Bai Yun looked at Kaya, who was crying in front of him, and handed her a handkerchief.
Kaya took it and said thank you.
Bai Yun sat down and remained silent, quietly allowing Kaya to compose herself.
Once Kaya had calmed down and forced a smile, about to ask Bai Yun what he wanted, Bai Yun spoke first, startling her.
"Miss Kaya, I am actually a pirate too."
Kaya gasped and clutched the bedsheet tighter.
She didn't discriminate against pirates, but why were there suddenly so many pirates today?
"But don't worry, although I am a pirate, I don't kill innocent people... cough cough!"
As he spoke, Bai Yun suddenly coughed twice.
"Sorry."
"I don't kill innocent people."
"Regarding Usopp, Miss Kaya, you've known him longer than I have."
"You know what kind of person he is, even though he tells some lies, those wild adventure stories."
"But have you ever heard him lie to slander others?"
Bai Yun's words made Kaya fall into thought. Indeed, although Usopp liked to lie, he never slandered others.
"Perhaps it's because Klahadore-san said those things about Usopp's father, that Usopp would..."
Kaya replied softly.
Bai Yun shook his head, "Then why didn't Usopp also say that Kuro was a pirate when Kuro mentioned his father?"
"Why wait until he went back, only to run back again?"
Kaya was speechless, her mind was in a mess.
"Words alone can't prove anything, Miss Kaya, seeing is believing."
"So, if you want to know the whole truth, just watch from outside the main hall door when the moon rises tonight."
"Whether you believe me or not is up to you."
After speaking, Bai Yun stood up and left. Kaya watched his retreating figure, remaining silent long after Bai Yun closed the door... Bai Yun returned to his room, took out the Den Den Mushi Dragon had given him, and contacted Nami.
But no one answered.
Bai Yun could only give up. It seemed they had gone in the wrong direction.
Zoro being used as a stepping stone, Luffy getting lost—it was all fate... Soon, night fell, and the moon slowly climbed into the sky, reflecting the brilliant starlight of the night.
And tonight happened to be a new moon, a crescent moon hanging in the firmament.
Kaya gazed at the crescent moon, hesitated for a long time, and finally got out of bed.
Meanwhile, in the main hall.
Merry and Kuro were inside.
Merry was still telling Kuro about Usopp breaking into the mansion earlier that day.
"Is that so? I didn't expect something like this to happen while I was in the neighboring town."
Kuro replied normally; his entire life was an act.
"Hmm, what's this?"
He suddenly noticed the gift Kaya had given him for their third anniversary on the table: a pair of glasses.
Merry explained it to him from behind, even pulling out a handkerchief to wipe away tears, saying how kind Miss Kaya was.
Little did he know that Kuro, with his back to Merry, pushing up his glasses with his palm and looking at the moon, had an expression that had turned dark, with a triumphant smile.
"Speaking of anniversaries, tomorrow is indeed an anniversary."
"Tonight is a new moon, such nights always make one's heart pound and blood boil..."
As he spoke, Kuro directly threw the gift Kaya had given him onto the floor, then stomped on it.
Merry's mouth dropped open in shock, "You! You! Klahadore-san! What do you mean! Why did you throw away the gift Miss gave you..."
"Gift."
Kuro directly interrupted him, turned his head, and said to Merry with a side glance.
"I will accept the gift."
"But not this thing, but the entire mansion!"
"Wh-what?"
Merry didn't understand.
And Kuro slowly turned around, his hands emerging from behind him, already wearing his signature weapon, "Cat Claws."
"From today on, I don't need to act anymore. Anyway, in a few hours, it will all happen."
"Three years, it's been too long!"
Kuro said, and a flash of a blade.
"Ah!"
"Clang!"
Two sounds rang out simultaneously.
One was Miss Kaya's gasp from outside the hall door.
The other was Bai Yun's appearance, wielding a long staff to block Kuro's cat claws, the sound of the blade and staff colliding.
"It's you!"
Kuro stared at Bai Yun's face, rage flaring in his heart.
"It is me, what's wrong, Mr. Elephant-in-the-Refrigerator."
Kuro glanced at Kaya outside the house. Kaya met his gaze and immediately covered her mouth, taking a step back. Such a cold gaze, this wasn't the Klahadore-san she knew!
"You called Miss here too?"
"Didn't you say you wouldn't interfere before my plan started?"
Kuro asked.
"You're moving ahead to kill Mr. Merry now, isn't that an early start to your plan?"
"Mr. Merry is my lifesaver, I can't let him die."
"Mr. Merry, retreat outside the room and protect Miss Kaya."
Bai Yun said.
Merry immediately obeyed. Bai Yun then swung his staff sharply to the right, blocking the pursuing Kuro.
"Clang!"
"Silent Step, truly terrifying."
"But at such a close distance, it's not so easy to escape a sniper's eyes."
Bai Yun wore a faint smile, seemingly mocking Kuro.
...
A/N: The journey continues! If you're eager to read far ahead and support this story, consider joining the Eternal Phoenix community. You can find me on Patreon by searching for "Eternal_Phoenix".
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