Kuro of a Hundred Plans admitted that he had underestimated this bounty hunter. Not only did the guy possess the power of a Devil Fruit, he also wielded a strange Cursed Blade.
But as a pirate captain, how could he possibly join a Pirate Hunter's crew?
"Then I choose to take you out!"
Kuro sneered. The bounty hunter had stepped in to protect the weak, which meant what? He seemed to have a bit of the Navy's sense of justice. That made him easy to exploit.
Let's see how many people you can protect!
"Cat Claws: Shakushi!"
Kuro immediately used his strongest move. With Silent Step's high-speed movement, he attacked indiscriminately with the Cat Claws in his hands. He moved so fast that even Kuro had no idea what he would hit!
"A move you can't even control yourself? With your brains, this is the best you could come up with?"
Barrier Ball!!
Daddy crossed the index and middle fingers of his left hand, and a huge spherical Barrier Ball instantly enveloped Kuro as he slashed wildly. Trapped inside, Kuro drifted around and swung his claws, amusing himself!
He was starting to wonder whether Oda's claim that Kuro of a Hundred Plans had the second-highest IQ after Ben Beckman was really true.
Right now, Kuro looked downright stupid.
"Still not stopping? If that's all you've got, then let's finish this!"
Barrier Ball: Killing Explosion Funeral!
Daddy extended his left hand and clenched it in midair. The gigantic Barrier Ball, more than ten meters tall, enclosed Kuro as he darted around, then shrank at incredible speed. In an instant, it squeezed the wildly slashing Kuro into a Barrier Ball less than two meters across.
At two meters tall, Kuro couldn't even stand upright inside the Barrier Ball. He couldn't spread his Cat Claws, either, and could only cross them over his chest and brace them against the sides, using all his strength to stop the Barrier Ball from contracting.
"Finally stopped? Do you want to live or die?"
Daddy stood in front of the still-shrinking Barrier Ball, looking coldly at Kuro of a Hundred Plans. Under the immense pressure of the contraction, Kuro's Cat Claws were beginning to bend.
At this rate, Kuro would be crushed to death, his blades snapping as he was squeezed into a lump of flesh!
"Mr. Bounty Hunter, please don't kill the butler, Klahadore. Hand him over to the Marines, and you can still collect the bounty!"
Kaya suddenly rushed forward. Kind-hearted as she was, she couldn't bear to watch the butler she'd known for two years die right in front of her.
"You, get out of my way!!"
Daddy shot a merciless look at the frail little bean sprout. She was weak and useless!
Merry and Usopp immediately pulled Kaya back, watching the brutal bounty hunter in alarm.
"Kuro, I don't have that much patience. I thought you were a clever man, but you've disappointed me."
Barrier Magic: Heart Piercing Sword!
A gap appeared in the contracting Barrier Ball. Daddy aimed the Sandai Kitetsu at it and was about to thrust the sword through, ending Kuro of a Hundred Plans's life once and for all and letting the Cursed Blade drink its fill of blood!
"Wait!"
Seeing the Cursed Blade already pressed against his heart, Kuro could no longer maintain his pride!
But Daddy seemed not to hear him and continued to slowly push the blade in, putting Kuro under unbearable psychological and visual pressure.
Kuro had still wanted to negotiate some terms, but now he shouted at once.
"Wait! I want to live! My captain!!"
Kuro was drenched in sweat. This bounty hunter was even more ruthless than he was, and just as skilled at reading people.
"You know what happens to traitors!"
Daddy smiled 'kindly'. His deep gaze made Kuro break out in a cold sweat and sent a shiver down his spine.
But Kuro quickly pulled himself together and gave a manic grin of his own.
"Don't underestimate a pirate's promise, my demonic captain. You've unleashed another demon!"
Kuro's eyes burned with madness. He seemed to see someone even smarter, stronger, and more ruthless than himself.
"I hope your brains and strength live up to my expectations. Otherwise, you really will die!"
Daddy laughed and casually dispelled the still-contracting Barrier Ball, then grabbed the drenched Kuro by the collar and patted it smooth.
At 226 centimeters tall, Daddy was quite tall for the East Blue. Kuro was only 207 centimeters, while Zoro was shorter still at just 178 centimeters. They were both dwarfs next to Daddy.
"I hope my captain's strength keeps crushing mine, too. Otherwise, you'll die as well!"
Kuro looked at Daddy without fear. It was as if he'd found his ambition again.
Thud!
Daddy punched Kuro in the stomach. Kuro immediately doubled over and fell to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Not bad. That's a fine look in your eyes! You've earned the right to be my crewman. Work hard!
"But show your captain some respect. Don't let it happen again!"
Daddy picked Kuro up again. Usopp, Kaya, and the others stared, stunned.
Was this how he recruited crewmen?
Why was it so brutal? Wasn't he afraid they'd betray him?
"What a demonic captain. I like it!"
Kuro wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. His tone was indeed much more respectful, as if he'd truly submitted to Daddy.
Usopp looked at him strangely. Butler Klahadore seemed to have a severe masochistic streak. The harder he got beaten, the more respectful he became?
"Keep up with me and broaden your horizons. Stop wasting your time staring at rich men in these little towns. You're an embarrassment!"
Daddy spoke with open disdain. Kuro didn't argue, but something in his eyes had changed. Perhaps he'd been insulted; perhaps he'd been jolted awake.
This only made Usopp even more certain that Kuro was a pirate with a masochistic streak. He seemed to have developed some terrible condition called 'Stockholm Syndrome'.
Kuro followed Daddy out of the mansion without expression, his thoughts complicated. He stared at Daddy's back, both cowed by his strength and tempted to take his place and get revenge.
But rationally, he knew he couldn't beat this man. Besides, he'd already joined his crew, and betrayal was beneath him.
Unless he could defeat his captain head-on.
Don't you dare let me surpass you, demonic captain!
Kuro gave a cruel smile. This bounty hunter had certainly awakened him. For someone as clever as he was, scheming against rich men in a small town really was too low-class. Perhaps he should follow this guy and make a name for himself in the Grand Line!
"Ah, they're finally gone!"
Usopp collapsed to the ground. The pressure those two gave off really was terrifying.
"Usopp, you were very brave just now!"
Kaya helped Usopp up and spoke gently. She looked toward the two figures, as if she could see two great men on the rise.
Meanwhile, Zoro had somehow rushed out of Kaya's mansion and made it to the shore. He was absolutely furious. Where was Kuro, his enemy?
Just then, a pirate ship with a black cat figurehead appeared on the sea. Its pirate flag also bore a cat-shaped skull.
"Another pirate ship. Forget Kuro for now. I'll take them down first!"
Zoro's eyes lit up as he watched the Black Cat Pirate Ship draw nearer. He tightened his grip on the good-grade sword Yubashiri and the Great Grade Sword Wado Ichimonji, eagerly waiting for his prey to approach!
Sorry for the trouble.
Before you continue