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At that moment, Zoro's eyes burned with fighting spirit, and a faint, mysterious energy unconsciously radiated from his body.
This power was enough to make Red and Luffy glance over in surprise.
"This is...?"
Red narrowed his eyes slightly.
Luffy quickly added, "...the power of Pokémon!"
Wild, destructive, powerful, sharp, unyielding...
In an instant, Red and Luffy sensed multiple energy signatures within Zoro's aura. Strangely, these energies seemed to correspond to the Pokémon types of Dragon and Steel.
But what was even more bizarre was that Red hadn't found a suitable Pokémon move for Zoro. Logically, it should have been impossible for him to wield Pokémon energy on his own.
After all, even genuine Pokémon couldn't do that.
"Interesting..."
"Did Zoro use his own will to tap into the Pokémon energy hidden within his body?"
Red's crimson eyes gleamed with intrigue, and his anticipation for Zoro deepened.
"Alright, I'll leave the next enemy to you."
"That okay, Luffy?"
"Fine by me."
Although Luffy was eager to fight, since Zoro had stepped up, he had no complaints.
Besides, there would be plenty more battles to come in the Pokémon world.
"Alright, no more delays. Let's head straight for the villa on the mountain."
"Usopp, you lead the way."
"Ah... no problem!"
Usopp, who had been itching to go, immediately set off.
He couldn't stand sitting around any longer—he needed to save Kaya from the pirates now.
The group paid their bill, left the restaurant, and hurried toward the mountaintop villa under Usopp's guidance.
Meanwhile, inside the Kaya family's villa...
Disguised as the butler Klahadore, Kuro pushed a dining cart up to Kaya's door and knocked gracefully.
"Miss Kaya, your dinner is ready. May I come in?"
"Come in, Klahadore."
A soft voice answered from inside. Kuro gently opened the door and wheeled the dining cart toward Kaya's bedside.
She was sitting weakly against the headboard, a medical book in her hands.
It was summer, and though it was already dinnertime, the sky outside remained bright—only slightly darker than at noon.
The clouds drifted lazily, white and carefree.
That freedom was something the frail Kaya longed for.
As she set her book down, Kuro's gaze shifted to her bedside, where the morning newspaper and a wanted poster for Luffy lay.
His eyes briefly flickered when he saw Luffy's 50,000,000 bounty, but he quickly masked his reaction.
With practiced elegance, Kuro folded the newspaper and bounty poster and sighed as if making casual conversation.
"How frightening. To think such a notorious pirate would suddenly appear in the East Blue..."
"I wonder how many more people will be left homeless because of these wretches."
Hearing this, Kaya tilted her head curiously.
"Klahadore, do you hate pirates?"
"Of course!" Kuro answered without hesitation.
"Pirates are nothing but filthy scum—" He abruptly stopped himself. "Ah, forgive me, Miss Kaya. That may have been too harsh."
"But that's simply the truth."
"Alright," Kaya replied softly, not arguing.
Usopp's stories had influenced her, and she didn't believe all pirates were evil.
Still, she couldn't deny that most of them were bad people.
After Kuro finished serving her dinner, they continued chatting—until a sudden commotion erupted from outside the villa.
"Wait! Who are you!?"
"This is private property! You can't just barge in!"
"Out of the way! It's me! Usopp, from the village! Miss Kaya is in danger!"
"Someone! Someone is trying to break into the villa!"
"..."
"..."
"Usopp?"
Kaya, who had been about to rest, froze for a moment before quickly getting out of bed. She slipped on her shoes and hurried to the window.
But before she could get closer—
"Danger, Miss Kaya!"
Kuro suddenly stepped in front of her, blocking her path with the poised demeanor of a refined and noble butler.
"There's trouble outside. It's too dangerous near the window. Please stay away," he urged, his tone calm yet firm.
"I'm going to see what's happening," Kaya insisted.
Without further discussion, Kuro turned and left the room.
However, the moment he stepped out the door, his polite and gentle aura vanished, replaced by a sharp glint of cold killing intent in his eyes.
Something about Usopp's shouting just now gave him a bad feeling.
"Damn it! That long-nosed brat again!"
"If you dare to interfere with my plans, I'll cut you into pieces!!!"
He had secretly given orders to Jango not long ago, and soon, everything would fall into place.
Three years of patience—all for this moment.
He wouldn't allow any unexpected disruptions.
But as Kuro followed the noise toward the manor entrance, something completely unexpected greeted him.
"You... who are you?"
Kuro's expression instantly darkened as he took in the sight before him.
The guards who had been stationed at the gate now lay sprawled across the ground, defeated.
But that wasn't what truly alarmed him.
Standing next to Usopp was a face he recognized—one he had just seen in the bounty posters.
"You're... Straw Hat Monkey D. Luffy!?"
The realization made Kuro's expression turn grim.
His eyes filled with cold, murderous intent.
But instead of addressing Luffy, he turned his gaze to Usopp.
"I know you! You're that infamous liar from the village!"
"I always thought you were just a foolish brat craving attention, but now you've actually joined forces with pirates?!"
"Pathetic. You really are a hopeless disgrace!"
Then, as if seizing the moral high ground, Kuro called out:
"Mr. Merry! Quickly, contact the Marines!!!"
Despite both being butlers, Kuro had long since assumed the role of decision-maker in Kaya's household.
"Y-Yes!"
Still dazed by the chaotic situation, Merry hesitated for only a moment before rushing back toward the villa to make the call.
But just then, Red stepped forward with a smirk.
"I'd advise against that."
"You wouldn't want the them to find out the truth about the man who's been hiding under your roof for three years, would you?"
"The infamous captain of the Black Cat Pirates—Kuro of a Hundred Plans."
The moment his name was spoken, Kuro's pupils shrank in shock.
Even Merry, who had just reached the villa door, froze mid-step.
Upstairs, Kaya, who had been secretly eavesdropping, gasped.
'Damn it!'
'How do they know my identity!?'
'Did someone from the Black Cat Pirates betray me!?'
Kuro's mind raced with confusion and disbelief.
But outwardly, he maintained his composed butler persona, keeping his expression calm and unreadable.
Behind his back, his fingers clenched tightly—then relaxed.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," he said coolly.
"But listen, pirates—if you don't leave immediately, I will have you all arrested."
His words were met with nothing but an amused chuckle from Red.
"Interesting."
"Even now, you're still playing dumb?"
"You really think lying to yourself makes you a good person?"
"But whatever. We don't have time to waste on you."
Red took a step back, positioning himself between the others and Kuro.
"Zoro!"
"He's yours!"
"Careful—his signature move is a high-speed footwork technique. His speed isn't far off from Shave."
"Oh? The East Blue has someone like that?"
Zoro raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
He knew firsthand how terrifyingly fast Shave was.
For someone in the East Blue to develop a similar technique on their own… that was impressive.
But—
Today, he was here to cut down a master!
Zoro unsheathed his three swords, flashing a fierce grin at Kuro.
"Oi... You're not the kind of guy who fights barehanded, right?"
"I'll give you a chance—have someone bring you your weapons."
"Let's see…"
"Are you worthy of helping me complete my new technique?"