The polished floor gleamed under the sunlight, reflecting the cold, hollow elegance of the mansion's interior. Every corner of the manor was spotless, pristine — as it should be.
Klahadore, the loyal butler of the esteemed Kaya estate, adjusted his glasses with slow, calculated precision. Not out of necessity, but because it gave his hands something to do. Otherwise, he might have broken the fine china tray he was holding.
Captain Kuro. Reduced to a servant.
His lip twitched ever so slightly. The teacup rattled on the tray.
Three years. No — four. Four long years playing this ridiculous part. Four years cleaning up after a spoiled, naive, sickly little girl. Bowing. Smiling. Pretending to give a damn about herbal teas and bedtime schedules.
How humiliating. Every footstep he took across these pristine floors was a betrayal of the man he once was. But Kuro kept his mouth shut and his face remained perfectly composed.
His patience was his greatest weapon. Any fool could brandish a sword or shout orders. But a truly brilliant man? He waits. He plans. And Captain Kuro had planned everything.
Pride was the death of tacticians. Arrogance led to impatience, and impatience led to failure. Not him. Never him.
He had spent four years perfecting this. Scheming it down to the minute, the second, the eyeblinks between blinks. He had allowed himself to be degraded, insulted, forgotten — and for what?
Peace. Power. Control.
Why had he ever bothered with piracy? A foolish gamble. A waste of his talents. Leading a band of blithering fools with more alcohol in their blood than thoughts in their head. He should've started here from the beginning — no cannonfire, no navy, just a pen, a signature, and a quiet little poisoning.
He smiled to himself. So elegant.
And now, after today, he would be free.
Free to expand. Free to control every inch of shipbuilding in the East Blue. Free to buy, sell, smuggle, and rule from the shadows like a true mastermind — not some idiot with a jolly roger and a death wish. No one would stop him. Not even the World Government. He would have influence, not infamy.
Only Jango would come with him. He was useful. Loyal. Not like that fool Yainu, with his questions and ambition. Kuro's lip curled ever so slightly at the memory. Another pawn lost. But necessary.
He'd grown tired of the pirate life long ago. The chaos. The shouting. The mindless pillaging. The buffoonery. The so-called "crew" he'd led — little more than drunken dogs fighting over bones. If not for his reputation... if not for that cursed bounty...
16,000,000 Berries. A mark of status, yes, but also a noose around his neck.
At first, it felt satisfying — a recognition of his genius. But with it came pursuit, paranoia, and the relentless gaze of the World Government. His enemies multiplied. His peace evaporated. He became a name to be feared — but not a man who could walk freely.
He remembered the day he spared Captain Morgan, back when the fool was still just a brutish dog with ambition. Manipulating men like Morgan and Nezumi — that was easy. Brawn always bowed to brains. Their deal had been mutually beneficial.
Kuro "died." Nugire Yainu — the overly inquisitive shipwright — took his place. And Klahadore, the loyal butler, was born.
He placed the tray of tea on Kaya's bedside table with practiced grace. She wasn't here yet. Probably in the garden again.
Not that it mattered.
Today would be his final day in this miserable costume.
The timing had been perfect. It had been one month since Kaya came of age, old enough to legally handle the estate. The will couldn't be signed before then, and Kuro… Kuro had waited. He kept her just sick enough to rely on him, not so sick she couldn't hold a pen. And in that month, he learned the business from her.
She was a fragile, naive little girl… but clever when it came to the estate. He had to admit that. And she taught him, willingly.
Foolish child. Didn't even question why her butler suddenly took such a deep interest in shipyard contracts and trade routes.
Her parents? They were the first pawns to fall. He needed Kaya alone, vulnerable, and he made her that way. The only obstacle now was Merry, that old, stubborn idiot. But soon, Merry would have an "accident."
Today, Jango would arrive. And Kaya would finally sign.
Everything was in place. He needed that signature. He needed the inheritance to become his. And then, goodbye Klahadore. Hello empire.
He wasn't going to be a pirate. That was for savages. No, his vision extended far beyond that. Owning shipyards, controlling trade, smuggling, black market control — he would dominate the East Blue from the inside out. Legitimately. Legally. He'd rise to power so high the government itself would be powerless to stop him.
And it would all begin here.
Jango would arrive today. The plan would be set into motion. He could already smell the blood in the air.
He turned away from the tea and strode toward the hallway, his boots silent on the marble floors. But just as he passed the open garden window, he paused.
There was laughter.
Familiar.
One belonged to Miss Kaya. The other—
His jaw clenched.
Usopp.
That boy again.
Kuro narrowed his eyes through the window, watching as Usopp animatedly recounted some ridiculous tale, arms flailing, voice full of wind and fantasy. And Kaya — oh, how she laughed. Light, free, like she wasn't suffocating from illness. How foolish.
Kuro watched silently.
He hated to admit it, but the boy was... competent. Slippery, observant, cunning. The way he moved among the villagers, how he always knew things. He had a reputation for being a liar — but even liars told the truth sometimes. Especially when nobody believed them.
He's dangerous.
But not yet.
Usopp had his role to play too. He was no threat. Kuro would allow the charade — until it became inconvenient.
Kuro stepped into the garden with the practiced poise of a gentleman.
"Miss Kaya," he called smoothly, interrupting the cheerful atmosphere like a blade through silk. "Are you well enough to be outside so long? The afternoon sun may aggravate your condition."
Kaya turned with a smile. "Klahadore! I'm feeling better today. Usopp was just telling me about a Sea King in the shape of a snail."
"How riveting," Kuro replied flatly.
Usopp grinned, hands behind his head. "You should've seen it. Big slimy monster with shells stacked on its back like armor. Had a voice like thunder. My crew and I barely escaped."
Kuro's eyes narrowed. "Of course. Your crew."
Usopp raised an eyebrow. "They're around."
And then, like a bizarre punchline to an unspoken joke — they were.
From the tree's shade stepped a man with green hair and three earrings, yawning like a lion just waking up.
A girl with orange hair leaned against the fence, arms crossed, an amused smirk playing on her lips.
And the third… a boy in a red vest and straw hat, eyes wide and full of innocent curiosity.
Kuro's gaze sharpened.
This wasn't random. These weren't villagers.
Something in the air had shifted.
"Ah. Company," Kuro said, smiling thinly. "And you are?"
"I'm Luffy!" the straw hat boy beamed. "I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!"
Kuro blinked. Then blinked again.
King of the—?
Was he serious?
Zoro gave a half-nod. "Zoro."
"Nami," the girl added, casually inspecting her nails.
"You've been busy, Usopp," Kuro said dryly.
Usopp shrugged. "You know me. Always making friends."
Kuro adjusted his glasses. "Yes. Quite."
Kaya, sweet and oblivious, stepped forward with the warmth of a hostess. "They're travelers! Usopp brought them. They've been so kind to me."
"I'm sure they have," Kuro muttered.
And then, with a careful smile, he added, "I do hope you told them all your stories, Usopp. The ones about giants and dragon whales and—your father. Yasopp, wasn't it?"
Kaya's smile faded.
Usopp didn't flinch.
"I talk about my father sometimes," Usopp replied, voice even. "He's a sniper. Sailed with the Red-Haired Pirates."
"Ah, yes," Kuro said with venom-laced sweetness. "The man who abandoned his family for fame. A role model, clearly."
Silence.
Kaya tried to interject, "Klahadore—"
Usopp just chuckled. "You know, funny thing about pirates… they always think people who leave are cowards."
Kuro's brow twitched. "…Is that so?"
Usopp's voice stayed light, almost casual. "But sometimes, leaving means you're setting the stage for something bigger. Staying behind can be part of the trick."
Kuro said nothing.
"But only if you're smart enough to make the right move," Usopp added, eyes fixed directly on him. "The wrong one? That's when people start noticing things."
The garden grew quiet.
Zoro tilted his head.
Nami's eyes flicked between the two, brows knitting.
Luffy just blinked. "Huh?"
Kaya looked confused. "Usopp, what are you talking about?"
But Kuro?
Kuro understood.
He saw the subtext. The layering. The subtle edge in Usopp's tone.
The boy was hinting at something. And he knew.
Had he made a mistake? Slipped up somewhere? Was there a gap in the plan?
No. Impossible.
…Wasn't it?
Usopp waved Kaya off, lighthearted. "Just talkin' Kaya. Don't worry."
Kuro watched him closely now. A heartbeat too long. A second too tense.
Nami's eyes were narrowed, arms folded.
Zoro was bored-looking, but only on the surface. Kuro could tell by his stance — coiled like a spring.
And Luffy?
He stood smiling like an idiot. But the hairs on Kuro's neck stood on end.
He could not read that boy. That unsettled him.
"A proper servant doesn't pry," Kuro said, brushing dust from his sleeve. "It's best to know your place in the world, boy."
Usopp's gaze sharpened ever so slightly.
"That's true. Some folks don't know what kind of animal they really are 'til they're cornered. Some wear glasses to look smart, some wear suits to look harmless. But a panther in slippers is still a panther."
Kuro's breath stilled.
That one hit.
He knows. Or thinks he knows. Or wants me to think he knows.
Kaya stood suddenly, alarmed.
"Please, stop! You two always fight when you see each other!"
Usopp stepped back and raised his hands.
"You're right. I'm sorry. No use wasting breath on people who wouldn't understand fairy tales anyway."
"You insult your betters far too often," Kuro said smoothly, hands clasped behind his back.
"And you judge people by blood far too quickly," Nami cut in with narrowed eyes.
Kuro turned to her, assessing her in an instant.
Clever. Observant. Opportunistic. This one has teeth.
"Forgive me, young lady," he said with faux graciousness, bowing slightly. "I merely speak the truth. Some men are meant for the sea. Others for cleaning gutters. I know my place."
Luffy snorted. "Yeah? Your place sucks. All you do is scowl and sweep floors."
Kuro's eye twitched.
Zoro burst into laughter, full and unrestrained. Nami smirked.
And Usopp?
Still watching.
Still quiet.
This isn't how this was supposed to go... I need to end this quickly.
"Miss Kaya," he said suddenly, his voice clipped. "You should rest. Too much time outside will cause fatigue."
"But—"
"Now," he said, firmer.
She flinched.
Usopp's jaw tightened, but he held his tongue.
Kuro stepped forward, giving the Straw Hats a glance that could have frozen lava.
"Your friends should be on their way. We wouldn't want to upset the manor's balance with unannounced guests."
Zoro was smirking now, eyes locked on Kuro. "Careful, butler. You're sounding kind of hostile."
"I'm simply concerned for my lady's health," Kuro replied smoothly. "As any loyal servant would be."
"Sure," Nami muttered.
Usopp turned, giving Kaya a reassuring look. "Don't worry. I'll come back tomorrow."
Kaya nodded, still confused by the tension.
As the group turned to leave, Kuro remained in the garden, alone now, watching their silhouettes vanish beyond the hedges.
His hands curled behind his back, posture stiff.
Usopp knows something.
That much was clear. But what?
He hadn't said anything direct. No accusations. No slips. But his words were like sharpened threads — weaving a noose that Kuro could feel tightening.
He needed to think.
He needed to recalculate.
Everything was riding on this. No room for doubt. No room for mistakes.
Not now.
Not with freedom within reach.
He turned toward the door, mind already racing.
Tonight, Jango arrives.
Tonight, the will is signed.
Tonight, the cat sharpens its claws.
And if Usopp had something up his sleeve?
He'd make sure the boy wouldn't live long enough to play the predator.