Chapter 20

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East Blue 

Somewhere in the middle of the sea 

Over the past two days of their journey to Syrup Village, besides intensifying his training even more, now training for twelve hours straight, Zoro made even more progress. He had now mastered the basics of Armament Haki, could kick the ground fifteen times with each step when using Soru, and could finally hear the breath of all things at will. 

Meanwhile, Nami had mastered the basics of Observation Haki and was studying how to apply it to navigation. She had also mastered the basics of Soru and had plans to improve the technique. 

At the moment, Chouchou could kick the ground twelve times per step when using Soru, and his Observation Haki training was progressing steadily. 

=Scene Break= 

Finally, they spotted Syrup Village in the distance. They approached and docked the ship on the southern coast of the island without any trouble. 

The four of them disembarked and walked for a bit until they stopped at the foot of a hill as several pirate flags appeared from behind the bushes and trees, fluttering in the wind. 

Then, a boy with a long nose and curly hair appeared in the middle of it all, pointing a loaded slingshot at Luffy and his crew. 

"Stop, or I'll shoot! Are you pirates?", the boy yelled. 

"Yes, we're pirates. My name is Luffy. What's yours?", Luffy asked, already knowing the boy was Usopp. 

"I'm the amazing, spectacular, and majestic pirate Captain Usopp, also known by my enemies as 'God Usopp', so I advise you not to dare attack this village, or my two hundred million heavily armed soldiers will ruthlessly attack you!", Usopp said, still pointing the slingshot at them and hoping they wouldn't notice his shaky legs. 

"You do realize this island can't hold that many people, right?", Nami asked, looking at Usopp oddly. 

"Ah, uh… I meant my eighty million heavily armed soldiers, each as muscular as a mountain! Believe me, you wouldn't want to face them", Usopp said, his legs shaking even more. 

"We kind of already figured out you're lying. Besides, it's just you and those three kids hiding behind the bushes, shaking those flags", Nami said after using her Observation Haki, pointing to where the three kids were hiding before they ran off in fear. 

"AHHHH, WE'VE BEEN FOUND OUT! WHAT ARE YOU THREE DOING? DON'T RUN, YOU COWARDS!", Usopp shouted at his fleeing comrades. 

"Awwww, and here I was all excited for a potential fight", Luffy said, looking disappointed. 

"Seriously? You were believing that?", Zoro asked, raising an eyebrow. 

Meanwhile, Chouchou laughed at his captain's naivety. 

"By the way, you're Yasopp's son, right?", Luffy asked, suddenly enthusiastic, his mood completely different from a few seconds ago. 

"You know my father?", Usopp asked, surprised. 

"Yeah, he's part of Shanks' crew. When I was a kid, they used my home island as a base for a while before they left." 

"And how is he? Did he talk about me a lot?", Usopp asked eagerly, feeling comfortable with the group. 

"Yeah, he talked about you all the time. If I'm not mistaken, Shanks' crew is in the New World now", Luffy said, scratching his chin. 

"Wait, when you say Shanks, do you mean Red-Haired Shanks, the Yonkou?", Nami asked, incredulous at Luffy's connections. 

"Yeah, Shanks gave me this hat. It's my greatest treasure. I promised to return it to him when I became a great pirate", Luffy replied, holding his straw hat on his head. 

=Scene Break= 

After meeting Usopp, he took them to a restaurant because Luffy was hungry. 

After chatting for a bit, Usopp asked, "So, you guys are looking for a new bigger ship and some crew members?" 

"That's right. Do you know anyone cool we could recruit or a ship we could buy?", Luffy asked after devouring a giant lasagna like it was nothing. 

"Well, if you need people, I'll join if I can be the captain", Usopp suggested. 

"Shishishishishi, you're funny, Pinocchio. But seriously, do you know where we can find a ship to buy?", Luffy asked, not taking Usopp seriously. 

"Well, there's a mansion not far from the village that belongs to a millionaire family. If I'm not mistaken, the lady of the house has a ship that fits what you're looking for", Usopp said, trying to avoid further embarrassment. 

"And is she nice?", Luffy asked, still stuffing his face with food. 

"Well, despite being weak and sick, she's a very kind and nice person", Usopp said, a little sad. 

"If she's that weak and sick, how did she take charge?", Nami asked, curious. 

"About a year ago, her parents died in an accident, leaving everything to her." 

"But with how sad she seems, locked up in that mansion, I don't think all that money is worth it", Usopp reflected. 

Hearing that, Nami sighed, staring at the ceiling, deep in thought. 

"Hey, ma'am, bring more food; I'm starving", Luffy called out to the waitress, raising his hand. 

"Bring me more beer", Zoro said, raising his empty glass. 

Chouchou barked, saying, "Me too, I'm still hungry, ma'am." 

"Bring some more meat for Chouchou too", Luffy said, pointing at Chouchou, as the waitress couldn't understand animals. 

"Are you guys even paying attention?", Usopp asked, frustrated. 

"Yes, yes, sick, sad girl who lost her parents", Zoro summarized. 

Looking at the clock on the restaurant wall, Usopp stood up, scratching the back of his neck. "Oh, look at the time, guys. This is the time when I have to, uh, take a dump, and since I have the condition of having to poop on right time, or else I'll explode, I have to go. See you later", he said, making an excuse before running out. 

"That guy's not very good at lying, is he?", Nami asked, amused. 

"Hmm? He was lying?", Luffy asked, confused. 

Everyone just put their hands on their faces, sighing. 

=Scene Break= 

"Hey, Tamanegi, are you sure those pirates came in here?", one of the boys who always followed Usopp asked. 

"Yeah, I saw the Captain bring them here." 

"Let's go! We're Usopp's pirates, and we're going to save the Captain!", Tamanegi said, holding a wooden sword. 

"But what if those pirates have devoured the Captain?", one of the boys said. 

"Idiot, it's witches who eat humans, not pirates." 

"But what if one of them is a witch pirate?" 

"Just shut up, Ninjin." 

The three then moved into the restaurant and stood in front of Luffy and the gang, who had just finished eating. 

"You pirates! We've come to rescue Captain Usopp. Where is he?" 

"Hmmm! This meat is delicious!", Luffy said, patting his belly. 

"WHAT? No way! Could it be they really ate the Captain?", the three said simultaneously. 

While Nami tried to hold back her laughter and Chouchou simply laughed at the kids with his signature Muttley-style giggle, Zoro turned to the boys and said, "Your Captain-" 

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?", the three interrupted, shouting. 

"We just-", Zoro continued, speaking slowly to build suspense. 

"Ate him", Luffy finished, making a weird face as he leaned in close to the three boys. 

"AAAAHHHHHHHH, WITCHHHH!", the three screamed in terror, looking at Nami. 

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A WITCH, YOU BRATS?", Nami yelled angrily, causing the three to faint. 

Then everyone at the table, except for Nami, burst into laughter. 

"Bratty kids", Nami muttered angrily. 

=Scene Break= 

"So, he left saying he had something to do?", the three boys asked in unison. 

"Yeah. Any idea where he went?", Nami asked curiously. 

"He must've gone to the mansion", Carrot said, scratching his chin. 

"The sick girl's mansion? What's he doing there?", Zoro asked, curious. 

"He's probably telling lies to cheer her up and make her feel better", Carrot said with a smile. 

"That's nice of him", Nami said, resting her chin in her hand. 

"So, is the girl feeling better?", Luffy asked after burping. 

"Yeah, thanks to the Captain's made-up stories", Onion said, nodding. 

"Alright, let's go buy the ship Pinocchio mentioned", Luffy said, getting up and leaving the restaurant while using Observation Haki to locate the mansion. 

Knowing he wouldn't change his mind no matter what they said, everyone followed him until they reached the mansion. 

Luffy then jumped over the wall, carrying Chouchou and Nami, while Zoro did the same, holding the three kids. 

Caught off guard, Nami clung tightly to Luffy, afraid of falling. "Warn me before you do that, Luffy", she said after they landed. 

"Shishishi, relax, Tangerine. Once you learn Geppo, I bet you'll be running through the air all the time." 

"Why would I bet on that?", Nami asks, as if he were an idiot. 

"You don't want to bet because you know I'm right", Luffy says with a teasing smile on his face. 

"Duhhh, of course, who wouldn't want to fly around?", Nami says, not understanding why he was acting like he had won a game. 

"Shishishi, I knew I was right", Luffy says, satisfied for having won this game he believes is called 'provocation.' 

"Uhhh, what are you guys doing here?", Usopp asks, sitting on a tree branch near the mansion. 

In front of him was a pretty young woman with blonde hair leaning on the open window. 

"Are these your friends, Usopp?", the young woman asks curiously. 

"Ah, these guys came after hearing the legends told about me on the seas, they've come to join my crew", Usopp says, climbing down from the tree and putting his arm around Luffy's neck as he approached along with everyone else. 

"Hmm? Why would I join your crew? I'm the Captain, you should be the one joining my crew", Luffy says, confused, raising an eyebrow. 

"Well, my name is Monkey D. Luffy, and I want to buy a ship from you", Luffy says, explaining why he was there. 

"Ah, nice to meet you, Luffy. My name is Kaya, and about the ship, I have one, but I would have to talk to my butler since he was the one who designed it", Kaya says with a gentle smile on her face. 

"Fine by me, what's for dinner?", Luffy asks, leaning against the tree in front of Kaya's bedroom window. 

"Oh, you're staying for dinner?", Kaya asks, starting to get excited about having guests. 

"If that's alright with you", Luffy says, already imagining the food would be good since it's rich people's food. 

"Fine by me, everyone is invited to dinner tonight", Kaya says, her face lighting up with a radiant smile. 

Suddenly, they all hear an arrogant and authoritative voice, "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" 

"Kurahadol—", Kaya begins to speak, only to be interrupted. 

"You can't just invade the mansion like this", Kurahadol says, approaching. 

"Tsk, the annoying butler is here", Usopp mutters under his breath. 

"Leave immediately, this is trespassing", he says, trying to shoo everyone away. 

"Kurahadol, listen, these people are—", Kaya tries to speak again, only to be interrupted once more. 

"You must be Usopp, right? I've heard a lot about you. A lying orphan, son of a mediocre pirate. It's no surprise you turned out so pathetic", Kurahadol says, interrupting Kaya again. 

Usopp clenches his fists as he listens to this guy talking trash about him. 

"You and Miss Kaya come from different worlds, but it's money you want, right? Come on, name your price", he continues, mocking Usopp even more. 

When it looked like Usopp was about to go after the butler, Luffy grabbed his shoulder and stopped him from acting. 

"Kurahadol, that's enough. You've completely crossed the line. Apologize now", an angry Kaya says, raising her voice. 

Suddenly, everyone hears someone laughing loudly. When they turn their eyes in the direction of the laughter, they see Luffy laughing hard, one hand covering his eyes. 

"What's so funny, Luffy? This seems serious", Nami whispers, elbowing Luffy. 

"Shishishi, it's just funny, you know? This guy just called the sniper of Shanks, The Red-Haired, a Yonkou, a mediocre pirate", Luffy says, laughing again as if it were the funniest thing in the world, this time with Chouchou laughing along. 

Saying that completely calmed Usopp down and left Kurahadol utterly speechless and shocked by this information, of which he had no knowledge. 

"That's enough, Kurahadol. Usopp and these people are my friends and guests. They can come here whenever they want, and besides, they're having dinner with us tonight", Kaya says, her voice exuding authority, something that wasn't very common for her. 

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(AN: 2,078 Words)

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