Chapter 20
Chapter 20
The weather gradually turned overcast as dark clouds rose from the horizon, gathering overhead.
"Mr. Kyle."
"Hello, Mr. Kyle!"
"It's about to rain, Mr. Kyle. Take shelter!"
Klah strolled down the street with a smile, waving at pedestrians who greeted him warmly.
The only reputation that rivaled Lida's "big eater" status was that of "Mr. Kindheart" Klah.
During his time in Loguetown, his gentle demeanor and Navy uniform quickly won him popularity.
As Kuro once joked, "He spends idle hours fetching water for widows and donating funds during crises—he’s destined to live among them."
"You should head home before the rain starts", Klah advised every passerby.
Only here did he feel any sense of belonging.
At the Marine Base, though, he was nothing but a beleaguered grunt caught between confusion and blame.
Just look at what he’d endured lately!
Either he was taking the blame or already on the way to doing so.
And Kuro’s description? A complete lie!
Not to mention that damned "pseudo-loli" Lida, who treated him like nothing but a workhorse.
Smoker, that idiot, would pick fights with him whenever he was in a bad mood!
Only these kind, pleasant townsfolk made him feel at home—their warmth reminded him of Syrobu Village’s peace.
Thinking of Syrobu Village brought back memories of that cursed Luffy—the bastard who ruined all his plans.
"If not for him, my plan would’ve succeeded, and I’d never have met that psycho Kuro!"
Klah’s anger simmered as he muttered, "I’ll cross paths with that brat eventually—just wait. As a Navy officer, I’ll make him pay!"
"Pirates! Pirates are at the plaza’s execution platform!"
"It’s Harlequin Buggy and Iron Mace Alvida! They’re about to execute someone!"
A commotion erupted nearby.
"Execution platform? Buggy?"
Klah frowned. He knew that name well—Buggy was a major pirate in the East Blue.
He turned toward the towering platform and spotted a figure. Though distance obscured the face, that unmistakable outfit sent his pulse racing—the very person he’d longed to find.
"Luffy, you brat!"
Klah’s pupils contracted. He sprinted toward the platform.
From the Marine Base’s highest platform, Kuro watched the unfolding drama at the execution site.
"Hey, Kuro, have you seen a Red Nose around?"
Lida huffed as she appeared behind him.
"Red Nose?" Kuro pointed downward. "If you mean Buggy, he’s over there."
"That’s the one! He tricked me earlier!"
Lida squinted at the plaza. "Why are there so many pirates? Aren’t you arresting them? Why’s Luffy on that platform?"
"He’s here to see where Gol D. Roger died", Smoker’s voice rumbled from behind.
Smoker and Tashigi ascended the stairs, Bounty poster in hand. He extended it to Lida. "You haven’t seen this yet—Monkey D. Luffy, that Luffy brat."
"30 Million?!" Lida gasped at the poster. "First bounty in the East Blue?"
"He defeated Fishman Arlong. Thirty million isn’t exaggerated."
Smoker turned to Kuro. "You’re not getting involved, are?"
Kuro watched Luffy trapped in the execution platform’s stocks below.
A smirk curled his lips. "Smoker, the era is calling."
"What does that mean?"
Before Smoker could ponder, a deafening roar echoed across the plaza.
"I’M The Man Who’LL Claim The One Piece!!!"
The voice shook the heavens!
Smoker’s eyes widened in disbelief.
"Too arrogant!" Lida stammered.
"Even here, he dares declare himself Pirate King!"
Buggy raised his blade—then Luffy, trapped underfoot, smiled.
"He’s laughing!" Smoker stared, stunned.
"He’s laughing!" Lida gaped.
"He’s laughing!"
Klah, arriving at the scene, froze as Luffy’s grin pierced his chest—a whirlwind of emotions surged within him.
Only one who laughs in the face of death’s terror can be called a true hero.
Kuro’s smile twisted with menace. His voice seethed through clenched teeth:
"Pirate!"
"Why?!" Smoker’s veins bulged. "Why is he laughing? Why dare he laugh?!"
Crack!
Thunder split the sky as lightning struck the platform, igniting azure flames. With a thunderous crash, the structure collapsed.
"Ahahahaha! I’m alive!"
Luffy clapped Luffy, laughing wildly.
Smoker’s arm shot up, then swept down.
From every alley, Marines surged forth, encircling the pirates.
"You won’t escape Loguetown!"
Smoker turned to leave.
"Kuro, aren’t you joining?" Lida swallowed hard, still shaken by the divine intervention she’d witnessed.
Kuro shook his head as rain poured.
"A dangerous man approaches. Keep low, or he’ll drag you into rebellion."
Even without knowing the story, his Observation Haki screamed of approaching danger.
Clashing with the Revolutionary Army would be real trouble.
"Just watch the show. With that man here, we’ll never succeed anyway. Besides, isn’t Klah already there? Let him try first."
Kuro spotted the familiar black suit in the plaza.
"Roronoa Zoro."
Klah slid on his "Ten Blades" at the plaza’s edge, smirking at Zoro. "Long time no see. This time, you won’t escape."
"Who’s that?" Sanji asked Zoro.
Zoro tensed, gripping his sword. "A pirate from Usopp’s village. This’ll be trouble. Hey, we’re pirates too—don’t you want to flee?"
"Flee?"
Klah chuckled, then his eyes darkened. "Shave."
Whoosh!
Zoro’s hair stood on end. Before he could react, five claw-blades slashed toward him, followed instantly by Klah’s other hand striking.
"Too slow!"
Zoro tried retreating, but the claws tore through him, sending him flying.
"Green Algae Head!" Sanji roared, kicking toward Zoro’s attacker.
"Foolish."
Without looking, Klah sidestepped, lifting his blade to slash Sanji’s side.
The cook howled, clutching his wounded waist as he fell.
Klah adjusted his glasses, smirking. "I’m Navy now. Why would I run?"
"Navy?!" Zoro staggered up, astonished. "You joined them? How?!"
That question reignited Klah’s fury. His claws scraped the ground.
"Thanks to you lot! Today, you’ll stay here!"
"Good fight", Lida munched potato chips, watching idly.
"Not quite", Kuro replied. "Klah just learned basic Observation Haki and his Shave technique’s still rough—but his opponent didn’t expect this."
(End of Chapter)
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