However, Nami had already walked away without allowing any further argument.
Moonlight chuckled and began walking north.
"…"
Zoro was speechless, looking around aimlessly.
"Hey, hey, hey, which way is south? Is it this way?"
Zoro hesitated for a moment, then randomly chose a direction and left.
…
Meanwhile, in the eastern forest, Onion, Carrot, and Pepper were tracking their target when a man walking backward, wearing a top hat and holding a pair of silver rings, caught their attention.
"Look, there's someone over there, walking backward!"
"Strange, what's wrong with that guy? Why is he walking backward? Does he have some kind of foot problem?"
"Should we go help him?"
The three of them wondered and walked toward the man.
"Hey, do you have a problem with your legs? Why are you walking backward?"
"Are you sick or something?"
"Who are you? We've never seen you around before."
They asked the man.
"Nonono, I'm Jango, known as the world's greatest hypnotist. Don't you think walking backward like this looks cool?"
The man chuckled at them.
"Cool?"
"Hypnotist?"
"What's that?"
The three kids were puzzled, looking at Jango in confusion.
"What, you don't believe me? Then look here. When I say '1, 2, Jango,' you'll fall asleep!"
Jango smiled, shaking his silver rings.
The three couldn't help but stare at the rings.
"1, 2, Jango!"
Jango counted, and sure enough, as soon as he finished saying "Jango," the three kids fell to the ground, fast asleep—they were hypnotized!
"Just three little brats. Forget it; I won't bother with you. I need to meet up with Captain Kuro. Captain Kuro really hates people being late."
Jango glanced at the three and continued to walk backward, quickly leaving the forest.
"Hey, Usopp! You're here!"
At that moment, on a cliff on the eastern side, Luffy found Usopp and called out.
"Luffy, it's you. Is my father really as they say, a notorious pirate? Do I have the dirty blood of a pirate flowing in my veins?"
Seeing Luffy, Usopp couldn't help but ask. Normally, he wouldn't care what others said, but Luffy had brought news of his father, and Usopp instinctively trusted him.
"What? You're worried about that? Even if he's notorious, so what? If you choose to be a pirate, you have to get used to people's gossip. Otherwise, what kind of pirate are you?"
Luffy blinked, then patted Usopp on the shoulder, completely unfazed.
"If you choose to be a pirate, you have to get used to others' gossip, huh? You're right, Luffy. This path isn't easy, but since I've chosen it, I must be prepared, because that's what being a real pirate and a real man is all about!"
Usopp's eyes lit up. Luffy's words were like a guiding light, instantly clearing his mind!
"Thank you, Lu—"
Usopp began to express his gratitude, but his words were cut off by the sound of a conversation coming from below the cliff.
The cliff wasn't very high, only about thirty meters. Below, Klahaador, the butler, was speaking with a man wearing a top hat and holding a pair of silver rings—Jango!
"Is everything ready?"
Klahaador asked.
"Don't worry; everything's in place."
Jango nodded.
"Good. For this moment, I, the great Captain Kuro, endured living with that little girl for five whole years. But it's all worth it. Once this is over, the world will completely forget me. No one will ever know my true identity again."
Klahaador sneered.
Just as Moonlight had guessed, Klahaador was no ordinary person; he was a pirate.
"Captain, everything's good on my end, but what about you? I heard you ran into some trouble. Is everything really okay?"
Jango asked.
"Yes, there were a few small issues, but it's nothing I can't handle. Now, go tell everyone to storm the place and create chaos. I'll show up at the critical moment, defeat you all, and kill Kaya."
"We'll meet on the hillside north of the village in half an hour."
Klahaador said coldly.
"Yes, Captain."
Jango nodded and turned to leave.
But at that moment, a loud shout interrupted them.
Both of them were startled and looked up to see Luffy standing on the cliff, glaring at them in anger.
"Hey, you plan to kill the villagers and Miss Kaya? Aren't you supposed to be the mansion's butler?"
Usopp, overwhelmed by fear and anger, looked at Luffy, who had stood up, and panicked.
"Hey, why did you stand up? Wouldn't it be better to wait for them to leave and then warn the villagers?"
"No way! These guys want to kill all the villagers! I'm going to beat them up!"
Luffy ignored him and shouted defiantly.
He and Usopp had overheard their conversation and discovered the butler's true identity as the pirate captain Kuro, hiding here all along.
"So, it's you, that worthless brat? Just seeing your nose makes my face ache from when you punched me. It's really irritating. Jango, take care of them."
Klahaador sneered at Usopp and then turned to Jango.
"Yes, Captain!"
Jango nodded, shaking his silver rings at Luffy.
"Look here! When I say '1, 2, Jango,' you'll fall asleep!"
"Huh?"
Luffy looked at him, curious.
"1, 2, Jango!"
With that, Luffy's eyes shut, and he tumbled off the cliff, landing headfirst into the ground, seemingly lifeless.
"Ah!"
Usopp was terrified, frozen in fear!
"Alright, let's go."
Klahaador laughed coldly and turned to leave.
Jango nodded and left in the opposite direction to gather the crew and begin the attack.
"You… you stop! I am Captain Usopp! I have 8,000 followers, and I'll tell the villagers your true identity! Your plot will never succeed! You'll never harm Kaya!"
Usopp shouted, his body trembling in fear, yet still mustering the courage to speak out.
"Heh, then go ahead and tell them. Who do you think the villagers will believe, you or me? You filthy pirate's son!"
Klahaador scoffed and didn't even bother acknowledging Usopp. He completely ignored him!
"You…"
Usopp felt a chill run through his entire body. He suddenly realized that because of his constant lying and deceiving the villagers, no one believed him anymore.
"Damn it, no matter what, I have to save everyone. I can't let them be deceived, and I have to tell Kaya the truth!"
Usopp gritted his teeth and sprinted away.
…
Meanwhile, on a northern cliff, Moonlight looked at the pirate ship anchored on the island and smiled.
"Found it. So it's the Black Cat Pirates after all!"