Kuro did not answer immediately. His sharp eyes shifted under the fading light of the coastline. As a Pirate with a brilliant mind and years of experience, he remained cautious, even while facing a man as overwhelming as Rolan.
"But with your strength and your bounty of two hundred million berries, shouldn't you be able to recruit someone far stronger than me?" he asked calmly.
"Stronger is good, but suitable is better," Rolan replied with a relaxed smile. "And you, Kuro, are exactly the kind of person I need."
Kuro adjusted his glasses, performing his familiar gesture. "My name is Klahadore. The Pirate Kuro is dead. All I want now is to be a proper butler."
"Others might not know what you are planning, but do you really think you can hide it from me?" Rolan's eyes glimmered with amusement, his tone unbothered yet impossibly certain.
Kuro stiffened slightly. He trusted his own methods. Nobody in Syrup Village had noticed anything suspicious, not once. Yet this man before him had casually dismantled his façade and recited his past as though reading a book.
"Is this all you aim for? Our goal is the entire world."
That line struck Kuro deeply. His heart skipped. "The world…?" he muttered.
Rolan stood up from the rock, letting the sea breeze sweep through his hair. "In this world, I'm confident I can become the strongest. But my dream is far away, and I can't reach it alone."
He gestured casually toward the horizon. "I need Zoro's swordsmanship, Lina's cooking skills, your strategies and calculations, and a lot more."
Rolan paused, then spoke with a firmness that moved even the cynical strategist. "I don't want to rule this world or become a Celestial Dragon sitting above others."
His voice lowered. "Your talent shouldn't rot away in a village mansion. So, Kuro, will you help me? Help me change this world?"
For a long moment, the only sounds were waves crashing against the rocks.
A Great Pirate with such a bounty, speaking like this… Kuro had never imagined hearing such words.
After a long silence, he stepped forward and extended his hand. His voice was steady and clear. "Then I'll rely on you from now on, Captain Rolan. I am Kuro, former Captain of the Black Cat Pirates."
Rolan grinned. "Welcome to the crew. I'm Rolan. This is our swordsman, Roronoa Zoro, and this beautiful lady is our cook, Imella Lina."
A familiar chime echoed in Rolan's mind.
[ Ding. Congratulations, Host. Partner Recruitment Mission progress +1. Rewards obtained: Eternal Weather Rod ×1, Advanced Observation Haki ×1, senzu bean ×2000. ]
'Fuse all cards.'
[ Ding. Fusion complete. ]
'Open personal panel.'
[ Name: Rolan
Gender: Male
Physique: Advanced
Observation Haki: Advanced, Special Type, Future Sight (20 seconds), Insight Into Human Hearts
Armament Haki: Advanced
Haoshoku Haki: Intermediate
Devil Fruit Development: Advanced ]
Rolan nodded with satisfaction. With this strength, even if he fought Kizaru again, he could keep up with him, regardless of how much the admiral knew about his abilities.
Zoro and Lina exchanged small smiles, neither questioning Rolan's choice. They simply trusted their captain.
"Captain, when do we set sail again?" Zoro asked.
"That depends on when he's ready." Rolan looked at Kuro.
Kuro folded his arms, thinking. "I still have matters to settle here. It will take a few days. I need to hand over my responsibilities completely. And the remnants of the Black Cat Pirates are still waiting for me."
"That's fine. We'll wait." Rolan stood up and dusted off his pants. "By the way, I'm heading to Kaya's place. Want to join me?"
Kuro let out a long breath. After what Rolan said earlier, something inside him had shifted. The goals he had once obsessed over suddenly felt too small, too meaningless.
But Kaya… she was different. She was the one person he genuinely cared about. Confessing the truth to her would not be easy.
Rolan placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry too much."
After a moment of hesitation, Kuro nodded. The four of them walked back toward the villa on the hill.
Inside Kaya's Villa
"What? Kuro… cough, cough… is everything you just said true?" Kaya's voice trembled softly as she stared at the man who had protected her for the past year.
She couldn't imagine that the butler she trusted, the man who cared for her after her father's death, had once come to seize their family fortune.
Kuro lowered his head, unable to meet her gaze. "It's true, Kaya San. Everything I did was originally for your family's wealth."
Merry's face flushed with anger. "Kuro, how could you betray the Master who passed away!"
Guilt tugged at Kuro's expression, but he remained silent.
Usopp stood off to the side, solemn and conflicted.
Rolan cleared his throat gently. "This is your family matter. As an outsider, especially a Pirate, I shouldn't interfere. But fairness is fairness. Kuro hasn't betrayed you in the past year. If anything, he did better than a real butler."
Rolan looked directly into Kaya's eyes. "Yes, his intentions weren't pure at first. But he took care of you with sincerity. And if he really wanted to harm you, he would have done it long ago."
Kaya looked at Rolan, her expression softening slightly. From the beginning, she sensed something different about him. Despite being a Pirate, he carried no malice, only an easygoing calm.
And deep down, she knew Kuro was not a monster.
"Miss Kaya," Kuro said quietly, "I will be going out to sea again with Rolan. I'm returning to who I really am."
He had looked after Kaya like a daughter, and the thought of leaving her worried him. Would she eat properly? Would she rest? Would someone brew her medicine?
"… are you truly leaving?" Kaya whispered, sadness entering her voice.
"I will leave in two days. You must find a trustworthy butler, someone who won't deceive you as I once did."
And so, over the next two days, Kuro meticulously handed over every duty to Merry, explaining every detail Kaya would need.
He also formally disbanded the Black Cat Pirates, who had never possessed strong unity in the first place.
His past was behind him now.
The villa felt emptier without him, yet a sense of hope lingered. Kaya watched Kuro prepare for departure, her heart heavy but understanding the path he had chosen.
When the morning of his departure finally arrived, the sun rose over the horizon, casting a golden light across the villa's garden. Kuro, standing at the threshold with his luggage, gave a small, respectful bow.
"Take care of yourself, Kaya San. I will return someday, but until then… live well, laugh often, and trust those around you."
Kaya nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. "I will… Kuro. Thank you for everything."
With a final glance at the home he had protected and the people he had grown to care for, Kuro turned and walked toward the harbor. A new chapter awaited him on the open seas, alongside Rolan and their crew, where his true life as a Pirate—but also as a loyal ally—would begin.
The waves shimmered in the morning light, and with a confident stride, Kuro stepped onto the ship that would carry him to his destiny.