Chapter 50

"Purgatory Supreme Explosive Heat Cannon!!"

Usopp thrust both hands forward with dramatic force, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Ahhh! What a terrifying Purgatory Supreme Explosive Heat Cannon! I'm dead!!"

Luffy leapt back and collapsed with a pained expression on the ground.

Watching the scene, Zoro's forehead instantly bulged with veins.

"You idiots! How long are you planning to keep playing around?"

"Don't we need to actually prepare for the Black Cat Pirates?!"

Zoro snapped at the pair of clowns loudly.

"But we're just curious how powerful the Purgatory Supreme Explosive Heat Cannon really is!"

"Zoro, aren't you even a little bit curious about it?"

"Luffy, you heard what Genrou said, right? He said that if someone strong enough uses it, that move could destroy a mountain!"

Luffy laughed loudly.

"But Genrou also said you need a certain amount of power to actually use it."

Zoro snorted, though in truth, he was a little curious.

"Genrou, Vice-Captain, can't you show us a demonstration of the Purgatory Supreme Explosive Heat Cannon?"

Usopp stepped up with sparkles of expectation in his eyes.

"Later, maybe. If we fire that thing now and it draws Kuro's attention, that'll be bad."

Genrou smiled and continued,

"Anyway, time's about up. Luffy, Usopp, I'm heading to the mansion to keep an eye on Kuro and protect Kaya."

"You two handle keeping watch over the rest of the Black Cat Pirates."

"Usopp, those explosive arrowheads I gave you—use them well. I took them from the treasure hunters and modified them."

"Try integrating your own ideas into how you use them."

"Got it, Genrou!" Usopp replied with a wide grin.

Luffy gave a simple nod.

With their responses, Genrou didn't waste another second. He used Soru from the Navy's Rokushiki, vanishing into a blur, racing across the village rooftops toward the hilltop mansion.

…

"Sorry, Klahadore. I can't believe Usopp said that to you..."

"But I believe he didn't mean any harm. Please don't be mad at him."

From atop a giant tree by the mansion in Syrup Village, a soft female voice made Genrou, still in stealth, open his eyes.

Looking down, he saw a slender young woman with shoulder-length hair speaking gently to a tall man in a black suit and gold-rimmed glasses.

Genrou recognized them instantly—Kaya, and Captain Kuro, disguised as Klahadore.

"Miss Kaya, I think you should stop associating with that Usopp."

"You're far too noble, and that man… he's just the son of a no-name pirate."

"Being around someone like him will only damage your reputation."

Kuro pushed up his glasses and spoke seriously.

"But… Usopp's actually a good person."

Kaya smiled awkwardly, then pulled out a box from behind her back.

"Klahadore, this is a gift for you."

"A gift?" Kuro's eyes narrowed.

"Yes. To thank you for taking care of me these past three years. I was going to give it to you later, but after what just happened, I wanted to give it now. I hope you'll forgive Usopp."

She handed him the box. Inside was a brand-new pair of gold-rimmed glasses.

"I noticed you haven't changed your glasses in all these years… so I thought I'd get you a new pair."

"Try them on, Klahadore."

Kaya smiled sweetly, her eyes full of hope.

Kuro stared at her… then at the glasses.

But he said nothing.

Moments later, instead of putting them on, he turned and walked toward the mansion interior without a word.

"Klahadore? What's wrong?"

"You don't like the gift?"

Kaya asked anxiously.

Still silent, Kuro didn't answer. Instead, he crushed the glasses in his hand.

"Klahadore! That's from Miss Kaya!"

Merry, who had been standing to the side, couldn't stay silent anymore.

He rushed in front of Kuro to block him.

But Kuro didn't even glance at him.

BAM! One punch sent Merry flying.

'So it's finally starting, huh.'

Seeing this, Genrou tensed.

From the moment he arrived, he'd been waiting for something like this.

Unlike Usopp, who wanted to convince Kaya, Genrou preferred Kuro to expose himself.

"Klahadore! What are you doing?! Why would you hurt Merry?!"

Kaya rushed to Merry's side, furious and heartbroken.

"I'm just tired, that's all."

Kuro's eyes were cold and unfamiliar to Kaya now.

"Three years. I've worked here for three whole years. And the reward I get… is a pair of glasses?"

"That's not enough. That's nowhere near enough, Lady Kaya."

Kaya was stunned.

"If you didn't like the gift, you could've just said so! I can give you something else! You didn't have to hurt Merry!"

"Is that so? Then what if I said the gift I want… is all your wealth?"

At those words, both Kaya and Merry gasped.

This was exactly what Usopp had warned them about.

"Klahadore… are you really the captain of the Black Cat Pirates?"

Merry gritted his teeth, lifting his head to question him.

"What if I am? What if I'm not?"

Kuro stepped up to Merry, towering over him.

"Working with you all these years has been so frustrating, Merry."

"I never understood how you could keep smiling like that while I had to live every day calculating and scheming."

"But it's over now. After today, I'll never have to see that smile again."

"I only need Kaya. As for you… you can go to the next world."

He raised his foot and brought it down toward Merry's chest.

"NO!!"

Kaya cried out, reaching out to stop him—but she was far too slow.

Just before Kuro's foot could strike—

WHOOSH!

BANG!

"Hmm?"

Kuro looked down to see his foot had smashed through the floor—but not Merry.

He turned and saw—

"Yo. Captain Kuro. Hope you don't mind me interrupting your little scene."

Genrou smiled calmly, holding Kaya in one hand and Merry in the other.

Just moments ago, he had used Soru to snatch them both away in a blur.

"Who the hell are you?!"

"Give Kaya back!"

Kuro's voice turned cold and fierce.

Both Kaya and Merry stared at Genrou in astonishment. Then Merry's expression shifted from joy… to fear.

"Y-You're Genrou… That bounty…!"

"I'm Usopp's crewmate. Don't worry, Merry."

Genrou smiled as warmly as he could.

He knew the difference—Kuro had been buried in deception, but Merry was a man who paid attention to the world.

Even Onion and the kids had seen his bounty poster. Merry, as Kaya's loyal butler, definitely had too.

"Crewmate?"

Merry blinked. Though confused, Genrou's smile calmed his nerves.

Eight hundred million bounty or not—Genrou did just save their lives.

"You're Usopp's crewmate? Please… can you tell me where he is? Is he safe? The Black Cat Pirates haven't hurt him, have they?"

Kaya asked anxiously.

Though reluctant to admit it, after what just happened, she knew now that Usopp hadn't lied.

The Black Cat Pirates were real.

And if he knew the truth… Usopp was likely a target.

"I promise. He's perfectly safe."

"But for now, let's focus on the current problem."

Genrou turned, facing the now-shadowed figure of Kuro with amused interest.

(End of Chapter)

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