Kuro joins

Kuro did not answer immediately.

As an intelligent pirate who had spent years on the seas, Kuro was somewhat cautious.

"But as a great pirate with a bounty of two hundred million, surely you could find stronger companions?"

"Of course, the stronger our companions are, the better. But the right companions are the best ones, aren't they?" Lott looked at Kuro with a faint smile.

"My name is Klobator. The pirate Kuro died long ago. Now I only want to be an honest, dutiful butler." As he spoke, Kuro pushed up his glasses with his signature gesture.

"Others might not know what you're planning, but do you think you can hide it from me?" Lott looked at Kuro teasingly.

At those words, Kuro's heart sank. He naturally had confidence in his methods; it was unlikely anyone else would discover them.

Yet the man before him had recounted his entire life. He really could not tell whether Lott actually knew his plan.

"As 'Hundred Plans,' is this all you aspire to? Our goal is the entire world."

Kuro was utterly shocked by Lott's words! Their goal was actually the world!

"Kuro, I'm confident I can become the World's Strongest. But my dream is a distant one, not something I can accomplish fighting alone."

"I need Zoro's swordsmanship, Ling'er's cooking, your strategies, and more."

Lott paused before continuing, "My goal isn't to possess this world and become one of those lofty Celestial Dragons. It's to change this world, which reeks of filth from top to bottom."

"And your talent and intelligence shouldn't be wasted in a place like this! So will you help me? Help me change this world!"

Kuro was stunned. Words like these had actually come from a great pirate with a two-hundred-million bounty.

After a long while, Kuro extended his hand and shook Lott's firmly. "Then I'll be counting on you from now on, Captain Lott. Allow me to formally introduce myself. I'm Kuro, former captain of the Black Cat Pirates."

Lott broke into a smile. "Welcome aboard! I'm Lott. This is our ship's swordsman, Roronoa Zoro, and this beauty is our cook, Imela Ling'er."

[Ding. Congratulations, host. Partner Search Mission progress +1. Rewards received: indestructible Clima-Tact ×1, advanced Observation Haki ×1, Senzu Beans ×2,000.]

Fuse all the cards!

[Ding! Fusion successful.]

Open my personal panel.

[Name: Lott;

Sex: male;

Physique: advanced;

Observation Haki: advanced, special type, Future Sight (20s), insight into people's hearts.

Armament Haki: advanced.

Conqueror's Haki: intermediate.

Devil Fruit development: advanced.]

Lott nodded. If he fought Kizaru again now, he believed he could fight him to a draw even if Kizaru knew about his ability.

Zoro and Ling'er both looked at Kuro with smiles. They did not ask why Lott had invited Kuro to join them. They knew Lott must have his reasons.

They also trusted their captain.

"Captain, when do we set sail again?"

"That depends on when you're ready to leave."

"I still have some things to take care of here. It might take a few days."

Kuro thought it over. He had to hand over all his duties as butler, with many details to cover in the handover. There were also the Black Cat Pirates waiting for him in the shadows.

"All right! We'll wait for you. By the way, I'm going to see Kaya now. Want to come along?" Lott stood up and looked at Kuro.

Since Usopp was a companion of his disciple Luffy, and Kaya was Usopp's future wife-to-be, he had to do something for her as well.

"Sigh..."

After a long while, Kuro sighed. After what Lott had just said, he had now let go. His mindset had changed as well.

His horizons had also broadened, so naturally he would no longer limit himself to the modest fortune of a wealthy village family.

But he knew he would have to explain all of this to the young lady sooner or later. He would have to face it.

What was more, Kaya was frail and sickly. He did not know whether she could bear it after learning the truth.

As "Hundred Plans," Kuro could account for everything in his plans. Yet when it came to this young lady, Kaya, he truly did not know what to do.

Having read the manga, Lott knew Kuro still had deep feelings for Kaya.

Now that it was time to confess, it was only natural that Kuro did not know how to face her.

Lott patted Kuro on the shoulder. "Don't worry. Kaya isn't as fragile as you think. She's quite capable of handling things emotionally."

Kuro nodded somewhat helplessly and walked with the three of them toward the hilltop villa.

"What? Klahadore, cough, cough, cough... Was everything you just said true? Cough, cough, cough." Kaya looked in disbelief at the butler before her, who had always considered her needs and protected her at every turn.

She could not believe everything Kuro had just said. Nor could she believe that all of it had been an act merely to obtain her family's fortune.

"It's true, Miss Kaya. Everything I did was for your family's fortune." Kuro lowered his head, unable to face the beautiful, gentle young lady before him.

Merry stood to one side, looking indignant as well. "Klahadore, how could you do this to the master who only recently passed away?"

Feeling guilty, Kuro neither raised his head nor spoke.

Usopp, however, stood quietly to one side.

Looking at the somewhat awkward scene, Lott cleared his throat. "I know this is a family matter. As an outsider, and a pirate at that, it may not be appropriate for me to say this. But in all fairness, Kuro hasn't done anything to wrong you over this past year. On the contrary, his work has been commendable."

Lott looked up at Kaya and continued, "Although his motives weren't pure.

"As a butler, he still did his duty wholeheartedly. Besides, he could simply have killed you, couldn't he?"

Kaya raised her head and looked at Lott. From the moment she first saw him, she had known he was different from ordinary pirates.

He gave off an easygoing, gentle air, nothing like a pirate at all.

And she also knew Klahadore was not a bad person.

Deep down, she was actually very grateful to him, because after her father passed away six months ago, Klahadore had looked after her like a father.

"Miss Kaya, I'm going to sea with Lott now, returning to my old profession." Kuro raised his head and looked at Kaya with some tenderness.

Over the past year, Kuro had also treated Kaya like a daughter. Now that they truly had to part, he was still somewhat reluctant to leave.

He did not know whether Kaya would eat properly without him looking after her, whether anyone would brew her medicine, whether...

"Klahadore, you... are you really leaving?" In the end, Kaya was still reluctant to see him go.

"Miss Kaya, I'll be leaving in two days. You must find someone reliable to be your butler. Don't hire someone with ulterior motives like me again."

Over the next two days, Kuro devoted himself wholeheartedly to passing on to Merry every detail that needed attention when caring for Kaya.

In the two days that followed, he disbanded the Black Cat Pirates, who had never had much cohesion to begin with.