However, since they were already here, Usopp tearfully made enough food for three people.
Usopp had been living alone since his mother passed away. He could still cook, but don't expect it to be delicious. As long as it was edible, that was fine.
While cooking, he pointed at the large black bag struggling in the shadows and asked, "That... do we need to have it for her?"
"No, she doesn't eat what we eat," Zoro said directly. "When we were at the Sea Restaurant before, I tried to get her to eat meat, but it seems like she doesn't really want to eat anything other than human flesh."
Human...
Human flesh?!
Usopp's eyes widened. "Eating human flesh!"
"Ah, it's because she's a ghost," Luffy said calmly, as if there was nothing strange about it.
"You... you, you're carrying a ghost around with you?!" Usopp had already been surprised enough today, but it seemed that wasn't the end of it. He pointed at Luffy and said, "Are you guys crazy?"
Usopp had seen ghosts before and knew what they were capable of. Hearing that Luffy and Zoro were actually carrying a ghost with them seemed unbelievable.
"Nami is different from other ghosts," Luffy said.
"Idiot, how is she different?" Zoro interjected. "It's just your imagination. She was trying to eat you yesterday."
"I should say, she's still thinking about eating you guys right now..." Looking at the struggling black bag, Usopp twitched the corner of his mouth.
"However..." Zoro suddenly stroked his chin, looking thoughtful. "It seems that compared to before, Nami has become less aggressive."
Usopp continued to look at the large black bag, feeling that Zoro had redefined the meaning of 'less aggressive.'
"It's because Nami has been sleeping," Luffy said. "It'll be easier once she wakes up."
"Who do you think you are?" Zoro squinted.
The topic of Nami continued through mealtime. Since Luffy kept asking for meat, Usopp simply stewed some. However, he had underestimated Luffy's appetite. Watching Luffy frantically stuff food into his mouth, Usopp was speechless again.
"It looks like only Kaya can afford to host you two," Usopp couldn't help but say.
"Is it that girl from before?" Luffy asked.
"Yeah, but don't go thinking about going now," Usopp shot Luffy a side glance. "Her cousin is coming today, don't embarrass yourself."
"Speaking of which..."
Usopp suddenly paused as he said this. He remembered something Kaya had said before and felt a sense of unease.
"Kaya said her cousin has some kind of skin condition and can't be exposed to the sun for too long...?"
"?!"
Luffy didn't think much of it at first, but Zoro's pupils dilated. "Isn't that a ghost!"
"No, it can't be..." Usopp said unconfidently. "Ghosts can't survive in sunlight, can they? Kaya said he can't be exposed to the sun for too long."
"Who knows what method he uses," Zoro said grimly. "Since Uncle Kaido said there are clues here, we can't ignore anything that might be related to ghosts." He then looked at Usopp again. "Kaya is your friend, right? If her cousin is really a ghost, you should know what her fate would be."
Usopp: "!"
He suddenly stood up, feeling that what Zoro said made sense. No matter what, they had to go and see!
"Alright! Then let's go!" Luffy was the first to rush out.
Usopp quickly followed. "Don't run so fast! Do you even know where Kaya's house is!"
Zoro glanced at Nami, who was still wrestling with ropes and the black bag, then at Luffy, who had already rushed out. He sighed again for his future prospects and slowly followed the two.
Usopp led the two of them on a wild run, and they soon arrived near Kaya's house.
Kaya's home was indeed that of a renowned wealthy family. In a small town like Cocoyasi Village, it occupied a rather good location, and there were no other houses nearby. It was purely for a rich person to experience country living.
There were many bodyguards around the house. They didn't react much when they saw Usopp, as he was a frequent visitor. However, when they saw the two behind him, especially Zoro with his swords, they immediately became vigilant.
But the three of them were too fast. Before they could react further, they had already pushed open the villa door.
"Kaya!"
Usopp burst through the door and shouted. His previously anxious face instantly showed wide, buggy eyes.
This was because the bloody scene he had imagined hadn't occurred.
Kaya was sitting in front of a man who looked very elegant and frail. The man was holding a book, and Kaya's expression was very happy.
"Usopp?" Kaya looked surprised at Usopp's sudden entrance. "Didn't you say... your friends were coming?"
"Uh..." Usopp stood dazed on the spot. At this moment, Luffy and Zoro also peeked out. Luffy grinned, "Hello, my name is Monkey D. Luffy, and I'm Usopp's friend."
Kaya said flusteredly, "H-hello, I'm Kaya."
Zoro didn't greet them immediately. Instead, he stared at the man. He felt something was off about this man. Although he looked completely different from a ferocious ghost, his expression was... too calm.
Normally, seeing three people suddenly burst into one's home would cause some surprise, right? But this man maintained a calm expression from beginning to end, as if the people who entered were not humans, but insects.
"Ah, yes, it's just that my friends insisted on seeing what a rich person's house looks like, so... haha..." Usopp chuckled awkwardly, feeling relieved in his heart.
It seemed that Kaya's cousin wasn't the kind of ferocious, man-eating ghost he had imagined.
If he were a ghost, wouldn't he have gone for the flesh and blood of the person in front of him?
"Kaya, is this the Usopp you mentioned before?" the man asked.
"Yes, he's a very good friend of mine," Kaya said, then looked at Luffy and Zoro behind Usopp, unsure how to introduce them.
Zoro, on the other hand, didn't care about such niceties. He directly said, "Sir, would you be interested in coming outside? I have something to say to you."
"That's rude, Zoro!" Usopp quickly turned and shouted.
Kaya's expression also soured, as she knew her cousin couldn't be exposed to the sun frequently.
But Zoro didn't care about their expressions. He only looked at the man.
This man...
There was definitely something wrong with him.
Upon seeing him, the man instinctively covered his chest. Although it was only for a moment, it was noticed by Zoro, who had been watching him closely.
----
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