Back aboard the Silent Orca, Zino landed gently on the deck, already heading toward where Kaya had been laid down to rest. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow.
He knelt beside her, placing a hand on her forehead and muttering, "Let's see if I can help you recover a little, Miss Kaya. Just hang in there."
As Zino gently extended his hand over Kaya, his mind momentarily drifted into doubt.
"Can my medicinal ability actually heal her…?"
He wasn't sure. Though he had absorbed countless types of medicine thanks to his Swallow Swallow Fruit ability, healing someone else—especially someone as fragile as Kaya—was an entirely different matter.
Still, he focused.
He channeled the effects of the medicine he'd previously consumed, willing it through his hand and into her body. A strange warmth pulsed from his palm. He could feel something stirring within her—a soft reaction, faint but real. The medicine was working... just not completely. His current ability level wasn't strong enough to fully repair her frail constitution, but it was enough to stabilize her.
After a few quiet moments, Kaya's breathing began to even out. Her face regained a little color, and slowly, her eyelids fluttered open.
Zino exhaled in relief. "You're waking up. Good." He offered a small smile.
Kaya blinked, dazed and confused. "Wh-Who… who are you?"
Putting on a confident air, Zino replied with a grin, "I'm a doctor. You can call me Doctor Zino."
Of course, he wasn't actually a licensed doctor—but in that moment, he figured the title would help her feel safe.
Kaya tried to sit up but felt lightheaded. Just then, she turned her head and spotted the boy beside her. "Ussop! Ussop, are you alright?"
She reached over and, in her panic, gave him a quick triple slap across the face.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Zino's eye twitched as he watched. "That was... excessive."
Ussop jerked awake with a startled yell, his face scrunched and drooling. "Abhububu—huh?! Kaya? Why are you slapping me?! I was dreaming of jellyfish pillows—snore—"
He nearly fell asleep again, but the memory of their dire situation suddenly rushed back. His eyes snapped open.
"Kaya! You're okay?! Are you really okay?!"
She gave a tired nod. "I think… Dr. Zino healed me?" Her voice held uncertainty, as if she were still trying to believe it herself.
Ussop glanced up at Zino, then around the deck. "Wait… where are we? What happened? Where are those pirates?!"
Zino replied casually, "You're safe now. As for the pirates—" he gestured toward the other ship, "—they're over there."
Kaya and Ussop turned their heads to where he pointed. There, on the deck of the Black Cat Pirates' ship, they saw Zoro securing the final pirate with a thick rope. Dozens of others were already tied up and laid out like cargo. Alvida stood nearby, overseeing the process like a prison warden.
"Whoa…" Ussop muttered in awe. "You guys really took them all down?"
Zino gave a nod. He then stepped aside and helped Kaya sit up more comfortably.
"You both look like you're about to collapse," Zino said, eyeing Kaya and Ussop's physical states. "Stay here for a bit. I'll get you something."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and disappeared into the Silent Orca's cabin. A few moments later, he returned with two steaming plates of food in his hands and passed them to Kaya and Ussop.
"Here—eat up."
Kaya blinked, touched by the gesture. "Thank you…" she whispered, her voice still weak as she took the plate carefully.
"Yeah! Thank you, Zino!" Ussop said with more energy, his stomach growling audibly as he snatched the plate eagerly.
They wasted no time digging in.
"Mmm! This fried rice is amazing!" Ussop exclaimed between mouthfuls, stuffing spoon after spoon into his mouth like a man who hadn't eaten in a week.
Kaya, though more reserved in her movements, still ate with surprising urgency. Though she tried to maintain her composure, it was clear just how famished she really was.
Zino, sitting across from them with a warm cup of tea in hand, chuckled softly. "You two look like you haven't had a proper meal in days. Want to tell me what happened?"
Ussop swallowed a mouthful before answering, his tone sobering. "We… were being hunted by pirates."
And with that, he started recounting their story—how Merry, the loyal butler, discovered Krahadle's true identity as Captain Kuro… how Kaya had been forced to flee her own mansion… how Jango chased them relentlessly through the forest… and how Merry sacrificed himself to protect Kaya and buy them time to escape.
As the memories poured out, Kaya slowly lowered her spoon. Her shoulders began to tremble. Tears welled in her eyes and started to roll silently down her cheeks, dropping onto the plate of food she could no longer eat.
"Merry..." she choked out, her voice cracking. "He… he gave everything to save me… *uhuk*... and now he's… gone… *wuwuuu…*"
Ussop paused, his eyes growing misty as well. He put down his spoon, then looked at her apologetically. "Kaya… I'm sorry. At that time, all I could think about was getting you to safety. I didn't even try to help him..."
His voice faded into guilt. He clenched his fists, struggling with the weight of what had happened.
Kaya shook her head slowly. She didn't look at him, but her voice was soft and understanding. "You don't have to apologize, Ussop. That wasn't your fault… None of this was. The situation… it was beyond us."
There was a heavy silence, broken only by the faint sound of the ocean waves lapping against the hull of the ship. Zino took another sip of his tea, letting the moment pass quietly.
Finally, he set his cup down.
"If you want to avenge that man… that guy named Merry," Zino said quietly, breaking the silence as he looked at Kaya, "you have your chance right now."
Kaya lifted her head slowly, eyes still red from tears. Zino extended his hand and pointed toward the deck of the Black Cat Pirate ship, where Jango was tied up with thick ropes. The pirate's hands were bound tightly behind his back, and though he was unconscious, his breathing was steady.
"I'm guessing he's the one who shot Merry," Zino added, his tone flat but not unsympathetic.
Kaya turned her gaze to Jango. The moment her eyes landed on the man, a storm of emotions twisted inside her—grief, anger, helplessness, and a hatred so raw that she felt her knees wobble.
She stood up.
"You want to go over there?" Zino asked, watching her closely.
Kaya nodded, her jaw clenched tightly.
"Alright."
Without another word, Zino stepped over, gently placed his arm around her waist, and with a few light steps using Geppo, he carried her over to the Black Cat Pirates' ship. They landed softly on the wooden deck. Kaya's eyes never left Jango, who remained motionless a few meters away.
Zino handed her something—cold, metallic, and heavy. A pistol.
"Do whatever you feel you must," he said calmly.
Kaya stared at the weapon in her hands, feeling the weight of it—not just physically, but emotionally. The pistol trembled slightly in her grip as she walked closer to Jango. Every step felt heavier than the last, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.
Zoro and Alvida, who were standing nearby, didn't say a word. They simply observed, their expressions unreadable.
Finally, Kaya reached Jango. She raised the gun, pointing it directly at his head. Her finger hovered over the trigger.
She stood there for a long while.
Tears began to form again. Her breathing grew erratic. She clenched her teeth and tried to steady her hand, but it wouldn't stop shaking.
Zino stayed back and said nothing. He understood this was her decision and hers alone.
Minutes passed.
Still, the gun remained unfired.
Finally, her hands began to tremble uncontrollably. Kaya's shoulders heaved as tears started streaming down her cheeks once again.
With a soft, broken sob, she let the gun fall from her hands.
Clunk.
It hit the wooden deck and slid to the side.
"I… I can't…" she whispered, dropping to her knees beside Jango. "Merry… I'm so sorry… I can't do it. I thought I could, but… I don't have the courage to take a life…"
She wept openly, her small frame wracked with sobs.
Back on the Silent Orca, Ussop was leaning on the rail, watching the scene unfold with a pained expression. His fists were clenched tightly.
"Kaya…" he muttered under his breath, feeling a rush of helplessness wash over him. If only he were stronger… If only he could have done something back then. Maybe Merry wouldn't have died. Maybe Kaya wouldn't have to carry this pain.
He gritted his teeth, silently vowing to grow stronger.
To protect her.
To make sure she'd never have to hold a weapon like that again.
Bonk!
"Argh!"
Jango groaned in pain as Zino's boot came down hard on his forehead, jerking him back into consciousness. His head snapped up, groggy and disoriented, eyes darting around until they landed on the young woman kneeling before him.
"Oh, it's you… Kaya," he mumbled, surprisingly casual for someone bound and surrounded by enemies.
His nonchalant tone hit a nerve.
Bonk!
"Gah—!"
Zino didn't hold back this time, delivering another sharp kick to the top of Jango's skull. The pirate winced, clearly feeling the sting. A few visible tick marks of irritation formed on Zino's forehead.
"You better change that attitude, punk," Zino growled. "Apologize to her. Now."
Jango blinked in confusion, as if the concept of remorse was foreign to him. He looked back at Kaya, who had wiped away her tears, though her face was still puffy and her voice shaky.
"Jango…" she said, trembling slightly as she stepped closer. "Tell me… what happened to Merry? Is he… is he alive?"
Jango's expression shifted for a moment—just a flicker of seriousness in his otherwise smug demeanor.
"He's alive," he replied bluntly.
Kaya gasped, her eyes widening in stunned relief.
"He's alive…?" she repeated, placing a hand over her chest as if to calm her thundering heart. Her knees buckled slightly, and she nearly collapsed before catching herself. "Thank goodness…"
Jango nodded lazily, adding, "Captain Kuro's keeping him alive for now. But if you want him back, you'll have to go meet Kuro at the mansion."
Zino's eyes narrowed. "And why the hell should we trust anything you say?"
Jango simply shrugged as best he could with his arms tied. "I'm just the messenger. I gave you the information. What you do with it is your choice."
"He's wounded," Jango continued after a pause. "Didn't look too good last time I saw him. If you don't hurry… well, I doubt he'll last much longer."
Kaya's relief quickly turned to dread. Her heart sank. If Merry was still alive, he needed help—immediately. But going back to Syrup Village, walking into Captain Kuro's trap… it was risky. Too risky.
"I suggest," Jango said smoothly, despite the ropes biting into his skin, "you release me and let me escort you back. That way, you'll get in without trouble—"
Whack!
Zino chopped the back of Jango's neck with a swift hand strike. The pirate's head lolled forward, and he slumped to the deck unconscious once again.
"Shut your mouth," Zino muttered coldly. "You've got no right to make suggestions."
He turned back toward Kaya, whose face was once again painted with conflict.
"So, Lady Kaya," Zino said, asking her, "what do you want to do now?"
Kaya sat quietly for a moment, her hands gently folded on her lap. Her face was still pale, but her expression had grown steadier. "I want to go back," she answered softly but firmly. "I need to see Merry… and face Kuro."
Zino nodded with approval. "Alright. Let me be the one to escort you."
He glanced around the deck of the Black Cat Pirates' ship, eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "But before that, we need to deal with these pirates. Let's drop them off at the nearest Marine base."
With that, Zino called to gather everyone on the deck. As the group assembled, he asked, "Anyone know the closest Marine base from our current location?"
Nami stepped forward, already holding a rolled-up map. She unfurled it and laid it flat across a barrel, using a compass to mark their current coordinates. Then, she pointed to a spot nearby. "Right now, we're just a short distance away from Gecko Island, where Syrup Village is. The closest Marine base should be on Kalamazo Island. It's under Captain Sambadi's jurisdiction."
Zino leaned in, studying the map. "How far is Kalamazo from here?"
"If we sail at our usual speed," Nami replied, tapping her chin in thought, "we should reach it in about half a day. Maybe ten to twelve hours."
Zino smirked slightly. "And what if we use the Wave Breaker?"
Nami's eyes widened a bit. "Well… if we use the Wave Breaker's propulsion, we could get there in two hours. Maybe even faster, depending on the pedalling speeds."
"That's what I wanted to hear," Zino said with a satisfied nod. "Zoro, get ready. We're going to run the Wave Breaker."
"…Sure," Zoro replied with his usual calm tone, already stretching his arms.
With that, the Orca group headed towards Kalamazo, bringing along the captured pirates.