~ Thank you, We've hit 200 Powerstones. This is the Bonus Chapter~
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~ I've added this fanfic to my Patreon — there are 18 Advanced chapters available! If you're interested, check it out below!
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Syrup Village, outside the gates of the most prominent mansion.
Rowen and the others had been led here by Usopp's three "subordinates"—Piiman, Ninjin, and Tamanegi.
The kids had found them just as Rowen's group was about to leave the restaurant, initially fearing their Captain Usopp had been harmed by these pirates.
After learning Luffy knew Usopp's father, the three kids readily brought them here.
Rowen was happy to have guides.
"Whoa, it's huge!" Luffy exclaimed, staring up at the mansion before them.
"It certainly is," Rowen agreed.
Building such a large and luxurious mansion in this relatively poor village... no wonder Kuro targeted it.
"If the Captain disappears around this time, he's definitely here," Tamanegi stated confidently.
"What does he do here?" Luffy asked curiously.
"Tells lies," Ninjin replied bluntly.
"That's not right, is it?" Nami commented, feeling Usopp was setting a bad example for the kids.
"It's not wrong! It's great!" Ninjin retorted defensively.
"What's this all about?" Even Zoro was curious now.
"Miss Kaya, who lives in this mansion, is very frail. Plus, she's been deeply saddened ever since her parents passed away a year ago. Even with all her money, could anything be sadder than that?"
"So, the Captain cheers her up with his amazing tall tales!"
The three kids explained proudly, glancing at each other.
"Oh, I see. That guy's pretty great, then," Luffy concluded thoughtfully.
"So, has Miss Kaya's health improved at all?" Nami asked, her impression of Usopp changing significantly for the better.
"Much better!" Tamanegi declared proudly.
"Alright! Then let's go ask if she can give us a ship!" Luffy cheered, raising his hand with a grin.
"Hey! Her getting better is thanks to Usopp, right??" Zoro pointed out, arms crossed, looking at Luffy.
What does Miss Kaya's improved health have to do with them? How can they just go ask her for a ship?
"I'll go ask! Shishishi!" Luffy immediately grabbed onto the mansion's fence.
"Gomu Gomu no...!" Luffy's arm stretched dramatically.
"Hey! You idiot!" Zoro and Nami lunged, grabbing onto Luffy.
Rowen grabbed onto Zoro.
"Coming through!" Luffy abruptly let go. The recoiling rubber elasticity flung everyone high into the air.
"AAAAHHH!!!"
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"...And that's how we escaped from that giant goldfish! Hahaha!" Having left Rowen's group earlier, Usopp had come here, standing on a tree branch outside the mansion window, regaling Kaya inside with his fabricated adventures. He had just reached the end of his story.
"What's that?" A young woman with beautiful blonde hair and a delicate face, though clearly looking weak, suddenly pointed towards the sky.
This was the mistress of the mansion, Kaya.
"Hm?" Usopp followed Kaya's pointing finger and stared, his eyes widening in shock.
People?! Falling from the sky?!
CRASH! With a tremendous impact, Rowen and the others landed.
"Smooth landing," Luffy announced, face-first in the dirt.
"LIKE HELL IT WAS!" Nami roared, transforming into her sharp-toothed angry state. If Rowen hadn't protected her, she thought she was going to die.
"Hey! Rowen! You bastard!" Zoro groaned from the ground, his eye twitching as he painfully turned his head to glare at Rowen and Nami, who were sitting comfortably on his back.
"Sorry, sorry! Your physique is stronger, Zoro," Rowen apologized without a shred of sincerity.
Rowen was sitting on Zoro's back, having used him as a cushion, while Nami was held securely in a princess carry in Rowen's arms.
Knowing full well how unreliable Luffy could be, Rowen had grabbed onto Zoro at the first opportunity.
Besides, Zoro has Demonic Physique (Deep Purple). A little impact like this will just help strengthen his body, right?
"Rowen... Thanks," Nami muttered after yelling at Luffy, looking up at Rowen holding her, her lips pressed together.
It seems like... Rowen always protects her.
Back in Orange Town, Rowen had said he'd risk his life for her. That memory still sent ripples through Nami's heart.
Hmm, Rowen's promise to risk his life for his comrades... Nami's perspective might have automatically romanticized it a bit.
"If you two are gonna cuddle, do it somewhere else! I'm still underneath here!" Zoro grumbled, still serving as a human cushion.
"Ah!" Nami's face flushed slightly, and she quickly jumped out of Rowen's arms.
"Zoro, my man," Rowen said, patting Zoro's shoulder.
"Next time... just you and me, we'll have a little 'spar'," Rowen offered with a wide smile, which paradoxically sent a chill down Zoro's spine, making him shiver.
"Are you all alright?" Kaya asked concernedly, looking at the newcomers.
"Fine, fine! They're all just big fans of mine! New members of the Usopp Pirates!" Usopp explained quickly, sweating nervously.
'These guys are real pirates!' Although Usopp knew they were good people, revealing their identities might cause misunderstandings among the villagers.
"I'm not! I actually came to ask for a favor," Luffy corrected, pushing his straw hat back up as he stood, looking at Kaya.
"A favor? From me?" Kaya looked curious.
"Yeah! We need a big ship!" Luffy stated bluntly.
"Hey! You lot!" Just then, a sharp voice called out.
Rowen and the others turned to see a man dressed impeccably as a butler slowly approaching them.
'Kuro?' Rowen thought.
"Check Traits."
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