Chapter 343: Im's Target

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In the East Blue, on a peaceful and secluded island, dense trees and lush greenery flourished under a bright, sunny sky.

The villagers went about their morning routines as usual—tending crops, doing chores, while children laughed and played along the village paths.

The island was serene and tranquil.

Early that morning, a cloaked figure whose face was completely hidden arrived on the island and walked directly in a certain direction.

"Ahahaha! Captain Usopp! His bounty has gone up to 280 million Berries!"

"Hey, Tamanegi! Miss Kaya should have finished this stage of her medical studies. Let's hurry and tell her the great news!"

"Yeah, let's go!"

Three children brushed past the cloaked figure, sprinting eagerly along the trail toward the mansion on the hill behind the village.

"Huh? Wasn't there someone standing there just now?" Piiman scratched his head, looking back over his shoulder. The strange cloaked person had completely vanished.

"There's nobody there! You must be seeing things. Let's hurry—Miss Kaya will be thrilled when she hears this!"

"Yeah!"

The three kids quickly reached the hillside mansion, the grandest estate in the entire village.

This was Syrup Village—the hometown of the Straw Hat crew's sniper, "God" Usopp!

The three children were members of the former Usopp Pirates: Tamanegi, Piiman, and Ninjin.

The crew had disbanded two years ago on the day Usopp set sail to join Luffy's crew.

"Miss Kaya, we're here to see you!" the three shouted excitedly. Today marked the end of Kaya's latest medical coursework, a day they had eagerly awaited.

They wanted to be the very first to share the news about Captain Usopp.

"Come on in, kids. Miss Kaya just finished bathing and has been looking forward to your visit," Merry, Kaya's butler, greeted them with a gentle smile.

"Really?!" Beaming with excitement, the three rushed inside.

Far off beneath a colossal tree on the hillside, a dark figure stepped halfway out from the shadows, its chilling, piercing gaze enough to make anyone's blood run cold.

A short while later, another group arrived on the island—composed of men, women, and even children.

The villagers noticed them right away. After a brief explanation, the newcomers claimed to be travelers from nearby whose ship had been sunk by pirates.

They were seeking refuge.

The kindhearted villagers immediately took them in, providing medical care, food, and lodging without a trace of suspicion—after all, they had women and children in their party.

As evening fell, five figures gathered in secret inside one of the guest houses.

"The reconnaissance is complete. There is only one village on this island, along with a wealthy young lady living in a mansion on the hill."

"Good. Remember our mission: keep a close watch on all activity across the island. If any unidentified individuals arrive, report it up the chain immediately."

"Do not harm or disrupt the villagers."

"Understood!"

"Alright, proceed according to the plan."

"Brother Hu..." A boy of around seven or eight years old spoke up hesitantly.

"What is it, Xiao Kai?" the middle-aged man called Brother Hu asked.

"Brother Hu, was this mission really ordered directly by the boss of our Dark Clan's leader?" Xiao Kai gritted his teeth as he asked. It wasn't just his question—it was on everyone's mind.

They were all operatives of the Dark Clan, dispatched from the East Blue branch across the entire sea.

This was the most critical assignment they had received since being stationed in the East Blue.

An order issued personally by their boss's boss.

"There's no mistake about it. Even the branch director confirmed it herself."

Hearing Brother Hu's confirmation, everyone's eyes lit up with excitement. The boss's boss!

The legendary true master of the Dark Clan had personally assigned this task. For any operative of the Dark Clan, this was an unparalleled honor.

They exchanged glances, their faces glowing with pride and determination.

"Alright! Having drive is good, but don't get your hopes too high. We're searching for a single target, and our entire East Blue network has been mobilized."

"The most likely outcome is that the mission ends without us encountering anything at all. Still, we cannot let our guard down for a second, understood?!" Brother Hu said sternly.

"Understood!" they replied in unison.

Two men, one woman, a boy, and a girl—that was the makeup of their cell.

Most of them were intelligence specialists with little combat ability; only Brother Hu and the lean, tall man named Lao Ze were dedicated combatants.

"Good. Lao Ze and I will patrol the island tonight. The rest of you rest up," Brother Hu commanded.

"Huh?!" The two kids pouted at him.

They had finally received a chance to prove themselves, only to be told to sleep?

"Orders are orders!" Brother Hu said, adopting a stern expression.

"Yes, sir!"

"Lao Ze, let's move," Brother Hu said.

Just as the two stepped out the door, and Xiao Kai was reluctantly heading back to his room with a sigh, a terrified scream tore through the night:

"HELP!! Somebody help! Miss Kaya's been taken!!"

The desperate shriek sounded like someone's dying breath. Brother Hu and Lao Ze froze, then sprinted toward the source of the scream.

"Daixi, watch the kids! We're checking it out—stay by the transponder snail!" Throwing those words back, the two vanished into the darkness.

Daixi, the woman of the team, instantly recognized the gravity of the situation. Against all astronomical odds, it seemed their team had hit the jackpot.

"Xiao Kai, A-Mei, set up the emergency line to headquarters immediately! We might have actually found her!" Daixi directed urgently.

"Got it!" Xiao Kai snapped into high gear, setting up their communication gear to await whatever intel Brother Hu and Lao Ze brought back.

Could they truly be the fortunate ones that the entire Dark Clan would envy...?

The sheer weight of the moment set their hearts racing.

At the same time, worry gnawed at them for their two teammates.

A mission of this magnitude was always fraught with mortal danger.

"Over there! It's a kid!" Lao Ze shouted, pointing toward a patch of grass in the woods.

Brother Hu bounded forward, his body shifting partially as he dug his feet into the earth and launched himself through the brush.

"Kid! Are you alright?! What happened?!" Brother Hu scooped the boy into his arms and asked urgently.

"W-Who are you...?" Tamanegi gasped, eyeing the two unfamiliar men with instant suspicion.

"Don't worry, we're travelers staying in the village. Look, the other villagers are heading this way too. You can trust us—tell us what happened!" Brother Hu urged, taking a steadying breath.

"It's Miss Kaya! She's been kidnapped!" Tamanegi grabbed Brother Hu's collar, his eyes wide with terror.

"We have to save her, fast!"