On the shore, a ship with a sheep's head carved on it lay quietly at anchor.
The sea breeze whipped up waves, hitting the ship's hull with a dull thud.
"Krabatler, let's depart."
Calis, Kaya's father, a middle-aged man in luxurious attire, took a final look at Xi Luobu Village, a hint of reluctance in his eyes, then turned and said.
"Yes, sir." Krabatler (Captain Kuro) responded respectfully, his black suit gently swaying with the sea breeze.
"Prepare to set sail!"
His voice was deep and powerful, and the boatmen immediately became busy, preparing to untie the mooring ropes.
Just then, an urgent shout broke the silence: "Father! Mother! Get away from Krabatler, he's a pirate!"
Kaya rushed out of the forest, her white skirt stained with mud, her small face filled with panic and anxiety.
"What!?"
Kaya's father was greatly alarmed, his gaze fixed on Krabatler like a torch. He instinctively pulled Kaya's mother back a few steps, his eyes full of vigilance and disbelief.
Captain Kuro's mouth twitched slightly. He forced himself to remain calm, but a sense of unease rose in his heart. He asked, holding onto a sliver of hope, "Miss Kaya, could you be mistaken?"
"Father, Mother, Krabatler's true identity is Captain Kuro of the notorious Black Cat Pirates! Get away from him quickly!"
Kaya, afraid her parents wouldn't believe her, loudly spilled Captain Kuro's secret, her chest heaving violently.
Kaya's father heard this and carefully scrutinized Captain Kuro's face.
As a wealthy man, he often read newspapers, and he quickly realized that the Krabatler before him was indeed identical to the drawing of the pirate Captain Kuro in the newspaper!
"Since I've been exposed, I can only ask you to generously accept your deaths. Once you're dead, your inheritance will be mine!"
Captain Kuro, seeing his identity revealed, no longer pretended. His left hand instantly revealed a sharp claw longer than his leg, glinting with cold light and exuding killing intent.
Whoosh!!! In an instant, the guards beside Kaya's father didn't even have time to react before they were torn apart by the sharp claws, falling one after another into pools of blood, which stained the deck red.
"Hundred Plans Captain Kuro, let my family leave, and I can give you all my family's assets."
Kaya's father struggled to overcome his inner fear, shielding Kaya's mother with his body, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke.
"Sorry, as long as you all die, the property and everything else will be mine."
Captain Kuro sneered, his figure instantly disappearing from his original spot, leaving only an afterimage.
"Kaya, run!"
Kaya's father's face turned ashen. He roared at his daughter in the distance, then closed his eyes, preparing to welcome death.
Clang!
The expected pain did not come. Kaya's father heard a crisp sound and slowly opened his eyes, only to see a young man in front of him holding a long sword, blocking Captain Kuro's sharp claws head-on.
"Sir, fifty million beli, how about I take care of him for you?" Yun Lie turned and said with a smile, his eyes full of confidence, not putting Captain Kuro in his eyes at all.
"My lord, as long as you can deal with Captain Kuro, I'll give you an additional thirty million beli!" Kaya's father, as if grasping at a life-saving straw, pulled back from the gates of hell, his heart burning with rage towards Captain Kuro, immediately promised Yun Lie.
"Sir and Madam, please disembark and wait a moment. I will deal with him now."
Yun Lie gave Kaya's father a firm look, swung his sword to repel Captain Kuro, and cleared a path for the two to disembark.
Kaya's parents were as if granted a great pardon and rushed towards Kaya in the distance.
"You dare ruin my plans, die!!!" Captain Kuro roared, his sharp blades spread out, emitting a chilling glint.
He once again used "Silent Step," his figure instantly disappearing, moving so fast it was difficult to track.
When he reappeared, he was already behind Yun Lie.
Clang!
Yun Lie didn't turn around; he simply placed his long sword behind his back and precisely blocked Captain Kuro's sharp claws.
Seeing his attack fail, Captain Kuro's figure disappeared once more.
"Good footwork, but still lacking something."
Yun Lie simply closed his eyes, and his figure also disappeared from his original spot. For a moment, only the howling sea wind remained on the ship.
Ugh! Suddenly, Captain Kuro's figure was thrown out heavily, and his left hand, which used the sharp claws, also fell beside him, blood gushing out.
"Challenging teleportation with speed, commendable courage."
Yun Lie shook the blood from the long sword in his hand and said faintly.
The Space Fruit granted him not only spatial perception but also extremely fast nerve reflexes.
In terms of speed and reaction speed, perhaps only Rumble-Rumble Fruit users and Glint-Glint Fruit users could compare with him.
"There shouldn't be a strong person like you in the East Blue. Who exactly are you?!" Captain Kuro clutched his bleeding severed arm, his face ashen, and asked weakly.
He had been completely defeated, his heart full of unwillingness and doubt.
"I'm too lazy to explain to you. You're not worthy." Yun Lie stepped forward and tapped Captain Kuro's head with the flat of his sword. Captain Kuro instantly fainted.
Yun Lie waved his hand, and Captain Kuro's body disappeared from his original spot, taken into his space.
Having dealt with Captain Kuro, Yun Lie slowly walked off the ship.
"My lord, Krabatler, he...?" Kaya's father saw Yun Lie descend and immediately stepped forward to inquire, his eyes filled with anticipation and unease.
"It's handled. I threw Captain Kuro to feed the fish," Yun Lie said casually.
"Phew~, my name is Calis, and these two behind me are my wife, Ryan, and my daughter, Kaya. Thank you for your help. Please do visit my manor as a guest, and allow me some time to prepare your reward." Calis let out a long breath, first introducing the two behind him, then made a gesture of invitation.
"Alright, I still have two companions in Xi Luobu Village. May I bring them?" Yun Lie asked.
"It is my honor to host you and your companions!" Calis said joyfully, performing a noble's bow.
"Kaya... Ka... ya."
Just then, Usopp ran over. Seeing everyone safe, he was too excited to speak.
"Father, it's Usopp! He's the one who told me that Krabatler was the pirate Captain Kuro!" Kaya, seeing Usopp, waved to him happily, then excitedly explained to Calis.
As a wealthy man, Calis often helped Xi Luobu Village and had heard of Usopp's name.
He didn't put on any airs of a rich man and immediately thanked Usopp.
This sudden gratitude made Usopp overwhelmed, and he couldn't even speak clearly.