18: Chapter 18 Resolving the CrowIn the courtyard of the villa, on a large tree, Usopp was saying something to the girl, "Kaya, today I'm going to tell you a story about when I was five years old, the story of how I fought a giant goldfish in the South China Sea."
Just as the two were chatting happily, a mournful wail suddenly pierced the air from the sky.As they looked over in curiosity, a green-haired man fell from the sky like a shooting star, accompanied by a scream.His body tumbled in the air before crashing heavily to the ground.
"Whoa, Zoro," Luffy said as he slowly landed, looking at the disheveled Zoro.Zoro struggled to his feet, spitting out the grass in his mouth.He looked at Luffy, who was carrying the three girls down through the air, and said through gritted teeth, "I will definitely cut you down, Luffy."
Luffy grinned, letting out a hearty laugh.He stared intently at the two dumbfounded men, his face beaming with a bright smile, and greeted them warmly.Then, without hesitation, he got straight to the point, asking Kaya for a ship to use as his future pirate vessel.
"Hello, beautiful lady, my name is Luffy, and I am the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates.I have come here to buy a ship from you to use as my pirate vessel."
Before Kaya could respond, a man dressed as a butler suddenly appeared before her.His face was stern, and his eyes revealed obvious disgust as he stared intently at Kaya, as if she were something filthy.
"We don't welcome pirates here!Especially you, Usopp.Your father was a bastard who abandoned his wife and children, and you have his filthy blood flowing through your veins." His voice was icy cold, filled with undisguised contempt.Every word was like a sharp sword, piercing Usopp's ears.
"Stop talking, Mr.Batel," Kaya tried to stop the butler, Batel, from inside the room, but Batel seemed not to hear her.He leaned forward slightly, his arms crossed over his chest, further emphasizing his position.His condescending posture made it seem as if he considered himself the master of this land, entitled to give orders to anyone.
"What did you say?You're not allowed to insult my father!" Usopp, who had just climbed down from the tree, angrily punched the butler who had spoken to him.The butler covered his face, looking loyal, which almost made Luffy believe that he was genuinely doing what was best for Kaya.Kaya, who was inside the house, couldn't believe that Usopp, who had always been by her side, had hit her butler.Just as she was about to angrily chase Usopp away.
"Should I call you Batel or Kuro?What do you think, Captain of the Black Cat Pirates, Kuro the Hundred-Purpose?"
Luffy, who had been silent all along, suddenly asked a question.Kuro, who was on the ground, narrowed his eyes.He hadn't expected that his identity, which he had kept hidden for so many years, would be discovered by a stranger in front of him.However, he believed that Luffy had no evidence.Even Kaya, who was inside the house, did not believe that the butler who had always been by her side was actually the great pirate who had disappeared a few years ago.
"I advise you to stop making things up without evidence, and get out of here right now.I've said before that pirates aren't welcome here," Kuro said, getting up from the ground and pushing up his glasses.
Luffy knew that his words alone wouldn't be enough to convince everyone, so he immediately pulled out the wanted poster he had prepared beforehand.A gust of wind gathered in Luffy's hand, carrying the wanted poster to Kaya's front.When Kaya saw the person on the wanted poster, she trembled, and the wanted poster fell from her hand and floated to Kuro's front.
Kuro's eyes narrowed as he saw Luffy's continued stubbornness.Luffy threw a punch at him, and Kuro instinctively dodged the incoming fist.Before Kuro could react, Luffy's Gum-Gum Machine Gun followed, forcing Kuro to dodge repeatedly.When the attack stopped and he saw the smile on Luffy's face, Kuro knew he had been exposed.He decided to drop the pretense and lay his cards on the table."That's right, I am Kuro, who disappeared a few years ago.I didn't expect that after so long, someone would still recognize me.Kid, who are you?" As he spoke, Kuro took out his spare weapon, the Ten-Edged Cat Claw, from a nearby flower bed, put it on, and stared intently at Luffy.Zoro came to Luffy's side, drew his weapon, and stood ready.
Luffy pressed down Zoro, who was about to attack, his eyes revealing confidence and determination.He stared directly at Kuro, making no attempt to hide his contempt, and said, "If you want to know who I am, then wait until you defeat me!" Seeing Luffy's disdainful expression, Kuro's anger flared instantly.His pride could no longer tolerate such insults, and he decided to take action to show Luffy his strength.
Kuro spread his arms, radiating a powerful aura.His pride and joy, speed, exploded in an instant, and he charged towards Luffy like lightning.His movements were agile and swift, each step carrying unparalleled power and agility, as if he wanted to tear Luffy apart.Seeing the danger, Zoro immediately protected the few people watching from the sidelines and retreated into the house for safety, while he and Kuina held their swords, ready to support Luffy at any moment.
"Silent Steps"
Kuro moved swiftly around Luffy without making a sound, waiting for an opportunity.He circled behind Luffy, saw he was unguarded, and raised his weapon to slash at him.Just as Zoro was about to intervene, "Shave!"
Luffy vanished instantly, causing Kuro's fatal blow to miss.Just as Kuro was searching for Luffy in shock, someone patted his shoulder.Kuro felt a tingling sensation on his scalp and leaped away from his spot, warily watching Luffy.He didn't understand when Luffy had appeared behind him."You forced me to do this.I didn't want to use this move either, but I had no choice.Screw it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Kuro disappeared again, this time at several times the speed of before.Wherever he went, the ground was cleaved in two.However, this speed was nothing to Luffy.Inside, however, it was an extremely slow "Storm Kick - Ice Blade Dance".
Luffy leaped into the air, swinging his legs at high speed to kick out a barrage of ice blades towards the ground.The ice blades that touched the ground were quickly frozen, while Kro, unable to control himself, was forced to touch the ice and fell to the ground in a sorry state.Before Kro could get up, four vines suddenly emerged from the ground and tightly wrapped around his limbs.
Kaya, inside the house, felt a surge of anxiety upon hearing the sounds of the battle ending outside.She rushed out, tears welling in her eyes, and ran to Kro, asking in a choked voice, "Mr.Batel, why did you do this?Was my parents' death a few years ago related to you?"
Kro's eyes were filled with dejection as he silently surveyed the scene before him, his defeat already sealed.His voice, flat yet tinged with helplessness, seemed to justify his actions: "Your parents' deaths have nothing to do with me.I did this only to inherit your fortune so I could enjoy my retirement.The reason you've always been in poor health is because I've been lacing your medication with a slow-acting poison.This will weaken you until you die.Before you die, I'll have my men hypnotize you, making you write a will and choose me as your heir.It was almost successful, but at the crucial moment, this kid ruined it all.I'm not reconciled!"
Upon hearing this, Kaya swayed uncontrollably.She couldn't believe, and didn't even want to believe, that her butler, who had been with her for several years, would poison her for his own wealth.Seeing that Kaya was not in good condition, Usopp immediately stepped forward to support her, and together with Kaya's servant Merry, they helped her into the house to rest.
"I've lost, kill me now."
Kuro resignedly lay on the ground, letting Luffy do as he pleased.Luffy's eyes were indifferent, and cold air wrapped around Kuro along the vines, freezing him into an ice sculpture.Luffy used his wind power to carry Kuro to the shore, where he saw the Black Cat Pirates waiting for orders.After dealing with them, he threw Kuro's ice sculpture into the sea."This is probably the best ending for you," Luffy said calmly, watching Kuro gradually sink into the deep sea.