Syrup Village, inside a mansion.
Kuro, looking extremely elegant in a black suit, stood before the window with a gloomy face.
Only a year after faking his death to escape, the Black Cat Pirates—the cleanup crew he'd prepared—had been wiped out by an obscure pirate.
Kuro didn't care at all about the lives of trash like Jango and the others. What he truly cared about was his perfect plan.
Infiltrating Kaya's home to become the butler Klahadore and assassinating Kaya's parents.
He planned to lie low for three years to gain fame and trust, while simultaneously clearing himself of suspicion. Finally, he would use the Black Cat Pirates to wrap things up by killing everyone involved.
On this island, he would use the Kaya family's fortune to live a relaxed and comfortable life.
Everything was going so perfectly, and yet...
"And yet, trash like Jango, you actually died at the hands of a pirate who just debuted."
At the thought of this, Kuro's face became uncontrollably distorted, veins popping on his forehead.
If the Marines hadn't already confirmed Jango and the others were dead, he would have loved to find those idiots and slice them to death piece by piece.
After his anger subsided, Kuro began to think again.
He was tired of the pirate life, tired of the endless Marines. He wanted warm afternoons, comfortable sunlight, and a gentle breeze. But the tool to achieve this goal was broken. To live a good life, he had to plan once more.
'I've been undercover for a year, and my reputation in the area is very good. Kaya and the old butler also trust me. It might be a bit rushed, but I can give it a try.'
He had to admit, the abrupt annihilation of the Black Cat Pirates had made him anxious. He began to realize that pursuing perfection too much and dragging things out for too long might not be a good thing.
Thinking rapidly, he finally picked out a candidate.
Binmock!
A friend of Kaya's parents, who used to be responsible for foreign trade for them. Later, because Kaya's parents were assassinated by him and died mysteriously, he went independent afterward, but still maintained trade relations with Kaya's family.
He clearly remembered, the man had staked everything on a business deal, hoping to complete his own industry, so his financial pressure was enormous. He had approached the old butler Merry for a loan once before.
'Unable to get a loan, he slaughtered Kaya's family in a fit of rage... but I must be seriously injured for this to work.'
Kuro's eyes flickered as he pushed his glasses up with his palm, his aura suddenly becoming cold and sinister.
Just then, Merry's voice suddenly rang out.
"Klahadore, come here quickly, the Marines are here!"
Kuro, who had just formed a plan, felt his pupils constrict, almost thinking he had been found out.
His instinct was to burst through the window and escape the Marine encirclement.
But he immediately restrained himself, because if his true identity were exposed, the commotion to corner him would surely be massive.
It wasn't that he overestimated himself, Even when he had the mind to stop being a pirate, his bounty was as high as 15 million berries. He could be called a great pirate of the East Blue, it wouldn't be strange for several Marine branches to be mobilized to hunt him down.
Kuro quickly went downstairs and saw a white-haired Marine with slicked-back hair and a female Marine in the mansion's living room.
"Our young lady is ill and has been recuperating lately."
Seeing Kuro come down, Merry immediately said, "If there is anything, please speak with us two butlers."
"This is Captain Smoker."
Seeing that Smoker had no intention of speaking, Tashigi first pointed to Smoker to introduce him, then pointed to herself and said, "I am Master Chief Petty Officer Tashigi. We are here to hunt down the Head-Chopping Swordsman Hiroto, who has a bounty of 40 million berries. We received word that his next stop is Syrup Village."
"What!?"
Merry's face turned grim, he had clearly heard of this name and what that bounty represented.
Kuro's expression also became solemn, but in reality, he was thinking about who this person was.
The Black Cat Pirates were wiped out at the hands of Hiroto. It was this bastard who ruined his plan.
Tashigi consoled them, "Do not worry, we came here specifically to hunt him down. Captain Smoker will be responsible for dealing with the Hiroto Pirates."
"The current problem is that the Hiroto Pirates have never flown a pirate flag. They are sailing a commercial single-masted sailing ship, which is easily confused with ordinary civilians."
"So we Marines will station personnel on this island to ensure that once the Hiroto Pirates appear, they are discovered in time. You are the only wealthy family on this island, and I think there is a high probability you will become the Hiroto Pirates' target. To ensure safety, I will disguise myself as a bodyguard to protect you."
"Once the Hiroto Pirates' tracks are found, Captain Smoker will arrest them. Of course, you can also leave, the Marines will not stop you."
"I understand."
Merry nodded, cold sweat pouring down.
He thought he had to transfer the young lady out quickly.
Tomorrow... no, better today!
Kuro said nothing, looking as if he were frightened, nervously pushing up his glasses with the base of his palm.
In reality, his heart was filled with intense excitement and joy.
An opportunity, a perfect opportunity!
Choosing Binmock as a rushed option was not perfect, and even a bit abrupt. It was a helpless choice as a remedy, but the news brought by the Marines gave him a new line of thought.
There was no need to choose Binmock. A pirate attack, Kaya dead, and the Marines also wiped out.
As a survivor, he would get Kaya's will and inherit the family fortune.
Perhaps there would be some trouble later, but Kuro didn't want to continue waiting anymore. He would rather take some risks and try. If he was discovered, at worst he would kill everyone and start over somewhere else.
As for whether he could kill Hiroto, who had a bounty of 40 million berries, and these Marines...
Kuro never questioned his strength. 15 million berries was only the result of him trying his best to restrain himself and cover up information. It was not a bounty amount that truly matched his strength.
At that moment, Smoker suddenly glanced at 'Klahadore', instinctively sensing something wrong. He scanned Klahadore briefly, feeling that the man seemed somewhat familiar.
They bid farewell to the butlers