"Jango, step forward!"
Hearing Roya call his name, Jango's heart leaped into his throat.
An unprecedented sense of dread drained the color from his face.
"Y-yes! H-how do you know my name, sir?"
At Jango's question, Roya thought to himself: Should I tell him I'm a transmigrator?
With that in mind, Roya unleashed his overwhelming presence.
A terrifying, beast-like aura seemed to crush down upon their hearts.
Terrified, they dropped to their knees on the deck.
The warmth vanished from Roya's face as he coldly demanded, "Where is Kuro of a Hundred Plans?"
Faced with Admiral White Dove, Jango didn't dare lie. Without hesitation, he sold Kuro out."Sir, he's currently in Syrup Village. I'm willing to take you to him, just please spare our lives."
Roya didn't say much, simply stating calmly, "Lead the way."
Soon, Roya and Django arrived at Syrup Village.
Just then, the system's electronic voice rang in Roya's mind.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the check-in mission. Reward obtained: Peak Medical Skills. Peak Medical Skills allow the host to surpass Gol D. Roger's personal ship doctor Crocus. As long as a person has even a breath left, there's a high possibility of saving them. This is the medical skill closest to miracles!]
Roya was very satisfied with this system reward.
Because the practicality of Peak Medical Skills was simply too high.
It could be said to be a true life-saving divine skill!
However, while Roya was pleased, Django was extremely nervous.
Walking beside Roya, Django felt his heart pounding like an elephant was rampaging inside.
He couldn't calm down at all.
"Do you know Kuro's exact location?"
"Sir, I do. The captain—no, Kuro and I went there before. His target was that wealthy family in the middle of the island."
"Lead the way."
"Yes."
——
Meanwhile, Captain Kuro had disguised himself as a minor crew member who'd been kicked off a ship for making a small mistake.
Covered in dust, he looked quite pitiful.
Thus, he gained the trust of Kaya's parents and was kept in the mansion as a butler.
Looking around the room, Captain Kuro's eyes revealed a hint of fervor.
"Three years. Once I've completely integrated into island life, it'll be time for your deaths."
A cruel smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, though it vanished instantly.
Suddenly, he noticed a figure flickering outside the window.
This figure moved behind a tree, then effortlessly climbed up and knocked on a second-floor window.
The window opened, revealing Kaya frowning adorably as she looked with clear distaste at the long-nosed man before her.
"I've told you already—stop bothering me. I don't like listening to your tall tales."
Usopp quickly waved his hands upon hearing Kaya's words. "No, no! Today's matter is really important, and I swear it's not a tall tale!"
"Do you think I'd believe that? Usopp, the biggest liar in the village!"
Hearing this, Usopp suddenly clutched his chest dramatically and said with feigned anguish, "Kaya, I have this illness—if I don't finish telling my story, I'll die."
Kaya was too kindhearted. Though she knew Usopp's suffering was fake, she still nodded. "Last time."
"Great! Today's story is about rumors I heard while sailing!"
Kaya knew Usopp's so-called "sailing" was just playing pretend with other kids.
But her gentle nature made her reluctant to expose him.
"Today while sailing, I heard about this great pirate who got tired of life, killed himself to start anew, and then—"
"Usopp, you're lying again! How could anyone start a new life after killing themselves?"Kaya voiced her doubts.
Usopp's eyes darted as he suddenly thought of a perfect excuse.
"It's simple! Let's say I'm a pirate who hypnotizes a marine, then finds some random person to take my place. That way, I'd be free, wouldn't I?"
Kaya didn't believe Usopp's words, but her good upbringing made her listen to this utterly implausible tale.
What Usopp didn't know was that Kuro was lurking beside the tree, his icy gaze fixed on the boy perched among the branches.
A chill wind brushed past Usopp, but engrossed in spinning his story for Kaya, he paid no mind to the inexplicable coldness.
"Then this pirate comes to an island, pretends to be a lowly crewman, gains everyone's trust, and becomes a butler. But no one knows his real goal is to steal their fortune! Luckily, a prince discovers the truth and saves everyone in the end!"
When Usopp finished his story, Kaya was furious.
"Enough, Usopp! I never thought you'd sink this low. Did you hear my family hired a butler today and deliberately made up this disgusting story? Usopp! I'll never give you another chance!"
With that, Kaya slammed her window shut, cutting off all communication.
Usopp blinked in confusion. "What butler? I was just telling tall tales! I didn't mean anything by it!"
But the closed window remained shut.
Sighing, Usopp climbed down from the tree. He'd only wanted to talk to Kaya - that alone made him happy.
"Seriously, what did I say wrong?"
As he kicked a pebble absently, Usopp noticed a man in black tails smiling at him. A complete stranger - someone he'd never seen on the island before.
"Who are-?"
Kuro adjusted his glasses, studying Usopp. "I thought my disguise was perfect. Yet you saw through it. For my plan to succeed... I'll have to kill you first."
Before the words faded, Kuro slipped on his "Cat Claws" - ten gleaming blades that reflected in Usopp's widening pupils.
Now he knew where that chill wind had come from...