"So her name is Kaya, you know her!!"
Luffy immediately grinned, "Then can you take us there?"
"I won't take you there!"
Usopp's mouth kept moving, refusing with great assertiveness, but his face grew paler and paler.
A drop of sweat began to trickle down his forehead.
[What's going on?! Why can't I control my mouth? Why am I speaking the truth?!]
He was extremely panicked inside, but his mouth, completely unresponsive to his commands, kept betraying him:
"Kaya is a very good girl. She can't be corrupted by pirates. I absolutely cannot let you foolish, brainless-looking pirates disturb her peaceful life."
After saying this, Usopp couldn't stop himself from gaping.
[What am I even saying?! Someone save me, please!!!]
His face was mottled with green and blue, and his eyes rolled completely back.
"Hey!! You, who are you calling foolish, brainless pirates?!!"
Luffy immediately became displeased. Why was this long-nosed guy speaking so harshly?!
"So that's it, it has the effect of making the other person speak the truth?"
Zoro and Nami took in Usopp's demeanor, way of speaking, and content, and pretty much understood the effect of that candy.
tool/item: [truth serum pill].
Description: Eating this candy-like pill will make a person only speak the truth.
This was a tool/item Link had drawn while sailing the sea, and so far, the effect seemed pretty good.
The two looked at Link, who had put away the candy, and couldn't help but show expressions of relief.
After all, no one wanted to blurt out their innermost thoughts.
Especially Nami. If she had eaten the candy, her hidden secrets might have been exposed too.
She couldn't help but make a decision, "I must stay far away from Link!!"
In Nami's eyes, Link had clearly become the most dangerous person on the entire ship; the mission to retrieve the treasure was arduous and long.
As for that candy, although Luffy had also eaten it, given their Idiot Captain's personality, you couldn't expect him to lie.
Whether he ate it or not, it made no difference.
However… "Foolish, brainless pirates?"
Zoro and Nami also simultaneously glared at Usopp with unfriendly eyes.
They had heard this lying long-nosed man's assessment of them very clearly!
"Ah, no, I…"
Usopp stammered, trying to say something, but with his mouth refusing to obey him, he once again said something he shouldn't have, and was given two solid punches by Luffy.
And so, Usopp, with two bumps on his head, was led by a displeased Luffy towards Kaya's residence.
Usopp was in despair.
He absolutely didn't want to lead the way, but behind him, Link kept asking about Kaya's whereabouts.
His mouth, uncooperative, would actively reveal the location, and if he intentionally took the wrong path, he would be dragged back by Luffy, leaving him with an expression of utter hopelessness.
Usopp clearly realized something was wrong with him. He wanted to cover his mouth, but even when covered, sounds still managed to escape through the gaps between his fingers.
Usopp: "…"
I'm tired, let's just end it all!
Under such strange circumstances, the five people straightforwardly headed towards Kaya's residence.
The residents of Syrup Village, waiting for Usopp's usual bragging, were very surprised by his lateness, or rather, his absence today.
Kaya's villa was not far from the village, but it was built at the highest point of the island, offering the best and most expansive views.
With Usopp leading the way, Link and his group quickly arrived at the main gate.
"Mr. Usopp?!"
Kaya, wearing a coat, watering flowers, with short blonde hair and a sickly pale complexion, saw Usopp at the gate. She was first startled, then immediately showed a joyful look.
"Why are you so early today? Shouldn't you be in the village waking everyone up?"
Kaya walked over, both surprised and puzzled, but before she could take two steps forward, she was stopped.
"Please mind your health, Miss."
The mansion's butler, dressed in a straight, long black suit, gently said, adjusting his round glasses with his palm.
"…It's alright, Mr. Klahadore. Mr. Usopp isn't a bad person."
Kaya knew that her seemingly strict but inwardly gentle butler, due to his constant concern for her health and the wealthy philosophy entrusted to him by her deceased parents, essentially prevented her from interacting with Usopp.
She had tried to mediate, but her butler, Klahadore's, attitude seemed very firm.
This led to Usopp usually climbing a big tree to talk to her on the second floor when he came over.
This was the first time he had come directly to the front gate.
"I don't know if he's a bad person, but I know the people behind him…"
Butler Klahadore looked at the several people following Usopp, his gaze flickering.
Especially on Zoro, his gaze lingered for a few seconds.
"None of them are easy to deal with."