After leaving the Island of Rare Animals, the small boats sailed for most of the morning. They finally reached their next small island.
"Wow, we made it! It's actual land!" Luffy exclaimed.
Nami, holding the sea chart and compass, replied confidently, "Of course! Sailing by a chart like this is very simple for me!"
"Is there a village on the island?" Luffy asked.
"Yes, but it's a small one," Nami answered, looking at the map.
Stepping onto the land, Zoro couldn't help but sigh, "It really is different when you have a navigator."
It's well known that Zoro is directionally challenged and Luffy is an idiot. Navigation, a skill that requires brains, had nothing to do with them.
Heaven knows how much hardship those two had endured at sea. Without Buggy's three underlings, it was a miracle Zoro managed to sail alone and find Orange Town without getting lost.
Zoro set out to find the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk. However, because he got lost and couldn't find his way back to his village, he began hunting wanted criminals for bounty money, earning him the title "Pirate Hunter Zoro."
"One idiot, one directionally challenged guy, no food, no water, and no sturdy ship. The nerve of you two to set sail," Xinan complained while securing their small boat.
Hearing the term "directionally challenged," Zoro immediately took offense, a black shadow appearing over his forehead.
Luffy, who was called an idiot, didn't get angry. Instead, he laughed, "Alright, I've decided! We'll find a sturdy ship in the village, and we also need lots and lots of meat!"
From the bushes on the shore, several pairs of eyes watched Luffy and his companions.
"Onion, are they the pirates you were talking about?"
"Yes, they have a pirate symbol painted on their sails."
"Ah, my neck is stiff," Zoro lamented, rubbing his neck.
"That's because you were sleeping the whole time," Luffy retorted.
Chatting and laughing, the group walked toward the interior of the island.
Pah!
A small stone hit the ground in front of them.
"Halt, pirates!"
Usopp, who had been observing them for a while, made his entrance.
"I thought so! I had a strange feeling just now..." Zoro muttered, thumbing out one of the swords at his waist.
Xinan and Nami followed closely. Nami asked, "Who is this guy?"
Usopp crossed his arms over his chest and pompously announced, "I am the leader of the great pirate crew of this village, Usopp! People call me Captain Usopp!"
"I advise you to abandon your attack on this village. I have 80 million subordinates under my command!"
"A lie!" Nami, an expert liar herself, ruthlessly exposed Usopp.
"Ah! I've been exposed!" Usopp cried out, clutching his head. He truly had no skill at deception.
"You are only three people, and you just admitted it yourself," Nami said, showing no mercy.
"Damn it! I confessed without even being interrogated! This cursed military strategist!" Usopp shook his head repeatedly, trying to think of a solution. His three followers, however, had wisely abandoned their captain and fled the moment Nami exposed the lie.
Seeing this, Luffy burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! You're so funny!"
"Shut up! I have self-respect too!" Usopp immediately shouted.
"Captain, why are you talking so much? Just cut him down and attack the village," Xinan chimed in, finding the childish antics amusing.
"You, you wouldn't dare! ~" Usopp's voice was trembling, and his whole body was shaking from the feet up. Yet, he still stood with his arms crossed, blocking their path, and didn't immediately run away.
"Oh? You actually dare to stop us?" Zoro slightly pushed his sword out with his thumb.
Usopp looked like he was about to cry from fright.
"Alright, stop scaring him! We're just here to see if we can get a bigger ship!" Nami finally stepped forward, tired of the boys playing their boring game. In truth, she didn't want to waste time here.
"That's right! And to look for crewmates!" Luffy added.
Luffy recognized Usopp immediately, and soon, Luffy and Usopp were talking about Yasopp. At Usopp's insistence, the whole group sat down in a restaurant.
"A ship and crewmates, huh? Sounds like you're going on a big adventure!" Usopp said.
"Yeah, do you know where we can find a ship?" Luffy asked while eating.
"Speaking of a big ship, there's only one place in this village," Usopp said.
"Where?" Nami asked.
"There's a large manor belonging to a wealthy person in this village. I'm talking about the master of that place! But the master is a poor girl. She's weak and has to stay in bed all day," Usopp continued.
"Oh? Why is a girl like that the owner of such a place?" Nami asked curiously.
"Madam, another piece of meat, please!" yelled the meat-eating Luffy.
Zoro called out, "Give me some sake!"
Soon, the madam's young daughter brought over the food. She gave the meat and sake to Luffy and Zoro, and then handed a plate of fruit to Xinan.
"This is complimentary for you," the little girl said shyly and awkwardly to Xinan.
"Thank you," Xinan replied with a smile.
Xinan had exquisite, defined features, as if carved, yet not lacking in softness. Combined with his pale skin that seemed to emit a faint glow, his smile successfully captured the young girl's heart.
Except for Nami, Xinan had only encountered men for the past two days, so he hadn't fully realized the extent of his charming smile. The twelve or thirteen-year-old girl's eyes immediately turned into hearts, as did the madam's, who was peeking from the kitchen doorway.
As Luffy, Zoro, and Xinan were all preoccupied, Usopp, who was mid-story, shouted in exasperation, "Are any of you listening to me?!"
Nami stood up angrily.
Pah! Pah! Pah!
Xinan's head was struck twice, and Luffy's head was struck once.
Nami's punches of "love" instantly raised large lumps on the heads of both men, one a rubber man and the other a silicone man.
Both went down immediately!
It was less about Nami being angry at Xinan and Luffy for ignoring the conversation, and more about Nami being jealous.
"Alright! Continue," Nami said to Usopp, breathing out a sigh after venting.
"About a year ago, both of her parents died, and she inherited all their wealth. Despite her riches, her unfortunate background makes her very pitiful," Usopp genuinely sighed.
"Forget it!" Nami suddenly called out.
Rubbing the lump on his head, Xinan knew what Nami was thinking. Just like her principle, she only stole pirate treasure.
"Forget what?" Luffy asked curiously.
"I mean, let's not look for a ship here. Let's go look in another, bigger city!" Nami said directly.
"Yeah, we're not in a hurry anyway. Now that we've had meat, let's buy a bunch of food and go back!" Luffy said with a satisfied smile.
"What do you mean 'a bunch'?! I don't have that much money to buy food for you!" Nami immediately refuted Luffy.
"Don't be like that, Nami" Luffy shamelessly whined and acted cute.
"Speaking of which, aren't you guys looking for crewmates?" Usopp suddenly asked.
"What? Do you have a suitable candidate?" Zoro asked.
Usopp stuck out his thumb, pointing to himself, and said, "How about me?! I'll be your Captain!"
"I said, where are we planning to go next?" Xinan asked directly.
"Ask Nami, she'll know," Luffy replied.
"Mhm, let me check the map first," Nami said.
"Whatever else we need to buy, let's get it and leave," Zoro said.
"Hey! Hey! Don't just ignore me like that!!" Usopp yelled, going frantic on the side.
"We mean it, really," the group mumbled, looking down.
"Curse you!!" Usopp shouted angrily. "Oh no, is it that time already?!" He then instantly ran out.
"Did he run off because he was angry?" Nami wondered.
"That kind of person has terrible mental resilience," Luffy said, slamming the table. "Boss, more meat, please!"
"I wish you were that normal!!!" Nami shrieked, showing her sharp teeth.
...
On the village path, Xinan and the others walked toward the direction of the manor.
"Xinan, why are you wearing a mask on your face?" Luffy asked curiously, seeing the white mask Xinan wore.
"Because I'm too handsome," Xinan answered emotionlessly.
Hearing this, Luffy twisted his mouth to the side, looking displeased.
Xinan was indeed handsome, and Nami herself was completely smitten. However, after landing in Syrup Village today, they encountered women, and Nami quickly became unhappy. The women were practically throwing themselves at Xinan, and Nami didn't like it.
To hide Xinan's appearance, Nami had immediately found a mask for him to wear to avoid causing too much commotion.