The open sea.
Somewhere out there.
"Vice-Captain Jango, Captain Kuro sent another order."
"Give it here!"
Jango snatched the note from the deckhand's hand, glanced over it, and frowned.
"It's Kuro's handwriting. The plan's been moved up?"
He shrugged. "I'm just the vice-captain. No need to overthink it—just follow orders."
He cleared his throat and shouted, "Listen up! Captain Kuro commands us to reach Syrup Village before noon tomorrow! Move out!"
The next day, the Black Cat Pirates arrived on schedule, mooring at another inlet of Syrup Village. Dozens disembarked and headed for the rendezvous point Kuro had set.
They took a narrow path and stepped into a grassy clearing in the woods—where a lone figure stood with his back to them. Jango knew that silhouette at a glance: Captain Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates.
"Captain Kuro, I brought everyone. What are your orders?" Jango called from a few paces behind, wearing his best fawning smile.
The words were barely out when the trees around them rustled. Seven or eight dozen burly men poured out, weapons in hand, encircling the Black Cat Pirates on all sides.
"It's an ambush!"
"What's going on?!"
His men panicked. Jango swept his gaze over the ring of fighters, then fixed his eyes on Kuro.
"Captain Kuro, you sold us out? Why? When have I ever failed you? I've stayed loyal even while you were off the ship. Why do this to us?"
"Ten minutes," said a voice in front of Kuro. "Say your goodbyes to your men."
Only then did Jango notice the man standing face-to-face with Kuro.
"I never intended to save them," Kuro said flatly. "Do it."
"No last struggle? What if your men manage to pull you out?" the man—Lister—asked with a playful smile.
"I couldn't block a single strike. They won't either. Better a clean death than a humiliating one," Kuro answered.
"Fair enough," Lister said.
A cold flash. A thin red line opened across Kuro's throat. His body twitched, then toppled.
"Captain… Captain Kuro!" Jango stared, stunned. He'd thought this was the usual tale of 'the bird's shot, the hound gets cooked'—but Kuro had died first, right in front of him.
With Kuro down, the man before him was fully revealed.
"My name is Lister. I'm a pirate," he said. "Two days ago Kuro lost to me and became my prisoner. I had you summoned to fold you into my crew. Anyone object?"
"Fold us in?" Jango blurted.
"That's right."
"If you could defeat Captain Kuro, why kill him? Wouldn't subduing him make him a powerful asset?" Jango voiced the doubt in his heart.
"I could have. But I owe someone a reckoning. For that, he had to die," Lister said. "Any other questions?"
"No." Jango shook his head. If the man needed to answer to someone, then Kuro's death was set in stone. Pushing it further would only anger him—and if Kuro had fallen this easily, Jango knew he wouldn't fare better.
"So," Lister asked, "do you accept, or not?"
"I accept. From today on, I—Jango—am Captain Lister's most loyal subordinate!"
He dropped to one knee in pledge.
Lister watched, amused. He didn't believe a word of it. Men like Jango were masters at keeping themselves intact. While strength favored Lister, Jango would bow. If Lister fell, Jango would probably be the first to run.
"Good. I accept your fealty."
"And the rest of you?"
Feeling the pressure in Lister's gaze, the Black Cat pirates one after another copied Jango and knelt, declaring themselves willing to be taken in.
"From today, you're members of the Money Pirates. Jango, you're the captain of the Third Division—keep command of the former Black Cat crew."
"Understood!"
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