Seeing a severed head flying through the air—even Kuro felt a chill run down his spine.

As for Usopp, he almost screamed.

Kuro's eyes narrowed. When he got a good look at the distinctive red nose and clown makeup on that head, he immediately recognized the face from a wanted poster.

A wanted pirate—"Buggy the Clown," user of the Chop-Chop Fruit.

What was he doing here?

Buggy hovered in the air for a while, scanning the beach below. Once he confirmed it was clear, he turned and shouted, "Captain, it's just him!"

Captain?!

Kuro's heart skipped a beat. He knew Buggy had his own crew—so who could have made him willingly serve as a subordinate?

Soon after, a woman with flowing black hair, crimson lips, and a wide-brimmed white hat walked down the gangplank, wielding a massive iron club.

Kuro didn't recognize her. Her face wasn't on any wanted poster.

Then came a strange figure in a tricorne hat, slowly descending the plank.

The moment he appeared, the oppressive aura he exuded made it clear—this was the "captain" Buggy had referred to.

With an octopus-like fishman head, writhing tentacles, and a massive crab claw for a hand, Kuro instantly recalled a recently updated bounty poster.

The name: "Davy Jones."

Crimes:

Killed Marine Branch Captain Morgan

Destroyed three Marine warships

Injured countless Marines

Recruited the wanted pirate Alvida

Caused significant damage to Orange Town

The Marines had raised his bounty to 30 million Berries, not only for his current crimes but for the danger he posed moving forward.

Because he shared the name of the mythical demon of the deep, the Marines had dubbed him the "Deep Sea Reaper," a title akin to "Iron Mace" or "Clown."

If word of the destruction of the underworld black market had already spread, his bounty would've likely risen even further.

Kuro had kept a close eye on Davy Jones—especially since he was the one who killed Morgan, the key figure in Kuro's own faked death.

It all made sense now.

Davy Jones must've pieced together Kuro's true identity by combining intel from both Morgan and the remnants of the Black Cat Pirates.

This "Deep Sea Reaper," who had managed to gather both Alvida and Buggy under his command... he clearly had ambitious plans.

But where was Alvida? Had she stayed behind to guard the ship?

Kuro noticed the woman's massive iron club but subconsciously dismissed the clue—he couldn't possibly imagine someone transforming so completely after eating a Devil Fruit.

There was a long silence between them.

"Davy Jones," Kuro said, rising from the rock, calling his name directly. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Davy Jones was mildly surprised that Kuro recognized him so quickly.

Probably the result of his newly updated wanted poster.

Kuro offered his hand in a gentlemanly gesture.

After a brief pause, Davy Jones extended one of his tentacles and shook it.

Kuro swallowed hard, barely holding back his disgust at the slick, slimy texture, and barely resisted the urge to pull out a handkerchief. Instead, veins popped out on his forehead as he subtly wiped the goo on his trousers behind his back.

"If you've gotten your hands on that Den Den Mushi," Kuro said calmly, "then it means the Black Cat Pirates have been destroyed, correct?"

Buggy's floating head grinned. "Yeah, and what about it?"

Kuro shot him a cold glance.

Buggy instinctively shrank back—then, emboldened by his captain's presence, floated forward again defiantly.

Truthfully, when Kuro heard them admit they had wiped out the Black Cat Pirates, his first reaction was relief.

Now, the only people in the world who knew his true identity were standing right in front of him.

Things were still under control.

What do pirates sail for, if not wealth and power? As long as he kept that in mind, Kuro believed he could still turn this situation to his advantage.

After a pause, he said, "Why don't we strike a deal?"

"A deal?" Davy Jones puffed on his pipe, intrigued. "Go on."

"In this village—Syrup Village—there lives a wealthy heiress. All of her family's fortune is under her name. With a carefully executed plan, we could take that wealth for ourselves—quietly."

"Continue."

Davy Jones's expression didn't change at the mention of wealth, which unsettled Kuro. However, the glint of greed in Buggy's floating head and the black-haired woman's eyes felt much more like the reaction of typical pirates.

Still, Kuro pressed on.

"You'll help under the name of the Black Cat Pirates. Stage a brutal raid on Syrup Village—slaughter and loot. Seize the mansion. Together, we force the young heiress to write a will transferring all assets to me. Once it's done, we eliminate all witnesses."

"Afterward, I'll pay you a large sum upfront. Since sudden asset liquidation draws attention, the rest of the money will be delivered gradually. In fact, I'll become the financial backer of your pirate crew."

"Food, water, weapons—all supplied by me. I'll handle the money and operations on land; you take care of those who stand in our way. With this partnership, we'll soon control this entire sea."

He laid everything bare.

Of course, whether things would go exactly as promised—or if he'd kill them once they were no longer useful—would depend on his mood when the time came.

The plan clearly tempted both Alvida and Buggy. They were pirates, after all.

But they said nothing. Instead, they glanced at Davy Jones, waiting for their captain's decision.

Davy Jones took a long drag from his pipe, then asked, "Kuro, is it?"

Kuro frowned at the use of his real name but suppressed the irritation. "Well? What do you think?"

"Why not simply pursue the young lady?" Davy Jones asked plainly. "As her husband, you'd inherit her fortune anyway. You wouldn't need our help at all."

Kuro fell silent.

Davy Jones waited, unhurried.

"…Heh. Hehehe…"

After a moment, Kuro laughed.

It was the first genuine laugh he had let out in three years—a chilling sound that made both Alvida and Buggy bristle with unease.

"You're mistaken," Kuro said, adjusting his glasses, his face now shadowed. "Yes, the money is important—but my peace of mind is even more so."

"I need to carry out this plan exactly. This has been my obsession for three years. Every night, I envision that moment—again and again—savoring the details as if it's already happened."

"Become her husband? Impossible. I can't go on humbling myself, pretending to be some doting butler for a naive little girl. I can't keep wearing this mask."

"The plan must be executed. I've endured it all for three years just to see the look on her face when she learns the truth. That moment... I crave it more than anything."

Davy Jones understood.

Kuro was a rare breed—a perfectionist, perhaps with obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

It wasn't that his plan was particularly brilliant; he simply needed the world to conform to his design. Everyone had to play their assigned roles to bring his vision to life.

"…Heh." Davy Jones chuckled softly. "Nice plan. But I'm not interested in playing house with you."

Kuro's expression hardened. His lips thinned into a tense line.

The air grew still.

Just when Alvida and Buggy expected Kuro to lash out—he simply turned his back, sighed, and began walking away.

What?

He was leaving?

Kuro walked over to the rock, unzipped his suitcase, and took out a custom pair of gloves with retractable blades.

He began attaching curved blades to each finger, transforming his hands into razor-sharp claws like a true black cat.

"I knew it…" he muttered, adjusting his glasses with the back of a clawed hand so as not to cut his own face. "I knew talking to pirates like you was pointless."

"You people don't understand. The pleasure of a carefully-executed, long-term plan... is the sweetest thrill of all."

His killing intent surged.

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