After Luffy and the others left Kaya's villa, Usopp muttered disinterestedly, "I'm going for a walk. Leave me alone."
Did anyone else notice Usopp looked a little shaken?
When they reached the fence at the edge of the wilderness, Luffy suddenly bolted away too...
Nami frowned. "So, where should we go now?"
Zoro shrugged. "Without Luffy, might as well wait here for him."
"Hey, hey," Lynn pointed, "Do you see that guy in the distance? He's walking backwards!"
Everyone turned to see a man doing what looked like a strange backwards moonwalk approaching.
Of course, Lynn knew this was Jango, the current acting captain of the Black Cat Pirates.
Jango stopped and said defensively, "Hey! I'm not a weirdo. Not at all, okay?"
One of the kids stepped forward. "Who are you then?"
"Me? I'm Jango, a hypnotist."
"Hypnotist?" The kids perked up instantly. "So you have special powers? Can you show us?"
Lynn muttered, "Kids will be kids… what special powers could he really have?"
Nami smirked, "Look at your face—it's clear you just want to see the show."
Jango quickly swatted away Lynn's hand as if to say, "No leaving before I show you!"
Though intrigued by hypnosis, Lynn wasn't quite buying it.
With a flourish, Jango pulled a watch from his sleeve. "Look at this watch. When I count, '1, 2, jango,' you'll all fall asleep."
"1, 2, jango..."
"zzzZZZ..." x5
Instantly, Jango, Lynn, and the three kids all dropped into a deep sleep.
Zoro blinked, baffled. "Wait, what? I just fell asleep when he said so?"
Nami slapped her forehead. "Is this your partner?"
Zoro blushed and muttered, "Better drag them aside—they're sleeping right in the middle of the street!"
They all woke up quickly.
Jango had vanished.
Lynn, feeling a little embarrassed under Zoro and Nami's amused looks, explained, "That guy's something else. I don't know why, but just watching that swinging Kurock made me pass out."
The kids nodded in agreement.
Zoro waved it off, "Where now? I have no idea where Luffy went."
Lynn suggested, "Why not go back to the snack bar?"
Nami nodded, "Better than wandering around out here."
Meanwhile, Usopp sat in a bad mood on the grass under a big tree on a cliff, staring out at the sea.
He was startled when Luffy suddenly rushed over.
After chatting for a while, they overheard Klahadore and Jango whispering about a conspiracy.
From their eavesdropping, Usopp and Luffy learned that Klahadore was actually the infamous pirate captain "Hundred Plans" Kuro, and Jango was his hypnotist deputy.
The two planned to attack the village at dawn, use hypnosis on Kaya to make her write a will leaving her property to Klahadore—who was secretly Kuro.
Hearing this, Luffy stopped hiding, stood up, and shouted at Kuro and Jango, "You're not allowed to hurt anyone in this village!"
Kuro immediately ordered Jango to attack.
Luffy was hypnotized and fell off a high cliff, but Usopp, suspecting a hidden weapon, dodged the hypnosis.
Everyone thought Luffy was dead after the fall.
Jango wanted to chase Usopp, but Kuro said, "No need—no one trusts him here anymore."
Kuro was right.
Usopp tried rallying the villagers, but all he got were scoldings and cold shoulders.
Especially after he explained everything to Kaya—she grew even more disappointed in him.
Feeling dejected, Usopp returned to the snack bar only to find Luffy and the crew eating and drinking there.
He stepped forward, stunned. "Luffy! I thought you were dead!"
Lynn scoffed, "He's just rubber. Have you ever seen rubber die from falling?"
Usopp sighed and sat down. "I guess not…"
"Hey, hey," Lynn said, shaking his head, "What kind of hero are you? So fragile, yet you brag about being a brave sea warrior."
Nami frowned. "Lynn, don't be so harsh…"
Lynn raised a hand to stop her. "Truth hurts, right?"
Usopp stood up. "What can I do? They're real pirates. I can't protect the villagers! But I won't let them hurt anyone here, even if it costs me my life tomorrow!"
Luffy laughed. "Don't worry, Usopp—we're here too!"
Usopp's eyes brightened. "Really? You'd help? That's great! Wuwuwu…"
Lynn pushed Usopp away, exasperated. "Don't wipe your snot on me. I didn't say I'd help. Just look at how you act—it pains me."
"Hmm?" Luffy asked, puzzled, "Lynn, aren't you joining the fight tomorrow?"
Lynn shook his head. "Luffy, we're pirates, not saints. Look around—this food is delicious, right?"
"Hmmmm!"
Lynn clapped his hands. "See? The shop owner showed us kindness. How could I let those pirates hurt him? But since we're free, of course we should beat those pirates up!"
"Sugoi!" Usopp said weakly, "But I already paid for the food!"
Lynn froze. That was a flaw in his logic—was that a slap in the face?
He turned to Usopp, narrowed his eyes, and said menacingly, "Do I have no dignity? Say that again if you dare."
Everyone burst out laughing.
Nami shook her head. "You just talk tough all the time."
Usopp hugged Lynn and shouted, "Arigato!"
"Damn it, don't wipe your snot on me—gross," Lynn groaned, feeling like he might collapse. "Usopp, are you hugging me to get revenge for what I said?"
"Ah! You caught me!!"
"Bastard…"
"Hahaha..."
-End Chapter-
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