Chapter 63 - Villagers and Pirates

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Some time after they finished discussing, the residents, including Genzou and Nojiko saw a group of unknown people from a distance walking towards them.

Seeing them, they are also increasingly nervous, tense, and alert.

Genzou then said quietly to the other residents.

"Everyone, stay quiet and don't be rash. Let me do the talking."

The residents nodded and understood.

Not long after that the group of suspected pirates arrived in front of them.

And a young man holding a little girl, Lepus, then spoke to the residents.

"Hm? Why are you all gathered here?"

Genzou then tensely responded to Lepus' question.

"Who are you!? What is your purpose in this small place, pirates!?"

Hearing Genzou's question, Lepus slightly twitched his eyes and lips.

Lepus smiled wryly. Then he sighed and spoke.

"Hah~.... Genzou-san, did you really forget about me? Nojiko-chan too. You others too. Do you guys really don't recognize us? How could you."

Hearing Lepus' statement, Genzou, Nojiko, and the other residents became confused and wondered. They do not understand since when they know let alone familiar with pirates. In their minds, most pirates are rude and cruel people. The only pirates they know are good-natured and on good terms with are Luffy and his crew.

"Who are you!? We don't know!"

Genzou and the others still couldn't recognize Lepus, Brisa, or Muret. But, that's quite understandable. Because it had been about ten years since they were last here.

Lepus also reminded them.

".... I'm Lepus."

Then he patted the shoulder of Brisa who was standing on his right side.

"This is Brisa."

Then patted Muret's shoulder who was on his left.

"And this is Muret."

Genzou, Nojiko, and the others then fell silent and thought.

"Lepus.... Brisa.... Muret.... I think I've heard these names. But when and where? Hmm...."

Then Nojiko remembered something and was flabbergasted.

"Lepus-san!?"

Lepus finally smiled.

"Heya, Nojiko-chan remembered now.... Long time no see!"

"You really are Lepus-san!? And Muret-san! And Brisa-chan is all grown up now too! You guys looks more mature that I couldn't recognize you right away!"

Muret and Brisa also smiled at last they were remembered.

"Hello, Nojiko-chan! Long time no see! How are you?"

"Nojiko-chan, hello!"

"Lepus-san, Muret-san, Brisa-chan, I'm so happy to see you guys again!"

Nojiko then came over and hugged Muret and Brisa. And just as he was about to hug Lepus, Nojiko remembered that Lepus was holding a little girl who seemed to be ±2 years old. Nojiko was curious and asked.

"Lepus-san, who is this?"

Lepus smiled and answered.

"This is my daughter, Muse.... Muse, say hello to Nojiko-chan."

"No-chi-ko-chan?"

Muse called and spelled Nojiko's name while looking at her innocently.

Nojiko was a little awkward being called with '-chan', but she understood and smiled at Muse.

"Fufu! Hello, Muse-chan!"

After thinking for a while and seeing Nojiko's friendly and warm attitude towards Lepus, Brisa, and Muret, Genzou and the others finally remembered them a little.

"Ah! I remember now!"

"About ten years ago there was indeed a young man and two girls who lived in this village for a year!"

"And now I remembered that their names were indeed Lepus, Muret, and Brisa!"

"So it's you guys!"

"We almost forgot because about ten years have passed!"

The residents who finally remembered Lepus and his two women felt a little relieved and were no longer too wary.

Genzou then asked.

"But why are you now becoming pirates? I thought you are more like scholars or something. Because every time I went to your house, I often saw you reading and lots of books piled up on the table."

Hearing Genzou's question, Lepus laughed wryly.

"Hehaha.... Genzou-san, actually when we lived here ten years ago, we were already pirates. At that time my bounty value was 20 millions Beri. But at that time we were still only three people and still in the preparation stage, so we read a lot of books about the things that we should know if we want to sail the oceans."

Hearing Lepus' confession, Genzou and the others were dumbfounded.

"What!? So you've always been a pirate!? And your value back then was 20 million Beri!? That's the same as Arlong! ... Who would thought that the three of you could hide it without us suspecting anything during the time you were here."

"Hehaha... Actually Bellmere-san knew from the start. But we agreed to keep our dark identities hidden so as not to cause anxiety."

"Ah.... Bellmere, huh.... Bellmere was gone because of severe disease."

Hearing Lepus mention Bellmere, Genzou and Nojiko looked sad.

"I see.... Hah~...."

Lepus thought that it might be some kind of Paradox or Butterfly Effect. Even though Bellmere not killed by Arlong, eventually she still dies because of other reason.

Because the atmosphere became a little gloomy, Lepus also changed the subject.

"Nojiko, I want to talk with you. Let's go to your house."

"Um."

Then, Lepus and Nojiko left. While the others were ordered by Lepus to rest and not to come.

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