"Klahadore, what happened?" Kaya asked as Kuro entered the villa.
"Usopp came running. He says a pirate crew is coming. Two ships," Kuro reported directly.
"Hah, Klahadore, don't tell me you believe Usopp. Don't you hate him most of all? You say nothing true ever comes out of his mouth," the second butler, Merry, laughed.
"But his expression didn't look like a lie. He told me to get Miss Kaya away, fast. He may love lying, but he seems to care about Miss Kaya. It wouldn't make sense for him to toy with her. Once a lie like that gets exposed, he'd lose her trust completely," Kuro said.
"So… pirates? Real pirates?" Merry's composure slipped.
Kaya, standing beside them, also panicked. "Klahadore, what should we do?"
At a moment like this, the head butler seemed the most reliable.
"Miss Kaya, my suggestion is we evacuate first. When the danger passes, we come back. Live to fight another day," Merry proposed.
Kuro rejected it. "There are two pirate ships. If they intend to clean the island out, they'll leave one ship patrolling offshore to stop anyone from escaping. Running now will be difficult. What we can do is gather all the villagers and face the pirates together."
"You have a point. We can't run now. Then we meet them head-on. Klahadore, I'll go rally the villagers with you. Merry, take half the guards, find out exactly where the pirates are, and report back at once," Kaya said. She'd been raised as a lady of means, and though she'd panicked at first, once she steadied herself she could make a decision.
"Understood, Miss Kaya." Merry nodded without delay, then said solemnly to Kuro, "Klahadore, I'm entrusting Miss Kaya to you."
"Rest easy. I'll protect her. Until I fall, no one will so much as touch a hair on her head," Kuro replied.
Merry led half the guards out. On the way they ran into Usopp and, together with him, moved toward the course the Money Pirates were sailing.
"Miss Kaya, I should go as well," Kuro said.
"All right."
Kaya and Kuro led the remaining guards toward the village. At the square, they struck the bronze gong and sent the guards to notify households farther from the center.
Doors opened across Syrup Village. People stepped into the street and streamed toward the square.
"What's going on?"
"Looks like Miss Kaya called us."
"Then don't dawdle. Let's go."
Usopp was nothing like Kaya. He loved to lie and lived on the fringes; no one took him seriously. Kaya was the daughter of a prominent family and carried great influence in Syrup Village. People looked up to her; no one dared ignore her. Her call carried weight.
Soon, the villagers filled the square. Kaya glanced at Kuro. Seeing him nod, she raised her voice.
"Everyone, I called you here because pirates are about to invade Syrup Island."
"What?"
A roar rippled through the crowd. Many faces blanched. Their island was remote; no pirates had come for over a decade. But today, pirates were truly here.
"Usopp was shouting about pirates just now. I thought he was lying again. Turns out it's real."
"That boy lies for sport. He almost got us all killed. I'll deal with him later."
"What do we do now?"
"Miss Kaya, you gathered us—there must be a way for us to get through this."
"Everyone, Syrup Village is our home. Our families are here—our parents, siblings, children. Each of us has a duty to defend this land. Only by standing together can we hope to drive the pirates back. I'm asking you, please, lend your strength and protect our home," Kaya said earnestly, then bowed.
Her words set blood boiling.
"Miss Kaya is right. Syrup Village is where my ancestors lived. My family stands behind me. I can't back down now. Miss Kaya, I'll fight with you."
"Me too."
"Miss Kaya, wait for me—I'll grab something I can swing and go kill pirates with you."
"Me as well."
Villagers sprinted home and returned with whatever they could fight with—hoes, fishing spears, axes, big knives. Looking at them, it almost seemed possible. If the pirates were weak, united they might really drive them off.
Just then a guard rushed in. "Miss Kaya, the pirates are within five hundred meters of Syrup Village's shore. They'll land any moment!"
Kaya looked to Klahadore. He nodded, and her heart settled. She called out, "Everyone, with me!"
With that, Kaya led more than three hundred villagers in a great column toward the beach where the Money Pirates were preparing to land.