"Ah, you're so noisy!" Nami finally lost her patience and yelled at the three terrified kids who were screaming nonstop.
But when the children saw her angry expression, they huddled together in fear.
"Ah! A demoness!"
"Hahaha!" Luffy laughed, waving his hands. "Don't worry, your Captain Usopp was just eating with us earlier. Something came up, so he left!"
The one with the onion-shaped head asked cautiously, "Really?"
Garlic Head suddenly remembered something. "I know! Usopp must've gone to tell stories to Miss Kaya!"
Luffy tilted his head. "What? So Usopp ditches his friends the moment he sees a pretty face, huh?"
Green Pepper Head immediately protested. "That's not true! Miss Kaya hasn't recovered from her parents' deaths, and she's been sick ever since. Usopp tells her stories every day — he's the reason she started smiling again!"
Garlic Head nodded fiercely. "Yeah! You're not allowed to talk bad about our Captain Usopp!"
Luffy gasped. "So Usopp's actually a good guy!"
Sandy patted Luffy on the shoulder. "Man, your ability to believe anything is terrifying. You're like the wind — instantly changing direction."
Nami quickly stepped in and asked, "This Miss Kaya you mentioned — is she the owner of that big mansion on the hill?"
When the kids nodded, Nami smiled slyly. "Can you take us to find Usopp?"
"Of course!" the kids said in unison.
Sandy sighed, glancing at Nami. The little thief cat truly lives up to her name — always scheming.
Luffy clapped his hands. "Alright, let's go find Usopp!"
At Kaya's Villa
On the hill, in the large, elegant villa, Miss Kaya stood by her window, listening to Usopp perched on a tree branch, telling yet another one of his dramatic stories.
"Kaya, do you know?" Usopp said proudly. "There once was a man — graceful, elegant, with sharp eyes and a heroic aura. His sword could move mountains, split the seas, and tear the world apart! That man was the author — so handsome, so overwhelmingly charming that even the gods felt jealous!"
Kaya nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling. "Mm-hmm, mm-hmm!"
Seeing her captivated, Usopp leaned closer and said mysteriously, "But there's someone even more handsome than the author. Do you know who it is?"
Kaya's eyes widened. "Even more handsome?! Who could that be? Tell me, Usopp!"
Usopp thought for a moment, then declared with exaggerated seriousness, "It's the readers! Once, I saw them — their handsomeness nearly blinded my 24K titanium-alloy dog eyes! They could punch the Four Emperors, kick the Marines, and with a wave of their hand, the Five Elders would kneel before them! Kaya, remember this — in this world, you can kill a Celestial Dragon, but never offend the readers. Got it?"
After saying that, Usopp wiped the sweat from his forehead dramatically and patted his chest in mock relief.
Kaya gasped softly. "Thank you, Usopp. I'll remember that."
Then she looked dreamily into the distance. Those legendary handsome men… how wonderful it would be to meet them someday...
Thinking of that, Kaya blushed and let out a shy little squeal. "Ah~!"
At that exact moment, Luffy and his crew arrived — just in time to hear Usopp talking about those "legendary handsome men."
Sandy couldn't help but think, Damn… knowing Usopp's luck, his lies might actually come true one day.
Luffy and the kids, however, were starstruck — their eyes shining brighter than headlights.
"Su-sugoi!!" Luffy shouted. "I really wanna meet them!"
Zoro crossed his arms. "Heh. Wouldn't mind meeting them myself."
Kaya spotted the group below and called softly, "Who are you?"
Nami smiled sweetly. "We're friends of Usopp! We came to ask if you might have a spare ship we could borrow!"
Sandy nearly facepalmed. Damn, this woman really has no shame. Asking for a ship the moment she walks in? Classic Nami.
Nearby, the butler Klahadore, who had been eavesdropping, stiffened. A ship? From Kaya? Hah! Soon, everything in this estate will be mine. Not a chance!
Unable to hold back, he stepped forward and interrupted their conversation.
"There are no ships for you here," Klahadore said coldly. "And Usopp, get down from that tree and leave. We don't welcome liars and braggarts like you!"
Usopp frowned. Something about this man always rubbed him the wrong way. His gut screamed danger.
"Why are you always targeting me, huh?"
Klahadore sneered. "Targeting you? Everyone in the village knows you're a liar who can't stop making things up. You're a Pirate's son — and a Pirate will always stay a Pirate."
His tone was cutting, cruel — and every word hit like a knife.
Usopp clenched his fists, furious. He jumped down from the tree and glared. "You can insult me all you want, but don't insult my father! He lives free and follows his heart — and I respect that!"
Klahadore smirked. "You think I care? Stop feeding Miss Kaya your ridiculous fantasies. Do you really think you can charm her and inherit her fortune with your lies?"
"Bastard!" Usopp snapped and punched him straight in the face, knocking him to the ground.
"Tch." Klahadore spat blood, smiling cruelly. "Typical. A Pirate's son — violent and savage. Can't argue, so you use your fists?"
"What did you say?!" Usopp lunged again, but Kaya's voice stopped him.
"Enough, Usopp!" she pleaded. "Violence doesn't solve anything. Please… just go home."
Usopp froze. Those words — especially from her — hurt more than any insult. His chest ached, but he could only bite his lip and step back.
Klahadore straightened his glasses and said coldly, "Leave. And don't ever come near the young lady again. The rest of you, get out too."
"Zoro, let me go!" Luffy shouted, struggling as Zoro held him back. "I'm gonna punch that damn butler's face in!"
"Hey, calm down," Zoro said firmly. "Don't make things worse."
Sandy stayed silent, studying Klahadore carefully. So that's him… Captain Kuro of the Hundred Plans.
He clenched his fists slightly. But now's not the time. We'll deal with him soon enough.