"This guy…"
Nami's brow furrowed.
Regardless of whether this butler was a pirate or not, his condescending tone and attitude, as well as the content of his words, truly angered her.
"I agree with what you said."
Link, however, showed no reaction; instead, he looked at Kuro with a hint of admiration:
"pirates who use deception to achieve their goals are indeed despicable pirates. The fact that you have such a clear self-awareness and can say such things without changing your expression."
"This kind of utterly shameless behavior truly opens my eyes!!"
"No wonder he's a Great Pirate with a bounty of sixteen million Berries; he's indeed different from ordinary pirates."
Link praised him, even giving Kuro a thumbs up.
Want to disgust us? This sarcastic tone, compared to me, a keyboard warrior who sweeps forums? You still need a few more years of practice?!
Zoro grinned after hearing it, and Nami also covered her mouth, her eyes curving.
Much of the anger they felt from Kuro's previous words dissipated; this kind of retort was indeed quite satisfying.
"Ah, pirates are pirates."
Kuro, however, seemed unaffected by Link's words. As the most intelligent character in the entire East Blue arc, apart from Benn Beckman.
He still possessed this basic level of forbearance; he had hidden for three years, and he wouldn't let all his efforts go to waste at this final juncture.
"You people, although you are Mr. Usopp's friends, aren't you being too rude?"
Kaya frowned and said to Link, "Mr. Klahadore is just my butler; he…"
"Don't speak so absolutely, Miss Kaya."
Link chuckled, interrupting her.
"Some things can indeed be hidden, such as identity, personality, and so on, but some things are ingrained to the bone and can never be changed."
Link slowly looked towards Kuro, "As a pirate, even if you want to change your identity and live in the sunlight, the habits and fighting styles accumulated from those days of walking in darkness and licking blood from the blade can never be forgotten."
"After all, if you forget those things, then death isn't far away."
His gaze fell on Kuro's arms, specifically, his hands clasped behind his back, and the black gloves on them.
"'Hundred Plans' Kuro's most skilled weapon is the 'Ten Blades', hidden within his cat-claw gloves."
"This is information recorded within the Marine base. If Miss Kaya still doesn't believe it, you can contact the Marines and ask if what I'm saying is true."
Everyone's attention was on Link's words, and the calm composure on Kuro's face gradually turned expressionless.
"If I'm not mistaken, even if you've lived a stable life for these three years, the experiences you had as a pirate must have made it impossible for you to discard your previous fighting habits, right?"
"So, on your black gloves, there should be hidden 'Ten Blades' weapons, right, Captain Kuro~~~"
After Link finished speaking, Usopp, who had been covering his mouth to keep himself from speaking out, immediately jumped out excitedly.
He had been listening intently, and upon hearing Link present such detailed evidence, he could no longer hold back.
"Hey, Klahadore, no, it's Kuro!! What is your purpose in hiding your identity and approaching Kaya?!!!" He loudly questioned Kuro, his eyes fixed on him.
No one had expected that a Great Pirate of the ten-million-Belly class would be hiding among them like this.
Thinking back now, it only filled them with dread, and Usopp with endless worry for Kaya.
"Mr. Klahadore…"
Kaya's gaze stared blankly at Kuro.
One good thing about the world of the Pirate King is that the people here are very simple and pure.
What others say, as long as it's not too outrageous, is generally believed.
This is why ambitious individuals like Crocodile and Doflamingo can easily frame others and gain the trust of the public.
Kaya originally believed that the butler who had looked after her for three years was definitely not a bad person.
However, after Link's well-reasoned and articulate words, coupled with Kuro's expressionless face at this moment, Kaya also began to waver.
"Three years…"
Kuro suddenly let out a long breath, "Do you know how I've spent these three years?"
"Every day I had to put on that so-called warm smile, facing others with a completely false facade."
He tugged at his collar, muttering, "To be a qualified butler, I even had to do the work of servants and endure others' moods."
He lowered his head, extended his hand, and used his palm to push up his glasses.
When he looked up again, his eyes were filled with murderous intent!!
"Especially having to accompany this little girl, doing those utterly ridiculous things every day! I am a Great Pirate who makes people tremble with fear on the high seas!!" His expression gradually became ferocious, "To actually have to stay by this little girl's side and endure such humiliation!!"