No one dared to breathe.
What Liszt had said was far too similar to what Kaya's household had gone through three years ago.
Three years ago, after Kaya's father took Kuro in, her father died not long after.
She couldn't help putting herself into the tale.
Her face went bloodless and pale.
"Kaya!" Usopp cried, staring at her in worry.
"Klahadore, do you have anything to say to me?" Kaya ignored Usopp's shout and fixed her gaze on Kuro.
"Miss Kaya, pirates make up stories, and in doing so they reveal their insidious cunning. Everything he's doing is to sow discord among us and break us from within. We villagers have stood united, which makes him feel cornered and afraid, so he's using these despicable tricks to throw us into chaos. Everyone, clear your heads and don't be deceived."
At this moment Kaya herself was at a loss.
Clap clap clap.
"As expected of you, so quick to defuse a crisis."
"Hmph. If I've done nothing shameful, I won't fear ghosts at the door. As long as I stand upright, no one can smear me," Kuro said righteously, pushing up his glasses.
"That glasses-pushing move is strange. Everyone uses a finger to push their frames—why do you use your wrist? I've heard Kuro of a Hundred Plans attacks like a cat with sharp claws. With claws that sharp, you can't use your fingers to push your glasses, so you use your wrist," Liszt said with a laugh.
"Utter nonsense. It's just a personal habit," Kuro shot back.
Just then, Liszt had already drawn his katana without anyone noticing and slashed at Kuro fast and hard.
Kuro's face changed.
By instinct he unleashed his real speed, flickering aside and narrowly dodging the slash.
"Such nimble movement. Just like a cat," Liszt teased.
"So you admit it?" Kaya glared at Kuro in fury.
"That's right, I admit it. I am Kuro of a Hundred Plans. I killed your parents as well. I had planned to wait two more months and have you 'die to pirates' in an accident, so I could inherit the estate without question. But right at this moment a bunch of worthless pirates without even bounties showed up and ruined my plans."
At the end he glared viciously at Liszt.
"Your name?"
"Liszt," Liszt said with a faint smile.
"Good. After I butcher you, I'll put up a stone for you. Since I started out, you're the only one who ever made me taste failure." Kuro drew two bladed gloves from his coat and slipped them on, his voice ice-cold.
"In that case, do your best to entertain me. I hope you're as formidable as you claim."
Whoosh—he vanished on the spot.
But he didn't rush Liszt; he went for Kaya.
In an instant he appeared behind her, hooked his arm around her arm, and took her hostage.
"Kaya!" Usopp's face changed drastically.
"Out of my way."
He slammed Usopp into the sand.
Usopp stopped moving, seemingly fainted.
Kaya's bodyguards finally reacted, drawing their pistols and training them on Kuro.
"Klahadore, put Miss Kaya down now!"
"Don't call him Klahadore. Call him Kuro of a Hundred Plans, a pirate."
"Kuro, put Miss Kaya down!"
Though Kuro had served as their butler, Kaya was their employer.
Now that he'd shown his true colors, the bodyguards had no reason to be polite.
"Kaya is in my hands. Watch your tone. If I feel the slightest displeasure, heads will roll," Kuro snorted.