One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

Kaya hummed softly to herself, her voice echoing in the quiet room. While her complexion still looked pale and sickly, her mood had improved greatly. She no longer had fits of anger, and her gentle nature had returned.

What she now looked forward to most every day was the arrival of Ace and Nami.

"Creak."

"Miss Kaya, it's time for your meal," Kuro announced as he entered the room, pushing a dining cart. He adjusted his glasses with his palm, as was his habit.

"Klahadore, you've been preparing more food lately, haven't you? My appetite's been quite good recently," Kaya said, her words a bit awkward as she attempted to lie. The truth was, she had been saving portions of her meals for Ace and Nami.

"You don't need to wait for those two today," Kuro said, his expression blank as he pushed up his glasses again.

"What do you mean?" Kaya asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Miss, you're in a frail state. You shouldn't be associating with strangers who might disturb your recovery," Kuro replied coldly.

"They are not strangers—they're my friends! What did you do to them, Klahadore?" Kaya's voice rose, filled with sudden anger.

"I didn't do anything to them. I simply told them not to disturb you anymore, Miss," Kuro responded calmly. At this point, Kaya hadn't yet placed the full trust in him that she would in three years' time, but Kuro was willing to take the risk.

Over the past few days, he had discovered Ace and Nami's presence, and while tracking them, overheard part of their conversation. What Ace said nearly sent a chill down his spine.

"Doesn't Kaya's butler look a lot like 'Kuro of a Thousand Plans' Kuro, the captain of the Black Cat Pirates who the Marines claimed to have eliminated?"

"But that can't be right. The Marines made a huge deal about the destruction of the Black Cat Pirates…"

If it weren't for that last sentence, Kuro might have panicked right then and there. Luckily, it seemed like Ace only had suspicions and no real proof. Still, Kuro couldn't take any chances. He had already informed several members of the Black Cat Pirates to help him eliminate Ace and Nami.

By now, they should have dealt with those two nuisances. Once they were gone, Kuro would have nothing to worry about, and he could continue serving Kaya without raising suspicion.

As these thoughts played out in his mind, a sinister smile spread across Kuro's face.

"Why… why would you drive Ace and Nami away? They are my friends! Cough!" Kaya coughed in her rising frustration.

"Miss, your health should be your priority. Besides, I'm here to take care of anything suspicious. You don't need to worry," Kuro said as he reached for the rose that Ace had left on her bedside.

What puzzled Kuro was the flame at the center of the rose—it hadn't gone out in all this time.

"Stop, Klahadore!" Kaya's usual gentle expression hardened into one of rare anger, and she grabbed the rose tightly. 

"This rose is precious to me, and it has nothing to do with you. Please, leave."

Her beautiful face flushed with anger as she clutched the rose protectively.

"Very well, Miss. I'll take my leave," Kuro said, backing down as he noted her firm stance. He wasn't concerned, though. Time had a way of changing everything. Kaya's current anger would soon fade, and eventually, she would only remember him as her most trusted butler.

"Miss, please eat soon. Your health is still delicate," Kuro said, bowing slightly before he exited the room. As he left, his thoughts shifted to confirming with his crew whether Ace and Nami had been dealt with.

——

Once alone, Kaya sat quietly, staring at the flame rose in her hand. The flickering flame, which had not dimmed after all these days, seemed to reflect a blurry image of a familiar face within its glow.

"Ace… Nami… even if you had to leave, you should have at least said goodbye," Kaya whispered, biting her lip in sorrow.

After some time, Kaya reached for a medical book from her bedside and began to read it carefully, her heart still heavy with emotion.

——

Meanwhile, in the forest…

Jango and the rest of Kuro's lackeys lay on the ground, battered and defeated, like lifeless dolls.

"Is this some kind of joke? How could someone this powerful show up here?" Jango gasped, his voice shaky with fear as he looked up at Ace, who was calmly sitting on a tree stump. The terror in Jango's eyes was unmistakable.

Beside him, Buchi and Sham, both with bounties of 7 million Baileys, lay motionless, as if dead.

Reflecting on the fight just now—or rather, the complete lack of one—Jango shuddered. It wasn't a battle at all. They hadn't even seen what Ace did before being completely overpowered.

There was no doubt in Jango's mind: if Ace had wanted to kill them, they'd already be dead. This man's power was terrifying, beyond anything Jango had ever encountered.

A person like this shouldn't be here. He belongs on the Grand Line!

Even Kuro, with all his cunning and strategy, couldn't compare to this man's sheer strength.

"Nami, tie them up. Consider this a gift for our future ship's doctor," Ace said with a slight smile as he glanced at the defeated group.

"Got it," Nami nodded, still reeling from what she had just witnessed.

Ace's strength was incredible!

She couldn't help but wonder—who was stronger, Ace or Arlong?

Her mind wandered as she tied up Jango and the others, the image of the ferocious Arlong looming in her thoughts.