Weapons filled their hands one by one.
On the slope, they pulled a defensive line a hundred meters long.
Then, under the protection of several bodyguards and Kuro, Kaya stepped out.
Kaya cast a worried glance at Merry and Usopp.
Seeing they were alive, she quietly let out a breath.
"Which pirate crew is that?" Kaya asked.
"Listen up—we're the Money Pirates!!" Johnson shouted in unison with the others.
"The Money Pirates?" Kaya was blank, the name completely unfamiliar.
She turned to the side to ask, "Klahadore, have you heard of such a crew?"
"Never. Probably newly formed. No—those people aren't simple. I'd say they've killed plenty," Kuro replied.
Hearing that, Kaya put away her contempt.
She hadn't heard of the crew, but there were plenty of veterans among them.
Courtesy first, force later.
Spend some money to make them leave.
If that didn't work…
"Gentlemen, Syrup Island doesn't welcome pirates as guests. If you're short on money, I can give you one million. If you're short on food, I can give you ten thousand jin of grain. Release Merry and Usopp and then leave—how about it?" Kaya said to Liszt.
Liszt had been the first to speak just now, so Kaya naturally took him for the captain.
Liszt smiled. "No, you've misunderstood. I'm not here to rob anyone. I came ashore ready to spend real gold to purchase supplies."
"Show them my funds. Let them take a look."
"Aye!"
They opened the two bags they had brought.
At once, large piles of gold blazed under the sun.
Many of the villagers of Syrup Village couldn't help swallowing; a glint of greed flashed in their eyes.
"There's fifteen kilograms of gold here. If you have the supplies I need, this money is yours."
"Are you serious?" Kaya was slightly stunned. She clearly hadn't expected them not to pillage outright.
"Of course I'm serious. I may be a pirate, but I have standards and vision. I won't do that land-and-burn, kill-and-plunder sort of thing," Liszt said.
Kaya half believed him, then looked at Kuro. "Klahadore, should I trust what he says?"
"Either way, we have plenty of people here. We're not afraid of tricks."
Kuro had no intention of speaking up for pirates; he just wanted to send the Money Pirates away quickly.
If they could avoid a fight, then they absolutely wouldn't fight.
After all, fighting made it easy to expose his true nature.
"Makes sense," Kaya nodded.
"One more thing, Miss Kaya," Kuro added. "We shouldn't keep this deal to ourselves. We can hand over half to the villagers. Only when our interests are bound together will they be willing to advance and retreat with us."
"You're right, Klahadore. I can't keep the trade to myself. We must give half to the villagers. We don't have much money, but we've stored plenty of grain. Let them earn a bit too—then everyone will be happy," Kaya agreed.
Then Kaya said to Liszt, "I can trade, but you have to release my people first."
"That won't do. You just attacked me, and now they're my captives. If you want them back, it's one hundred thousand Beli each," Liszt said with a faint smile.
"Pirates will be pirates—so lofty with their words, and in the end it's still kidnapping and extortion!"
Disgusted as she was, Kaya nodded. "Fine, I'll pay the ransom."
Liszt handed the purchase list to Merry, then released them.
He wasn't worried they'd go back on their word afterward.