According to his memory, after faking his death back then, Kuro infiltrated the mansion of a wealthy family in Syrup Village as a butler, plotting to seize their property.
Later, when the wealthy couple died, their assets went to their only daughter, Kaya.
And Kuro's plan was to have his subordinates attack the village. During the chaos, Jango would assassinate the young lady and, before doing so, use hypnosis to make her write a will leaving her inheritance to the butler.
Thinking of this, Alan broke into a cold sweat at his back.
What a meticulous plan! The more one thought about it, the more terrifying it became, truly the pinnacle of strategic deception.
Alan was willing to name it the fake death of Kuro!!
...
As for how messed up Kuro's, I just want a peaceful life plan; that could be ignored for now. Alan looked again at the several pirates.
"Where are your companions? Are they all on this island?"
"Y–yes, our ship is anchored behind the cliff on the other side, and the Nyaban Brothers are also on the ship."
A pirate nodded and answered honestly.
At the same time, he also hoped the name of the Nyaban Brothers would intimidate Alan a bit.
But he had no idea how strong Alan really was.
Regarding the Black Cat Pirates, Alan already had a plan in mind and smiled: "Let's go. We're heading back to the ship."
"Eh? Back to the ship?"
Hearing this, the pirates looked at each other in confusion.
Alan kicked one of them, urging them to stand up and lead the way.
"Hurry up. If we don't go now, we won't make it in time to have dinner with the two brothers."
Pirates: "...?"
Although still confused, under the pressure of Alan's strength, they turned around and led the way toward the shore where the pirate ship was docked.
Alan followed them through the shifting shadows of the trees. The pirates carried the wild boar in front while whispering among themselves.
"He said something about having dinner with the brothers... Could he be trying to join us?"
"Maybe... He is a lone marine after all."
"I've got it."
A pirate wearing a white headscarf suddenly had a bright idea and lowered his voice: "Could it be that he didn't get separated from his squad... But instead stole some spoils from the warship and escaped?"
"Hiss! I see!"
Hearing this, the other pirates gasped and nodded, recognizing his deduction as perfectly reasonable.
Finally, the pirate wearing a white headscarf couldn't help glancing back at Alan and timidly asked: "Um... This marine, sir, could it be that you..."
"I'm not a marine."
Alan cut him off and continued: "I quit two days ago and became a pirate."
"So that's how it is."
The pirate wearing a white headscarf gave an awkward laugh. Hearing Alan's words, all of them showed an expression of I knew it.
They had completely convinced themselves that Alan's situation was exactly what they had imagined, and that he was planning to join their pirate crew next.
Thinking that, their fear lessened quite a bit.
The Pirate, wearing a white headscarf, grinned back at him and said: "I get it, I get it. Don't worry, no one on our ship would ask about your background. Once you're on board, you're one of us."
"Really? That's good, hahaha. I was worried you wouldn't accept me since I beat you all up."
Alan laughed as well.
Seeing this, the few pirates dropped their guard completely. The pirate wearing a white headscarf continued while smiling: "No worries at all. By the way, brother, what should we call you?"
"Ah, sorry, sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. As for what to call me..."
Alan raised his thumb and pointed at himself.
With a slight smile, he said, "Everyone can just call me Captain Alan."
"What part of that is okay!!"
The pirates immediately bared their teeth at him and shouted angrily.
Alan stopped walking. The smile on his face faded. Then he clenched his fist and slammed it into a thick tree beside him.
Bang!
Crack!
A fissure grew across the trunk, spreading around it. Finally, the entire tree collapsed with a thunderous crash.
"Before boarding the ship, I don't care if you call me by name. But once you're on the ship..."
Alan's tone turned mocking and cold: "What do you think you should call me?"
"Captain Alan!!"
The pirates threw down the wild boar they were carrying and bowed deeply all at once, their posture so proper it was almost exaggerated.
Alan nodded, looking very satisfied. "Good, good. As my first batch of subordinates, once we get back, the four of you will be squad leaders."
"Thank you, captain!!"
The pirates stood straight again and bowed once more.
...
Soon, the group set off again, and Alan walked while thinking.
His final goal was to form a large fleet. Recruiting slowly on his own would never be as efficient as simply seizing ships and taking crews. He had originally planned to target some other pirate crew, but he happened upon this one first.
Thinking about it carefully, the Black Cat Pirates were quite suitable. The captain had been gone for three years, so the bond with his subordinates must have weakened a lot, especially since Kuro was such a ruthless man.
They probably didn't have much affection to begin with.
As for Syrup Village, he had no plans of going there. His top priority now was to beat Straw Hat in recruiting Sanji, and speed was essential.
Usopp and Kuro weren't worth his time to make an extra trip.
Three years ago, when the stand–in Kuro was executed, even his bounty was revoked by the Marines.
Recruiting him was unnecessary.
Someone who wanted a peaceful life and planned to kill all his subordinates after his plan succeeded, getting him to follow him was completely unrealistic.
Using someone who could pick up his things and run at any moment was not safe.
His goal was crystal clear now: knock out all the pirates on the ship, then take the ship along with its crew and sail off.
After raiding Kuro's base, he would directly set off, head to the Baratie to steal Sanji, then go straight to the nearby Conomi Islands to steal Nami from Arlong Park.
With that lineup, he could pretty much enter the Grand Line already. As for anything else, he could deal with it later, after all, the Grand Line had all sorts of talent.
Starting off with two fists, ships and crews are all stolen.