Just as Moonlight Had Predicted

Moonlight smiled faintly. He had found them!

Now the evidence was conclusive. Klahadore had no way to deny it!

Just as Moonlight prepared to make his move and deal with these Pirates, the hypnotist Jango suddenly appeared from atop the slope and headed toward the pirate ship in the distance.

"Mr. Jango!"

"Mr. Jango is here! Great, looks like business is coming!"

"Mr. Jango!"

From afar, the Pirates aboard the ship spotted Jango and immediately grew excited.

"All right, boys. The captain has given the order. Everyone, move out! Charge into the village and kill to your hearts' content!"

Upon reaching the ship, Jango announced directly.

"Ahhh! We can finally go ashore! I've waited so long for this day!"

"Great! Now we can show those damned villagers how formidable the Kuro Pirates are!"

"Good, good! Brothers, grab your blades and get ashore!"

At once, all the Pirates erupted in cheers. With swords in hand, they leaped from the ship, radiating killing intent as they prepared to head for the village.

"Stop right there, you vile Pirates! With the great Usopp here, don't even think about laying a hand on the villagers! I advise you to get lost with your tails between your legs, or my eight thousand subordinates and I definitely won't let you off!"

At that moment, Usopp emerged from the forest. He had arrived just in time. Though terrified inside, he shouted fiercely at the people before him.

"Huh? Who's this guy? Is he a Pirate?"

"Eight thousand subordinates? He wants us running away with our tails between our legs? Hahaha! If you're going to boast, at least make it believable! You think we'd fall for that?"

"Idiot! You and your eight thousand men? I've got a hundred thousand underlings! Who the hell do you think you are?"

"That kid's nose is so long. Let's cut it off later and have it with drinks!"

At the sight of Usopp, everyone sneered. They instantly saw through his words and dismissed them with contempt.

Then, blades in hand and savage expressions on their faces, they advanced toward him with murderous intent.

"Damn it, they saw through me instantly?"

Usopp began trembling all over. Facing Pirates who lived by the blade was simply asking too much of him.

He was only good at telling lies now and then. How could he possibly have that kind of strength?

"Hey, this is the south side, right?"

Just as he trembled in fear, a voice suddenly rang out.

Zoro walked over with a confused expression, looking around as he asked Usopp.

Clearly, he was lost.

"You're... Zoro? Great! Hurry and stop them! They're Pirates, and they're going into the village to kill the villagers!"

Seeing Zoro was like seeing a savior. Usopp hurriedly begged for help.

"Pirates? Hm? Looks like I found the right direction. Just as Moonlight predicted, Pirates really did dock in some inconspicuous spot on this island!"

Zoro was still trying to figure out his bearings, but upon hearing Usopp and seeing the murderous Pirates below the slope, he sneered.

"Nothing in the east, nothing in the south either. And Zoro is obviously a complete directionless idiot. I told him to go south, but he actually went north. Those are completely opposite directions, okay? Hm, isn't that Zoro? He found the Pirates?"

At that moment, Nami emerged from the forest as well. She had already searched the east and south, and had now come to the north.

For a navigator, quickly searching an area was simplicity itself.

She had found them quickly, but when she saw Zoro and the Pirates behind him, she froze.

"Just as Moonlight predicted, they really are Pirates!"

Nami muttered, recalling Moonlight's deduction.

"Damn it, how did these people find this place? From what they said, have we been discovered?"

Seeing Zoro and Nami appear one after another, Jango's expression darkened further.

If it had only been Usopp, he naturally would not have cared. But with Zoro and Nami added to the mix, he had no choice but to take them seriously.

Captain Kuro especially hated people who failed to keep to the schedule.

In the past, anyone who was late had been killed!

Thinking of Captain Kuro's terror, Jango felt a chill rise from the bottom of his heart.

They absolutely could not delay, or he would be killed too!

With that thought, he shouted at the crowd behind him.

"Everyone, charge with everything you have! Don't delay our rendezvous with the captain. I don't need to tell you what will happen otherwise. You should understand."

"Yes, Mr. Jango! Everyone, charge! We absolutely can't delay our rendezvous with Captain Kuro!"

"Charge! We can't be late, or we'll be killed!"

"Let's do it!"

At those words, all the Pirates went berserk and charged down the slope ahead.

They would charge through at any cost. They all knew how terrifying Captain Kuro was, so none of them dared hesitate in the slightest.

"They're coming. Leave them to me!"

Zoro's eyes lit up. With a cold laugh, he drew three swords and used Three Sword Style!

"Three Sword Style, Frenzied Slashing!"

Zoro charged out at once, charging into the Pirate ranks like a cutting machine!

Zoro became a reaper. Wherever he went, people were cut down before they could mount any resistance. In the blink of an eye, he plunged into the midst of the Pirates. When he emerged again, they were already sprawled across the ground, all severely wounded!

"Damn it, he's that strong? In that case, Cat Brothers, I'm counting on you. We absolutely cannot be late!"

Seeing this, Jango's face turned cold as he called to a pair of brothers on the ship behind him.

A fat brother and a skinny brother wearing cat claws appeared on the ship.

Hearing Jango's voice, they stepped out and looked at Zoro with timid expressions.

"Lord Jango, you want us to deal with him? Isn't that asking too much of us?"

"That man looks terrifyingly strong. We won't get killed, will we?"

The two brothers spoke submissively, utterly cowardly.

"Quit the nonsense. Kill him, or we'll miss the time we agreed on with Captain Kuro!"

Jango said impatiently.

"Ah, Captain Kuro? Butchie, what do you think? Should we fight?"

"Better not. How could we possibly beat him?"

Yet the two became even more submissive, waving their hands in refusal as they walked toward Zoro.

"What? This is your trump card? The Cat Brothers? They look like a pair of..."

Seeing their cowardly display, Zoro could not help feeling deeply disappointed as he pointed at them.

But before he could finish speaking, the two exchanged a glance, and a gleam flashed through their eyes!

Their movements suddenly accelerated, like those of cats!

Especially their cat claws, which suddenly slashed toward Zoro!