Chapter 28: So You're the One They Call Kuro!
While Ralph and Luffy followed Usopp into Kaya's mansion attempting to uncover the truth, at the remote coastline on the other side of the village, Hypnotist Jango and the "Hundred Plans" Kuro—disguised as the butler Klahadore—had completed their secret meeting as scheduled.
The sea breeze carried a salty pungency as Kuro habitually adjusted his round-framed glasses with the heel of his palm. "Is the plan clear to you?"
This subtle gesture was caught by the highly focused Jango. He straightened his blue top hat, his eyes flickering behind heart-shaped sunglasses.
Three years ago, the "Hundred Plans" Kuro—who struck fear into East Blue Marines—used ten long blades attached to his fingertips as his signature weapon: the Cat Claws. Adjusting glasses with his palm heel was a habit developed to avoid the sharp blades at his fingertips.
After three years as a meek and humble butler, how could this murderous habit remain completely unchanged? Had he fully immersed himself in the role, or... had he never stopped training, secretly maintaining his terrifying former strength? The tension in Jango's mind tightened further.
Suppressing his turbulent thoughts, he replied calmly in his distinctive tone: "Of course I'm ready! Prepared to execute the young lady's 'assassination plan' at any time!" He deliberately emphasized the last words, addressing him: "Captain Kuro!"
Kuro's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as he immediately corrected: "First, that cannot be called an 'assassination.' Second, the name 'Kuro' died completely three years ago with that execution. I am Klahadore now."
Jango's eyes behind the heart-shaped sunglasses sharpened instantly. Exactly! Just as Mr. Ralph predicted! He's indeed eager to sever ties with his past!
"Ah... yes, Mr. Klahadore." Jango deliberately feigned confusion, guiding Kuro to reiterate the plan.
Kuro seemed unsuspicious, or perhaps he held absolute confidence in his perfect plan and didn't mind explaining it again to this "foolish" former subordinate. He pushed up his glasses and repeated the plan in a low, clear voice, emphasizing that Kaya must die in an accident, and that before the accident, Jango's Hypnosis must obtain her handwritten will voluntarily bequeathing all her inheritance to the butler Klahadore.
"...Only this way justifies my three years spent winning everyone's trust. Ultimately, I'll naturally inherit that massive fortune and begin a brand new life."
Though Kuro had spoken so plainly, Jango still "confusedly" pressed: "...For this, you willingly served as a subservient butler for three years? If it were me, I'd have stormed in with my crew and taken the money directly!"
"Wouldn't that return us to the old ways of Pirates burning and plundering?" Kuro's tone carried a hint of undetectable contempt. "Though we'd get the money, we'd forever live under endless Marine pursuit and bounties, hiding in fear."
"You want both the money and a legitimate identity... From then on, you'll be a clean, respected wealthy man!Jango appeared to have a sudden epiphany, uncontrollably applauding with "admiration" in his tone.
However, his tone abruptly shifted, "...So, Mr. Klahadore, what should we old comrades who've followed you all these years do now?
Even during these three years of your absence, our Black Cat Pirates have continued operating according to the strategies you established early on. Now that you're becoming a legitimate wealthy man, without the guidance of your 'Hundred Plans' wisdom, we rough fellows truly feel...at a loss!"
At Jango's question, Kuro's perfect butler mask showed an almost imperceptible hesitation for a moment, a flicker of astonishment flashing deep in his eyes that was nearly impossible to catch.
This is it! Jango's heart shook violently.
Captain Kuro, who never missed a calculation, actually had such a moment of discomposure! This could only mean one thing—he had never considered the future of the Black Cat Pirates at all! Because in his cold blueprint, the Black Cat Pirates... had no future!
After the brief lapse, Kuro quickly regained his composure, but his following words sounded full of hypocritical platitudes to Jango:
"Jango, you've become a capable captain already. I believe with your abilities, you can independently lead the Black Cat Pirates to survive on these seas, even grow stronger, spreading the Black Cat's fame across the oceans! Let's complete this final job, drawing a perfect conclusion to my past life!"
Jango put on a false smile and bowed: "I wish... Mr. Klahadore success in going legitimate!"
Finally, Jango casually suggested: "By the way, the young crew members haven't seen you for a long time, and many newcomers have long admired your reputation. Would you like...to come aboard and see them, perhaps giving one final 'pre-battle pep talk'?"
He intended this as a test, convinced that Kuro, focused on going legitimate, would never set foot on the tainted pirate ship again.
However, Kuro agreed almost without hesitation: "Very well. It's time to completely extinguish some restless thoughts."
As Kuro spoke these words, Jango immediately felt something was wrong.
What made Jango's heart pound even more violently was that after speaking, Kuro walked directly to the nearby bushes and retrieved a black package that had been hidden there in advance.
Weapons! He had hidden weapons here ahead of time!
Why would he hide them here?
Could everything be part of his plan after all?
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Jango's back as an ominous premonition arose.
The two men took the small boat Jango had arrived in and returned to the Black Cat Pirates' main ship anchored offshore.
When Kuro's figure appeared on the deck, the previously somewhat noisy ship instantly fell into an atmosphere frozen solid as ice.
An invisible pressure filled the air.
The crew members with guilty consciences, seeing their former captain who had ruled them like a nightmare three years ago, all underwent changes in expression, their eyes dodging and avoiding direct contact.
How could these subtle changes escape the perceptive eyes of "Hundred Plans" Kuro?
"It's been three years, everyone..."
Kuro's voice sounded calm, yet carried an icy quality. His gaze slowly swept across every face on the ship—some familiar, some unfamiliar.
His eyes paused slightly on Nami and Zoro.
Nami instinctively felt a chill, while Zoro sensed the dangerous aura emanating from the other party.
"It seems your 'growth' over these three years has indeed been substantial," Kuro's lips curled into a cold smirk, "so much so... that you've developed unwarranted doubts about my plans. Did you truly believe I wouldn't notice?"
As he spoke, he casually and methodically opened the black long bag, retrieving the gleaming Cat Claws inside. With elegant precision, he equipped them on both hands.
Ten fingers transformed into ten elongated blades shimmering with a deadly cold light. Merely standing there, he radiated suffocating intimidation.
"With your limited intellect, you should never have been capable of seeing through my schemes."
Kuro's voice abruptly sharpened, piercing everyone's eardrums like ice needles, "Speak! Who saw through my plan? And how... do you intend to 'entertain' your former captain?"
Before his words faded, everyone saw a blur!
A cold blade light flashed like lightning—impossibly fast, impossibly ruthless!
"Thud—!"
Blood sprayed!
A pirate lackey standing at the front, whose expression had shifted most noticeably, couldn't even scream before clutching his gushing chest and collapsing stiffly, instantly staining a patch of the deck crimson.
Instant kill! Without warning!
"Ah!!"
The deck erupted in suppressed gasps and sharp intakes of breath. Fear spread like plague, making all crew members tremble and turn pale.
"Kuro! You bastard!" The Meowban brothers Sam and Buchi leaped down from the high mast, landing before Kuro.
Sam suppressed his fear and shouted, "How dare you still try to deny it now?! Can you honestly say you never considered eliminating all of us after your plan succeeded?!"
Kuro looked at them and openly admitted it, continuing in a calm tone:
"I did consider it. I never expected a few among you trash would actually develop enough brains to see through this. It seems my personal visit to the ship wasn't in vain."
He raised his Cat Claw-equipped hands, pointing the blade tips toward the crowd with murderous intent:
"The difference is this. If you obediently follow my plan, you might live a few days longer. If not... you disobedient scum will die right now!"
"Arrogant!" Sam roared, completely enraged,
"Kuro! Do you still think you're the invincible captain from three years ago? You've spent three years as a pampered house cat begging for scraps in a wealthy merchant's home! Meanwhile, we've fought countless bloody battles! We've grown stronger than three years ago! Why should we still obey your orders!"
"Stronger?" Kuro seemed to have heard the world's funniest joke, his figure vanishing without warning again!
"Swish! Swish!"
Two more impossibly fast blade flashes accompanied the dull sound of steel cutting through flesh.
The Meowban brothers couldn't even mount effective defenses or dodges, only feeling a sudden chill before excruciating pain erupted. Blood gushed like fountains from the massive wounds on their chests and arms. With muffled groans, they collapsed heavily into pools of blood, their fates unknown.
Silence!
Deathly stillness!
Everyone on the ship, including Captain Jango, was utterly terrified by this overwhelming display of power, trembling uncontrollably like sifting chaff.
Three years apart, Kuro's strength remained as sinister and ruthless as ever!
Yet, amidst the fear-stricken silence, a pair of eyes lit up with the exhilaration of encountering a formidable foe.
"Hey!" Zoro's voice shattered the dead silence, carrying undisguised provocation,
"You're Kuro, right?"
Kuro's gaze shifted to Zoro, blood droplets slowly dripping from his Cat Claws: "A new face I haven't seen before... Another destabilizing factor, perhaps?"
Zoro grinned, revealing a wild smile: "All you need to know is that I'm here to cut you down!"
Slowly tightening Wado Ichimonji between his teeth, Zoro gripped the hilts of his other two swords with his hands. The unique Three Sword Style stance instantly unfolded, releasing a sharp fighting spirit like an unsheathed blade, pointed directly at Kuro!
----------
For advance chapters join my Patreon.
[email protected]/Aarvan