Kuro Pirates

However, Nami had already gone far away, leaving no room for doubt.

Moonlight smiled and headed north.

"..."

Zoro was instantly speechless as he looked around at the vast surroundings.

"Hey, hey, hey, which way is south? This way?"

Zoro hesitated, then picked a direction at random and left.

Meanwhile, in the eastern forest, Onion, Carrot, and Pepper were tracking someone when a man walking backward caught their attention. He wore a top hat and held a pair of Silver Rings.

"Look, there's someone over there! He's walking backward!"

"That's strange. What's wrong with him? Why is he walking backward? Is there something wrong with his feet?"

"Should we go help him?"

The three of them could not help saying.

They walked toward the man.

"Hey, is there something wrong with your feet? Why are you walking backward?"

"Are you sick or something?"

"Who are you? Why have we never seen you before?"

The three asked.

"No, no, no. My name is Jango, known as the strongest hypnotist in history. Don't you think walking backward like this looks cool?"

Seeing the three of them, the man chuckled.

"Cool?"

"A hypnotist?"

"What's that?"

The three were confused and looked at Jango in puzzlement.

"What, you don't believe me? Then look here. When I say, 'One, two, Jango,' you'll fall asleep!"

Jango smiled and began swinging the Silver Rings in his hand.

The three of them could not help looking over.

"One, two, Jango!"

Jango began counting.

Sure enough, the moment he said "Jango," the three of them collapsed to the ground with thuds and immediately fell asleep!

They had been hypnotized!

"They're just three brats. Forget it, I won't hold it against you for now. I should go meet Captain Kuro first. Captain Kuro really hates it when people are late."

Jango glanced at them, continued walking backward, and soon left the forest.

"Hey, Usopp, you're here!"

At that moment, on a cliff to the east, Luffy found Usopp and called out to him.

"Luffy, it's you. Is my father really what they say he is, a notorious pirate? Does filthy pirate blood run through my veins?"

Seeing Luffy, Usopp could not help asking.

If it had been anyone else, he would not have cared in the slightest. But Luffy had brought news of his father, so instinctively, he trusted him deeply.

"What? You're troubled by something like that? So what if he was notorious? Since you chose to become a pirate, you have to get used to hearing other people's gossip. Otherwise, what kind of pirate are you?"

Luffy froze for a moment, then patted Usopp on the shoulder and said carelessly.

"Since I chose to become a pirate, I have to get used to other people's gossip... You're right, Luffy. This path was never going to be easy, but since I chose it, I have to be prepared for it. That's what a real pirate is, a real man!"

Usopp's eyes immediately lit up. Luffy's words were like a guiding beacon, instantly clearing away his confusion!

"Thank you, Luf—"

Usopp began gratefully, but before he could finish, voices drifted up from below the cliff.

The cliff was not very high, only about thirty meters. Below it, the butler Klahadore was speaking with a man in a top hat who held a pair of Silver Rings.

It was Jango!

"Are things ready?"

Bartel asked.

"Don't worry. Everything is prepared."

Jango nodded.

"Good. For this moment, I, the great Captain Kuro, endured that little girl for five whole years. But it was all worth it. Once it's done, the world will completely forget me. No one will ever know my true face again."

Bartel sneered.

Just as Moonlight had judged, Bartel was no ordinary person. He was a pirate.

"Captain, there's nothing wrong on my end, but what about yours? I heard you ran into some minor trouble. Is everything really all right?"

Jango asked.

"There are indeed some minor troubles, but they're irrelevant. I can resolve them easily. All right, have everyone charge in and create chaos. I'll appear at the most critical moment, drive you back, and kill Kaya at the same time."

"Half an hour from now, we'll meet on the northern slope of the village."

Bartel said calmly.

"Yes, Captain."

Jango nodded and turned to leave.

However, just then, an angry shout interrupted them.

The two were startled and looked up to see Luffy standing atop the cliff, glaring at them furiously.

"Hey! You actually want to kill the villagers on this island and Lady Kaya? Aren't you the mansion's butler?"

Meanwhile, Usopp's face was filled with anger and endless fear. Seeing Luffy suddenly stand up, he panicked terribly!

"Hey, why did you stand up? Wouldn't it be better to wait until they leave and quickly warn the villagers?"

"How could I? Those guys want to kill all the villagers. I'm going to send him flying!"

Luffy ignored him and shouted directly!

The two had overheard their conversation and discovered that Bartel, the butler, was actually the captain of a pirate crew lying low here.

"So it's you, you worthless piece of trash? Seeing that nose of yours makes my beaten face throb with pain. It really irritates me. Jango, get rid of them."

Bartel sneered and spoke to Jango.

"Yes, Captain!"

Jango nodded, swung the Silver Rings in his hand, and looked at Luffy.

"Look here. When I say, 'One, two, Jango,' you'll fall asleep!"

"Huh?"

Luffy found this strange and immediately looked over.

"One, two, Jango!"

"Thud!"

The moment Jango finished saying "Jango," Luffy's eyes snapped shut, and he fell straight off the cliff.

He landed headfirst, his head buried in the dirt, dead beyond any doubt!

"Ah!"

Seeing this, Usopp was scared out of his wits!

"All right, let's go."

Bartel sneered, turned, and left.

Jango nodded without question and headed in the opposite direction. He was going to inform the crew to come ashore and start killing.

"Y-You, stop right there! I'm Captain Usopp! I have eight thousand subordinates! I'll tell the villagers your true face! Your scheme will never succeed! You will never hurt Kaya!"

Usopp's body trembled. Though he was terrified from head to toe, he still forced himself to shout.

"Heh heh, then go tell them. Do you think the villagers will believe you or me? You filthy person!"

Bartel sneered. He did not bother with Usopp at all, completely ignoring him.

"You..."

Usopp's entire body turned cold. He suddenly remembered that because he lied constantly and often deceived the villagers, no one believed him anymore.

"Damn it! No matter what, I have to save everyone. I can't let them be deceived. And Kaya... I have to tell you the truth!"

Usopp gritted his teeth and ran off at full speed.

Meanwhile, atop a cliff to the north, Moonlight looked at the pirate ship docked beside the island and smiled.

"Found it. Just as expected, the Kuro Pirates!"