"Lying? What do you mean?"
Faced with Nami's inquiry, Pepper pushed up his glasses and glanced toward the mansion. He quickly explained how Usopp was a "great liar" who came every day to tell adventure stories just to cheer up the sickly Miss Kaya.
"I see." Nami rubbed her chin, a look of realization dawning on her face. "So it's to make that sick young lady happy... No wonder he was so nervous earlier. He was afraid we'd blow his cover."
"Shishishi, what an interesting guy." Luffy pressed down on his straw hat, grinning at the high perimeter wall. "Hey, let's go take a look."
"But the wall is so high, and there are iron bars. We can't get over," Pepper said in a low, discouraged voice.
"Hmph, leave that to us." Nami suddenly flashed a sly smile. In the next second, she unceremoniously leaped onto the back of Viktor, who was standing by with his hands in his pockets. "Vice-Captain, jump over!"
"Are you an idiot?" Viktor staggered slightly from the weight, his face darkening. "You only remember I'm the Vice-Captain at times like this?"
Despite his complaints, he let out a helpless sigh. He reached out and scooped up Carrot and Onion, one in each arm, like they were little chicks.
"Whoa! So much strength!" "Thanks, big brother!" the two kids shouted excitedly.
"Hey, Zoro." Viktor turned to the swordsman, gesturing with his chin toward the remaining boy. "This Pepper kid matches you perfectly. Hurry up and help!"
"Hah?!" A vein popped on Zoro's forehead as he looked at the expectant Pepper. "Who matches me?! You bastard, Viktor!"
Muttering curses, Zoro stepped forward and picked up Pepper.
"Our hair is both green!" Pepper noted in wonder at Zoro's arms.
"Shut up, brat! One more word and I'm dropping you!"
"Yosh! We're going in!" Ignoring the bickering, Luffy laughed, his arms stretching out to grab the iron bars high above. "Gomu Gomu no—ROCKET!!" Zip! Luffy catapulted himself over like a slingshot.
"Whoa!" Viktor bent his knees slightly, chakra instantly surging to the soles of his feet. "Hold on tight."
Thud! The ground cracked slightly as Viktor, with Nami on his back and two kids in his arms, leaped lightly into the air, clearing the high wall with ease. Zoro followed suit, using his incredible leg strength and arm power to scale the wall with Pepper.
Flump.
Viktor landed smoothly on the manicured lawn. Carrot and Onion jumped down from his arms, eyes sparkling. "Whoa! Amazing!"
"You jumped over that wall like it was nothing! Big... brother..." Their voices trailed off. They stared up at Viktor, who was currently turning blue, desperately slapping at the arms wrapped around his throat.
"Mmph... let go... can't... breathe..."
Nami, eyes squeezed shut from the flight, was locking her arms around Viktor's neck in a death grip.
"She really is an ogress," Onion whispered. "Terrifying," Carrot agreed.
BAM!
A loud thud echoed from up ahead—the sound of Luffy landing face-first. The commotion immediately drew attention. Perched on a tree branch, Usopp nearly fell off again while telling Kaya a story. He stared at the intruders in horror. "Y-you guys?! What are you doing here?!"
"Usopp, who are they? Are they members of the Usopp Pirates too?" From the second-story window, a pale but elegant girl—Kaya—poked her head out curiously.
Usopp stiffened, then immediately turned back with a forced air of pride, thumping his chest. "Ah! Y-yeah! They're all new recruits I just scouted! They came to admire the captain's majestic presence!"
Ptooey. Luffy pulled his head out of the dirt and spat out some mud, bluntly refuting him. "No, we aren't your crew. We're here to ask for a favor."
Kaya leaned out further, surprised. "A favor? From me?"
"Yeah!" Luffy grinned. "We want a big ship!"
Zoro walked over, adding, "Don't worry, we aren't robbers. We can pay for it."
Kaya blinked, looking at the strange group. After a moment's thought, she said gently, "A ship... I believe we do have one sitting idle in the harbor..."
"Really?!" Luffy shouted in joy.
Viktor finally managed to pry Nami off his back. He straightened his collar and stepped forward, offering Kaya a polite, gentlemanly smile. "Beautiful lady, we are indeed in urgent need of a ship to go to sea. How much would it cost? Or is there anything we can do to help?"
Viktor's voice was warm and magnetic. As he looked into Kaya's eyes, a faint red glint flashed in his pupils, almost imperceptible.
"Um... I would need to ask my butler..." Kaya began to hesitate, but as she met Viktor's gaze, her voice grew quieter and her eyes became misty.
In her vision, her surroundings suddenly changed. She was no longer trapped in a cage-like mansion; she was standing on a magnificent sea. The breeze was light, the sky was endless, and the scent of freedom was everywhere. It was the world she had always dreamed of.
One second later, the Genjutsu broke. Kaya snapped back to reality, her eyes wide with joy. "So... so amazing! Was that the ocean? Was that magic?!"
"W-what happened, Kaya?" Usopp asked worriedly from the tree. He hadn't seen a thing.
"Usopp, I just—"
"Hey! Who are you people?!" A cold, angry voice interrupted them.
A man in a black suit with slicked-back hair—the butler, Klahadore (Kuro)—walked over. He adjusted his round glasses with the palm of his hand, his eyes scanning Viktor and the others with icy disdain.
"K-Klahadore, they are..."
"Please do not defend them, Miss Kaya." Kuro interrupted her sternly. "You are too kind; it makes you easy prey for the dregs of society. Now, please leave this property immediately! Otherwise, I shall have to have the guards 'escort' you out!"
"Hey, you're the butler she mentioned, right? We want a ship!" Luffy said, completely unbothered by the man's attitude.
"No!" Kuro refused flatly. Then, his cold gaze shifted to the figure shivering behind the tree. "Usopp!"
Usopp peeked out awkwardly, forced a laugh, and said, "Oh... hello, Klahadore."
"You, the son of a filthy pirate!" Kuro's tone turned venomous. "How many times must I say it? Stay away from this estate! A liar like you has the same dirty blood as your pirate father flowing through your veins!"
The smile on Usopp's face froze. His fists clenched tight.
"Klahadore, stop it..." Kaya cried out.
Luffy's gaze sharpened. "Listen, you—"
"Hey, Mr. Butler, can we have a chat?" Viktor interrupted, stepping out from behind Luffy with his usual unshakeable smile.
"Who are you?" Kuro frowned, looking at the red-eyed youth. An inexplicable feeling of unease rose in his chest.
Viktor ignored him and looked up at the window. "Miss Kaya, would you mind if I had a private word with your butler? Regarding the ship, I believe I have a way to convince him."
Kaya, still feeling a natural sense of gratitude from Viktor's "magic," looked at Kuro. "Klahadore... please hear what they have to say."
Kuro's eyes flickered behind his lenses. He sighed, appearing to give in out of necessity, but a flash of killing intent crossed his eyes. "If it is the young lady's request... very well." He held up a finger. "One minute. I will give you exactly one minute."
Viktor nodded with a grin, gesturing for the butler to follow him to a quiet corner.
"What is that guy doing?" Zoro muttered, watching their backs. "No idea," Luffy said, picking his nose.
In a secluded corner of the mansion grounds.
Kuro stopped and turned around, his face twisting into a look of impatience and malice. "Speak, lowly pirate. If you cannot satisfy me, I will—"
Before he could finish, his pupils dilated.
No warning. No idle chatter.
The moment he turned, Viktor moved. Body Flicker Technique.
Kuro saw a blur, and then a cold, piercing sting erupted in his chest. He looked down in disbelief. A black kunai was buried deep in his chest, with only the hilt protruding. Blood instantly stained his white shirt and black suit.
"You..." Kuro trembled, instinctively trying to push up his glasses, but he found he had no strength left.
Viktor stood before him, his crimson Sharingan staring coldly at him as if looking at a corpse. Viktor leaned into Kuro's ear and whispered softly with a smile:
"Rest in peace, 'Kuro of a Thousand Plans'."
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