"I remember you are not from this village, right? Why do you want to interfere in the affairs of this village?"
Captain Kuro asked calmly, pushing up his glasses.
"Because we want to help that cowardly person who is willing to sacrifice his life to protect others. Well, that's what my friends said. As for me, I just acted according to their wishes."
Lock spread his hands and replied.
"So, you are going to die for this man who likes to lie!"
Kuro showed an evil smile and said to Lock with indifference, as if he were certain he could kill him.
"Seeking death?"
Hearing this, Lock smiled.
"Do you think I'm a weakling, or do you think you can kill me easily?"
Okay, then let's see if you can still laugh like you do now later.
Da! Da! D———!
"It appears! Captain Kuro's silent steps!" Jango exclaimed after Kuro suddenly disappeared in front of Lock.
"Captain Kuro used his ultimate move. That guy is dead!"
"He once used this skill to kill hundreds of Marines who were chasing him. His speed was so fast that it was like he was invisible!"
"Hey, hey, hey, is this true? It's so fast that I can't even see where he is. It's such an exaggerated speed!" Zoro exclaimed after seeing him vanish.
"Lock, be careful!"
Nami clenched her fists and looked at Lock. She could feel the danger from the man who had disappeared.
"Don't worry. With the speed he's moving, I can see where he is."
Lock winked at Nami.
"It's just bluffing, how could anyone see through my moves?"
Thinking this, Kuro rushed toward Lock.
With the help of shadow-locking magic, Lock saw Kuro attacking from the left side. He took two steps to the right—
Whoosh—
"How could it be?! Is this an illusion? He dodged my attack! No… he must have just been lucky. There's no way he could dodge it twice!"
Kuro swung his clawed gloves again, this time from behind.
Bang——
"Ugh—!"
Boom—!
Just when Kuro thought he would succeed, Lock, who had enhanced his strength and speed, kicked him hard against the cliff.
Puff——!
Kuro coughed out a mouthful of blood.
"Who are you? I have never heard of a monster like you in the East Blue."
Lock walked up to him.
"You don't need to know so much. You just need to know that I can kill you with very little effort."
"You bastard!"
The enraged Kuro struggled to get down from the cliff, roaring at Lock.
"Usopp, are you okay~"
Kaya, who had just arrived, helped Usopp up from the ground.
"K-Kaya… you… Why are you here? You are not—"
"Merry told me everything. I'm sorry… Usopp, I shouldn't have disbelieved you…"
Kaya covered her mouth with her hands, tears streaming down her face. She felt sorry for Usopp, who was covered in wounds.
(The white-haired servant, Merry, had survived and told Kaya the truth. The three kids also told her Kuro had gone to the coast. Before leaving, Kaya took a pistol with the intent of killing him herself.)
"Get out of here quickly, or you will be killed!"
Although Usopp was happy Kaya came, he was still worried about her safety.
"The mastermind has been pinned to the cliff by Lock. Is there any danger now?"
Nami looked at Usopp in confusion. She had seen Lock kick Kuro to the cliff, but didn't realize the fight was already over.
"Hey, Usopp, where is Kuro now?"
Kaya looked around but didn't notice Kuro, who was pinned by Lock.
"Oh yeah… why don't you see where Kuro is?"
"Over there!"
Usopp spotted Kuro glaring at Lock but making no move.
"Hey! Jango! Come and help me get rid of this guy!"
Kuro shouted at Jango, who was standing frozen.
"If you dare to move, I'll cut you down!"
Zoro put his sword to Jango's neck.
"D-Don't get excited! I surrender…"
"Captain Kuro, you see? It's not that I don't want to help you, but my life is also in danger!"
Kuro glared at him.
"Damn it… useless bastard!"
"In that case, I will kill all of you!"
He rushed toward Nami at an even faster speed—
But Lock appeared in front of her first.
"How is this possible?!" Kuro shouted.
"Why did you pick her? If it were Usopp, I'd let you chop him twice for fun."
Before Kuro could respond, Lock kicked him hard under the chin—
Ba————!
Boom! Boom!
Kuro fell to the ground, blood spraying from his mouth, before fainting.
The Black Cat Pirates trembled at the sight of their captain's defeat.
"Take your boss and get out!"
Lock kicked Kuro down the slope.
The pirates grabbed Kuro and the unconscious Sam Budge, scrambling back to their ship.
Zoro, carrying a sleeping Luffy, walked up to Lock.
"Lock, is it okay to let them go? Didn't you say we'd use them as labor to build our ship?"
"Don't worry. Kaya will provide us with one."
"As for those pirates… I let them go. I didn't say they'd leave alive."
Lock smiled mysteriously and walked toward Nami.
On the pirate ship, the crew began sneezing and swelling before violently exploding—one after another.
Lock sat on a rock on the shore, snapping his fingers each time another pirate burst apart.
He had cast the Dandelion of Death spell on Kuro earlier, allowing deadly seeds to spread among the pirates, detonated at his will.
One final snap—
Boom!
Kuro's body exploded, and the Black Cat Pirates' ship was torn to pieces.