Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for only $7 to get early access to upcoming chapters!
> > Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations <<
________________________________________
Chapter 23: Captain Liar
Inside a restaurant with a sign that read 'MESHI'.
"What? So you're looking for a big ship and recruiting partners?"
At the dinner table, Usopp took a big gulp of his drink, his expression visibly relaxing.
Although they were facing four pirates, they clearly had no ill intentions towards the island.
Usopp wasn't against pirates. After all, his father, Yasopp, was a pirate who had gone to sea.
"Hey, which one of you is the captain?"
He asked curiously.
After hearing this, Luffy raised his hand, still holding a chicken leg, and said, "I am the captain."
"Ah… it's you…"
A hint of disappointment flashed in Usopp's eyes. He had assumed the fierce-looking green-haired man was the captain. The kid in front of him didn't seem very bright.
I'd rather be the captain... Usopp thought to himself.
"Hey! What kind of look is that?!" Luffy happened to see his expression and shouted in dissatisfaction.
"Uh… it's nothing." Usopp gave an awkward smile, abruptly changing the subject.
"Do you… do you have a bounty?"
Upon hearing this, Luffy immediately deflated. Even the food in his mouth lost its flavor, and he slumped dejectedly onto the table.
As the captain, he had yet to earn a bounty.
Nami chimed in, "Yes. Zoro and Ganyu are both pirates with a bounty of 10 million Berries."
"Wow! That's amazing!"
Upon hearing this, Usopp couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, turning to look at Zoro and Ganyu.
He wasn't surprised that the green-haired swordsman had a bounty; he was clearly a formidable character.
But the blue-haired girl next to him was beyond his expectations.
She looked as delicate as Kaya, exuding a noble and aloof aura. She even resembled a noble lady more than Kaya, with slender arms and legs that didn't suggest she was strong.
The only distinctive feature was the pair of small black and red horns on the top of her head.
"Are those horns on your head real, or just decorations?"
Usopp asked. Having never met real pirates before, he now had endless questions.
Ganyu smiled gently, picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks, and casually said, "It's real. Do you want to touch it?"
"Can I really touch it?"
To everyone's surprise, Usopp actually took it seriously. He swallowed hard and reached out his hand.
This made Ganyu stiffen, her pretty face becoming somewhat awkward.
It was all because of habits from her past life; she was really just being polite.
Fortunately.
"Damn it! Of course not!"
Just as Usopp's hand was about to touch Ganyu's horn, Luffy and Nami, looking furious, slapped it back.
"What are you trying to do to Ganyu?!" Nami protectively shielded Ganyu behind her, glaring at Usopp.
"Damn it, I haven't even touched them yet!" Luffy said indignantly.
Ganyu was shocked, looking at him in disbelief. She treated him like a brother, but she never expected this guy would actually try to touch her horns.
"Tch, I was just a little curious, why get so worked up?"
Faced with such strong resistance, Usopp reluctantly withdrew his hand, then looked up at the clock in the restaurant and suddenly became flustered.
"Oh no, it's time!"
The next moment, without even saying goodbye, he rushed out of the restaurant at an exaggerated speed and disappeared into the distance.
"..."
The four looked at each other, not really caring, and continued eating.
Anyway, Usopp was on this island, and they would meet again after he finished his business.
Soon after, three children stormed into the restaurant and came to their table.
"Where's Captain Liar? Why isn't he with you?"
"What have you done to our Captain Liar!"
In the morning, they and Usopp had tried to stop the four from landing, but Usopp was frightened and ran away after being exposed.
Later, seeing Usopp and the four of them enter the restaurant, they couldn't help but come over to check.
Zoro smirked, a mischievous thought forming in his mind.
"You mean that long-nosed guy? We ate him."
He gave a sinister look, which was truly frightening.
"Aaaaaaah!"
The three kids were immediately stunned, staring at the four people at the table with fear.
Nami sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation. "Hey, hey, don't scare the kids. What if you frighten them?"
"She-devil!"
Before she could even open her mouth, the children pointed at her and shouted.
Nami's forehead creased with annoyance. "What do you mean by cursing me? It's none of my business!"
"Aren't you all in cahoots?"
Luffy nodded. "Yeah, we're in the same group."
"So you're one of those who ate Captain Liar too!"
"Nami, what they said makes sense."
Thwack!
Nami slapped Luffy on the back of the head. "Why are you taking sides with outsiders! We didn't really eat anyone, you idiot!"
After a commotion.
After learning from the three children that Usopp was going to Kaya's mansion, Luffy decided to go there as well and try his luck with Kaya.
Ganyu suggested, "Let's go together and exchange the gold for banknotes."
"Yes, yes! And these feathers, sell them to her too!" Luffy nodded vigorously.
Normally, he listened to whatever Ganyu said. She was the first partner to acknowledge him as captain, and she also had superb barbecue skills. He practically owed his life to her.
Zoro stroked his chin, thinking for a moment, "So, we not only have to borrow a ship, but also trouble someone to exchange the gold for banknotes and buy our feathers?"
"..."
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.
That was really shameless. Why should they help so much when they weren't even related?
Seeing her companions hesitate, Ganyu spoke up: "It is indeed excessive to simply ask for help. But what if we can help her out as well?"
Everyone's eyes lit up; this was indeed a good idea.
"But how can we help a rich heiress?" Nami asked, troubled.
Ganyu smiled mysteriously, "Do you remember the large ship we saw when we approached this island?"
The three recalled that they had indeed seen a large, suspicious ship loitering near the island before they arrived.
"You mean, that ship's target is this island?"
Zoro had a flash of inspiration, guessing what Ganyu wanted to say.
"That's right."
Ganyu gave him an approving look. This brute seemed to have become quite clever after spending so much time with her.
"Their target for attacking this island must be only one thing: Kaya's mansion and property."
"If we drive them away, it will be like we've saved Kaya's life. Maybe she'll even give us a boat as a token of her gratitude?"
"It's complicated, but it sounds really good!" Luffy looked at Ganyu with admiration. She always had a solution when he encountered difficulties.
"You're being too idealistic."
Zoro frowned and shook his head. "How can we guarantee that the ship's target is this island?"
"Yeah, what if that ship was just passing by?" Nami also thought it was unlikely.
"So, wouldn't it be clear if we went to that ship and took a look?"
Ganyu was prepared for this. She grabbed Luffy's shoulder and gave the order:
"Luffy and Nami, take the gold and feathers to Kaya's mansion and ask her if she can lend us a ship."
"Zoro and I are going to the beach to investigate that suspicious ship."
Luffy, Nami, and Zoro were all taken aback for a moment. After careful consideration, they decided that the arrangement was feasible and nodded in agreement.
"Okay."