Chapter 26 The Ninja's Greeting: Only One Strike!
"Liar? What do you mean?"
In response to Nami's question, Chinjao adjusted his glasses and glanced in the direction of the villa.
Then immediately it was revealed that Usopp was there to comfort the sick Kaya.
I briefly recounted the story of the "big liar" who tells adventure stories every day.
"I see."
Nami touched her chin, a look of sudden realization on her face.
"Is it to make that sick young lady happy... No wonder he was so nervous before, he was afraid we would expose him."
"Hehehe, what an interesting fellow."
Luffy adjusted his straw hat and looked at the tall wall with a grin. "Hey, let's go in and take a look."
"But this wall is so high, and there's an iron fence, we can't get over it," Green Pepper said in a low voice, looking up with some discouragement.
"Hmph, leave this matter to us."
Nami suddenly revealed a sly smile.
The next second, she didn't hesitate to leap and land directly on Victor's back, who was standing next to her with his hands in his pockets.
"First mate, jump over!"
Are you an idiot?
Viktor staggered from the tight grip, his face darkening. "You only remember I'm the first mate now?"
Despite his complaints, he still sighed helplessly.
Then he reached out and picked up the carrots and onions on the ground, one in each hand, like he was carrying a chick.
Wow! That's incredible strength!
"Thank you, big brother!" the two kids shouted excitedly.
"Hey, Zoro." Viktor turned to the swordsman beside him and gestured with his chin towards the remaining green peppers.
"This kid named Green Pepper is a perfect match for you. Come and help!"
"ha?!"
Zoro's forehead veins bulged, and he stared at the expectant Green Pepper with a dark expression.
"Who's a good match for him! You bastard Victor!"
Despite grumbling, Zoro silently stepped forward and picked up Chinjao.
"Our hair is all green!" Green Pepper exclaimed in surprise in Zoro's arms.
"Shut up, you brat! If you keep babbling, I'll throw you down!"
"Yosh! Let's charge!"
Ignoring everyone's dawdling, Luffy laughed loudly, stretched out his arms, and grabbed the iron fence high up.
"Rubber rubber—rocket!!"
"Whoosh!"
Luffy launched himself into the air like a slingshot.
"Wow!"
Upon seeing this, Viktor slightly bent his knees and instantly activated his chakra in his feet.
"Hurry up."
"Bang!"
The ground cracked slightly, and Victor, carrying Nami on his back and holding the two children, leaped lightly and easily over the high wall.
Zoro sighed and, with his amazing jumping ability and arm strength, carefully flipped Chinjao inside.
"Peng".
With a soft thud, Victor landed smoothly on the neatly trimmed lawn.
Carrot and Onion jumped excitedly off Victor's arms, their eyes shining.
Wow! That's amazing!
"That wall was so high, he jumped over it in one go! Big...brother..."
The two of them suddenly stopped talking and stared blankly upwards.
Viktor was standing there with his mouth agape, his face pale, struggling to pat the arm on his neck.
"Waaaaah... Let go... I'm going to suffocate..."
Nami, who was behind him, had her eyes tightly shut because of the feeling of being airborne.
Her hands were locked tightly around Viktor's neck, showing no intention of letting go.
"She really is a female demon," Onion muttered to himself.
"That's terrifying..." Carrot wholeheartedly agreed.
"Bang!"
Just then, a loud thud came from ahead—the sound of Luffy landing face-first.
The huge commotion immediately drew attention.
Usopp, who was telling Kaya a story on the branches of a big tree ahead, was so frightened that he almost fell off again.
He stared wide-eyed at the group of uninvited guests, and said in a low, terrified voice:
"You...you all came?!"
"Usopp, who are they? Are they also members of the Usopp Pirates?"
At the second-floor window, a pale-faced but gentle-tempered young girl named Kaya curiously peeked out and asked a question.
Usopp froze, immediately turned around, forced a proud posture, and patted his chest, saying:
"Ah! No, that's right!"
"They are all new crew members I just recruited! They've come to admire my heroic bearing!"
"Pah, pah."
Luffy pulled his head out of the ground, spat out the dirt, and retorted mercilessly:
"No, we're not your crew. We need your help."
Kaya, somewhat surprised, revealed herself and looked down at the boy wearing a straw hat:
"Help? Are you looking for me?"
"Ah, that's right!" Luffy said with a smile, "We want a big ship!"
Zoro also came over and added, "Don't worry, we're not robbers, we can buy it with money."
Kaya paused for a moment, looked at this strange group of people, thought for a moment, and said gently:
"As for the boat... I remember we do have one that's not currently in use at home..."
"Ah! Really!" Luffy exclaimed in surprise, his eyes lighting up instantly.
Viktor finally managed to pull Nami off his back.
He straightened his collar, stepped forward, and gave Kaya a smiling, gentlemanly smile at the window.
"Beautiful lady, we really need a large ship to go out to sea."
"How much will it cost? Or is there anything we can help you with?"
Viktor's voice was gentle and magnetic, and a barely perceptible red light flashed in his dark eyes the moment he looked at Kaya.
"Hmm... I need to ask my housekeeper about that..."
Kaya was about to decline, but then she looked into Victor's eyes.
Her voice grew softer and softer, and her eyes gradually became unfocused.
Suddenly, the scenery around her changed in her field of vision.
She no longer felt trapped in this cage-like mansion, but rather situated on a beautiful sea.
A gentle sea breeze blows, blue skies and white clouds seem within reach, and the air is filled with the feeling of freedom.
That was the world she had always dreamed of.
One second later, the illusion was broken.
Kaya suddenly snapped out of her daze, her eyes widening as she looked at Victor with a mixture of surprise and delight.
"Wow! That's amazing! Was that... the ocean? Was that magic?!"
"W-What's wrong, Kaya?" Usopp asked worriedly from the tree, having seen nothing.
"Usopp, I just..."
"Hey! Who are you people?!"
A cold and angry voice suddenly interrupted the conversation.
"This is really troublesome! How dare you trespass on a private property!"
The butler, Krahadell (Cloe), wearing a black suit and sporting a slicked-back hairstyle, walked over.
He adjusted his round-framed glasses with his palm, his gaze sweeping coldly over Victor and the others.
"That…that Krahadel, they are…"
"Please don't defend them, Miss Kaya!"
Kro interrupted his young mistress without any politeness, his tone stern.
"You are too kind and easily deceived by these scum of the lower class."
"Now, please leave immediately! Otherwise, I will have to ask the guards to escort you out!"
"Hey, you're the butler she was talking about, right? We want a ship!" Luffy said happily, completely unconcerned about the other party's attitude.
"no!"
Kro refused decisively, then cast a cold glance at the trembling figure behind the tree.
"Usopp!"
Usopp, who had been hiding behind the tree, awkwardly revealed himself and forced a smile:
"Oh...oh! Hello, Krahadel."
"You filthy pirate's son!"
Kro's tone instantly turned vicious, "How many times do I have to tell you? Don't come near this mansion!"
"You're a piece of trash who only knows how to lie, and you have the same filthy blood as your pirate father!"
Usopp's smile froze instantly, and his fists clenched tightly.
"Krohaddar, don't do this..." Kaya cried out anxiously.
Upon hearing this, Luffy suddenly raised his head, his eyes sharpening.
"No matter what you..."
"Hey, butler, can we have a chat?"
Viktor suddenly spoke up, interrupting Kuro, who was about to launch into a long tirade to humiliate Usopp.
He stepped out from behind Luffy, his face bearing that unchanging smile.
"Who are you?" Kro frowned, looking at the red-eyed boy, a strange feeling of unease rising in his heart.
Viktor ignored him and looked up at the window.
"Miss Koya, may I have a private conversation with your butler?"
"I think I have a way to persuade him about the ship."
Kaya, who had just been affected by Victor's "magic," felt a natural gratitude towards him. Upon hearing this, she looked at Chloe and pleaded:
"Krohaddar…please listen to what they have to say."
Chloe's eyes flickered, and she narrowed her eyes behind her glasses.
He sighed, seemingly resigned to his fate, but a hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
"Since it's Miss's request... alright."
He glanced indifferently at the crowd and held up one finger.
"One minute. I'll only give you one minute."
Victor nodded with a smile, gesturing for the butler to follow him to a quiet place.
"What is this guy going to do?" Zoro frowned as he watched the two figures disappear into the distance.
"I don't know." Luffy picked his nose.
A secluded, dead-end corner of the villa.
Kro stopped and turned around, his face showing impatience and malice.
"Speak, you lowly pirate. If you cannot satisfy me, I will..."
Before he could finish speaking, his pupils suddenly widened.
There were no warning signs whatsoever.
No unnecessary words.
The instant he turned around, Viktor moved.
The Instantaneous Movement Technique is activated.
Kro felt a blur before his eyes, followed by a cold, stinging pain in his chest.
He lowered his head, staring in disbelief at his chest.
There, a jet-black kunai had been deeply embedded, with only the handle sticking out.
Blood instantly stained his suit.
"you..."
Kro raised his head tremblingly, instinctively trying to push up his glasses, only to find that he had lost all strength.
Viktor stood before him, his crimson Sharingan eyes coldly fixed on him as if he were looking at a dead man.
Then, Victor leaned close to Chloe's ear and whispered with a smile:
"Die, you hundred schemes—Kro."
(Verified immediately, I hope you readers will give me a good review. Thank you!)Chapter 27 The Collapse of the "Hundred Plans", The Wounded Beast
Kro's eyes widened to their limit instantly, his pupils filled with disbelief and terror.
How is this possible?!
How could he know that name?!
This is a past that he spent three years trying to completely erase!
But he was, after all, a seasoned martial arts expert, and in such a life-or-death situation, his instincts kicked in and he reacted.
"Silent Step!"
Despite the excruciating pain in his chest, Kro stomped his foot and retreated several meters.
He covered his bleeding wound, the blood staining his white gloves.
Those eyes hidden behind the glasses instantly shed all their gentleness and refinement, transforming from a feigned, mild-mannered butler into a bloodthirsty beast ready to devour its prey.
"Who...who are you?!" Kro roared, his voice distorted with pain.
"Zheng—"
Viktor slowly drew his longsword, pointed the tip diagonally at the ground, and looked at him with a smile.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I accidentally dropped it. I hope you don't mind."
Viktor tilted his head, his red Sharingan looking particularly eerie in the shadows.
"As for who I am? I am the... filthy, low-class pirate you mentioned."
Before he could finish speaking, the smile on Viktor's face instantly turned into a sinister grin.
"Instantaneous Movement Technique!"
"Whoosh!"
Only a fleeting shadow remained in the air.
The next second, Victor appeared out of thin air in front of Kro.
The longsword in his hand, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, was thrust mercilessly toward his throat!
"What?!"
Kro's eyes widened. That speed?!
How is that possible?!
"spoon!!"
Kro dared not take the attack head-on and immediately unleashed his ultimate technique.
His figure vanished instantly, moving at a speed too fast for the naked eye to detect, attempting to circle around to Viktor's blind spot and launch a counterattack.
But with the dynamic vision of those Sharingan eyes, Kuro's movement trajectory was like a movie in slow motion.
"Too slow."
Victor didn't even turn around. He simply twisted his wrist, and his longsword slashed diagonally at the air behind him on the left!
"Pfft!!"
The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh was clearly audible.
"ah!!!"
A piercing scream of pain rang out.
Viktor twisted his body and increased his strength.
With a swift stroke, the knife fell!
A left arm, dressed in a black suit, was thrown high into the air, accompanied by gushing blood, before falling heavily onto the grass.
Kro staggered out, clutching his severed arm, his face ashen.
At this moment, there was no trace of the fierceness he once displayed on his face.
Looking into Viktor's red eyes, he felt nothing but endless fear.
"How...how could you see through my movements..."
Chloe trembled as she backed away. "Is it because...those red eyes?"
"It's because you're too slow."
Viktor said coldly, without any intention of wasting words.
He sheathed his longsword, his hands rapidly forming hand seals, chakra frantically gathering at his throat, preparing to end the battle in one fell swoop.
"Fire Release..."
"ah!!!!"
Just then, a terrifying scream echoed from ahead.
It's Kaya.
Viktor paused involuntarily in his hand seal movements.
He had deliberately chosen this secluded corner to quietly eliminate Chloe and avoid frightening the young lady.
I didn't expect her to come looking for me herself.
"A great opportunity!"
Despite losing an arm, Kuro's cunning as a veteran pirate allowed him to seize this only chance of survival.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
With his remaining right hand, he hurled several throwing knives straight at Viktor's face.
He then endured the excruciating pain and activated "Spoon" again, transforming into a black shadow and frantically darting into the dense forest nearby.
"Trying to run?"
Viktor was about to give chase when he caught a glimpse of Kaya standing to the side.
This frail and sickly young lady witnessed the bloody scene of her usually gentle butler having his arm chopped off, and stared in horror.
Then his body went limp and he was about to faint on the ground.
"Tsk. Maybe next time."
Viktor had no choice but to give up the pursuit, swinging his sword to deflect the throwing knives with a "clang clang clang," and then activated his Body Flicker Technique.
"Whoosh."
He caught Kaya just a second before she fell to the ground.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, for defeating target: Hundred-Plan - Kro.]
[Combat Rating: A (Clean and efficient, but failed to finish off the opponent).]
[Gained 400 Ninja Points.]
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
Usopp's angry shouts came from afar.
Immediately afterward, Luffy, Zoro, and Nami also rushed over.
Nami quickly stepped forward and took the unconscious Kaya from Victor's arms.
She glanced at the severed arm on the grass, then at Victor holding the sword, her eyes widening in shock.
"Victor! Why did you suddenly attack someone?! That's the butler!"
Viktor flicked the blood off his sword and sighed.
"He's not some kind of butler."
"If I'm not mistaken, he's a famous pirate, the former captain of the Black Cat Pirates, the Hundred-Purpose Kuro."
Victor pointed in the direction of the forest. "He's been lurking here disguised as a butler for three years. He must have ulterior motives."
"I just exposed him, and he tried to kill me to silence me."
Luffy, holding his straw hat, looked at Viktor and suddenly broke into a bright smile.
"Oh, I see. Viktor, I believe you."
There was no doubt, only absolute trust.
Zoro, standing to the side, crossed his arms and immediately began to ponder.
"Ah... I remember now. Three years ago, there was indeed a great pirate named Kuro in the East Blue with a bounty of 16 million Berries."
"But I remember the news saying that he had already been arrested and executed by the Navy, right?"
"16 million?! That's incredible!!"
Luffy's focus is always unique, and his eyes are wide open like saucers.
"That...that butler...was he really a pirate?!"
Usopp, who had just run over, opened his mouth wide in disbelief upon hearing this.
But looking at the severed arm on the ground and Victor's serious expression, he was already mostly convinced.
Then he realized what was happening, looked at the unconscious Kaya, and anxiously called out:
"Anyway, let's take Miss Kaya to rest first! Her health isn't good to begin with!"
"Okay, leave it to me."
Nami immediately picked up Kaya and prepared to take her to the villa.
Nami paused as she passed Viktor.
Looking at Victor's calm profile, she felt a pang of guilt as she recalled her indiscriminate yelling.
She leaned closer to Viktor, blushing, and whispered:
"I'm sorry... Viktor. I misunderstood you earlier."
Victor gave her a strange look, then tilted his ear as if he hadn't heard her clearly:
"Hi? What?"
"..."
Nami's forehead veins bulged instantly, and her guilt vanished.
"Go to hell!!!"
"Hey! You guys over there! What did you do to Miss Kaya?!"
Just then, the villa's guards, having heard Kaya's scream, grabbed their weapons and rushed towards the scene menacingly.
...
On the other side.
Deep in the dense forest.
"Ha ha..."
Kro, who had fled into the forest, clutched the wound on his severed arm, blood seeping continuously from between his fingers.
His face was deathly pale, and he limped desperately toward the coast.
His Black Cat Pirates are currently stationed there!
At this moment, his expression was extremely gloomy, and his features were twisted together with pain and hatred.
Things took an unexpected turn.
What was supposed to be a perfect plan was ruined by that red-eyed brat!
And he even lost an arm!
"Damn it!! What kind of monster is that?!"
Kro still felt a chill run down his spine when he recalled those all-seeing red eyes.
But the resentment in his eyes grew stronger.
"Unforgivable... Absolutely unforgivable..."
He wants to go back!
Call up the old troops!
All troops, attack!
"I'm going to slaughter that village and those damned brats!!!"
"I will make you pay the price!!!"
In the forest, the low growls of a wounded beast echoed.Chapter 28: The Final Battle Takes Places Ahead of Schedule
The night was deep, and the sea breeze was howling.
The cliff edge on the coast of Xiluobu Village.
A staggering figure finally escaped back to the camp on the shore.
The intense pain caused Kro to be unable to support his own weight any longer.
He knelt heavily on the edge of the cliff, facing the hidden pirate ship below, and roared with all his might:
"Zango—!!"
This piercing roar shattered the tranquility of the coastline.
Several pirates on night watch immediately emerged from the "Bezan Black" below.
They looked toward the source of the sound with suspicion, and in the dim moonlight, what they saw made them stare in horror.
Captain Crowe, whom they considered to be unparalleled in wisdom and terrifying in strength.
He was covered in blood, and most shockingly, his left arm was completely severed at the root!
"That's... Captain Crowe...?"
"The invincible Captain Crowe actually..."
An uproar erupted on the deck.
"Shut up, all of you!"
With a lazy yet panicked shout, the hypnotist Zango, wearing heart-shaped sunglasses, strode out of the cabin.
When he saw the horrific scene on the cliff, his jaw nearly dropped.
He dared not delay and immediately led several trusted men to rush up the cliff.
"Captain! What...what happened? Your hand?!"
Zango supported the swaying Kro and asked in alarm.
"Enough with the nonsense!"
Kro's face was contorted, his eyes so sinister they seemed to drip water.
He angrily shoved Zango, yelling, "Get the doctor to stop the bleeding! Quickly!!"
"Yes, yes! Hey you guys! Quickly carry the captain back! Be gentle!"
Several pirates hurriedly carried Kuro back to the pirate ship and gently placed him on the soft bed in the captain's cabin.
Soon, the ship's doctor rushed in, carrying a medicine box and sweating profusely.
"Hey! Get the captain treated right away!" Zango roared.
"Yes, thank you, Lord Gao. I will begin treatment immediately!"
The doctor knelt by the bedside, his hands trembling as he cut open the rag that Chloe had wrapped around the severed arm to temporarily stop the bleeding.
When that mangled, broken bone was exposed to the air—
"ah!!!"
Kro couldn't help but let out a suppressed roar, veins bulging on his forehead, and cold sweat instantly soaked the sheets.
He gritted his teeth and forced himself not to faint.
"Captain... what... what's going on?" Zango watched in alarm. "Could it be... someone from Marine Headquarters?"
Kro took a few deep breaths to ease the excruciating pain, then gritted his teeth and said:
"A few pirates came today... I was ambushed by that red-eyed kid. And... that bastard knows who I am..."
"What?!"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the room gaped in shock.
To be able to injure Kuro like this, what a ferocious pirate he must be!
Zango's eyes widened, and he gasped.
"Know your true identity? How could that be? That plan was flawless!"
At this moment, the doctor had begun stitching up the wound. Kro was trembling with pain, but the murderous intent in his eyes grew stronger and stronger.
"In short, the infiltration plan has completely failed."
A mad light flashed in Chloe's eyes, and his voice was like that of a raging beast:
"Since that's the case, then let's settle everything in the way of pirates!"
Zango wiped away his cold sweat and hesitated before glancing at the night outside the window:
"I understand, Captain. But it's the middle of the night..."
"Most of the brothers are resting. Let's stick to our original plan and launch the surprise attack at dawn..."
"No! Now! Immediately!!"
Kro suddenly turned his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Zango, which startled Zango into taking two steps back.
"Gather the cat-man brothers! And all members of the Black Cat Pirates! I'm going to storm in right now!"
"I'm going to slaughter everyone in that village, and those damned brats! Leave no one alive! Then all the village's treasure will be ours!"
Sensing the captain's palpable killing intent, Zango immediately stood at attention and saluted:
"Yes, Captain Crowe! I'll go and gather everyone right away!"
"Captain Crowe! We will avenge you!"
"Kill them all!!"
"Hahaha! Leave no one alive!"
The pirate ship was instantly filled with a bloodthirsty frenzy.
...
Meanwhile, at the mountaintop villa.
Kaya's room was brightly lit and surrounded by a group of people.
After a heated but "friendly" physical exchange with the villa's guards.
Luffy and his crew finally convinced them that they meant no harm, and at the same time, they revealed Kuro's true identity.
At this moment, the butler, Merry, who has the same hairstyle as Sheep, is holding a hot handkerchief and wiping the cold sweat from Kaya's face, who is unconscious, with a worried expression.
"I really didn't expect this..."
Looking at the pale-faced young lady, Merry's voice trembled, "That Krahadel... is actually a vicious and great pirate."
"He has been lying in wait here for three years, probably to seize the vast wealth of Miss Koya's family."
"Hmph, I knew all along that the bespectacled butler wasn't a good person!"
Usopp stood to the side with his arms crossed, his face full of worry, but he said proudly, "My intuition is very accurate!"
"Now is not the time to talk about this."
Nami frowned and said worriedly, "We don't just have to worry about him now."
"Since that guy is the captain, his Black Cat Pirates might be lying in ambush near the village. If the main force attacks, that would be the most dangerous thing."
Upon hearing this, Viktor, who had been leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, opened them.
He nodded and said with a smile:
"Wow, Nami, you're really good. Yes, the Black Cat Pirates are right below the cliffs on the North Coast."
"W-what?!"
Nami instantly bristled, rushing to Viktor and grabbing his collar. "You knew?! Why didn't you tell me sooner?!"
After yelling, she realized there were still patients in the room, so she quickly covered her mouth and glared at Victor.
Zoro, holding the Wado Ichimonji, calmly analyzed the situation:
"In that case, if we let that Kro escape back, he will definitely not let it go."
"For the treasure, and also to cover up the secret and for revenge, he will have his pirates massacre this place immediately."
"Smack smack..."
Luffy, still chewing on a piece of meat with bones he'd pilfered from the kitchen, mumbled something indistinctly:
"Oh, so that means there's going to be a fight, right?"
"That's right."
Victor added, his smile widening, "The wounded beast is the craziest."
"With his plan exposed and himself seriously injured, that Kro has gone berserk. They will attack immediately, probably within the next hour or two."
"how so..."
Merry was horrified, dropping her handkerchief to the ground. "What do we do... I'll call the nearest naval branch right now..."
As he spoke, he hurriedly reached for the Den Den Mushi on the bedside table.
"Smack."
A slender hand pressed down on Merry's wrist.
Merry looked up and met Victor's smiling eyes.
"Butler Merry, by the time the navy arrives, the battle will be over, and the village will probably be burned to ashes."
Viktor spoke with confidence and calmness.
"We'll help you resolve this. In exchange—give us that big ship, how about it?"
"Ah! Yes! A big ship! A big ship!"
Upon hearing "big ship," Luffy immediately jumped up excitedly, his eyes shining.
"What are you so happy about?! That's a full-fledged pirate crew! The captain's bounty is a whopping 16 million Berries!" Nami complained irritably.
"Hmph, there's no other choice." Zoro tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, a warlike smile curving his lips.
"Hey! Are you even listening to me?! That's the Black Cat Pirates!" Nami said anxiously.
Merry looked at the calm and composed red-eyed boy in front of her.
He glanced at Luffy and Zoro, who were noisy but showed no fear, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded heavily.
"Alright! What does one ship matter as long as we can protect Miss Kaya and the village! As long as you can win!"
"Yoshi!!"
Luffy yelled and swallowed the last bite of meat. "Deal! Let's go now!"
"Butler Merry."
Viktor released his grip and began to deploy tactics.
"You should immediately send someone to inform the villagers and lead them all to this high ground for refuge."
"As for the battle, leave it to us to intercept them on the coast."
Merry wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, her eyes hardening: "Okay, I understand! I'll go and send guards to inform everyone!"
"Um...I want to go too!!"
Just as everyone was preparing to set off, a firm voice rang out.
Usopp gripped his slingshot tightly, his legs trembling, but he still roared:
"Even though I hate this place! Even though I'm scared! This is the village where I grew up! I will protect it!!"Chapter 29 The Power of the Fireball! Nami's Achilles' Heel
The group left the villa and immediately began their operation.
Nami followed closely behind Viktor, muttering to herself as she ran:
"Hey, Victor, you should have taken the opportunity to ask for more treasure! After all, it was such a dangerous deal... Wait!"
Nami suddenly stopped, her face turning deathly pale, as if she had remembered something terrifying.
"Treasure...my treasure!!"
Realizing what was happening, Nami instantly transformed into a screaming chicken, yelling at everyone:
"Our ship is anchored on the north coast! Those pirates are right there!!"
"Quick, save me... no! Quick, save our treasure!! That's tens of millions of Berries!!"
As she spoke, Nami's eyes seemed to burn with the flames of money, and her legs transformed into wheels of fire as she raced off in one direction.
"Hahaha! This is really funny! Nami runs so fast!"
Luffy, holding his straw hat, laughed heartily and followed.
"Hey, you're running too fast! Wait for me!" Zoro glanced in the direction Luffy was running and immediately took off after him.
Only Viktor walked slowly behind.
"Huff... huff..."
At this moment, Usopp, who had been panting heavily behind, finally caught up and called out to Victor.
"Hey, your name is Victor, right?"
Usopp bent over, hands on his knees, and asked nervously.
Viktor stopped, turned around, looked at him expressionlessly, and then said quietly:
"Ah, no. I'm Luffy, the man who's going to become the Pirate King."
"..."
The air was silent for a second.
"You bastard!! Do you think I'm deaf?!"
Usopp instantly flew into a rage, pointing at the figure in front of him wearing a straw hat and yelling.
"That idiot in the straw hat is Luffy! I've been listening to that all night!"
After venting his anger, Usopp took a deep breath, straightened up, and although his eyes were still somewhat evasive, his tone was unusually firm.
"Anyway... let me help you. Although I'm scared, I... I also want to protect this village..."
Then, to hide his fear, he proudly pointed to himself with his thumb, striking that classic boasting pose:
"After all! I am the great pirate captain Usopp, commanding eighty million men!"
Viktor looked at the long-nosed man whose legs were still trembling slightly, tilted his head in confusion, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Nobody's saying they disagree, right? If you want to come, then come on, Usopp, the pirate."
After saying that, Victor ignored him and immediately walked in the direction that Luffy, Zoro, and Nami had gone.
I've only taken two steps.
"Hey!! That's the road leading to the village!!"
Usopp, watching Victor's retreating figure from behind, shouted anxiously.
"The North Coast is in the opposite direction! What's wrong with you guys?!"
Viktor paused.
He silently turned his head, looking in the direction of the three people who had already disappeared, and helplessly rubbed his forehead.
"These directionally challenged idiots."
...
On the other side, the north coast.
The night was deep, and the waves crashed against the rocks.
A pirate ship with a giant cat head on its prow—the "Bezan Black"—had docked at the shore.
"Charge!!"
"Kill them all!!"
A large number of grinning pirates, wielding scimitars and torches, surged off the ship like a black tide and onto the beach.
"Oh! Oh! Avenge Captain Crowe!"
"Slaughter this village!!"
Zango adjusted his heart-shaped sunglasses and, along with several close associates, jumped off the ship.
Just then, a sharp-eyed pirate pointed to the shore not far away and immediately reported:
"Master Gao, there's a ship moored over there!"
Zango turned his head to look.
Although it was dark, by the light of the torches, a medium-sized sailing ship flying the skull and crossbones flag could indeed be seen moored there.
"Ah, so this must be the pirate ship of those guys who injured Captain Kuro."
A ruthless glint flashed in Zango's eyes. He casually pointed and ordered, "Send a few men to burn them down! Cut off their escape route!"
"Hehehe! Yes, ma'am!"
"Yes! Burn them all!"
Several pirates nearby immediately grinned maliciously and charged towards the Straw Hat Pirates with torches in hand.
Then, Zango turned around, facing the densely packed pirates on the beach, and shouted loudly:
"Oh! Men! Our Captain Kuro has been ambushed and seriously injured! This is a disgrace to the Black Cat Pirates! What should we do?!"
"Kill them!!"
"Burn down this village!!"
The crowd was enraged, and the shouts of battle were deafening.
Zango nodded in satisfaction, just about to deliver a few more inspiring remarks.
At that moment, an extremely cold voice came from the deck of the pirate ship. It was Kuro, who had forced himself to walk out of the cabin.
"Zango! Enough talk! Attack now! Kill them all!!"
Kro clutched his severed arm, his face pale, but the hatred in his eyes was chilling.
"Yes, Captain!" Zango trembled and immediately waved his hand, "Kill them all!!"
"oh oh!!"
"Charge!!"
Dozens of pirates immediately brandished their swords and torches, yelling as they charged up the only slope leading to the village.
This slope is narrow and steep, forming a natural pass.
Just as the pirate at the front had stepped onto the middle of the slope and was preparing to charge forward in one go,
Above, a dark figure stood silently.
Who is that?
Before the pirate could react...
The dark figure's hands moved in a blur as it rapidly formed hand seals.
巳－未－申－亥－午－寅.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique".
A voice as calm as still water rang out in the night sky.
The next moment.
Viktor's chest swelled up, and then he suddenly opened his mouth and spat out.
"call--!!!"
A burst of intensely hot chakra flames erupted, swelled in the wind, and instantly transformed into a giant fireball several meters in diameter.
It carried a wave of heat and a destructive aura as it relentlessly crushed the pirates below along the narrow slope!
At that moment, the fireball looked like a sun rolling down from hell.
The pirate at the forefront immediately widened his eyes, his pupils filled only with that ever-expanding crimson mass.
"What...what is this?!"
But he will never get the answer.
because...
"boom!!!!"
The massive fireball instantly engulfed several pirates in the front row.
And its power remained undiminished. With the added advantage of the narrow terrain of the slope, it was like a bowling ball, carrying a huge impact that sent all the crowded pirates behind it flying and being pushed back.
Flames exploded, and a wave of heat swept through.
The screams were drowned out by the explosion before they could even be heard.
After all, this position is perfect for a linear, wide-range ninjutsu like the "Great Fireball."
quiet.
A deathly silence.
The battlefield, which had been filled with shouts of fighting and killing, fell silent instantly.
All that remained was the crackling sound of the burning torches.
The pirates below scrambled to their feet, staring in horror at the still-burning embers on the slope, and then looked at the black-haired boy standing atop the hill.
"Who...who is he...?"
"Why do humans breathe fire from their mouths...?"
"Is it a monster?!"
On the ship, Kro stared intently upwards, his cold eyes filled with not only hatred but also a deep sense of apprehension.
Looking into those red eyes that gleamed in the firelight, he gritted his teeth:
"It's him!!"
Top of the slope.
Usopp, panting as he arrived, swallowed hard at the sight and looked at Viktor beside him in shock.
"Wow...that's amazing..."
Is this what real pirates are like?
Then, his eyes darted around, trying to hide his shock.
He immediately and proudly rested his arm on Viktor's shoulder, shouting down at the crowd with an air of superiority:
"Hey! Pirates down here! Do you see this?! This is the territory of the great pirate Captain Usopp!"
"Get out of here if you don't want to die! I have 80 million subordinates like you!!"
The pirates below were filled with doubt and confusion, exchanging bewildered glances before finally looking at Zango.
"Lord Zan Gao, what should we do?"
Zang Gao was shocked.
"Eighty million? That's terrifying." He believed it.
Everyone was speechless. "Master Gao, this is obviously just bragging."
"Eighty million people? That's outrageous!"
"What? I've been scammed?"
Zango, now deceiving the man, turned grim and reached into his pocket to pull out the sharp hypnotic ring.
"Don't be scared by him! He's just a Devil Fruit user! Just avoid that fireball..."
Just then.
The pirates that Zango had sent to burn the ship earlier returned excitedly, shouting loudly, and dragging heavy things in their hands.
"Captain Crowe! Lord Zango! We've struck it rich!!"
"This ship has a lot of treasure!!"
As they spoke, the pirates laboriously threw several large bags, each filled to the brim, onto the beach.
The bag opened, and the glittering gold and jewels, illuminated by the firelight, dazzled everyone.
"ha?"
The pirates below immediately stared intently at the treasure, their fearful gazes instantly transforming into boundless greed, their eyes practically gleaming.
"That's... tens of millions of Berries, right?!"
"I'm rich!!"
At the top of the slope.
Usopp watched this scene, his eyes darting around, when suddenly a "brilliant" idea came to him.
He cleared his throat and shouted down:
"Hey! Pirates down there! If you leave now, all that treasure is yours!"
"Consider this a reward from the captain for your travel expenses!"
Upon hearing this, Viktor's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
"You bastard, you're actually planning to use our money to bribe the enemy?!"
Viktor slapped Usopp's arm off his shoulder without hesitation, and was about to teach the long-nosed man a lesson.
However.
"call--"
A sharp, piercing sound suddenly rang out from behind Viktor.
Immediately afterwards, a long wooden stick, with the force of a thunderbolt, passed over Viktor and struck Usopp squarely on the back of the head.
"Thump!!!"
That dull thud sounded painful just to hear.
"ah!!!"
Usopp let out a scream as he was sent flying like a spinning top, crashing heavily to the ground.
"Who...who gave you permission to touch my treasure?!"
A murderous voice rang out.
Nami appeared like a female demon descending to earth, gripping her long staff tightly with both hands, radiating a black aura even more terrifying than the previous fireball.
She glared fiercely at Usopp on the ground, then looked down at the pirates who dared to touch her treasure, gritting her teeth:
"That's my money!!! You bunch of bastards!! Die!!"Chapter 30: At the Peak! The Massacre on the Slope!
"What are you waiting for?! Kill them!!"
"Once we deal with them, all this treasure will be yours!!"
Krona's gritted teeth echoed from the pirate ship behind, sounding particularly jarring in the quiet night.
The pirates, who had been stunned by the fireball, finally came to their senses. Looking at their captain's murderous gaze, fear overcame their hesitation.
"Charge!!"
"Kill him!!"
"Oh! For the treasure!"
The pirates roared again, brandishing their weapons as they charged toward the top of the slope.
This time, however, they were a little smarter and no longer crowded around like headless flies.
Instead, they dispersed, clinging to the rock walls on both sides of the slope, and slowed their pace, wary of the terrifying fire-breathing boy.
At this moment, Zango, standing below, also swung the sharp ring in his hand in an attempt to save face.
He shouted loudly at Nami above:
"In that case, let me deal with that woman first! Take this!"
Zango struck a strange pose, gently shaking the ring in his hand, and said to Nami:
"Next, after I say 'one, two, zaango,' you will immediately faint and fall asleep. Look at my ring…"
"One, two..."
Nami subconsciously looked at the circle.
However, Viktor, standing next to Nami, slightly shifted his crimson eyes and coldly cast his gaze toward Django below.
Illusion Technique: The Technique of Seeing the Abyss.
"Zan Gao..."
"Bang!"
A muffled thud.
It wasn't Nami who collapsed, but Django himself who was casting the spell.
He seemed to have been frightened by something terrifying, his eyes rolled back as he fell straight onto the beach, foaming at the mouth.
"Lord Zangao?!!"
The surrounding pirates were terrified.
"How did you hypnotize yourself?!"
"Quickly wake up Lord Zangao!!"
The single tomoe in Viktor's eyes slowly rotated before he calmly withdrew his gaze.
To deal with someone with such a weak will, you don't even need a decent illusion.
At this moment, the pirates ahead were closing in.
Nami instinctively shrank back as she looked at the ferocious-looking pirates charging towards her.
Very consciously, he hid behind Viktor, grabbed his clothes, and shouted:
"Go, First Mate!! Go and get my... no, go and get our treasure back!!"
Victor did not respond to her nonsense.
"Whoosh."
His figure vanished instantly.
Viktor did not back down despite being outnumbered.
On the contrary, a burning fighting spirit surged in his eyes, which had turned from dark to red.
He also wanted to know what level his full strength had reached after systematic enhancement and recent training.
These pirates before us are the perfect whetstone!
At the top of the slope.
Hey! Why did you hit me just now?!
Usopp, clutching his swollen bump, glared menacingly at Nami. "It hurts! Are you a shrew?"
"ha?"
Nami's eyebrows furrowed, and she raised her long staff again, as if to strike once more. "Do you have a problem with that?"
"N-no!"
Usopp was so frightened that he quickly waved his hand and backed away, putting on a fawning smile.
"Haha, I was just joking with you. The atmosphere was a bit tense, you know... But speaking of which..."
As he spoke, he turned his head and looked down at Viktor, who was being slaughtered one by one like a tiger among sheep, and couldn't help but swallow hard.
"...He's really something. He's like a devil..."
Upon hearing this, Nami immediately put away her long staff, proudly raised her chin, as if she were the one fighting.
"Hmph, of course. Now you know the strength of our pirate crew, right?"
"Then why don't you go and join the war?"
Nami's face stiffened, then she looked at him with a righteous air:
"Huh? As a man, don't you feel ashamed to ask me, a delicate navigator, this question?"
"Huh?! Delicate?!"
Usopp stared at the long staff in Nami's hand, his lips twitching.
But he took a deep breath, seemingly also infected by the battle below.
"Alright! In that case, the great Captain Usopp shall join the battle! I'll take care of the covering fire!"
As he spoke, he walked to the edge of the cliff, pulled back his slingshot, and aimed at the pirates below.
"Take this!"
"Ultimate Kill - Gunpowder Star!"
Nami snorted and crossed her arms.
But as she looked down at Viktor's lone figure fighting below, she pursed her lips slightly, and a strange emotion welled up inside her.
"What's wrong with me... I'm just a pirate... Treasure is the most important thing! Yes!"
Meanwhile, the battlefield lies on the slope below.
Viktor is in the midst of a fierce battle.
"bite!"
He parried with his sword, sparks flying, then flicked his wrist, using the force to knock down a pirate in front of him.
Immediately afterwards, the sound of wind arose from the right.
Viktor seemed to have eyes in 361 degrees, instantly ducking down and narrowly dodging a curved blade that was swung towards his head.
The next second, he swept his leg and kicked the attacker hard to the ground.
"Die!!"
Two more pirates below jumped up and slashed down at Victor.
Viktor remained calm, raising his sword with one hand and firmly blocking the two attacks with a clang.
Then, his arm muscles tensed, his chakra exploded, and he forcefully pushed them away.
Taking advantage of the moment when the two lost their balance and retreated.
"Xinei."
Viktor flicked his wrist, and his longsword drew a cold arc, precisely slicing across their necks.
Blood splattered.
"Well..."
The two men collapsed, clutching their throats.
The pirates behind him, seeing Victor's ferocity and fluid movements, all showed expressions of fear, their hands gripping their swords trembling, hesitant to step forward.
"What's wrong? Aren't you going to attack?"
Viktor intuitively felt that he was now in a wonderful state of completeness.
Everything around him became slow and clear in his Sharingan eyes.
Every breath of an enemy, every twitch of their muscles, every trajectory of their sword swing—all of this can be seen clearly.
"Instantaneous Movement Technique".
The figure flashed again.
Viktor took the initiative and stabbed the nearest person in the heart with a single blow.
He then kicked him away, and the corpse crashed down like a cannonball, knocking down two pirates who were about to charge forward.
The terrain here is narrow and sloping, so although there are many pirates, only two or three can actually face Victor at the same time.
This terrain advantage, combined with the Sharingan's dynamic vision, allowed Viktor to move about almost as if he were in an empty place!
This was a one-sided, bloody massacre.
In just a few minutes, the slope was covered with wailing pirates.
At this point, the remaining pirates were truly terrified.
They trembled uncontrollably as they looked at the black-haired boy who, with just a sword, had kept numerous pirates at bay.
The sea breeze at night ruffled Victor's black, tousled hair, revealing a pair of eyes that glowed with an eerie red light in the darkness.
"Demon...devil!!"
Finally, one of the pirates couldn't withstand the terrifying pressure, his mental defenses collapsed, he threw down his weapon with a clatter, knelt on the ground, and broke down in tears.
"That's terrifying! There's no way we can win!"
"That guy isn't human! He's a murderous demon!"
Just when the pirates' morale was about to completely collapse.
"What devil! Stop trying to boost others' morale!"
"Watch us cat-men brothers kill him!!"
The crowd behind parted, and two sharp and arrogant voices rang out.
Two oddly shaped pirates, wearing cat-paw gloves, jumped out.
The two are the cat-people brothers, Boogie and Sam, from the original story.
Viktor stopped what he was doing, expressionlessly flicked the blood off his sword, drawing a line of blood on the ground.
He then slightly bent his knees, preparing to chop the two noisy kittens down with his sword.
"Hey, my dear first mate. At least leave me some."
The words had barely left his mouth.
"Wow!! Victor! You're amazing! You've defeated them all! Hehehehe!"
A hearty laugh rang out from behind.
Luffy, holding his straw hat, and a grumpy Zoro finally emerged from the darkness and arrived at the battlefield.
Victor turned around, looked at the two latecomers, a smile playing on his lips, but his words were utterly sarcastic:
"You're too slow, you idiots."