In reality, Kuro—still acting as the loyal butler Klahadore—sat on the grass, his whole body trembling. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he struggled to stay composed. A moment later, he licked the blood at the corner of his mouth and straightened up with eerie calm. As if nothing had happened, he slowly stepped toward Kaya.
"Miss Kaya," Kuro said in a voice as soft as silk, "I humbly request your permission to remove these unruly guests. Usopp's friends… they may be deceivers like him."
His tone was respectful, yet his cold eyes flickered with malice. Kaya, still visibly shaken, looked at her old friend Usopp. She clenched her fists, confused and upset.
"Usopp, your stories are amusing," Kaya said softly, her voice trembling. "But slandering someone like this—especially Klahadore, who has cared for me for three years—is unacceptable. I… I want you to apologize to him immediately!"
Her tone faltered near the end, but her words cut deep.
"Kaya, no!" Luffy's voice rang out. "Rokuro got that bounty poster from a real Marine base! He showed it to us right after we handed over a group of captured pirates!"
Nami nodded. "We were all there. We heard the full story—about Kuro faking his death and manipulating things from the shadows. I didn't want to believe it either, but the details were too perfect."
She looked at Kaya with sympathy. "I know it's hard… but staying ignorant might be more dangerous."
"Actually," Zoro interrupted while leaning against a tree, arms crossed, "there's an easier way to settle this." He glanced at Kuro with a deadly calm in his eyes. "Let me cut him once. If he survives, he's not just a butler."
Kuro sneered. "Violence is your answer? Typical of pirates. You wield swords without understanding the consequences. Just like your father must have."
Zoro's expression didn't change, but Usopp stepped forward, his hands clenched at his sides.
"Shut your mouth!"
The sniper's voice cracked with rage. "Don't you dare talk about my father! He's a brave warrior of the sea—a real pirate who sails under Shanks! You're not even worthy to say his name!"
Without thinking, Usopp punched Kuro. The butler staggered backward slightly, then deliberately fell to the ground, making it look dramatic.
"Guards!" he shouted. "Protect Miss Kaya! Get these dangerous intruders out of here!"
Luffy cracked his knuckles and grinned. "Finally! Now I can knock you sky-high!"
Before anything else could happen, Kaya let out a scream. She clutched her chest and collapsed onto the nearest bench, her face pale.
"Miss Kaya!" Kuro shouted and rushed to her side, again playing the part of the devoted caretaker.
Kaya, panting heavily, raised her voice through sheer willpower.
"Usopp… please… take your friends and go. I don't want to see you again."
"Kaya, I—" Usopp faltered.
"Go!"
Her voice broke this time. Usopp looked crushed, but finally turned to the others.
"Let's go."
Zoro nodded and walked off coolly—though he went the wrong direction at first and had to circle back.
Luffy looked back, clenching his fists, but said nothing. Even he could feel this wasn't the time to fight.
"Let's just leave," Nami said gently, tugging at Luffy's sleeve. "Maybe… maybe Rokuro is wrong. Maybe they just look alike."
Rokuro said nothing, silently acknowledging her cover story. In truth, he was certain—but fighting now would endanger Kaya directly.
Down the hillside, the group gathered in the woods near the villa.
"Damn it!" Luffy kicked at a tree. "I should've just hit him when I had the chance!"
Nami placed a hand on her hip. "You noticed too, right? Rokuro and that guy both got weird when they looked at each other."
Rokuro nodded. "He broke out of my illusion technique. That proves he's strong. Possibly stronger than I expected."
"That bad, huh?" Nami's voice wavered. She wasn't here for heroics—she wanted money, not danger.
"No matter how strong he is," Luffy said, standing tall, "I'll punch him into next week if he lays a hand on our friends. Don't worry, Nami!"
Usopp stared at the ground, muttering, "Is he really…?"
Rokuro leaned closer. "You saw how he pushes his glasses up with his palm, right? That exact, strange habit? Kuro did the same thing in every wanted poster and report."
Usopp's eyes widened. That little detail had haunted him too.
"But if we just charge in…" Usopp clenched his teeth. "He'll kill Kaya before we get near her!"
Zoro huffed. "So we kill him first. Problem solved."
Rokuro nodded in agreement. "Finally, someone thinks like a pirate. No point playing nice with monsters."
"But we need to make sure Kaya's safe first," Rokuro added, giving Usopp a side glance. "Your… fiancée, right?"
Usopp turned red instantly. "W-W-We haven't made it official! Don't talk nonsense!"
Ignoring him, Rokuro continued, "Here's the plan. I'll sneak into the villa with Usopp and get Kaya out. You guys wait outside. Once she's safe, storm the place and take Kuro down!"
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Kidnapping? I wanna try!"
"Bonk!"
Nami's fist slammed into Luffy's head.
"You idiot! You can't even walk quietly!"
Nami then crossed her arms and began adding her own refinements to the plan.
"We'll need to time this just right. I say we move before dawn, while they're all asleep."
Usopp's eyes welled up with tears.
"Thanks, everyone… for believing in me. For helping me protect Kaya."
Early the next morning…
In the dead silence before dawn, two shadows crept toward the estate.
"Are you sure you're not just doing this to avoid fishing?" Usopp whispered suspiciously.
Rokuro shot him a glare. "I gave up a golden morning for this. Don't make me regret it."
"I'll climb first and pull you up, okay?" Usopp whispered again.
"No need." Rokuro casually placed a foot on the wall—and walked up vertically like a lizard.
Usopp gawked. "Are those… magic shoes?! Can I buy a pair?"
"It's chakra control, you moron!" Rokuro hissed. "Focus on the mission!"
Usopp snapped out of it and tiptoed to the window. He tapped gently.
"Ding! Ding!"
"Kaya! It's me! The great Captain Usopp! Open up!"
Inside, Kaya stirred. The voice felt like a dream at first, but she slowly sat up, heart pounding.
"Usopp?"
She remembered the argument. The confusion. The sadness.
Still, she got up and opened the window.
And outside, danger crept closer.