One Piece: Heaven-Defying Luck

"Usopp, when did you come up?"

On a white and comfy bed, a frail, blonde teenage girl lay lazily. Her eyes, still hazy from sleep, reflected her pale complexion, a testament to her chronic illness.

Her gaze met Usopp's strange red eyes, and genuine surprise flickered across her face. Though Usopp often came to visit and spend time with her, this was the first time he had entered her room. Yet, she felt no alarm, only curiosity and mild astonishment.

Usopp's face was flushed red, and his nostrils seemed to emit steam like an enraged bull. His body trembled as he slowly approached her, his bloodshot eyes filled with an unnatural intensity. Despite his best efforts, it was clear he was barely holding onto his sanity, desperately trying to resist the effects of the drug coursing through his veins.

In a shadowed corner of the room, Kuro sat silently with a camera bug in hand, the smirk of a seasoned director on his face as he eagerly awaited the climactic scene of his masterpiece.

Kaya, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, noticed Usopp's strange behavior and finally voiced her concern.

"Usopp, what's wrong with you? Your face is red, and your eyes... Are you sick?"

But her question was met with silence. Instead, Usopp licked his lips in a grotesque, almost animalistic manner. His expression, twisted and lecherous, sent shivers down Kaya's spine. Even though she had known Usopp for years, this face was something she could not bear to see.

"Usopp?" she repeated, her voice trembling as fear began to creep in.

Usopp continued his slow advance toward the bed, and Kaya instinctively started backing away.

Kuro's grin widened. This was it—the scene he had orchestrated to perfection.

While Kaya was innocent, she was far from foolish. The truth of Usopp's intentions dawned on her, and her voice rose in panic.

"Don't come near me!" she screamed, trying desperately to put distance between herself and the approaching figure.

"Klahadore! Merry! Help me!"

Her desperate cries echoed through the room, piercing the corridor just outside. The trio, having met Merry mere moments ago, had finally reached Kaya's door. They froze momentarily, hearing her terrified shouts.

Nami's face turned pale. Her glare shifted to Xun's ever-calm expression, her thoughts racing as she pieced together his true intentions. Without hesitation, she flung the door open and rushed inside, pulling the frightened Kaya behind her.

Kaya, bewildered by the sudden appearance of strangers in her room, felt the girl who had shielded her from Usopp's menacing presence. Everything was happening too quickly, and it felt almost surreal.

Nami hugged the trembling Kaya protectively, her own emotions in turmoil. She glanced at Usopp, whose grotesque expression was nearly unbearable to look at. Even though she knew Usopp was a victim in all this, it didn't lessen the impact of the scene before her.

At that moment, Nami fully understood Xun's plan.

That greedy, manipulative bastard, she thought bitterly. He had deliberately delayed their pace just enough to ensure Kaya witnessed everything. Xun had calculated this moment perfectly to sever any lingering attachment Kaya might have had to Usopp. Even if Kaya had once harbored feelings for him, this incident would erase any trace of them forever.

Meanwhile, Xun and Zoro had noticed the hidden corner where Kuro sat. The pirate, camera bug in hand, was so engrossed in the unfolding drama that he looked ready to shout "Cut!" in delight. The absurdity of the situation left the two men amused.

"Kuro," Xun called out, his tone dripping with mockery. "I didn't expect you to have such a... creative hobby. What a shame! If you weren't a pirate, you could've been a brilliant director. A box office hit would've been inevitable."

Zoro raised a brow, puzzled. "What's a box office?"

Xun replied earnestly, "It's the equivalent of achieving the title of the world's strongest swordsman in the realm of directing."

Nami, still cradling Kaya, couldn't help but interject with a note of sarcasm. "So talented, huh?"

Kaya, who had finally gotten a good look at Kuro, gasped in shock.

"Klahadore! You've been here this whole time?"

Her small, frail frame trembled as her mind struggled to process the rapid succession of events: Usopp's bizarre attack, strangers bursting into her room to save her, and her supposedly loyal butler lurking in the shadows, not only observing the ordeal but actively recording it.

In her daze, Kaya's eyes once again landed on Usopp's contorted, lewd expression. Overcome by fear, she clung tightly to Nami. She hadn't even registered the faces of the strangers yet—only that the one holding her was a girl, and compared to Usopp's monstrous visage, even a stranger was a source of comfort.