Chapter 8: The Long-Nosed Liar and the Black Cat Pirates
Morning light spilled across the deck. After the four worked together, most of last night's mess had been cleaned up. They stood side by side at the railing, brushing teeth and washing faces in perfect sync.
Once done, Sol tied on an apron in the galley. Eggs sizzled in the pan, ham fragrance blending with rich coffee drifting through the cabin.
Nami sat at the bow, navigation chart spread across her lap. Her slender fingers traced ocean current lines. "Hmm… we should be right around here…" She glanced at the sky, then toward the kitchen. "Hey, Sol! Double sugar in my coffee—"
"Got it, princess," Sol called back without turning, then slapped Luffy's stretched rubber hand hard as it sneaked toward the food. "No stealing."
"Ow! Busted!"
On the other side, Zoro scowled while dragging a mop. Luffy ran around the deck with a rag tied like a cape. "I'm Cleaning Man! Whoosh—whoosh—"
"Idiot! You're making it dirtier!" Zoro's roar scattered a flock of seagulls.
Nami facepalmed. "Is this guy an actual moron?"
After breakfast, the four stepped onto the beach to explore the forest ahead. "Is there a village up there, Nami?" Zoro asked casually.
Nami nodded. "Yeah, I checked the chart. There's a village ahead—let's go take a look."
"Hold it right there! Who are you people? If you're pirates, forget about attacking this village—my 8,000 men won't let you get away with it!" A guy with thick lips, curly black hair, and a very prominent long nose blocked their path.
"Who's this guy? You know him?" Zoro lazily scratched his ear.
Nami answered instantly. "Nope. Never seen him."
"Sugoi—!" Luffy's eyes sparkled. His rubber arm shot out, grabbing Usopp's shoulders and shaking him wildly. "You're a pirate too?! 8,000 crewmates—that's awesome!"
Usopp's head spun from the shaking. "Y-Yeah! I'm the famous Captain Usopp of the Usopp Pirates… probably…" His voice trailed off weaker and weaker.
"Wait—you're a pirate too?" Usopp asked back, legs trembling uncontrollably.
Sol stepped forward and patted his shoulder. "That's right, Long-Nose. Hurry up and bring out your 8,000 men. They hiding in the forest behind you?"
Usopp's face went pale. At that moment, three kids burst from the bushes yelling, "Let go of Captain Usopp!"
Only then did Luffy and the others learn the long-nosed guy's name was Usopp.
"8,000 men? If they're all these three potatoes, yeah—that's terrifying, hahaha!" Zoro burst out laughing at the sight of the kids.
Nami and the others joined in, howling with laughter. Usopp's lie was exposed. Terrified, he still shakily raised his slingshot at them.
"If you want to pillage and burn, you'll have to step over my dead body!" Usopp shouted, then threw a smoke bomb and fled with the three kids.
"Cough cough cough! That bastard… mixed chili powder in the smoke!" Zoro's eyes watered, nearly dropping his swords.
Nami covered her mouth and nose, eyes red. "He's absolutely… paying for this…"
"Sky Dragon's—" Sol inhaled deeply, chest expanding, "—Roar!!"
A violent hurricane blasted the smoke away in an instant. Countless steel pellets swarmed like angry bees!
"Gum-Gum Balloon!"
Luffy sucked in air, belly inflating into a round ball. The pellets pinged off his rubber skin and ricocheted wildly back. Usopp stared at the steel beads embedded in trees, sweating buckets. "Are these two monsters? One spits crazy wind, the other can inflate his body however he wants…"
Luffy raised his hand, noting the distance. "That guy's a sniper? He shot from that far with just a slingshot."
Sol frowned inwardly. "Usopp's acting weird. Attacks us out of nowhere right after meeting—something's off." He leaped forward in a single bound.
When Usopp realized one person was missing and turned—he found Sol smiling right behind him, fist already raised.
"Ow!" Usopp clutched the huge lump on his forehead.
Sol blew on his knuckles. "Seriously, you've been monologuing nonstop since we met. What's your deal?"
Sol explained they were just looking for a village on the island to resupply—no hostile intent. Why the instant hostility?
Usopp finally relaxed—it was all a misunderstanding. He explained sheepishly, "Sorry… I thought you were underlings of 'Klahadore' Kuro."
"'Hundred Plans' Kuro?" Nami flipped open her wanted poster book. "Bounty 16 million Berries. Didn't he die three years ago in a Marine raid?"
"No way!" Usopp suddenly got fired up. "I saw him with the Black Cat Pirates two days ago! Jango the hypnotist even called him 'Captain Kuro'!"
His voice dropped. "But since that day… Kuro hasn't shown up. Kaya said he went to buy supplies…"
The three kids suddenly chimed in, spilling all of Usopp's secrets.
Onion-head: "Too bad Captain Usopp yells 'Pirates are coming!' every day—no one believes him anymore~"
Pepper-head: "This time he said Kaya's butler is a pirate… almost got beaten to death by villagers who owe Klahadore favors."
Radish-head: "So Captain Usopp patrols every landing spot with us, trying to protect the village alone. It's really touching!"
Luffy stared at Usopp's face. "You're actually a pretty good guy. And you look familiar… Do you know Yasopp?"
"Huh? Luffy—you know my dad?!" Usopp's eyes lit up instantly.
"Yep! Hahaha—he's the sniper in Shanks' crew. His shooting's insane—never misses!" Luffy said nostalgically.
Before long, Luffy and Usopp were chatting like old brothers, arms around shoulders, cheering.
"Alright! Once I expose Kuro's plot, I'll join your pirate crew—as captain!" Usopp struck a cool pose.
"I'm the captain," Luffy shot down instantly.
"Then vice-captain?" Usopp tried.
"Beat me first, Long-Nose," Sol teased, flames flickering in his hand.
"No no no—I'll just be the sniper!" Usopp waved frantically. This guy looked terrifying—better keep his life intact.
At that moment, a pirate ship appeared in the distance, anchoring offshore. Kuro led the Black Cat Pirates marching toward them.
Kuro glanced at his first mate Jango. "Remember my orders. I'll head back first—you and the crew slaughter everyone on the island, then hypnotize Kaya into writing a will leaving everything to me."
"Got it, Captain Kuro. Looks like there are a few people standing over there," Jango replied, spotting Sol's group.
"If there are people, just kill them. Why tell me? You're the captain of the Black Cat Pirates now," Kuro said, pushing up his glasses.
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