Usopp hurried toward Kaya's mansion.
Avoiding the guards, he slipped onto the estate and scrambled up a tree outside Kaya's bedroom window.
"Bad news, Kaya!"
He spotted her lying on her bed by the window, quietly reading a book. Relief washed over him.
He was just in time—if he told her the truth and got her out of here, everything could still be saved.
"What's wrong, Usopp?"
Kaya tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear. Seeing the boy, she smiled faintly, but noticing the panic on his face, her brows creased with worry.
"Kaya, listen to me—your butler, Kuro..."
"He's a pirate!"
Usopp blurted the words in a rush. "Come with me first—I'll explain everything later!"
"Hahaha, what are you saying, Usopp?"
Kaya froze for a moment, then laughed softly. "Is this today's story?"
Ever since her parents' passing, she had sunk into depression, and her health deteriorated.
It was Usopp who kept her company, visiting often to tell his tall tales.
She knew the stories were false—she'd read some of them in books before.
But she never exposed him. Instead, she played along, sometimes laughing at the ridiculousness, sometimes smiling simply because his presence lifted her spirits.
But Usopp's face was too serious this time.
His voice rose. "No, Kaya! I'm telling the truth this time!"
He suddenly remembered the bounty poster Reiner had given him. Fumbling in his pouch, he pulled it out.
Knock, knock, knock—
There was a knock at the door.
"Miss Kaya, it's me, Kuro."
"I've brought your lunch."
The moment Usopp heard that voice, cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Usopp, this is bad!" Kaya panicked. "You have to leave, or else Kuro will call the guards again!"
"No!" Usopp's hands trembled as he thrust the bounty poster in front of her.
"Look! I'm not lying! It's real! Hurry—come with me! I'll carry you out the window! Trust me, Kaya!"
"T-this is...!" Kaya stared at the poster, shock spreading across her face.
The disguise was different, but the features were identical—Kuro's face.
"H-how could it be...! Kuro, he's—!"
The gentle butler she trusted was actually a pirate worth 16 million Berries?
"Miss Kaya, are you well?"
"I'm coming in."
Outside the door, Kuro's voice grew heavy.
Today was the day he was supposed to meet Jango. But the hypnotist never showed, which made Kuro furious enough to want to tear him apart.
Now, hearing the suspicious noises inside Kaya's room without her responding, unease gnawed at him.
"Don't tell me..."
"That useless fool Jango!"
As expected of the pirate known for his cunning, Kuro pieced it together immediately.
BANG!
With a thunderous crash, the door was kicked open.
Kuro's face twisted in a dark scowl as he spotted Usopp at the window, holding Kaya in his arms, preparing to flee.
"K-Kuro!" Kaya and Usopp cried out.
From his suit, Kuro pulled out his long, clawed gloves and slipped them on, his aura turning lethal.
"Why?" His cold eyes glinted. "How did you find out? Don't tell me you defeated Jango?"
"Yo—it was us who told him."
A cheerful voice drifted in from outside the window.
Luffy crouched on a branch, still holding a half-finished plate of food.
He popped a piece of meat into his mouth and stared calmly at Kuro. "That weird hypnotist guy? I beat him."
"And who are you?"
"My name's Luffy. I'm the man who will become King of the Pirates!"
"King of the Pirates? So you're a pirate too."
Kuro's eyes narrowed. "Why? I do not quarrel with you. Or do you..."
"Want to play the hero?"
"Hero? No." Luffy set the plate on the window ledge, cracked his knuckles, and grinned.
"I told you—I'm gonna be King of the Pirates. Why? Simple."
"I don't like your face, so I came here to beat you up. That's all!"
Luffy's arms shot forward, wrapping around Usopp and Kaya. He stretched and lowered them safely to the ground below.
"What the—!?"
"His hands—they stretched!?"
Usopp and Kaya stared, dumbfounded.
"Is that it?"
Kuro's expression contorted into rage. "Three years! I've spent three years planning this!"
"And now—because of you, because you didn't like me—all of it ruined! Everything, gone, just because you found me unpleasant!?"
"You damned brat—you deserve to die!"
Kuro roared, spreading his claws—Ten Blades, gleaming coldly.
SWOOSH!
His figure vanished instantly—this was his Silent Step, a burst of soundless, high-speed movement.
In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Luffy.
"So fast!"
Luffy's eyes widened—the sudden speed caught him completely off guard.
SLASH!
Blood sprayed as the claws raked across his chest.
"Damn it!" Luffy hissed. He'd tried to pull back, but not fast enough. The claws left deep gashes as he flipped backward and landed on the lawn.
But Kuro wasn't done. He pressed the attack, claws slashing down again.
CLANG!
Sparks flew as his strike was blocked.
Before him stood a black-clad, fanged creature with a blade—it was the Blade Devil.
"What the hell is this!?" Kuro recoiled. That thing... no, there was no way it was human. Too monstrous. Too grotesque.
BRRRRRRRR!
The air filled with a harsh grinding whir.
Another figure emerged—hideous, armed with three massive spinning chainsaws. The Chainsaw Devil.
"AAAAH!" Kaya screamed, covering her face in horror.
"How rude."
Reiner strolled in calmly, with Zoro and Nami following.
Seeing Kaya trembling, Reiner lit a cigarette. "If you scream like that, Little Blade and Little Saw will feel hurt."
"Those names are creepy as hell!" Nami snapped, glaring. "No matter how many times I see them, they make my skin crawl!"
"Anyway, looks like he's our target." Zoro unsheathed his sword, eyes gleaming with interest.
"Roronoa Zoro?"
Kuro froze. Though he'd retired from piracy, he still kept up with news. The name was well known.
The pirate hunter who had risen in the East Blue these past two years—the three-sword swordsman, Zoro.
Now, facing Luffy, Zoro, and these two abominations...
Kuro's face grew grim. "This situation... is very bad."
Reiner directed his two devils forward, hanging back himself.
Casually, he unslung his rifle and began loading bullets.
Four against one?
No, five against one.
This wasn't a duel. No one cared about fairness.
Kuro—
You'll be the one to help me train!