The streets of Syrup Village were quiet, but a secret operation was underway. Three small figures, their faces masks of childish seriousness, were sneaking through the alleyways. It was Piiman, Ninjin, and Tamanegi—the Usopp Pirates—on a mission to rescue their captain.
"Okay, the enemy tavern is just ahead," Piiman whispered, peeking from behind a barrel. "They're holding the Captain hostage in there. We need to be careful."
"They have the Pirate Hunter, Zoro, with them," Tamanegi added, his voice trembling. "I heard he eats people for breakfast!"
Fear gripped them, but loyalty spurred them on. They crept to the restaurant window and peeked inside. The scene was horrifying. The Straw Hat pirates were there, laughing and eating. The infamous Zoro was sitting right there, looking menacing even while chewing. But their captain… was gone.
Their worst fears were realized.
"They… they ate him!" Ninjin wailed.
With a collective, tearful war cry, the three boys burst through the restaurant door, armed with slingshots and wooden bats. "GIVE US BACK OUR CAPTAIN!"
Luffy and Nami stared at them, completely bewildered. Zoro just looked up from his plate, annoyed.
"Oh, the long-nosed guy?" he said with a deadpan expression. "He was delicious."
The three boys broke down into hysterical sobs. "NOOOO! CAPTAIN USOPP!"
"Zoro, stop teasing them!" Nami scolded, then turned to the boys. "Your captain is fine. He just left a little while ago."
After calming down and being given some juice, the Usopp Pirates explained their captain's routine.
"He probably went to the mansion on the hill," Piiman said.
"He goes there every day," Ninjin added. "To see Miss Kaya. She's been sick for a long time."
Tamanegi finished, his eyes shining with admiration. "The Captain goes to tell her his grand stories of adventure! He's the only one who can make her laugh!"
Luffy listened, a wide grin spreading across his face. A liar who told stories to make a sick girl happy. In his mind, that was the definition of a good guy.
At that very moment, in a lavish, sunlit bedroom in the mansion on the hill, Kaya was looking out her window, a sad, listless expression on her pale face. Her butler, Klahadore, stood stiffly behind her.
"Miss Kaya," he said, his voice smooth but cold as steel. "I must insist that you cease these meetings with that boy, Usopp."
"But Klahadore…" Kaya began, "his stories are the only thing that cheers me up."
"He is a liar, Miss Kaya. A ruffian from the village who tells vulgar, unbelievable tales," Klahadore said, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Your late father entrusted me with your care. It is my duty to protect you from such unsavory influences. I have stationed two bodyguards at the front gate. He will not be getting in today."
He gave a slight bow. "Please, rest. It is for your own good."
As the butler exited the room, closing the door with a soft click, Kaya sighed, a single tear rolling down her cheek. Another lonely day stretched before her.
A rustling sound came from the tree just outside her second-story window.
She looked up, and a familiar, long-nosed face popped into view, grinning from ear to ear.
"Yoo-hoo! Kaya! Did you miss the great Captain Usopp?"
Kaya gasped, her sadness instantly replaced by a joyful surprise. "Usopp-san! How did you get up here?"
"Hahaha! Nothing can keep me away!" Usopp boasted as he climbed onto her windowsill. "The bodyguards at the gate? My army of 80 million followers created a diversion! And now, I am here to tell you of my latest grand adventure!"
He sat down, and began to weave his tale. "So there I was, sailing through the treacherous Calm Belt, when my ship was swallowed by a goldfish! Not just any goldfish, mind you, this one was the size of a country! I was stranded on what I thought was an island for a week… until I realized it was actually the giant goldfish's poop!"
Kaya's initial, polite smile broke. A small giggle escaped her lips, which then blossomed into a full, heartfelt laugh, a sound that filled the sterile room with life and warmth. It was a sound Klahadore would have never approved of.
Back at the restaurant, Luffy stood up, his decision made. "Alright! Let's go to that mansion!"
"What for?" Nami asked, suspicious.
"Two reasons!" Luffy declared, holding up two fingers. "First, we need a ship, and that rich lady might give us one! Second, I want to meet this Usopp guy's friend!"
The Usopp Pirates cheered, thrilled that these real pirates seemed to approve of their captain.
They arrived at the massive iron gates of the mansion. While the others looked for a bell, Luffy simply stretched his arms, grabbed the top of the gate, and launched himself over.
"Hey! Wait for us!"
Inside, a servant with a sheep-like face and woolly hair named Merry saw Luffy land. He yelped and ran inside. "Mr. Klahadore! Intruders! Someone just climbed over the front gate!"
Klahadore, who was polishing silverware, didn't even look up. "Impossible. I have two highly trained bodyguards stationed there."
"About that, sir…" Merry stammered. "They appear to be… on their lunch break."
Klahadore's hand froze, a look of immense irritation on his face.
Back in Kaya's room, Usopp was at the climax of his story. "…and so, I fed the giant goldfish to a tribe of dwarves I discovered living in a teacup!"
"That's amazing, Usopp-san!" Kaya said, clapping her hands lightly.
"CAPTAIN USOPP!"
Suddenly, the three Usopp Pirates burst into the room from the balcony, followed closely by Luffy.
"Wha-what are you guys doing here?!" Usopp yelped, panicking.
"We heard you were great, so we decided to come and join your crew!" Piiman shouted, trying to follow a script Usopp had clearly taught him.
"That's a lie," Luffy said immediately, pointing at Usopp. "We just met you."
Usopp froze, a look of horror on his face. Luffy then walked right up to the stunned Kaya.
"Hey! You're the rich, sick lady, right?" he asked bluntly. "My name's Luffy. Can you give us a big ship? We need one to go to the Grand Line."
Before Kaya could even process the request, a cold voice cut through the air.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Klahadore was standing in the doorway, his eyes burning with fury behind his glasses. He strode into the room, his presence casting a chilling shadow.
"I will not give you a ship, or anything else for that matter. All of you will leave this property at once."
He then fixed his cold, contemptuous gaze on Usopp.
"And you. I knew you were a degenerate liar, but I didn't realize you were in the habit of bringing other ruffians into this house. Then again, what more can I expect…"
He paused, letting the cruelty hang in the air.
"…from the son of a filthy pirate."
The room fell silent. Usopp's cheerful demeanor vanished, replaced by a tense, guarded look.
"What do you want from her, boy?" Klahadore continued, his voice dripping with venom. "Money? Is that it? Are you trying to trick this poor, naive girl out of her inheritance?"
"Klahadore, stop it!" Kaya said, her voice trembling with anger. "Don't you dare speak to Usopp-san like that!"
The butler completely ignored her. He sneered at Usopp. "Look at you, silent now. Lost for words? Why don't you just tell one of your usual, pathetic lies? Or is it too difficult to lie about being the son of a low-life pirate who abandoned his family to go play dress-up on the sea?"
That was the last straw.
Usopp had tolerated the insults against himself. He had tolerated the accusations and the contempt. But his father was a line that could not be crossed.
His fear was completely consumed by a white-hot rage.
POW!
He lunged forward and punched Klahadore square in the jaw. It wasn't a strong punch, not like Luffy's, but it was filled with every ounce of his furious pride. Klahadore stumbled back, a look of utter shock on his face.
Usopp stood over him, his whole body trembling, tears of anger in his eyes.
"Don't you dare… insult my father," he growled, his voice thick with emotion.
"He left the village and went out to sea! He's a brave warrior of the ocean! I am proud to be the son of a pirate!"