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The energy of the Pokémon struck by the slash seemed stronger than before!
Seeing Zoro using Pokémon energy to perform sword techniques beyond his current level, the smile on Red's face widened.
From a swordsmanship perspective, Zoro had yet to reach the level of cutting iron, let alone the mastery required to unleash a Flying Slash.
However, with the power of Pokémon, he had surpassed the iron-cutting realm and executed such a powerful sword move.
While this wasn't entirely due to the nature of Pokémon energy, what truly mattered was Zoro's will and talent!
In any case, to other swordsmen, Zoro was already an undeniable great swordsman!
Luffy's Armament Haki, Zoro's swordsmanship...
These two never failed to bring surprises.
Red smiled in satisfaction before lightly leaping from the second floor to the courtyard below.
The sheer force of Zoro's sword technique had turned Kaya's courtyard into a storm-tossed battlefield, the earth churning from the impact.
Yet despite the devastation, Kuro, who had endured the brunt of the attack, still clung to life.
"I... my plan... absolutely... will not fail..."
Bloodshot eyes locked onto Red, as if trying to etch his image into memory forever.
"What incredible tenacity~"
Seeing Kuro's gaze still brimming with murderous intent, despite his severed limbs, Red couldn't help but sigh.
Although Kuro was no saint, he was undeniably a talent in the East Blue.
"A shame."
Red bent down, picked up a broken cat-claw blade from the ground, and swung it with force.
Whoosh!
The sharp blade pierced through Kuro's forehead, passed through his brain, and embedded itself into the earth.
Thus, the infamous pirate of the East Blue, who had spent three years in hiding just to retire in peace, finally met his end.
Everything was settled.
—
—
Evening.
Under the guidance of Butler Merry, the villa's staff gradually returned to their posts.
Though the estate had just experienced a major upheaval, none of them had been harmed. And in a world ruled by pirates, such events were hardly uncommon...
So, life at the villa carried on as usual.
At this moment, in the reception room—
Accompanied by Merry, the young mistress of the estate, Miss Kaya, rose to her feet and bowed deeply to the Straw Hat crew.
"Thank you so much for your help!"
"If it weren't for you, I don't know what would have happened..."
"I've already heard about your request."
"I just spoke with Mr. Merry, and it turns out our family's shipyard recently completed a brand-new light sailing ship."
"And coincidentally, its designer is Butler Merry himself."
"It still needs a few more days of adjustments before it can set sail, but would you mind waiting a little longer?"
Kaya asked gently.
After hearing from Usopp that the Straw Hats had come specifically to help them fight the pirates, Kaya felt deeply grateful.
So when she learned that Red had asked for a ship, she agreed without hesitation.
But what puzzled her was...
Red seemed to know more about the ship than Merry, its actual designer.
However, she quickly brushed off the thought.
After today's ordeal, she had survived—but what came next for her future remained uncertain. That was what she needed to focus on.
On the other side of the table—
Luffy, upon hearing Kaya's offer, immediately burst into laughter.
"No problem! Of course, no problem!"
"A few days is nothing!"
The thought of finally having his own pirate ship filled Luffy with excitement.
More importantly, Red had praised it more than once, saying that the ship they were about to own would be the best pirate ship in the world!
Hearing Luffy agree so readily, Merry, who stood behind Kaya, let out a long sigh of relief and finally relaxed.
He quickly straightened up and addressed everyone in a gentlemanly manner:
"Thank you very much for your understanding."
"Please feel free to stay at the manor while you wait for the ship."
"I will take care of all the arrangements for you."
"There is one more thing..."
Merry paused for a moment before continuing:
"I contacted the Marines, but it seems they aren't planning to pay out bounties for pirates whose rewards have been revoked."
"So, Kuro's body is now worthless."
"Huh?! How could this happen?!"
Nami, who had been waiting for news on this, instantly looked crestfallen.
Sixteen million Belly—it wasn't a small sum.
She had been counting on making a fortune!
Sensing their disappointment, Merry quickly added, "But it doesn't matter, dear lady."
"As a token of gratitude, the Kaya family is willing to offer 20 million Belly as a reward for solving this crisis."
"Eh?! Really?!"
The moment she heard there was still money to be earned, Nami's eyes gleamed with golden light.
Unfortunately for her...
"Wait a moment, Butler Merry."
Red suddenly interrupted, flashing a small smile.
"Miss Kaya, we accept your gratitude."
"As for the reward, I think it's best to decline."
"That ship is already the greatest gift to us."
"Besides, we didn't come here for money."
"Right, Usopp?"
Red turned his gaze toward Usopp, who was sitting with them but looking increasingly uncomfortable—his back stiff, sweat forming at his brow.
"Wha—?!"
Caught off guard, Usopp tensed up instantly.
Truth be told, back then, he had agreed to anything in his desperation to save Kaya.
But after witnessing Zoro's battle against Kuro, he had to ask himself the fundamental question...
What exactly did he have that made these people want him in their crew?
Usopp had been mulling over this ever since Kuro's defeat.
But even now, he had no clear answer.
Before he could say anything, Luffy beamed and loudly declared,
"That's right! No need for a reward when helping a friend!"
"Friend?"
Kaya and Merry immediately turned their curious gazes toward Usopp.
They had yet to realize—Usopp had already joined the Straw Hats.
"Ah... ha ha ha..."
Feeling their stares, Usopp sheepishly scratched the back of his head and said,
"About that... This afternoon, I accepted their invitation to become a member of the Straw Hat Pirates."
"What?!"
Kaya's delicate face filled with shock.
"Mr. Usopp, are you saying... you're going out to sea as a pirate?"
"Yeah."
Usopp rubbed his nose with his fingers.
"I'll be sailing with Luffy and the others soon."
"Kaya, you'll definitely hear all about my heroic adventures on the sea in the future!"
"..."
Kaya suddenly lowered her head in silence.
Just as Usopp began to worry, she raised her head again and nodded firmly.
"Yes! I believe you will, Usopp!"
As she spoke, a faint shimmer of tears glistened in her eyes—but she quickly blinked them away.
Usopp held an irreplaceable place in her life.
From sneaking into the estate to tell her fantastical adventure stories, to standing by her side in her darkest moment today...
Usopp's presence had long been carved into her heart.
Truthfully, she didn't want him to leave Syrup Village—or her.
But knowing how much he had always dreamed of going to sea, she swallowed those feelings down.
She didn't want to hold him back.
—
—
That night.
After dinner at Kaya's estate, the Straw Hats retired to the rooms Merry had prepared for them.
Not long after, as a white light flashed before Red's eyes, he suddenly found himself standing inside the Pokémon Center in Cerulean City, back in the Pokémon world.
Beside him was a cute, orange-haired girl...