Chapter 121: Syrup Village
East Blue - Near Syrup Village
The sun was bright, the sea breeze gentle.
A small Marine warship was anchored just offshore, resting like a sleeping leopard on the shimmering waves.
On deck, Roy stood at the bow, his Marine coat snapping in the wind. His eyes were deep, fixed on the lush green island ahead.
Behind him, two boys were arguing in hushed voices.
"Hey, Luffy, did you steal the snacks from the galley again?"
"I did not! You grabbed one first!"
"I took one! You ate three whole layers!"
"Shishishi~"
Ace, now 15, looked exasperated at his grinning, innocent-looking brother. He flicked Luffy on the forehead, hard enough to make him yelp and crouch down, holding his head.
Even in their play fighting, the changes in the two boys were striking.
Under the training of Garp and Roy, Ace had shed his boyishness. He was nearly six feet tall, lean and muscular, wearing his shirt open to reveal a defined chest and abs, his skin tanned a healthy bronze by the sun.
Luffy, at 12, had also grown, shooting past five feet. His once-scrawny limbs were filling out with muscle, and though he was still young, his physical strength was far beyond his age. He moved with boundless energy.
Roy watched the brothers bicker, a small, satisfied smile on his face.
"Those two... in a few years, even I'll have to watch my back around them."
Ace suddenly stopped and looked up at Roy. "Big Bro Roy, why are we here?"
He was curious. They had been sweeping up pirate remnants on their way back home, so this detour to a quiet village didn't make much sense.
Roy didn't answer immediately. He looked toward a large tree in the center of the distant village, his eyes flickering.
"Just wanted to see if someone... is worth it."
His tone was casual, but the words carried weight.
Ace and Luffy exchanged a look. They didn't get it, but they were used to Roy's cryptic ways, so they didn't push.
In a flash, Luffy bolted like a deer, shouting, "Let's gooo—! I wanna see if there's anything good to eat!"
"Hey! Stop running off! You stole the mayor's dried mangoes on Cocoa Island last time!!!" Ace yelled, chasing after him.
"I was just taste-testing!"
The brothers disappeared down a forest path, still arguing.
Roy chuckled, shaking his head, and followed them slowly, his long shadow blending into the dappled sunlight of the grass.
The wind blew, and smoke rose from the chimneys of the peaceful village.
Syrup Village - Town Square
Sunlight bathed the clean stone streets. The air smelled of fresh grass and laundry soap.
Under the shade of an old tree, laughter rang out.
"—And then, I charged into Marine Headquarters all by myself!"
A 12-year-old boy with a long nose and wild, curly hair stood in the center, hands on his hips. His goggles reflected the sun as he struck a dramatic pose. He looked like he was starring in his own one-man hero show.
"Three hundred Marines rushed at me, but I shouted—'STAND BACK!'"
He waved his arm so enthusiastically he almost hit himself.
"I punched them all flying, one by one!!! The whole ocean was shaking!"
Three little kids—Pepper, Carrot, and Onion—stared up at him, stars in their eyes.
"Woooow—!!! Captain Usopp is invincible!"
"Did you kick over a battleship, too?"
"Are you stronger than the legendary pirates?"
Usopp preened. He was about to embellish further when he spotted a village woman hanging laundry nearby. He immediately raised his voice.
"That's right! I am the brave warrior of the sea, Captain Usopp! And today, like every day—I am protecting the peace!!!"
He then ran three laps around the tree and collapsed, clutching his chest as if exhausted from battle.
The three kids panicked. "Captain Usopp! Don't diiiiieee!!"
From the shade of a nearby tree, three figures watched silently.
"This guy..." Ace's mouth twitched, pointing at his own head. "Is he... a little off?"
"Bwahahahaha!" Luffy was doubled over laughing. "I used to tell Grandma I beat up a whole mountain bandit gang when I was little! This guy is hilarious!!"
Roy said nothing. His gaze was fixed on Usopp's face—on the smile that was trying so hard to look proud.
"So this is 'Sniper King' Usopp..."
"The son of Yasopp, from the Red-Hair Pirates."
"Abandoned by his father, lost his mother to illness, grew up alone... A boy who lies every day just to tell himself he still has courage..."
Suddenly, Usopp froze. He felt a massive shadow fall over him.
"C-Captain... behind you..." Pepper stammered, pointing.
"Wh-what is it? Why do you look so scared—" Usopp turned mechanically, his neck creaking.
And he saw—
A tall man in black military boots, a Marine Vice Admiral's coat draped over his shoulders, standing with his hands behind his back, looking down at him calmly.
"M-M... MARINE?!!!"
"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
Usopp's face went white. His legs turned to jelly. His goggles fell off, his eyes bugged out, and his jaw hit the floor.
"I'm sorryyyyy—I'm not a pirate!!!"
He fell to his knees, bowing frantically, his screams of self-preservation echoing through the village. "I was lying! I was just lying! I never fought the Marines!!!"
Roy: "..."
Ace was shaking, trying not to laugh. He slapped Luffy's shoulder. "Were you this pathetic when you were little?"
Luffy was already rolling on the ground. "BWAHAHAHA—He's just like me!!!"
Usopp was on the ground, crying snot and tears. Pepper and the others were huddled together in terror, thinking the Marines were there to arrest "Captain Usopp."
Roy slowly crouched down.
Usopp flinched, expecting the "Fist of Justice," but instead heard a soft chuckle.
"You're just a brave kid... who hasn't learned how to 'tell the truth' yet."
Usopp froze, snot still hanging from his nose, his face a mix of fear and surprise.
"I... I'm not a real pirate..." his voice trembled, sounding aggrieved.
Roy didn't move. He just looked at him quietly, the pressure gone from his eyes, replaced by a searching look.
"What's your name?" Roy asked calmly.
"U-Usopp..." he stammered.
"Is that so?" Roy's gaze shifted. "Usopp... the 'Brave Warrior of the Sea'?"
Usopp's eyes widened. "Y-You heard that?!"
Roy didn't answer. His gaze dropped to Usopp's small, clenched fist.
It was sweaty and white-knuckled, but he hadn't let go.
"Usopp. Do you know what being a 'real pirate' actually means?"
♧♧♧
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
♧♧♧
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais
(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you