Chapter 23

As Rowan and Carina followed the trail Usopp left while running away, they soon came in sight of a small village.

"So this is Syrup village?" Rowan said while looking around.

"Reminds me of the Cocoyasi." Just like his hometown, the Syrup village had a peaceful atmosphere.

The village was relatively quiet. The scenery was beautiful; surrounded by grass, trees, and blue sky above, with the wind gently blowing. The birds were singing, the flowers were blooming, and the kids were running around.

"EVERYONE!! RUN, PIRATES ARE HERE!!!" In the middle of the village, they saw Usopp desperately crying out. He was shouting with three kids behind him.

"Yeah, they are here!"

"We have to run away!"

Interestingly, no one seemed to be paying any attention to them. Some were shaking their heads in irritation, while some frowned in disapproval.

"Tch, this liar is at his work again!" One villager said with a clear displease. "Haven't you had enough? Grow up, kid!"

"No, it's true this time!! Please, you have to believe me!" Usopp tried his best to persuade, but villagers heeded no attention to him. While looking around in attempt to convince the villagers, Usopp sighted Rowan and Carina.

"Ah, it's them!!! Everyone, run away!!" Usopp screamed. Curious, people looked to where Usopp was point at. They saw Rowan, a black haired youth with nothing striking out in particular, and Carina, a pretty girl with a light purple hair. Nothing about them seemed to resemble pirates.

Looking at each other for a second, the duo smirked.

"Oh, I guess we are pirates now." Rowan shrugged. "So what do pirates do again?"

Carina held her finger up on her chin, as if she's trying to think hard. "I heard that pirates aim to find one piece and become a pirate king like Gold Roger."

"Is that the case? If so, I am gonna be the very best that no one ever was!" Rowan pumped his fist up.

Curiously gazing the duo's interactions, the villagers turned back to Usopp. "What's part of them is pirate?! Stop framing the innocents, you liar! They are just the outsiders visiting the village!"

"Hey!! Stop acting!!!" Usopp shouted as he stomped the ground with his foot in frustration. Usopp wished to tell the villagers that the person in front of them was the East Blue's worst pirate with 30 million Beli. However, he knew, that revealing that information will induce panic within the villagers, and worsen the situation.

"Don't worry. We are helping you here. By actually becoming the pirates, you are no longer a liar." Rowan grinned with flashing teeth while giving a thumbs up to Usopp. Seeing Usopp's reactions, Rowan couldn't help but troll him.

Eventually, the situation toned down. Usopp seemed to have realized that the duo weren't trying to harm anybody, and the villagers dispersed to continue their daily affairs. Afterwards, Rowan and Carina found a small restaurant within the village, and seeing the cheap price, decided to give it a try.

"So why are you guys here?" Carina asked to three kids, peeking from the adjacent table.

"Boss told us to watch you guys and tell him if you do anything suspicious!" One kid said, before quickly covering his mouth. "Uh oh."

Laughing at their antics, Rowan asked, "Where is your boss?"

"He went to lady Kaya again, probably." Another kid answered halfheartedly.

"Oh, he's trying to woo a girl? Hahaha!" Rowan burst out of laughter all of a sudden, remembering Sir Martinosse from Aurum. Carina also remembered the stuttering man in golden suit, and grew a tick on her forehead.

"Lady Kaya is the richest person in the town! She has personal maids and butlers for herself, and she lives in the giant mansion!" Third kid shouted in awe while holding his hands out wide, trying to emphasize the size of the mansion. "And she is really pretty too!!"

"Ooh, rich you say?" Carina stood up all of a sudden, her eyes blazing with fire. "Big mansion, luxurious life... I must see it for myself!! Lead me there!!" She grabbed the kid who mentioned the mansion, before running out.

"Wait, Carina, you didn't pay!" Rowan shouted while sweating hard, his hand outstretched. However, she didn't hear his words, and quickly disappeared from his sight. "Uhh..."

Rowan turned to the rest of the kids, staring at him in curiosity. "Hey, how much you got?"

___________

"Wow, this place is quite big indeed." Carina remarked in awe as she faced the full glory of the mansion. This building clearly stood out from the rest of the village, where all constructions seemed average, with nothing special. "They probably built this themselves. Just how much did they spend for this?! Hiring workers ranging from common workers to skilled professionals, preparing necessary materials, it should cost over 20 million Belis at least."

"I don't even get what you are talking about." The kid next to her said while picking his nose. "Aren't you here to see boss and lady Kaya?"

"Nope, not really." Carina muttered without any interest., while looking around the mansion with sparkling eyes.

Suddenly, the main gate of the mansion opened slightly, and a butler with black suit, who has sharp features that is slightly toned down by his round glasses, walked out.

"I am sorry, but please leave without any further disturbance." The man said while pushing up his glasses. "You are making a commotion here. Very, very disturbing for our lady Kaya."

Carina and the kid were confused. All they did was chat at the outside of the mansion. What part of it was so disturbing?

"Didn't you say that your boss was here? How come, oh-" Carina realized as she saw the kid anxiously placing his index finger on his lips, trying to stop her from talking.

"Boss? Usopp? That filthy son of a pirate is here again?!" The butler frowned, before going back in and shutting off the door.

Subsequently, Rowan and two crying kids arrived.

"Oh wow, this is pretty big alright." Rowan said as he looked at the mansion, completely ignoring the sullen kids on the side. "Used to be my dream goal. Become filthy rich in peaceful place, and enjoy the privileges everyday without having to work. The only thing missing here is having a waifu."

"Waifu? What's that?" The kids said in confusion.

"Something that every man of culture desires." Rowan replied seriously, before loosening his expression. "Well, it's not like it's possible anymore. I literally got 30 million on my head-"

"Ah oops."

"30 MILLION?!!" The kids cried in shock, before running away in fear. Rowan simply watched a bit, before shrugging. This island was free of marines anyway. There wasn't much risk of having them know. Even if the marines somehow hear the news and arrive, they will be long gone.

"You scared them away. Cool." Carina stated. "Anyway, do you think I will be able to buy this mansion if I turn you into the marines?"

While they were making random conversations, they heard the shout, "Don't come back ever again!!"

Usopp leapt out of the wall of the mansion. By pulling out a cable gadget from his pocket, he hooked the cable onto a tree branch and landed safely, in front of Rowan and Carina.

Usopp stood up and looked back at the mansion, while clenching his fist. "Damn that Klahadore!" He turned around and saw the duo standing.

"Huh, w-why are you guy here?" Usopp still seemed scared of them, after figuring out Rowan's identity.

"Nothing much. Just came here to see the mansion; there's nothing else to do in this village." Rowan said with his hands in the pockets.

At the same time, he began to think of a possible scenario. 'If we were to assume that marines will arrive here, by somehow finding out our whereabouts, we need to have some safety measures just in case.'

Finishing his thought, Rowan spoke out. "Hey, just wondering, do you have any idea as to which direction we should go to reach the Organ island? We lost compass and map on our way, so we kind of got no sense of direction here."

"Organ island? Wasn't that someone east from here?" Usopp rubbed his head. "No idea. But I can try to help you."

Usopp really wanted these pirates gone from his village, and was willing to do anything that didn't threaten his life. They were far too dangerous!

"Alright, just asking." Rowan shrugged. Carina, on the other hand, gave Rowan the 'I know what you just did' look.

Although Syrup village was the ideal village to live a peaceful life, however, there wasn't any value for the ones like Rowan and Carina to exploit. Contrary to their previous jokes, they were not some petty thieves or pirates that blatantly steal from the others. Therefore, they were thinking of leaving immediately, since they knew that the marines were so bent on catching them. It would be so tiring once the marines start tailing them.

"I guess we will head to that direction," Rowan pointed towards the direction opposite from their course, "and see how it goes. This is a good bye, long-nose. Who knows; we may see each other again in the future, with you being hailed as the Sniper King with those sling shots."