Inside the Mansion.
When Merry saw Kaya being carried back pale and unconscious by Klahadore, he panicked.
He rushed to help Klahadore lay her gently on the bed.
"Klahadore, how could you let the young lady go out alone? Do you realize how dangerous that is?"
"I'm sorry, Klahadore. It was my fault!"
He had just been in the kitchen, preparing a cake for the evening. In that brief moment, Kaya had quietly slipped out.
Still, a mistake is a mistake. Merry lowered his head and admitted his fault.
"…Forget it. Just be more careful from now on. The young lady's body is far too fragile—she needs long-term rest and care."
"…Understood."
---
While Klahadore and Merry were talking, Usopp was at the coast with three little kids, playing "pirates"—the so-called Usopp Pirate Crew.
"Remember, starting today, you all have to call me 'Captain,' got it?"
"Yeah! Aye aye, Captain!"
It was two years before the events of the original story.
The kids didn't understand much at all—they were just playing a simple make-believe game.
But still, the three little ones were having a blast.
Until—
One of them suddenly raised a hand, pointing toward the sea.
"Captain! The Navy is coming!"
"…You're really getting into it, huh?"
Usopp blinked in confusion for a second.
But then, not thinking much of it, he struck a dramatic pose and shouted:
"What's there to be afraid of? We have 8,000 men under our command! A few measly Mari—"
He turned to look in the direction the child was pointing.
Mid-sentence, he froze.
Three unfamiliar, clearly not wooden boats had landed on the shore.
Each vessel held about ten uniformed Marines—and two of them wore long coats emblazoned with the kanji for "Justice."
Usopp, though only 15, already knew what those coats meant.
High-ranking officers.
And in the East Blue… a Marine Captain was a big deal.
Without another word, he turned tail and bolted toward the village.
"Hide! I'll warn the others!"
The three kids watched his retreating back in confusion.
"Why do we have to hide? Isn't the Navy supposed to be good guys?"
"That's what my parents said too!"
"Mine too…"
---
Usopp sprinted all the way back to Syrup Village.
Three minutes later, he burst into the central plaza, yelling at the top of his lungs:
"Pirates are comi—cough, no, I mean the Navy is coming!"
"The Navy is coming!!"
But…
"This kid… has he finally gotten bored of his usual routine and switched to a new line?"
"Maybe, but if he changed the script, why shout about the Navy?"
"Should we react this time? Otherwise, he'll keep shouting forever."
"Maybe you're right… but if it's the Navy, what kind of reaction are we supposed to have?"
The villagers were baffled.
If he'd yelled "pirates," they could've just pretended to panic and hide inside their houses.
But Navy?
What were they supposed to do, applaud?
Just as they stood around confused, inside the grand mansion at the center of the village, Klahadore adjusted his glasses with a flick of his wrist—a habitual motion.
"…The Navy?"
"I didn't hear anything about the 153rd Branch conducting an inspection today…"
"Could it be another of that brat's pranks?"
"No… something's off. Why shout about Marines this time?"
Frowning in suspicion, Klahadore walked into his room and pulled a long suitcase from beneath the bed.
Just in case.
---
At that moment, Luo Lan and Hina walked at the front of a group of thirty Marines, all clad in full uniform.
Within minutes, they arrived at Syrup Village.
The villagers stared, stunned.
So… Usopp wasn't lying this time?
"Officers, I'm the village chief of Syrup Village. May I ask what brings you here…?"
The village chief appeared to be in his fifties, and he stepped forward cautiously.
It was clear he held a deep fear of the Marines.
Which—
Wasn't a good sign.
After all, in Luo alan's previous life, he had grown up under a red flag—where soldiers were known as "the most lovable people."
Fear should never have been the reaction.
"Village chief, can you tell us where the Kaya residence is?"
"Kaya? She's a good girl! She would never—"
"No need to worry. We're not here to arrest anyone. In fact, we're here to help her."
Luo Lan interrupted gently.
Hearing this, the village chief visibly relaxed.
"Very well… please follow me."
Luo Lan left a squad at the village entrance and followed the chief along with the rest toward the village center.
After six or seven minutes, they arrived at a luxurious estate.
Knock knock knock…
The chief stepped up and knocked on the iron gate.
Before long, the mansion's front door opened, and a man dressed in a black butler's uniform with an odd pair of curled horns atop his head came out.
"Merry, these Marines say they're here to see Miss Kaya."
The chief called out.
Merry walked over and opened the gate, his face filled with confusion.
"May I ask what business you have with our young lady?"
Before Luo Lan could reply, Hina's voice rang out from beside him.
"Luo Lan—is it him?"
She was looking up at the second-floor window.
There, a man with glasses was peering down at them.
Luo Lan immediately recognized him from the original story.
Who else could it be but Kuro?
Activating his Observation Haki to be sure, he sensed three people in the mansion—one being Kuro, and another upstairs on the third floor.
That had to be Kaya.
"I'll take care of the one upstairs," Luo Lan said. "You handle the guy in the window."
"Got it," Hina nodded.
Whoosh!
In two blurs, they vanished from sight.
Crash! Crash!
Seconds later, the sound of shattering glass echoed through the air.
The villagers looked up in shock.
Both the second and third-floor windows had been blown open.
Crashes and bangs soon followed from within the mansion.
The twenty Marines outside quickly spread out, assuming combat stances even without their standard rifles.
This sudden display of force left both Merry and the village chief dumbstruck.
---
Third floor of the mansion.
Luo Lan now sat at the edge of Kaya's bed.
"W-Who are you? Where's Klahadore? Where's Merry?"
Despite her fear, Kaya tried to stay composed.
"…Fifteen years old, and still so strong-willed. Just like I thought."
"Don't worry. This will all be over soon."
He gently ruffled her hair, then stood up.
From his coat, he pulled out his black Jackal revolver.
Aimed it at the floor—
And activated Observation Haki once more.
BANG!
---
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