After deciding to join Luffy's crew, Usopp, after a brief mutual introduction, led them to the mansion where Kaya resided.
Along the way, Usopp told Luffy and the others about Kaya.
"The wealthy family you mentioned is Kaya's family. Kaya's parents passed away three years ago, and now Kaya manages the entire family."
"But Kaya is frail and sickly, so their family's business is now mostly handled by a butler."
Upon mentioning the butler, Usopp immediately became furious.
"That butler's name is Clahadore; he's a very difficult guy to deal with."
"Every time I go to see Kaya, he comes out to stop me."
"In short, that guy is very annoying."
Listening to Usopp complain about the butler, Luffy's heart became extremely clear.
He knew that this butler named Clahadore was actually the former Captain of the Kelo Pirates, known as "Hundred Plans" Kelo, with a bounty of 16,000,000 Berries. In the East Blue, he was one of the top three great pirates.
Speaking of which, Navy Captain Morka, whom they defeated earlier in Shells Town, was promoted because he captured "Kelo" and sent him to prison back then.
But in reality, the "Kelo" who was captured at that time was just a scapegoat. The real Kelo had assumed the alias Clahadore and was lurking here, attempting to seize Kaya's family fortune.
However, Luffy knew these things himself, but it was not good to reveal them publicly, otherwise it would be difficult to explain.
So he decided to wait until he met Kelo and then work on him, gradually exposing his identity and plan.
...
Usopp talked endlessly along the way, telling Luffy and the others stories of how he had once torn apart a giant octopus with his bare hands on the high seas.
It wasn't until a luxurious villa appeared in their sight that he stopped telling stories and said,
"We're here. This is Kaya's house."
With that, he quickly went to the main entrance.
He usually snuck in, but this time he was bringing people for business, so he naturally felt more confident and went directly to the main entrance.
Just as he was about to knock, he suddenly saw Kaya drinking tea and reading in the garden of the courtyard, and immediately shouted excitedly,
"Kaya!"
Kaya, who was reading, suddenly heard a familiar voice and immediately looked surprised.
"Usopp?!"
She quickly closed her book and ran towards the gate.
But just then, a figure quickly darted out of the house, and in a few steps, he was in front of her, stopping her.
"Miss, please mind your health. You shouldn't be running like this."
Kaya panted, looking at Kelo gently, and said,
"It's okay, Clahadore, I'm much better than before."
"Thank you for your concern, Clahadore."
Kelo glanced at Usopp standing at the door, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes, then he said to Kaya,
"Miss, you've been outside long enough today. Please go back inside and rest quickly!"
Saying that, Kelo turned his head to look at Usopp.
"Miss needs to rest now, please leave quickly!"
Although Kaya was a little reluctant, she was very obedient to the words of the butler who had taken such good care of her for three years.
After all, the butler cared so much about her; if she refused, it would surely hurt his feelings.
Just as she was waving goodbye to Usopp, she suddenly saw several figures appear beside Usopp.
"Huh? Who are they…?"
Kaya murmured in confusion.
When did Usopp have several people she didn't know beside him?
Usopp had never mentioned it!
Kelo heard Kaya's murmur and also turned back curiously to look.
He saw four strangers standing next to Usopp.
But when he glimpsed the three swords at Zoro's waist, an almost imperceptible cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Although he was lurking in this village, it didn't mean he was ignorant of the outside world.
He had heard of the famous Pirate Hunter Zoro.
However, he didn't think the other party was here to catch him, after all, "he" had already died three years ago.
"Who are you people? What business do you have here?"
Kelo resumed his usual butler demeanor and walked over to greet Luffy and the others.
In reality, he was thinking of quickly sending these people away so as not to disrupt his plan three days later.
His plan was to have the current Kelo Pirates attack Syrup Village, creating the illusion that Kaya was killed by pirates, and then he would smoothly inherit Kaya's family fortune.
"We are pirates. We heard that this place deals in sea vessels, so we came to buy a ship."
Luffy played along with Kelo.
"Pirates?!"
Kelo repeated in confusion, then showed a look of disgust and said,
"Sorry, we don't do business with pirates. Please leave."
He himself had planned to seize Kaya's family fortune to live a normal life because he was disgusted with being a pirate.
So, when he heard Luffy say they were pirates, that disgust surged into his heart once again.
And one more thing that bothered him was, wasn't Zoro a Pirate Hunter? Why was he with pirates?
All of this made him, who was known as the second smartest person in the East Blue (the first being Benn Beckman), feel that something was amiss.
For the smooth execution of his plan, he had to eliminate all factors that could potentially affect the situation.
"Speaking of which, I seem to have seen you somewhere before!"
At this moment, Luffy suddenly blurted out an irrelevant sentence.
However, Kelo's heart tightened instantly upon hearing this, and his brows furrowed slightly.
Luffy feigned thoughtfulness, then suddenly seemed to remember something and said,
"That's right, you're Kelo, aren't you? The 'Hundred Plans' Kelo, with a 16,000,000 Berries bounty. I saw your three-year-old bounty poster in the Marine base in Shells Town, in Morka's office."
Luffy's words were, of course, a random fabrication. He only said them to force Kelo to reveal himself, and specifically mentioning Morka was to increase credibility.
Upon hearing Luffy say that Clahadore was actually the pirate Kelo, Usopp's eyes nearly popped out in fright, but then, thinking of the other party being near Kaya, he immediately mustered his courage and feigned composure, saying,
"Hey! Cla—Kelo, are you really a pirate? Get away from Kaya immediately!"
Kaya, at this moment, also felt extreme disbelief. She looked at Kelo weakly, muttering,
"Clahadore?!"