Hundred Plans · Kuro

A few days later.

On a sailing ship, two figures clashed again and again in a fierce battle. The ring of blades was incessant, sparks flashed, and waves of air rippled through the ship.

"Clang!"

"Basic Technique: Mountain-Splitting Strike!"

Daddy raised the Sandai Kitetsu high and brought it down hard at Zoro, but Zoro crossed the Wado Ichimonji and Yubashiri to block it, sending up a shower of dazzling sparks. Both men's eyes burned with fighting spirit, and neither would yield!

"Big Brother Daddy, Big Brother Zoro, dinner's ready! We'll reach Syrup Village this afternoon!"

Yosaku and Johnny came out carrying the food. Now they were responsible for cooking, raising the sails, and steering the ship, serving these two big shots!

Daddy had originally planned to head straight for the Buggy Pirates, who were stationed in Orange Town, and look for Buggy the Clown. But when he checked the nautical chart, he noticed they seemed to be passing by Syrup Village on the way.

That made Daddy want to meet Kuro of a Hundred Plans, who was said to have the second-highest intelligence after Ben Beckman!

Daddy wanted to recruit the man. If that didn't work, he'd kill him!

He'd make him another soul claimed by the Sandai Kitetsu, adding a little more sinister spirit to the Cursed Blade!

Intelligence was useless without the ambition to grow stronger!

Daddy only needed obedient, powerful crewmates!

And Zoro was exactly that kind of pure swordsman. Most of the time, he never asked about reasons or which side was right.

In his eyes, there were only two choices: cut or don't cut.

If someone was an enemy, he cut them, whether they were pirates or Marines!

And he'd trust and uphold his captain's authority without question.

That was the kind of crewmate Daddy considered the best.

"Daddy, we had a deal! If the enemy's a swordsman, you leave him to me!!"

Zoro said as he wolfed down meat, then drained a bottle of wine with satisfaction. These past few days had been the most comfortable time he'd had since setting out to sea and getting lost. He didn't have to think about anything—just fighting and coming up with names for new moves!

"We'll see how I feel!"

Daddy raised an eyebrow and answered with a casual smile. He wouldn't agree to any absolute conditions, nor would he grant every request his crew made. He wasn't a good person, and he wasn't a babysitter.

"You bastard!"

Zoro muttered, annoyed, then drained another bottle of wine before going back to training his stamina.

One day, he'd split Daddy's turtle shell open with a single strike!

Zoro had made breaking through Daddy's Guardian Barrier his next goal. In his eyes, if he couldn't even cut through a barrier like that, he had no business challenging the World's Greatest Swordsman.

He had to keep getting stronger until there was nothing he couldn't cut, until he could slice through every obstacle in his path!

Daddy's basic swordsmanship had also improved quite a bit over the past two days. Zoro's sword skills were powerful and solid, with plenty for him to learn from.

Daddy wouldn't pass up any chance to grow stronger, either. He'd spent two days sparring with Zoro to make up for his own weaknesses and flaws.

Daddy also discussed the training methods of master swordsmen and the nature of sword intent with Zoro. He briefly explained Two-Color Haki, too, planning to train hard in that direction with him.

As the sailboat entered Syrup Village's harbor, the villagers on the island warily tried to figure out what kind of ship it was—a merchant vessel or a pirate ship.

But when they saw it had no pirate flag and there were no fierce-looking pirates armed with blades aboard, they relaxed a little.

A brown-skinned boy with a long nose came over with a few children to "inspect" the newcomers. He spouted nonsense to his little followers, bragging about how strong he was!

Daddy ignored Usopp. He didn't need kindhearted, cowardly crewmates, nor did he need that lousy "rely on the sniper in a desperate situation" buff!

He needed powerful crewmates who obeyed orders and charged into battle without hesitation or questions!

He took Zoro straight onto the island and headed for the richest mansion there, leaving Yosaku and Johnny to watch the ship.

"Hey, who are you? Where are you going? Don't you know Syrup Village is Captain Usopp's territory?"

Usopp pulled out a slingshot and spoke solemnly, as if he knew something no one else did. His three followers stood to the side, waving flags and cheering.

Daddy and Zoro walked right past Usopp and continued on, completely ignoring the weakling.

"Hey! I'm Captain Usopp, with eight thousand men under my command! How dare you ignore me like that!"

Usopp shouted angrily, but he didn't dare attack them. Watching which way they went, he suspected the two strangers were heading to Kaya's mansion. He had to hurry and warn her.

But when Zoro glanced back at him, Usopp was so frightened that cold sweat poured down his face and his legs trembled. He couldn't even speak.

By the time he recovered, the two outsiders had disappeared from sight. He gritted his teeth and immediately ran toward Kaya's mansion. He had a feeling the two men meant trouble. They looked like ruthless killers!

Before long, Daddy and Zoro reached the entrance to the wealthy family's home.

"Daddy, if there's an enemy, let me take the lead."

Zoro said calmly. He had to keep defeating opponents to grow stronger and follow the path to becoming the greatest swordsman.

"Sure! Kuro's very fast, so just be careful. Don't let him cut you. I don't have time to treat you!"

Daddy replied with a faint smile. Just then, a servant with woolly hair and sheep's horns opened the door.

"Hello. How can I help you?"

Merry, dressed in a suit, greeted them warmly and politely while sizing up the two strangers.

"Hey, sheep head, are you a Devil Fruit User too? We're not here for you, though. Call Kuro out. I'm the Pirate Hunter who came to defeat him."

Zoro was blunt and got straight to the point. His eyes were fixed on his opponent. According to Daddy, Kuro of a Hundred Plans, with a 16-million-berry bounty, was hiding in this mansion.

"Mr. Pirate Hunter, there's no one named Kuro here. Could you be mistaken?"

Hearing the title "Pirate Hunter" made Merry less afraid. He was most worried they'd say they were pirates. But what did "Devil Fruit User" mean?

"Your butler is Captain Kuro, the pirate. He's probably going by Klahadore now. You'd better make sure your young lady is safe!"

Daddy said calmly. Only now had he noticed that the man's sheep's head didn't seem to be a headpiece. Was he part Mink? Or a Sheep-Sheep Fruit User?

"What?!"

Merry was shocked. He'd never imagined that Klahadore, the kind-faced butler, could be a pirate.

Just then, Klahadore, the butler, walked out with a cold expression, staring icily at the two Pirate Hunters.

"You just won't leave me alone!"

Kuro stared at the two strangers with a dark expression. Two years earlier, to escape the relentless pursuit of the Marines and Pirate Hunters, he'd faked his death and disappeared. Even his wanted poster had been withdrawn.

He hadn't expected anyone to find him now. Where had things gone wrong?

Could his first mate, Jango, have betrayed him?

Kuro, whose intelligence was exceptional, immediately thought of the most likely possibility.

You provided the great god Great Wildfire's Pirates: I Open Susanoo with the Barrier-Barrier Fruit.