Chapter 72: Division
"Usopp, don't move yet. You're hurt too badly," Chopper pleaded, tending to his wounds with all the care he could muster.
"Alright, alright, don't worry, Chopper! But—what about Luffy and the others?" Usopp asked, still restless even as he lay down.
"Uh… that's…" Chopper hesitated, fidgeting, unable to answer.
"What's wrong? We got the 200 million back, didn't we? Then there's nothing left to worry about!" Usopp said firmly, trying to brush it off.
But Chopper's silence told a different story.
By the time Usopp began to sense something was wrong, Luffy and the others—except Robin—entered the room.
With a sinking feeling, Usopp forced the question out.
"Hey, Luffy… we recovered the 200 million, right? So we should still have 300 million total… Don't tell me—you didn't get it back?"
"Sorry, Usopp," Luffy admitted, scratching his head. "By the time we stormed Franky House, Franky was already gone with the money." He tried to keep his usual carefree tone, but it landed flat.
Usopp's face paled. His voice trembled.
"Th-Then what about Merry? Our Going Merry… our comrade—can she be fixed?"
Luffy pulled out a catalog he had received from Galley-La, flipping through its pages without looking up.
"Well… they said Merry can't sail anymore. But don't worry! With the money we've got left, maybe we can buy a bigger ship—maybe even better than Merry!"
Silence fell over the crew. Even Zoro, Sanji, Nami, and Chopper said nothing.
Usopp clenched his fists, forcing the words out, as if convincing himself.
"So… it's because we don't have enough money, right? I lost the 200 million, and now—"
"No! That's not it at all," Luffy interrupted, shaking his head.
"Then what is it, huh?!" Usopp's voice rose, cracking. "If it's not the money, then why?! Or is it me? Are you saying this just because of me?"
"I'm not thinking about you!" Luffy snapped back. "This has nothing to do with money anymore!"
"Then why are you talking about replacing her?! Answer me!"
Zoro stepped between them, his voice sharp.
"Enough! Both of you, calm down!"
But Usopp was far past reason.
"Calm down?! How can I calm down when my captain—the one who's supposed to protect this crew—talks about throwing away our ship like it's nothing?!"
"I didn't say it lightly!" Luffy roared back. "Do you think I didn't struggle with this?! Do you think I didn't care?!"
"Then stop shoving that stupid catalog in my face and talking about buying another ship!"
Usopp ripped the booklet from Luffy's hands and threw it to the floor.
Luffy's face darkened. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
"What am I doing?!" Usopp spat. "What are you doing to Merry?! She's not done yet—she can still sail! And you want to abandon her?! Tell me why! Tell me what gives you the right to say she's finished?!"
"Merry can't go on anymore!" Luffy's voice cracked with anger and pain. "She can't be repaired—she can't sail again!"
The words hit Usopp like a cannonball. His heart sank, but he fought back, pounding the floor as if sheer will could change reality.
"No… no, you're wrong! Merry's still alive! I won't let you say otherwise!"
"This ship! The very ship we're standing on! The miracle ship that carried us to Skypiea! The ship that braved Reverse Mountain!" Usopp's voice cracked as he screamed.
"I know that!" Luffy shouted back, veins bulging. "I know Merry better than anyone! But that's why I'm telling you—she can't sail anymore! Every single shipwright at Galley-La said so!"
"Galley-La…?" Usopp's eyes widened with disbelief.
"You damn fool, Luffy! You'd throw away Merry just because some money-grubbing craftsmen told you to? Why can't you trust Merry instead?! She's still running fine—she's been with us all the way until today!"
He wasn't finished. His voice trembled with fury and grief as he pressed on.
"Merry is our crewmate! Tell me, Luffy—was that all a comrade meant to you?"
That word—comrade—struck like lightning. For Luffy, nothing cut deeper.
"So that's how it is, huh?!" Usopp roared, his eyes burning. "When a comrade becomes weak, you just throw them away? That's how you treat your nakama, Luffy?!"
Bang!
The room shook as Luffy slammed his fist into the wall, his face dark with rage.
"What did you just say? Say it again…"
"I'll say it as many times as you want!" Usopp bellowed, tears in his eyes. "You throw away your comrades when they're weak! That's the kind of captain you are!"
"That's not true!" Luffy's voice cracked, heavy with pain.
"But it is! You've already been swayed by those shipwrights, haven't you?! Deep down, you're thrilled at the idea of sailing a bigger, newer ship, aren't you?!"
"They're experts!" Luffy retorted, his fists trembling.
"We came to Water 7 for their judgment—because we couldn't tell ourselves! Did you forget that?!"
"Experts? Don't make me laugh! They're merchants! Of course they'll say anything to make us buy a new ship! Spouting words we can't even understand!"
"That's not it!"
"Then what is it, huh?! Merry can't run anymore so we just abandon her?!" Usopp's voice faltered, but then he shouted through gritted teeth: "If that's how it is, then you can abandon me too—!"
Crash!
Sanji's foot connected with Usopp's face, sending him sprawling.
"Usopp!" Sanji's voice shook with anger.
"Sanji…" Usopp groaned, clutching his cheek.
"What the hell are you trying to say, Usopp?!" Sanji barked, his eyes blazing.
A bitter laugh escaped Usopp's lips. "Heh… so that's how it is. To you guys, Merry's worth is only that much, huh? Figures…"
Slowly, painfully, Usopp pushed himself to his feet and staggered toward the door.
"Where are you going, Usopp?" Nami's voice trembled.
"I… I'm leaving the crew. But I won't give up on Merry. If you're throwing her away, then I'll take her instead."
He turned his head toward Luffy, meeting his captain's eyes one last time.
"Luffy. Tonight, at 10 o'clock. You and me—a duel. I'll take Merry… fair and square."
And with that, Usopp left the Straw Hat crew behind.
....
At the promised hour, Luffy stood silently before the Going Merry, fists clenched. His expression was heavy, his heart heavier still.
Usopp arrived, his body battered but his spirit burning. He had spent all day crafting his strategy—the "Anti-Luffy Tactics." He would use every trick at his disposal:
Bluffing to throw Luffy off guard.
Feigning weakness to stir sympathy.
Weapons powered by Skypiea dials.
Blinding powders, foul stench, burning pepper—all to break Luffy's focus.
Relentless bombs, blades, and traps.
He knew Luffy better than anyone else. He knew his captain's strengths—and his weaknesses.
But the battle… lasted only seconds.
Usopp's taunt had barely left his lips when Luffy's emotions—swallowed by rage and sorrow—boiled over. With a roar, he launched a Gomu Gomu no Pistol fueled by all the weight of their memories.
Usopp had no time to react. No trick, no bluff, no gadget could save him.
The blow connected.
And just like that, the fight was over.
--------------------
Want to read 20 advance chapters ahead?
Go to my patreon: patreon.com/Kinglass