No one dared breathe. What Lister had said matched Kaya's last three years too well. Three years ago, after her father took Kuro in, her father died not long after. Soon after that her mother followed. Now only the sickly Kaya remained, and everything was starting to look exactly like the final act of the story.
Kaya had thought she trusted Klahadore completely and had decided she would not believe Lister no matter what he said. But as she listened, she couldn't help putting herself into the tale. Her face drained of color.
"Kaya!" Usopp cried, worried sick.
"Klahadore, have you done this to me?" Kaya ignored Usopp and locked her eyes on Kuro.
"Miss Kaya, pirates are good at spinning tales, and in doing so he shows his own malice. Everything he said is meant to drive a wedge between us and break us from within. He feels how united we are and got scared, so he resorted to this cheap trick to throw us into chaos and then strip our village of its wealth and grain. Everyone, keep your heads. Don't be fooled."
"Klahadore makes sense."
"Who are we supposed to believe?"
The villagers nodded at Kuro's words, yet Lister's story cut deeper. No one knew which way to turn.
Kaya was at a complete loss.
Clap, clap, clap.
Lister applauded Kuro's speech. "Impressive. You almost diffused a crisis with a few lines."
"Hmph. If you do nothing wrong, you need fear no ghosts knocking at your door. I stand upright. No one can slander me," Kuro said righteously, pushing his glasses up.
"That push is odd. Most people use a finger. Why do you use your wrist? I've heard Kuro of a Hundred Plans attacks like a cat, using sharp claws. With claws that keen you can't risk pushing glasses with a fingertip, so you use the wrist," Lister said with a smile.
"Utter nonsense. It's just a habit."
Before the words were cold, a figure flashed straight at Kuro. It was Lister. No one knew when he had drawn his katana. He swung for Kuro, fast and fierce.
Kuro's face changed. He instinctively showed his real speed and slipped aside, barely evading the cut.
"Nimble. Like a cat," Lister said, needling him.
Kuro's eyes went black. He had been about to call on everyone to attack Lister, but he suddenly realized all their eyes had changed.
"Klahadore, you never told me you had skill like that," Kaya said through clenched teeth. "Be honest with me. Are you Kuro of a Hundred Plans, and did you kill my father and mother?"
"So I'm exposed."
Kuro knew he could no longer win Kaya's trust. He stopped pretending.
"You admit it?" Kaya glared at him, trembling with rage.
"I admit it. I am Kuro of a Hundred Plans, and I killed your parents. I planned to wait two more months and let you 'die in a pirate attack,' then inherit your estate cleanly. But at this very moment a crew of nobodies with no bounties ruined my work."
His gaze turned murderous on Lister. "Your name?"
"Lister," Lister said with a mild smile.
"Good. After I cut you down I'll put up a stone for you. You'll be the first to ever make me taste failure," Kuro said, pulling two bladed gloves from his coat and fitting them on, his voice cold.
"Oh, going all out," Lister said. "In that case, do your best to entertain me. I hope you're as strong as you say."
With the ten claws on, Kuro vanished with a hiss. He did not streak for Lister but for Kaya. In an instant he appeared behind her, hooked her arm, and took her hostage.
"Kaya!" Usopp shouted, face blanching. Right beside Kaya and Kuro dared bully her in front of him. He didn't think; he lunged.
"Out of my way."
Kuro kicked him. Usopp flew more than ten meters and slammed into the sand, unmoving.
The guards around Kaya reacted and aimed their pistols at Kuro. "Klahadore, put Miss Kaya down."
"Don't call me Klahadore. Call me Kuro of a Hundred Plans. A pirate."
"Kuro, release Miss Kaya."
He had been their butler, but their true master was Kaya. The moment Kuro turned traitor, he was no longer one of them. The guards dropped all courtesy.
"Kaya is in my hands. Mind your tone, or I'll get annoyed and take her head," Kuro said with a cold snort.