"Before you kill her, you have to use hypnosis magic to make Kaya write a will."
"Write: 'I leave all my property to Steward Klahadore AKA Kuro.'"
"This is how I can inherit that huge fortune!"
After saying this, Klahadore pushed his glasses up with his palm. "Very natural."
"It took me three years to gain the trust of the people around me."
"It's not surprising that a will like that was left behind." Klahadore's eyes were full of confidence.
"For this, you worked as a butler for three years," Jango paused and said. "But I was shocked at that time, Captain Kuro!"
"Three years ago, when you suddenly said you didn't want to be a pirate anymore, I quickly found a subordinate to be your substitute. We made the world believe Captain Kuro had been executed."
Jango covered his belly button with his left hand and pressed his hat with his right. "That was the beginning of this plan. You truly are Captain Kuro of the Hundred Plans!"
Klahadore put his hands in his pockets and said seriously, "Don't call me by that name anymore. I gave it up three years ago. I want wealth without being hunted by the government."
Then, the corners of his mouth curled up again. "I am a pacifist."
"Hahaha—what kind of pacifist are you?" Jango, who knew the truth, couldn't help laughing. "For your peace, you'd kill a wealthy family."
Klahadore pushed his glasses again and retorted, "Hey, her father's death had nothing to do with me. Even I didn't expect it."
"Well, that's not important. You should send the signal quickly. Our ship's anchored nearby. It's been almost a week, and the crew is getting impatient," Jango reminded casually.
"It's over. It seems I heard something I shouldn't have," Usopp said, shaking all over.
"This isn't good," Luffy said flatly, still picking at his foot.
"It's bad! They're serious! Captain Kuro is the smartest pirate in the East Blue, and—"
"No need to explain, Usopp. Luffy can handle this kind of guy easily," Lock interrupted.
"Hey, hey! Captain Kuro became famous three years ago. How could you possibly be his opponent? Don't joke at a time like this! This is a major crisis!"
Usopp, so used to bragging himself, assumed anyone else claiming strength was just as weak. He didn't believe Lock's words about Luffy being able to easily beat Kuro.
"The village is going to be attacked. Kaya will be in danger. This is bad. This is bad!"
Usopp pictured the villagers slaughtered and Kaya murdered. He squatted on the ground, clutching his head in despair.
Lock didn't comfort him. Given Usopp's fear of Kuro, nothing Lock said would be believed anyway. And Lock wasn't interested in proving his bravery—he preferred to toy with an opponent before crushing them completely.
But Luffy was different. He stood and shouted to the butler and Jango below, "Hey! You guys, don't attack the young lady!"
Jango looked up. "Who are you?"
Usopp grabbed Luffy's arm, panicking. "Idiot! You'll be spotted! Hide before you get killed!"
Luffy ignored him, keeping his stance.
Klahadore frowned. "Isn't that Usopp? Did you hear anything?"
Usopp waved his hands frantically. "No, no… we just got here! Of course, we didn't hear—"
"I heard everything," Luffy said with arms crossed.
Usopp smacked Luffy's chest in frustration. "Hey!"
Lock, watching, couldn't help but smile at Usopp's over-the-top reaction, then stepped aside.
Klahadore glanced at Jango, signaling him to deal with Luffy.
"Ahh…" Jango sighed. "Guess I've got no choice."
He stepped forward, producing a hollow ring. "You two—look closely at this circle."
Luffy peered at it. "What is this?"
Usopp hid behind Luffy, avoiding eye contact with the ring.
"When I finish counting—one, two, Jango!—you'll fall asleep. Got it?" Jango said.
"Hide, or you'll be killed!" Usopp whispered urgently.
"One, two… Jango!"
Luffy kept staring at the ring. Usopp gave up and flopped onto the grass, trembling.
"Hoolulu"
As soon as Jango finished, Luffy's head dropped—he fell asleep standing.
"Hoohoo"
"Hey! Wake up, Jango! Haven't you broken that bad habit yet?" Klahadore snapped.
But Jango had hypnotized himself too, collapsing onto Klahadore's back.
"Hey, you'll fall!" Usopp warned Luffy as he teetered on the edge of the slope. But Luffy, deeply asleep, didn't hear—and toppled over.
Boom!
He landed headfirst, kicking up dust.
"He fell from that height… no way he survived," Jango sighed.
"Damn it! They killed him!" Usopp dropped to his knees, torn between fear and fury.
"What about the other one?" Jango asked.
"No need," Klahadore said calmly. "No one will believe him."
And indeed, after years of false alarms, Usopp's reputation in the village was so bad that even warning of pirates would make them feel safer.
"Tomorrow at dawn, Jango, we'll attack the village. Destroy some houses, make it look like an accident, and kill Miss Kaya."
Klahadore even gave Usopp a mocking look before turning away.