"'Captain Kuro of a Hundred Plans'?!"
"Who? Never heard of him..."
When Eden revealed Klahadore's real name, everyone present looked confused.
Yeah, none of them knew who "Kuro of a Hundred Plans" was.
His fame had long faded into obscurity with time.
Such was the cruelty of the seas.
No matter how glorious one once was... once you stopped moving forward, you were destined to be forgotten.
This was the truth Kuro realized, which led him to abandon his life at sea and long for a peaceful, ordinary life.
Kuro: "I just want to live a simple, peaceful life."
Cue the entire JoJo crew silently nodding in approval.
"Kuro? That rookie who was all the rage in the East Blue three years ago!"
"Former captain of the Black Cat Pirates. His bounty once reached an impressive 16 million Berries! That means it was even a million higher than mine..."
"But the world thought you were dead..."
"Looks like you found a way to escape and fake your death?"
"Interesting kid."
As expected of someone who had roamed the East Blue for decades, Buggy remembered every major event. A rising star like Kuro, who once threatened his own position? Of course, he'd taken note of him!
"'Buggy the Clown.' So you've fallen so far as to be someone's errand boy? How disgraceful," Kuro scoffed with disdain.
"Klahadore... is what they're saying true?! Were you really a pirate?" Kaya demanded, her sharp eyes locked on Kuro outside the window.
"Miss Kaya, what you just heard was nothing but the filthy lies of these pirates... Regardless of anything, I am and always will be your loyal butler... Klahadore. That will never change," Kuro said smoothly, pushing his glasses up while glaring at Eden and company. "If you vile, evil pirates refuse to leave, then I insist you remain here forever."
"Huh?! What are you talking about? No way I'm staying here! I'm going to be the Pirate King!" Luffy snapped back.
"Pirate King? Such lofty ambitions. But even if you do reach that title, what's the point? You'll still die like everyone else," Kuro sneered.
Then he turned to Eden. "So you're the rising star Eden, the one who beat Arlong? A bounty of 35 million? So what? There are countless stronger than you in this vast world."
"Alright, alright, enough with the chatter. Can we start now?" Eden yawned lazily.
"Start? Such crude language," Kuro scoffed. "I am no longer a lowly pirate. Fighting is beneath me. As for your opponent..."
Kuro paused and shouted toward a side building of the estate, "'Fire Dragon!' The time to repay the favor I did by saving your life has come! Help me defeat these despicable pirates, and we're even! I'll even give you a ship, a Log Pose, and a map so you can search for your lost companions!"
He was supremely confident. After all, the man known as the 'Fire Dragon' was terrifyingly powerful—even worthy of the Grand Line.
"Finally, it's my time to shine!"
With a loud crash, the doors to the side building burst open. A youth with sakura-pink hair, a black short-sleeved shirt, white shorts, and half his face covered by a dragon-scale scarf burst onto the scene.
"Prepare yourselves, vile pirates! The great 'Fire Dragon' is here to take you down!" he declared as flames ignited around him.
"Is that fire?! This guy... he's dangerous," Nami said, sweat pouring down her face.
"Another Devil Fruit user?!" Buggy looked like he was about to lose it. He had seen more Devil Fruit users in the East Blue recently than in the Grand Line!
"Scared yet?" Kuro grinned proudly. He'd only saved this guy from drowning to boost his standing, and now he had a monster on his side.
"Natsu-san, is that you?" Juvia asked innocently.
"You've got the wrong guy! I'm the mysterious 'Fire Dragon,' not your Fairy Tail buddy Natsu!" the youth said nervously, avoiding eye contact and whistling.
"Natsu, your right arm tattoo is showing," Happy pointed out.
"Oops, forgot to cover it..." Natsu quickly slapped his left hand over the Fairy Tail guild mark on his right arm. "Thanks, Happy! I'll treat you to dried fish after I beat Eden."
"No need to thank me. We're comrades, after all~" Happy grinned mischievously.
"Hahaha, true that!"
But Natsu stopped laughing abruptly. Crap. His identity was exposed.
"Still denying you're Natsu?!" Eden, Happy, and Juvia said in unison.
"E-Exposed already?! But my disguise was flawless..."
Natsu panicked, even dropping his scarf in his fluster.
"That was your disguise?!" everyone deadpanned.
Meanwhile, Kuro looked absolutely defeated.
His normally sharp and calculating eyes were now full of despair.
"Crap... they know each other..."
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~# Every 20 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter