A cup of scalding-hot coffee splashed down.
Freshly brewed—so hot that even if Kuro wanted to continue pretending to be unconscious, his body wouldn't let him. Instinct was instinct; some reactions couldn't be suppressed.
Sure enough, the man who had been lying motionless on the ground twitched, then—under Adrian, Kaya, and Merry's startled gazes—Kuro suddenly snapped his eyes open. His gaze locked directly onto Adrian, murderous intent overflowing.
It was him.
His perfect plan… the plan that was mere steps away from success…
All ruined because of this man.
Three years of infiltration.
Three years of enduring.
Three years of preparing to seize the entire estate…
Gone.
Destroyed.
Completely undone.
"Kuro?"
"Mr. Adrian, you must be mistaken." Kaya forced herself to speak despite her growing doubts. "This is Klahadore, my butler. He is definitely not the Kuro you're talking about."
Adrian didn't even blink.
"'Captain Kuro,' whose bounty once reached 16 million beli—do you think I'd mistake someone like that? I came here today specifically for you, Kuro."
Kaya froze.
Klahadore…
No—Kuro.
The identity she had trusted for years was nothing but a fabricated name.
Adrian continued calmly, as if casually stating the weather.
To complete this outlaw operation, the best way…
Was to rob Kuro's operation before it ever began.
Whether Kuro was "worth much" or not, even Adrian wasn't fully sure. The Black Cat Pirates were notoriously broke, practically paupers. But their strength wasn't bad, and Kuro's name was famous. If Adrian killed him and spread a fake "death" report, the fame alone would boost the system's evaluation score.
Fly though he might be—
He was still meat.
"How did you find me?"
Kuro's expression darkened. His voice was ice.
There was no longer any point denying it.
What he wanted—
was the name of the person who exposed him.
If no one had interfered today, he would have already secured Kaya's fortune and started his luxurious, peaceful retirement.
But now?
These two had ruined everything.
Kaya's face grew even paler.
Even with her gentle disposition, even with her reluctance to suspect others—
She was not stupid.
If Klahadore was truly Kuro…
Then what of her parents' sudden "illness"?
What of their inexplicably fast deaths?
Could it be…?
"Kuro, I don't care about your plan to steal Kaya's inheritance," Adrian said calmly. "I only want to know one thing: how do you usually communicate with the Black Cat Pirates?"
Kuro sneered.
"You think I'd tell you?"
He hated Adrian to the bone. Telling this man anything was impossible.
"I think you'll talk," Adrian replied lightly. "The number of people in this world who have real backbone… is far smaller than you think."
On his signal, Lucci—standing behind him—stepped forward.
"So you're planning to torture me?" Kuro mocked, staring at Lucci.
A heartbeat later—
CRACK.
Lucci's kick shattered Kuro's shin cleanly.
Kuro's eyelids twitched violently as he clenched his teeth, refusing to scream.
Seconds passed.
Then he laughed hoarsely.
"That all you've got?"
His mouth was tough.
But toughness meant nothing.
"Lucci, don't rush," Adrian said mildly. "If he doesn't talk, break him slowly. One bone at a time. Keep going until he tells us everything."
"Yes, Boss."
Lucci grabbed Kuro again.
Beside them, Kaya turned white.
She had wanted to plead for mercy…
But then she remembered—
Her parents had only died after Kuro entered their home.
Her father had still been young… healthy… What illness could kill both her parents so quickly?
Unless…
Unless Kuro had poisoned them.
Her fingers trembled.
She wanted to beg for Kuro's life—
but the words wouldn't come.
"I understand, I understand," Adrian said gently to her. Then he looked at Lucci.
"Can't you see Miss Kaya is too kind-hearted to watch something this gruesome? Drag him outside and handle it."
Kaya fell silent.
That wasn't… what she meant.
But thinking of her parents—
she no longer had the courage to defend Kuro.
"Yes."
Lucci hoisted Kuro up and dragged him outside.
Moments later, faint sounds echoed from beyond the door.
Adrian ignored them completely.
With Lucci's efficiency, everything would be handled perfectly.
Now—
it was time to talk business with Kaya.
"Miss Kaya," Adrian said with a gentle tone, "shall we talk?"
"My demands aren't excessive. Honestly, bullying a defenseless, beautiful young lady… I feel a little guilty." He even smiled slightly. "But I also have it tough, so I'll have to trouble you."
"My request is simple: I need a ship. If you give me one, I guarantee we will not trouble you any further."
"…Just that?"
Kaya was stunned.
This was…
a very polite bandit.
Too polite.
She looked at the beautiful, elegantly dressed young man before her.
Maybe the times really had changed faster than she could keep up.
"Of course," Adrian added lightly, "there's one… small additional request."
Instead of fear, Kaya felt inexplicably calmer.
"Please say it, Mr. Adrian."
"I want the ship designed by your butler—Merry."
Adrian glanced at the trembling Merry beside her.
This was his true goal.
If he only disrupted the Black Cat Pirates and took down Kuro, the event rating might not be high. Even if he kidnapped Usopp, it might not push it all the way to A-rank.
But—
If he also seized the Going Merry…
A ship that accompanied Luffy's crew for half their journey—
its narrative weight was enormous.
Claiming it himself?
That would very likely push his outlaw evaluation past A-rank…
Perhaps even unlock additional bonus rewards.
And that—
was what he wanted.
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