24: 24.
Usopp’s Genius Naval Warfare Plan (Also Known as “Please Sink Before the Psychopath Arrives”) 24: 24.
Usopp’s Genius Naval Warfare Plan (Also Known as “Please Sink Before the Psychopath Arrives”) = Usopp’s POV = Kuro had arrived.
No, that was not accurate enough.
Kuro was approaching, which was a good thing I suppose, because it meant we still had time to panic properly before everything turned into chaos.
I narrowed my eyes at the dark silhouette of the incoming ship.
Its presence cut through the night like an unwelcome reminder that things could always get worse, no matter how bad they already were.
“This is bad,” I muttered, which was honestly the most obvious statement I had made all day.
Beside me, Belle-mere exhaled slowly, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp as she observed the approaching threat with the calm of someone who had already accepted that violence was inevitable.
“We cannot let them board this ship,” I said, forcing my brain to organize the panic into something resembling a plan.
“We fight on their ship, not ours.
If Kuro starts attacking here, everyone—enemy or ally—will get caught in it.” “I know,” Belle-mere replied without hesitation.
“I have heard of him.
He does not discriminate when he fights.
Allies, enemies, bystanders—it does not matter.
If they are within reach, they will get attacked.
Either he just didn’t care or he couldn’t control his power well enough, so he just attacked randomly, making his allies get caught in his attacks.” Of course she knew.
This version of Belle-mere was not the same as the one I remembered from before.
She was sharper, stronger, more experienced, and far more dangerous than anyone would expect from someone casually smoking on a merchant ship.
I did not need confirmation to understand why.
Garp.
It had to be him.
Nami had already told me that he saved her village, which meant my anonymous letters had reached him, and more importantly, he had believed them.
That alone was terrifying because it meant I was indirectly influencing one of the most absurdly powerful Marines in existence.
Which meant, he had likely followed the events I wrote.
Arlong.
Then Kuro.
But since Kuro’s attack was supposed to happen years later, he probably could not personally stay around to babysit every possible disaster.
So instead, he sent someone.
Belle-mere.
And judging by her current abilities, he did not just send her.
He trained her.
Why?
That was the real question.
Maybe he saw potential in her.
Maybe he had no one else available.
Maybe she owed him and could not refuse.
Maybe it was easier to hide her involvement compared to sending an official Marine.
Maybe he simply did not want to spend money.
….
Knowing Garp, that last one was suspiciously possible because he did look like he didn’t have a lot of money.
Whatever the reason, the result was clear.
Kuro’s original plan had already been disrupted, and now, he was forced to attack directly.
Which meant things were about to get messy.
“HAHAHAHA!
Now you are finished!” My thoughts were interrupted by the incredibly annoying laughter coming from above.
I looked up.
Buchi and Sham were still on the mast, looking far too confident for people who had been running away from powder a few minutes ago.
“Captain Kuro is here!” “You are dead!” “…Tch.
So annoying,” I muttered.
Belle-mere did not disagree.
So I raised my slingshot and fired.
They dodged.
They were fast, but that didn’t matter under these special bullets.
The bullets hit the wood beneath their feet and burst, releasing clouds of powder that spread quickly before being carried away by the strong wind at that height.
I continued firing, targeting their footing rather than their bodies, forcing them to keep moving.
They retreated toward the edge of the mast, clearly unwilling to jump.
Then they paused, and laughed.
“HAHAHAHA!
Your powder is useless up here!” “As long as we hold our breath, the wind will blow it away!” I tilted my head slightly.
“That would be true,” I said, smiling faintly, “if I were using the same powder.” Their laughter stopped.
“You see,” I continued casually, “those earlier shots you dodged were just flour.
I call them Feint Bullets.
They are very useful when your enemies start fearing your real attacks.” Their expressions darkened.
“But the ones that hit the wood just now?” I added, my smile widening.
“Those are Itchy Bullets.” They froze.
“You want to know why they are called that?” Badum!
Then— Buchi scratched his leg.
Sham frowned.
Then he scratched too.
Slowly at first.
Then faster.
Then aggressively.
“That is because,” I said cheerfully, “they cause extreme itchiness upon contact.” “…Huh?” The realization hit them at the same time the itching intensified.
“W-What is—” “ARGH!
IT ITCHES!” Buchi immediately started scratching like his life depended on it, completely forgetting that he was wearing clawed gloves, which meant he was essentially shredding his own skin.
“IDIOT!” Sham snapped.
“TAKE OFF YOUR GLOVES!” “Oh—RIGHT!” They scrambled, throwing off their gloves and started using their real nails that wouldn’t cut their skin, but it did not help much.
The itching still grew worse.
And then, I fired again.
Two more Itchy Bullets, hitting their bodies directly because they were too focused on scratching.
This time, the powder spread across their entire bodies.
“ARGH!
WHAT DID YOU DO!?” “STOP!
MAKE IT STOP!” They began scratching everywhere.
Legs.
Arms.
Neck.
Back.
At one point, I was fairly certain one of them tried to scratch a place that should not be mentioned in polite conversation.
“Damn,” Belle-mere muttered.
“Do you have no mercy?” “I showed mercy,” I replied.
“I did not kill them.” “I think death would be kinder.” I considered that.
Then nodded.
“You might be right.” As if agreeing with her, both of them suddenly lost their balance.
Because apparently, trying to scratch your entire body while standing on a narrow mast during strong wind was not a good idea.
They fell from a very high place.
They hit the deck hard.
Yet somehow, they were still conscious.
And still scratching.
“…That is impressive,” I admitted.
Their bodies were already covered in scratches, some of them deep enough to bleed heavily, yet they continued like possessed individuals who had angered a very petty God.
Me.
I loaded my slingshot again.
“Say, do you also think that death is better than a life full of itches?” “D-Death!?
N-No!
Please don’t kill us!” I aimed.
“Think of it as mercy,” I said solemnly.
“A peaceful end to your suffering.” Then I fired just one shot.
The bullet burst into soft white powder, and within seconds, they stopped moving.
Belle-mere glanced at them.
“Did you kill them?” “Nah,” I replied.
“Those were Sleeping Bullets.
I am not ready to start killing people yet.” I paused.
Then sniffed.
“…Wait.
What is that smell?” We both looked down.
Then immediately jumped back.
“…Nope.
No way.” “…Absolutely not.” There were puddles under their pants.
“I think I overdid it,” I admitted.
“I think you overdid it,” Belle-mere replied.
“…They are cats,” I said thoughtfully.
“This might be normal.” “It does not justify that.” Fair enough.
I turned back toward the sea.
The approaching ship was much closer now.
No time to waste.
“Auntie,” I said quickly, “you handle the ship.
I will slow them down.” She nodded without hesitation and moved toward the helm.
We lowered the sails and adjusted direction, creating distance between us and the Black Cat Pirates’ ship.
Meanwhile, I ran toward the rear cannon.
Everyone else was asleep.
Which meant, we had to do everything ourselves.
Honestly, that was safer.
At least I knew who the enemies were.
I began loading the cannon, my hands moving quickly despite the lack of real experience.
I knew the theory, I just had never done it before.
So, trial and error I guess.
I took a deep breath, aimed, and fired.
BOOM!
The recoil nearly made me question my life choices.
The cannonball flew— And hit.
But not perfectly.
It struck the front railing of their ship instead of the main body.
“I see,” I muttered.
I did some adjustments to the cannon’s angle.
Then I reloaded the cannon, aimed, and fired it.
BOOM!
This time, it was a direct hit.
I hit the bow.
Their cat-shaped figurehead shattered and fell into the sea.
“Nice,” I said.
Third shot.
I aimed higher, toward the deck.
The cannonball flew, and then shifted slightly mid-air.
It splashed into the sea.
I frowned.
That was not normal.
Then I saw a silhouette of a man with long claws on his fingers, standing on that cannonball’s original path.
“That must be Kuro,” I said quietly.
He had intercepted it, with sheer his speed and force.
He was very fast, after all.
Luffy’s fastest opponent on East Blue.
“Alright,” I muttered.
“Let’s try something else.” If he could defend the deck, then I would not aim for the deck.
I lowered the cannon, adjusted the angle, and fired again.
BOOM!
This time, I hit the lower hull.
A direct hit!
He couldn’t stop it because it was too low.
I did not stop.
Reload.
Fire.
Reload.
Fire.
Each shot struck the lower sections of the ship.
Places Kuro could not easily defend without leaving his footing.
Holes appeared on their ship, and water poured in through those holes.
Their ship slowed and began to tilt.
It began to sink.
I exhaled slowly, a grin forming on my face.
“Now then,” I said, watching the chaos unfold on their deck, “what are you going to do, Kuro?” Because no matter how fast or deadly he was, he could not fight the sea.
And right now, the sea was on my side.
—————————————————————- Thank you for your support.
CHAPTER 85.
Noble Okama Sacrifice CHAPTER 86.
HolyRicekun