Chapter 9 Setting Sail"What's so special about a Straw Hat? Look at this. This is different." Nami walked up to Arthur and Luffy, having already divided the treasure into two shares."So much!" Luffy exclaimed in shock, looking at the vast amount of treasure."Hmm, the Buggy Pirate Crew's treasure is quite good. This is at least ten million Berries." Namismiled and handed half of the treasure to Arthur."Could you please hold onto this treasure for me for a while? I'd appreciate it."Arthur nodded. Then, as if remembering something, he asked the others, "Oh, by the Old Mister Mayor?"Hearing Arthur's words, everyone's gaze simultaneously turned to the Old Mister Mayor lying on the ground.Just as Nami was about to help the Old MisterMayor up and wake him, a group of town residents arrived with weapons. They saw Arthur and the others, and also the Old Mister Mayor lying on the ground. The lead villager then roared at them, "Damn it, who are you people? What did you do to our Old Mister Mayor?"Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Arthur realized they might have been misunderstood.Arthur looked at the residents, who were full of killing intent, and subconsciously took a few steps back."Hey, don't hide behind me!" Nami yelled at Arthur.Why was this guy such a coward? It wasn't like they were facing some fearsome devils; why was he so scared?At this moment, Luffy stepped forward and said with a smile to the residents, "We're pirates!""Ding, detected host's emotional fluctuation, emotion value +6."As expected of Luffy, he couldn't see the situation clearly at a time like this."So you're pirates! Damn it, you've ruined our town like this!" The villagers looked at the damaged town and the unconscious Old Mister Mayor, already imagining everything that had just happened.Zoro then laughed and said to Luffy and Arthur, "What should we do? It seems there's no way to explain now!"Luffy and Zoro exchanged glances."In that case…""Let's run!"After speaking, Luffy picked up Nami and started sprinting, leaving Arthur, who was already terrified by the killing intent, behind."Huh, it seems like someone's missing." Luffynoticed something and then looked behind him.Just as Arthur was surrounded by the residents, a long arm descended from the sky and grabbed Arthur by the collar."Ah!"Without any warning, Arthur was lifted into the air and then carried on Luffy's shoulder."Hey, Arthur, what's wrong? We agreed to run away." Luffy asked, puzzled."Ah, really? I forgot."At this moment, Arthur's heart had not yet calmed down.The killing intent of people in this world was too terrifying. These were just ordinary town residents, yet they possessed such frightening power.I must protect myself well in the future."Don't talk now, let's run quickly." Zoro said to the others."Woof woof~ woof woof~" Just as the residents were giving chase, a small dog blocked their path. They all recognized this dog."Hey, ShuShu, why are you barking at us?" The residents looked at the dog blocking their way, a little confused.Luffy and the others, seeing ShuShu, smiled and ran towards the port, shouting loudly, "ShuShu, goodbye!"Luffy then sped up. The residents, coming back to their senses, could no longer see anyone and so returned to wake the Old Mister Mayor.Upon reaching the port, they were panting heavily."Phew, Luffy, why did you say we were pirates? Wasn't that just asking for trouble?" Nami said angrily."Ah, what does it matter? We are pirates. Oh, is this your ship?" Luffy asked, looking at a slightly larger ship next to their small boat."Ah, yes. I stole it from a few idiotic pirates." Namisaid nonchalantly.However, no sooner had Nami's voice faded than three pirates poked their heads out from a ship in the harbor."You damned female pirate, I knew you'd show up. The three of us have been waiting here for a long time. Oh? So you have companions…!"The pirate's voice abruptly stopped because they saw the people next to Nami: Arthur and Zoro.The three pirates broke out in a cold sweat, exchanging glances as if to say: Is the companion the Pirate Hunter is looking for this woman?What should we do?Zoro then looked at the three and simply said one word."Scram!""Okay, thank you."The three pirates bowed simultaneously, then ignored everything else and immediately ran off in one direction."Hahahahaha, it has to be So Da." Arthur said with a laugh."Hey, Arthur, my name is Zoro, not So Da!"Arthur scratched his head sheepishly; he indeed found it hard to change that habit.At this moment, Nami walked up to Luffy and handed him a map."This is a sea chart of the Grand Line. Since you saved me, I'll give you this treasure map."Luffy said, puzzled, "Ah, aren't you our companion? You're a Navigator; wouldn't the sea chart be more useful in your hands?"Nami rubbed her forehead and said, "We're just partners! Fine, in that case, I'll temporarily travel with you."At this point, she somewhat suspected whether this Straw Hat-wearing Luffy was an idiot. Didn't he understand what a partnership meant?However, these few people certainly had good combat strength. Following them might allow her to acquire a large fortune.Now, there wasn't much left until that one hundred million Berries."Alright!" Luffy smiled.Afterward, Arthur and Zoro began to tidy up the ship, preparing to set off. The group breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the town residents hadn't pursued them."Setting sail!"Luffy and Zoro stood at the front of the small boat, while Nami and Arthur were on the Buggy Pirate Crew's small boat. All of them looked out at the sea, filled with longing.As for why Arthur was with Nami, there was only one reason: he believed being with Nami was much safer than being with Luffy.His life couldn't handle Luffy's antics.The two small boats slowly moved away from the shore."Hey, kids!" At this moment, an Old Mister's voice came from behind."Hmm, it's the Old Mister Mayor." Arthur looked at the Old Mister standing on the shore and said.The Old Mister Mayor was panting, watching the group gradually move away. He then strained his voice and said to them, "I'm sorry, and thank you all!""Hehe!"Their gazes met, and everyone smiled. The two small boats also began to drift with the sea breeze.————————————Sailing itself was a test of endurance. Compared to the enthusiastic Luffy, the constantly sleeping Zoro, and the experienced Nami, Arthur had transformed from his initial excitement to his current state of dejection.He no longer knew how much time had passed; the sea was still the same sea."Where are we going next? Where are we now?" Arthur asked helplessly, leaning over the side of the ship."To the Grand Line!" Luffy said excitedly."Ah, the Grand Line?" Zoro also opened his eyes and continued, "Have we reached the Grand Linealready?"Nami sighed helplessly, looking at the two of them. How would these two survive alone on the vast sea?She then opened the map and said, "There's no way we can go to the Grand Line now. Don't joke around!""Huh? Why not?" Luffy asked. Zoro's gaze also shifted to Nami, while only Arthur remained leaning over the side of the ship, idly stirring the sea."The Grand Line is also known as the Pirate's Graveyard. There are countless pirates there, and they are all searching for One Piece. We don't have the numbers or the ship and equipment to sail in the Grand Line.""Ah? I see. It seems we must find a musician and a chef, and also a big ship, and a Pirate Flag!" Luffybecame more and more excited as he spoke."Hmm, there's an inhabited small island ahead. It would be best if we could find a ship there." Namisaid, holding the sea chart."Ah? Inhabited? Then we'll have meat to eat!""And sake!"Arthur listened to them chat, but he didn't interject. At this moment, he felt out of place with them, for some unknown reason.He looked up into the distance."I think I'm a bit homesick."Arthur missed his parents in another world at this moment. Would they be sad to see their son disappear?And his friends.Unbeknownst to him, so many days had passed."Hey, Arthur, we've reached the island!""Ah… Oh!"
Chapter 10 Usopp"What's wrong? You're a big man, are you getting homesick?" Nami asked with a smile beside Arthurafter they disembarked."Ah? Hahahahaha, how could I be!" Arthur scratched his head and said with a laugh.Huh, his hair had grown so long without him realizing it.But how could he tell others about such an embarrassing thing?Seeing this, Nami raised her hand and touched Arthur's head. Nami suddenly wondered if this man in front of her was really a man? He was only slightly taller than her.However, she could understand Arthur's feelings; she felt the same way when she first went out to sea.At this moment, Nami actually felt a glow of maternal love radiating from her, and she spontaneously pulled Arthur into a hug.Arthur initially wanted to pull away from the embrace, but then he felt the two soft mounds pressing against his face."Ding! Detected host's emotional fluctuation, emotion value +66.""So fragrant!""Hey, Nami, is there really a village here? Is there meat?" Luffy shouted loudly."Ah?" Nami pushed away the red-faced Arthur, took out her map, and said, "Yes, there's a village, but can you think a little less about meat?"Nami turned her head, looked at the blushing Arthur, and said mischievously, "What's wrong? Did you feel a mother's scent from me?"Arthur turned his head, his face growing even redder, and continued, "How could that be? I wasn't homesick at all."Nami covered her mouth, reached out, and took Arthur's hand, saying, "Let's go."Luffy, who was nearby, heard about the village and shouted excitedly, "Great, there's meat!"Then, the group decided to head to the village first.After only a few steps, Zoro suddenly sensed something, drew his sword a little, and then said to the others, "Be careful, there's a person's presence."Arthur looked up at the bushes."Usopp should be up there right now. Can a human nose really be that long?" Arthur was a little curious. Usopp was also a member of the Straw Hat Crew, and there was always a saying about 'Usopp in a pinch' among the Straw Hat Crew. Now Arthur was full of anticipation for the Straw Hat Crew members he would meet next."What did you say?" Nami, who was closest to Arthur, heard his mumbling and asked."No... nothing. I sense someone should be in that spot, there are four people. Their presence isn't strong, so they shouldn't be very powerful." Arthurpointed to a patch of bushes above and said.Zoro didn't speak, looking at Arthur."Where are they? Where are they?" Luffy looked up, glancing around.Just as Luffy finished speaking, pebbles began to fall, hitting at his feet."Ah, there really are people?" Luffy kept dodging the warning attacks.The next moment, pirate flags were continuously raised above. If they were ordinary people, they would really think there were many people up there.However, Nami and Zoro trusted Arthur's judgment, looking up with smiles on their faces. Only Luffylooked up, with 'Unbelievable' written all over his face."So amazing!"Just then, a long-nosed man appeared under a tree directly above, looked down at the few people, and shouted in what he considered a fierce voice."Hahahahahaha, I am the great pirate of this village, Usopp! Everyone loves and respects us, calling me Captain Usopp!""So amazing!"Nami and Zoro listened to Luffy's words, both covering their faces, as if saying they didn't know this guy.Usopp saw Luffy's reaction and felt even more confident."If you want to attack this village, I advise you to give up, my eighty million subordinates will not let you off!"As he spoke, the pirate flags in the bushes swayed more violently."So amazing!"Arthur looked at Usopp above and muttered, "God Usopp, it's said that all his lies later came true.""So this is what a long-nosed person looks like. I must study how this nose grew out later."Arthur looked at Usopp's nose above, full of curiosity.At this moment, stars seemed to pop out of Luffy's eyes, staring intently upwards, while Nami beside him said dismissively, "That's a lie!"Hearing Nami's words, Usopp above immediately broke down."I've been exposed!"Arthur looked at the long-nosed man's reaction with some exasperation. With such a low standard, he still tried to lie?Although he was still a little excited to meet the Straw Hat Crew members now, his emotional fluctuations were not as strong as before."See, he said he was exposed!" Arthur said with a smile to the others."Damn it, how could this happen!" Usopp twisted his body constantly, his expression exaggerated, making the people below want to laugh.But then he began to feign composure."Although eighty million is a bit exaggerated, I still have excellent subordinates," Usopp said nervously.Upon hearing this, the flags on that side swayed even more vigorously."Are there three people?" Nami asked."Ah, we've been exposed!" The three children pretending to be an army were exposed by Nami, jumped up in fright, and then immediately fled towards the village."Hey! Don't run!" Usopp watched his capable subordinates flee and shouted loudly at them.At this moment, Nami bent down, picked up a marble, and said in her palm, "I've never heard of a pirate who uses a slingshot."Arthur and Zoro smiled, only Luffy looked disappointed, saying to Usopp, "Ah~ So it was a lie!"But then he recovered and started laughing."Hahahaha, you're so interesting!""Damn it! Kid, don't be too arrogant. I'm a person with extremely strong pride, so people call me Arrogant Usopp." Usopp took out his slingshot and aimed it at Luffy."You saw it just now, my slingshot skills are much better than an average marksman!" Usopp said proudly.At this moment, Luffy's expression suddenly turned serious, and he said to Usopp, "If you're going to use a gun, bet your life on it!"It began!Arthur watched this scene before him. This was Luffy paying tribute to Red-Haired Shanks, a great pirate he respected."Ah?" After hearing Luffy's words, Usopp's body stiffened involuntarily."What I mean is, this thing isn't a child's toy," Luffysaid, looking at Usopp and continuing to explain.Seeing Luffy's demeanor, Zoro also got playful, his eyes sharpening as he looked at Usopp above, saying, "You're facing real pirates."Arthur didn't feel any killing intent from the two of them, but Usopp above became extremely nervous.The two sides confronted each other for a while, and eventually, Usopp knelt on the ground."Indeed, I don't have the presence of a true pirate. So scary, so amazing," he said mournfully, as if resigned to his fate.Zoro and Luffy saw Usopp's expression and finally burst into laughter."Hahahaha, I'm just learning on the fly. Those were the words of Red-Haired Shanks, a pirate I respect," Luffy said to Usopp above."Shanks! Are you talking about the great pirate Red-Haired Shanks?" Hearing Shanks's name, Usoppbecame excited.Luffy nodded and then said, "Yes, your father is Yasopp, right?"Hearing his father's name, Usopp lost his footing and tumbled down.Thump!Arthur looked at Usopp, who had landed face-first, and then at the perfectly fine cliff."The people in this world have physiques that Blue Star people can't compare to. At this height, if it were me, I'd probably be crippled if not dead."Arthur once again felt his own weakness."Yasopp is my father's name, but how do you know?"Luffy nodded and said, "I saw him when I was little. You two look exactly alike, of course I recognized you."Arthur felt like laughing when he heard Luffy's words, wondering how Luffy could see that the two looked exactly alike. However, he ultimately didn't laugh, but instead said to the others, "How about we go to the village and talk while we eat?"Hearing 'eat', Luffy's eyes immediately lit up."Right, right, right, I want to eat meat.""And sake."At this moment, Zoro also expressed his desire for sake.Seeing that the group had no ill intentions towards the village, Usopp also relaxed and said to them, "Follow me."Having someone familiar with the area lead the way was the best thing. Arthur and the others followed Usopp towards the village."Usopp, is your long nose real?"Arthur walked in front of Usopp, reaching out to grab his nose."Hey, Little girl, what are you doing! If it's not real, then what is it?"Hearing the words 'Little girl', Nami smiled.Arthur shook his head helplessly, not wanting to explain now. Then, Arthur simply grabbed Usopp's nose."Ow, ow, ow!!!""Huh, it really is. How can a human have a nose like this?"