Chapter 9

The morning sun rose, casting its warm glow over the quiet and peaceful Syrup Village.

Birds chirped in harmony with the morning breeze, rousing the villagers energetically to embrace a new day.

However, amid this serene unfolding, a distorted voice shattered the tranquil scene.

"Terrible news, everyone!"

A young teenager with loud footsteps dashed through the alleys, disrupting the village's silence with his urgent cries.

"Pirates are attacking!"

"Pirates! Pirates!"

"Everyone, run for your lives!"

The awakened villagers didn't cower in fear. Instead, they hurled curses and projectiles at the young man, their annoyance palpable. Yet, the youth seemed unfazed, almost reveling in their reactions.

"Damn brat! Every morning, he has to come and disturb our peace!"

"You liar! Stay away from my house!"

"Enough with the racket!"

With a nose for trouble, the teenager vanished from sight, making a beeline for the coast where his base lay.

As usual, he grabbed his small telescope, scanning the sea with keen interest.

Without turning back, he shouted, "Ninjin, Piiman, Tamenigi!"

Three figures promptly emerged, echoing, "Report to the captain!"

"Have you completed your tasks as instructed?"

"Don't worry, Captain Usopp. Our subordinates have the island surrounded. We will prevail in the upcoming battle. The only pirate captain in these waters will be Captain Usopp!"

"Prepare for the fight!"

As the four of them indulged in their role-playing, Usopp stiffened, his telescope catching sight of a small approaching boat.

Sweat beading on his brow, Usopp's relief was audible. "Thank goodness, no Jolly Roger. They're not pirates..."

A mischievous smirk crossed his lips. "Yaro domo! Prepare yourselves, the enemy has arrived!"

Blinded but obedient, the trio hid among the bushes, rummaging for supplies.

Meanwhile, aboard the approaching ship, Seph observed Usopp's theatrics with amusement, while Nami engaged in a heated discussion with Luffy.

"The Grand Line? Are you out of your mind? Simply having a map won't suffice. We lack a ship, equipment, and provisions. Our numbers are too few to survive!"

Luffy, mouth full of meat, replied cheerfully, "Yeah, we need a cook and a musician."

Zoro, taken aback, chuckled, "A musician? Haha!"

Sharing a laugh, Seph added to the lighthearted banter.

Nami, exasperated, took charge of the map. "The island is in plain sight. Let's hope we can secure a real ship out there."

Luffy bounded over to Seph. "Seph, give me meat!"

Zoro chimed in, "And booze! Don't forget the booze!"

Helplessly, Seph conjured meat legs and barrels of booze, joining in their impromptu feast.

Nami's frustration was evident. "Are you serious?"

Seph reassured her with a smile. "Don't worry about them. We'll find a good ship and a reliable partner."

Resigned, Nami joined their gathering, a hint of amusement softening her expression as she sat among them.

The boat finally touched down on the beach, and the four of them disembarked.

Zoro stretched his limbs, his voice filled with contentment. "Back on dry land at last!"

Luffy surveyed their surroundings. "Is there a village nearby?"

Nami interjected, noting its small size. "It seems quite small though..."

She turned to Seph. "Are you sure there's a wealthy family here?"

Seph nodded, suggesting they ask a local for confirmation. "Why not come out and welcome us?"

Before anyone could respond, a rapid barrage of small Pachinko bullets launched towards them, miraculously evading them, as Seph's attention was preoccupied with the sign-in prompts appearing in his retina.

Simultaneously, a multitude of pirate banners rose in the surroundings, stunning Luffy into an impressed exclamation.

"Cool!"

Nami couldn't hide her exasperation. "Is this really the time to be impressed by that?!"

Amidst the chaos, laughter echoed as a young teenager with a long nose appeared atop a nearby hill.

"Hahahahahaha!"

"I am Usopp, leader of the great pirates who rule over this village."

"People sing my praises, and then sing them again—as Captain Usopp!"

While Luffy believed him and Nami dismantled his claims, the trio of young boys scampered away. Luffy, in jest, imitated Shanks to intimidate Usopp before recognizing him as Yasopp's son.

Meanwhile, Seph remained captivated by the rewards displayed before him.

[Congratulations to the host for acquiring: Will Arts, Shadowkhan, 3x Energy Cores.]

- Will Arts: Will Arts encompass the techniques to hone and harness one's willpower to its fullest potential.

It delves into the synchronization of will with the body, manifesting as Armament Haki, and with spirit and mind, resulting in Observation Haki. Conqueror Haki arises from pure, unadulterated will.

These arts hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of willpower, the very essence of all abilities in the world. Whether manifested through Devil Fruits or Haki, they are all manifestations of will.

A cultivated will has the potential to manipulate and warp reality in profound ways, verging on omnipotence.

It can neutralize Observation Haki, deactivate an opponent's Devil Fruit abilities, and even counteract all three types of Haki itself.

A strong will is only limited by the confines of the mortal shell, suggesting that Will is an incredibly advanced power source indeed. Especially for Seph, whose body had nothing to do with mortality.

- Shadowkhan: They are the are a ninja-esque group of shadow-spirit warriors from the Shadow Realm. (Jackie-Chan Adventures)

With the Ninja squad at his disposal, capable of traversing anywhere in the world, Seph felt increasingly at ease. He no longer needed to personally embark on treasure salvage missions. All he had to do was issue the orders, and the treasures would effortlessly materialize in his spatial storage.

As he regained his composure from the shocking display of explosive Will Arts, Seph found that Luffy had already befriended Ussop, and they had been invited to a meal in the village.

...

Inside a cozy restaurant, Ussop treated them to a sumptuous meal.

Amidst the feast, as Luffy animatedly recounted his past encounters with Shanks, including information about Yasopp, Nami suddenly posed a question.

"Are there any wealthy families in this village?"

Ussop's demeanor shifted slightly, his alertness palpable.

"Why do you ask?" he inquired.

Feeling his vigilance, Nami became even more convinced that Seph's informations were accurate.

Zoro added from the side, "On the top of the hill, there's a huge mansion."

A chill seemed to wash over Ussop. Nami teased from the side, "Ussop, do you know them? We really want to meet such wealthy folks..."

Suddenly, Ussop exploded, "You can't go there!!"

Luffy, Nami, and Zoro looked at him in surprise, while Seph continued eating his meal, absorbed in reading the Will Arts in his mind.

Met with their curious stares, Ussop began to stammer, "I- I just remembered something I have to do... I have a lot of influence here, drink and eat as you wish... Alright... Later..."

Seph, who was immersed in his thoughts, suddenly spoke up, "Are you sure you want to go? I don't advise it. The reason we came to this island is because we received some very shocking information."

Ussop stood frozen, his perception keen. Despite Seph's handsome and approachable appearance, he exuded an aura of strength that was undeniably intimidating.

Unable to move, Ussop could only gaze at Seph like a statue, his mind racing.

Nami's laughter faded as she addressed Ussop, her tone serious, "Ussop, Seph is right. Before we came to this island, we encountered a group of pirates planning to attack this village. Seph defeated them, and from their mouths, he learned that their captain is already on the island. He is playing the role of the butler of a young lady named Kaya. His intention is to kill her and claim her wealth..."

She hurriedly explained everything, leaving Ussop's face drained of color.

"Impossible! You're lying!" he protested, his voice trembling.

Luffy's expression turned serious. "We're not," he asserted.

Zoro nodded in agreement.

Seph interjected, "It's our first time on this island. We have no connection to Kaya, so we wouldn't lie to you."

Ussop's mind reeled, and he dashed desperately toward the huge mansion.

Nami remarked, "It seems they are acquaintances..."

Seph towered over them, "Let's go. We can't let our potential partner die..."

Luffy and Zoro smiled in agreement, while Nami hummed in assent.