"Cousin Yueyan, don't listen to him. Why should we go out just because he says so?" Kaya stepped in front of the man named Yueyan, looking sharply at Zoro.
Usopp also tugged at Zoro's arm. "You should just say less!"
Zoro looked a bit helpless, but the man didn't seem angry. He said calmly, "If there's anything, we can talk about it tonight."
"Alright, I'll wait for you tonight," Zoro said with a raised eyebrow.
By this time, Usopp had already pushed him and Luffy out. They didn't pay it much mind.
"It really is him," Luffy said grimly. "It looks like tonight is the decisive battle."
Zoro was a bit surprised; it was the first time he'd seen Luffy with that kind of expression. He clicked his tongue. "If you ask me, if we just chop this house down now, everything will be solved."
"What are you two talking about?" Usopp's head popped over. He'd vaguely heard Zoro say he wanted to chop down Kaya's house.
"It's that cousin Yueyan. He's the Demon King, Kibutsuji Muzan," Zoro said flatly. "You'd better stay by your little girlfriend's side at all times, or who knows when he'll eat that little girl."
"What?!" Usopp's eyes widened. "Kaya's cousin is the Demon King?! How did you figure that out?"
"After I went inside, he subtly touched his chest, and his expression was too calm," Zoro said. "As for Luffy..."
Luffy chimed in, "Everyone's aura is different. Even though he changed his aura a bit, I still felt it was somewhat familiar."
Luffy was a man with both Roger's and Joy Boy's dual marks. Never mind Joy Boy, but at least Roger had mastered all three types of Haki.
However, Luffy was still too weak to make full use of the dual marks' abilities. But even if he couldn't fully utilize the power of the marks, his own body had been transformed by idol worship into something akin to a 'saint.'
His Haki would unconsciously move towards Roger's level. Combined with the boost from actively using the marks, Luffy had, in that instant, detected the man's aura and finally identified him.
"Then... then isn't Kaya in danger?!" Usopp's face turned pale. He watched the two men walk outside. "Hey, knowing that Yueyan is the Demon King, why are you still going out there?!"
"Everyone in that room is his hostage. He's telling us not to provoke him before it gets completely dark, or he'll kill everyone in Kaya's home. And the fact that he dares to appear in the daytime means he might have some way to survive under the sun for a while."
Zoro said calmly, "In short, he's likely planning to have a big battle with us tonight."
"Then, then Kaya will be in danger tonight!" Usopp said in a panic. "No, I have to go protect Kaya!"
Luffy and Zoro didn't stop him. They were both preparing for the upcoming fight.
They hadn't forgotten how the battle with Kibutsuji Muzan in Orange Town had gone. Although neither of them had used their full strength then, the fact that he had defeated them both in such a short time still made him a formidable opponent.
Not to mention, tonight there would definitely be more than just Kibutsuji Muzan.
"In any case, that Kibutsuji Muzan guy is mine!" Luffy told Zoro. "I'm going to take him down!"
Zoro said, "That depends on whether that guy shows up. If he doesn't, Kibutsuji Muzan is my prey. You don't interfere."
Because Kibutsuji Muzan had once been wounded by Kenshin's blade, Zoro felt that as Kenshin's disciple, he should finish the blow that Kenshin hadn't completed seven years ago. Otherwise, he wouldn't even be contesting this target with Luffy.
After all, if he were to truly join Luffy's crew, Luffy would be his captain, for better or worse.
The two didn't go too far from Kaya's house, instead standing on a large tree nearby, constantly observing Kaya's home. They would make their move as soon as it got dark.
They watched Usopp go inside for a bit and then come out. His face showed a mixture of dejection and worry. He had probably noticed Luffy and Zoro observing them from the tree but didn't approach them. Instead, he hurried towards the town.
"Everyone! A terrifying monster will appear tonight, so please leave the village for now and return tomorrow during the day!"
Usopp quickly ran to each house to inform everyone. The villagers immediately became uneasy, but they didn't question Usopp. After a burst of fear, they obediently began to evacuate.
Initially, they hadn't really believed Usopp, but then they remembered that Usopp had been protecting the village for so many years, and the monsters he spoke of had proven to be real before. So, perhaps tonight a monster truly would appear that even he couldn't handle.
They thought this monster was the Hollows that Usopp had been fighting all this time, and they figured by staying, they would only be a hinderance since they couldn't even see them. So, they obediently left the village.
After informing every house, the sky had gradually darkened. Usopp, sweating, ran back to the tree.
"That Yueyan... he's truly a monster," Usopp said. "And Kaya's parents have already been controlled by him. They kicked me out when I said I wanted to take Kaya out to play."
He said dejectedly, "Kaya also doesn't believe what I'm saying. What if that monster tries to kill Kaya after dark?"
"Ordinary people can't fight those demons. Since they've already made their move, there's not much we can do," Zoro said calmly.
Luffy, however, grinned. "Kaya and the others will be fine."
He said with confidence, "Because we took care of Gato."
Hearing this, Zoro was surprised, looking at his captain as if he were meeting him for the first time.
Yes, Gato was gone. Kibutsuji Muzan would need a new wealthy patron to establish a human force to help him do things like Gato did. Now it seemed that Kaya's family was likely the one Kibutsuji Muzan had in mind to replace Gato.
This guy...
Had he been playing dumb all this time?
Zoro looked at Luffy's serious expression and couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of respect for his captain.
"Now that you say it, that's true. It looks like things will be a bit easier for us," Zoro said, his sharp gaze fixed on the distance.
In the growing twilight, he vaguely sensed an astonishing aura in the distance.
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