"Since we've known each other so long… I'll let you live a few more hours."
With that, he turned and left.
On a large pirate ship—
Boom, boom, boom!
"Captain Jango! It's almost dawn! Get up, Captain Jango!" a pirate called, practically bouncing with excitement.
Creak—
The door swung open, and Jango strutted out with his signature moonwalk-like steps.
"Good morning, Captain!" the crew chorused.
"Idiots!" Jango snapped. "My principle is that 'good morning' should only be said with the rising sun!"
"The captain doesn't seem to be in a good mood…"
"Well, we did just wake him up," two pirates muttered.
Jango pointed at the moon. "It's still late at night! The moon hasn't even set yet! And you're yelling like that?!"
"Sorry, Captain!" they said in unison.
"As long as you know!"
He spun dramatically at the bow, striking what he clearly thought was a cool pose. "Brothers, we set sail!"
Swoosh—
Usopp poured out the last bucket of oil. "Perfect! The pirates can't climb up the slope now."
"We'll crush them as they slide down!" he declared.
"In short, we must hold this slope no matter what," he added.
"As long as we don't slip, it'll be like falling into an ant nest for them," Nami said, eyeing the oil-slicked ground.
Lock frowned at the yellow sheen on the dirt. Why do I feel like I'm forgetting something about this oil…?
"Forget it. It's probably nothing important," he muttered, shaking his head.
On the other side of the coast—
"Arrived!"
"Alright, brothers, disembark! Into the village!" Jango ordered.
"Captain, there are two small boats over there. Should we check them?" a pirate pointed at Lock's ship.
"Forget it. It's not a treasure ship. Stick to the plan!" Jango barked.
"Yes, sir!"
Luffy sat cross-legged on the slope. "Still not here? It's already so bright."
Nami closed her eyes, listening. "I hear something…"
Lock nodded. "Yeah. Sounds like it's coming from where we docked."
Usopp's eyes went wide. "Oh no! There's another slope to the north!"
"They took the wrong path?!" Luffy shouted.
"I thought they'd attack from this side!" Usopp defended himself.
"Hurry! They'll reach the village!" Luffy demanded.
"It's three minutes north from here!"
"That's fine, we'll manage!" Luffy reassured.
"Oh no! My treasure!" Nami shrieked.
"Get there in twenty seconds!" Luffy dashed off, Usopp on his heels.
Lock turned to Nami. "As long as they haven't left the island, we can still get it back."
"You're right, let's—eh?—ah!"
Slip—
Nami, forgetting about the oil, lost her footing. She grabbed Zoro's sword with one hand and the corner of Lock's clothes with the other.
The three of them went down like dominoes, sliding across the slick ground.
"Help! I'm gonna fall!" Nami yelled.
"Let go, idiot…" Zoro growled, clawing at the ground.
Lock, pinned beside him, groaned. "Nami, I get you're anxious, but—eh?"
Before he could finish, Nami stepped on his back, jumped onto Zoro's head, and sprang free.
"Thanks, Lock, Zoro!" she called over her shoulder as she bolted.
Lock could only watch helplessly. "Oh, come on—!"
With their grip broken, both he and Zoro slid to the bottom of the slope.