"Haha! As expected of the vice-captain—amazing!"
Many pirates behind Lucky Drake couldn't help but laugh in admiration.
When Miss Kaya heard that Butler Klahadore had been killed, she almost fainted.
She covered her mouth with both hands, too afraid to look at the corpse on the ground.
The horned butler immediately stepped in front of her to protect her.
"You've killed someone and you're after our fortune. Aren't you afraid the Navy will put a bounty on your heads?" he said to Lucky Drake.
"Tch, how stupid. I just saved your lives. Is that how you talk to your savior?"
"Do you even know Klahadore's real identity? He was the former captain of the Black Cat Pirates. He came here to take Miss Kaya's entire inheritance. If you don't believe me, search his room—you'll definitely find clues!"
"Fine. But if you're lying, we'll fight you to the death!"
The horned butler mustered all the courage he had. His loyalty to Kaya made him desperate.
Several guards were sent to search Klahadore's room.
Before long they returned—panicked.
"Miss Kaya, we found these in Klahadore's room! All sorts of deadly weapons—and a wanted poster!"
"What?!"
The horned butler trembled.
Among the items was a one-foot-long razor-sharp cat claw.
And the wanted poster featured their butler, Klahadore, under his true name—Kuro, captain of the Black Cat Pirates, with a bounty of 16 million berries.
Cold sweat dripped down the butler's back.
It was terrifying—this criminal had lived in Kaya's home for three years.
He could have killed everyone at any moment without them ever realizing it.
"Miss, Butler Klahadore really was a dangerous pirate. These people may have actually saved all of our lives!" the butler said immediately.
"Mhm… I understand now."
Kaya saw the evidence herself.
She no longer had any illusions about Klahadore being a good man.
"Thank you for saving us. I'm willing to give you half of my fortune as gratitude. Cough… cough…"
Meanwhile, Usopp—who had been hiding nearby—witnessed everything.
He had run away earlier in fear, but remembering that Kaya might be in danger, he sneaked back.
Seeing this scene, he felt genuine gratitude toward Lucky Drake's group.
Kuro had been too terrifying.
Knowing he had spent three years right beside Kaya, plotting murder, made Usopp's heart tremble.
Usopp made up his mind:
As long as they didn't hurt Kaya, he would repair their pirate ship for them.
"Haha! Miss Kaya is really kind!" Lucky Drake laughed.
"And while we're at it, let us have a good meal. My brothers and I are hungry!"
"Of course," Kaya replied, still sincere even after all this.
Lucky Drake and his men ate and drank to their fill, and when they left, they carried six chests of treasure, worth 80 million berries.
"Miss Kaya, take good care of yourself. And thank you for the hospitality!"
Lucky Drake said with a smile.
"Benefactor, please take care!"
Kaya bowed deeply.
Even though their time together was brief, Lucky Drake made her feel safe and warm.
Lucky Drake said nothing more.
But his men all felt an odd thrill—they had done something "bad," yet were being thanked.
It felt incredible.
Of course, all the credit went to the vice-captain.
Their admiration for Lucky Drake only grew.
"Um…"
Just as they left Kaya's estate carrying treasure, Usopp jumped out nervously.
"Oh, it's Usopp. I know you were outside the whole time. Looks like you finally worked up the courage—are you here to repair our ship?" Lucky Drake asked with a smile.
"First… thank you for saving Miss Kaya. If not for you, the consequences would have been terrible…"
Usopp blushed.
"Haha, it was nothing. And besides, I got quite a generous reward."
Lucky Drake laughed freely.
"Well… you were looking for a shipwright, right? I can actually repair ships!" Usopp said, gathering his courage.
"Haha, in that case, let's go!"
Lucky Drake said.
He took Usopp to the coast.
The Thunder Pirates' primary ship was heavily damaged, but Usopp really was a skilled repairman—at least by their standards.
It took him two full days to finish repairs.
"Usopp, thank you for your help. Here's your payment."
Lucky Drake handed him 100,000 berries.
But Usopp didn't take it.
Instead, he looked at Lucky Drake with hopeful eyes.
"I… can I join your pirate crew? I can repair ships."
Lucky Drake smiled. Truthfully, he didn't like Usopp much—too timid, too weak.
So he rejected him directly.
"Sorry. Right now, you're not suitable for the Thunder Pirates."
"But I'm sure you'll find a better crew."
"Well then—until next time."
With that, both Thunderbolt Pirate ships set sail and slowly left Syrup Village.
Usopp collapsed in despair.
After finally mustering the courage to go out to sea—he was rejected.
But a morning after the Thunder Pirates left, Luffy and Zoro arrived at Syrup Village in a small boat.
Meanwhile—
The Thunder Pirates sailed toward the Baratie, the floating restaurant.
Lucky Drake still had several missions to complete there. He had to go.
"Captain! There's a pirate ship ahead—they look like the Black Cat Pirates! What a coincidence!"
A crewman shouted, excited.
Two days ago they killed Kuro, a former Black Cat captain.
And now the Black Cat Pirates appeared again.
Red turned to Lucky Drake.
"Brother, should we rob them?"
"Of course. Anyone we don't like—we rob. We even rob the Navy. That's how we build our fortune."
Lucky Drake stood up. Besides, he still had a mission to defeat the hypnotist, Jango.
"Alright!"
Captain Red nodded and gave the order:
"Brothers! Full speed ahead! Catch up to the Black Cat Pirates and take all their treasure!"
~~--------------------------------
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