42 Arriving at Syrup Village

Luffy, Zoro and Nami arrived at Syrup Village.

Syrup Village is a typical sleepy community, surrounded by grasslands, dirt trails, hills and forests. The villagers live in simplistic houses, with a luxurious mansion sticking out among them.

There are two slopes leading from the island's shoreline to the village, one located to the north and the other to the south. Those passages are the only way to reach Syrup Village from the beach, as otherwise there are only tall cliff sides. Both passages are approximately three minutes away from each other by running.

They docked the boat and jumped onto the island. "Hey, Nami. Is there a place called Syrup Village on this island?" Luffy asked her while he was making sure the boat won't drift off.

Nami opened a map and looked at it. She smiled and nodded. "There is. Is that where our crew member is located?" She asked back. Luffy nodded. Zoro hummed and looked at Luffy.

"By the way, I just noticed a moment ago, what are those guys doing there? " Zoro pointed at four people hiding behind a tree log. Three of them were kids while the other was Luffy's age.

"Waaaa!!! We've been found!!!" The kids shouted and ran away.

" Oi!!! Don't run away!!! " The teenager shouted. He looked back and saw the trio looking at him. He gulped a little before staining up. He crossed his arms and puffed his chest out confidently.

"I am the great Pirate Fleet Leader, Usopp, who is in charge of the security of this village!! I am also known as 'captain', Captain Usopp!! " Usopp introduced himself confidently. Luffy smiled a little at how dramatic he was. He studied Usopp's features.

Usopp is a slim tan-skinned teenager with medium-length black curly hair, prominent lips and a long nose, which is apparently an allusion to Pinocchio.

Usopp inherited his famous nose from his mother, while the rest of his face closely resembles his father's, Yasopp's face.

Usopp wore an olive green plaid bandanna, a blue and white striped armband on his left arm, along with special sniper goggles.

He also wore brown overalls with a white sash and no shirt underneath. He also carries with him a yellow satchel, which he stores all his tools and gadgets in.

"Hello Captain Usopp, I'm Monkey D Luffy! Can I ask you something?" Luffy asked him. Usopp nodded.

"You can!"

"Are you the son of Yasopp?" Luffy asked, shocking Usopp. Usopp immediately ran up to him.

"You know who my dad is?!" He asked him. Luffy grinned and nodded.

"Yeah! He's one of the Senior Officers and the sniper of the Red Hair Pirates! He's very famous. " Luffy replied

" He told me about you when I was just seven. So I decided that I definitely needed someone skilled in the art of sniping in my crew. " He added. Usopp was shocked. He thought that his dad was sailing in a normal crew, but he was sailing with a Yonko, and he's one of Senior Officers of the Red Hair Pirates too.

Usopp was more prouder for his dad now than ever before even though took the path of a pirate. But he had another question in mind.

"Hey, Luffy. How did you even meet him?" Usopp asked.

"Oh, the Red Hair Pirates visited Dawn Island, which is my hometown when I was 7. The whole crew was there, Shanks too. That's how I got this straw hat, it was his before he gave it to me. When I become the Pirate King, I have to return it to him. " Luffy smiled. He took off the straw hat and spun it with his finger. Everyone was in disbelief.

"Y-you know Red Haired Shanks? " Nami stuttered out. Luffy nodded.

"Mhm. I know it's a big deal to you all because of his notoriety, but to me it's just another fun memory to look back to. " Luffy replied calmly.

" Th-then how did you know about me? " Usopp asked still in shock that the person in front of him is friends with Red Haired Shanks himself.

" Yasopp told stories about you to me. He said that you're great at sharpshooting, I knew then and there I had to recruit you to my crew when I set out to the seas. " Luffy replied and stretched out his right hand.

" So, Usopp, wanna join my crew? " Luffy asked while grinning at Usopp. Usopp huffed and crossed his arms.

" And disband my crew of 80 million men?! Hah! No chance, Luffy! " Usopp grinned back. Luffy laughed out loud. Zoro smiled a little.

"You're really good at making stories up, Usopp! You should definitely join our crew as the sniper and the storyteller!" Luffy complimented him. Suddenly, his stomach growled loudly. It was followed by Zoro's stomach growling loudly.

Zoro coughed awkwardly while Luffy laughed even harder. "Hey, Usopp! Does Syrup Village have a restaurant?" Luffy asked. Usopp nodded.

" Yes there is. It's called Meshi and it has the best food you'll ever taste. " Usopp boasted proudly. Luffy grinned.

" Then lead the way! "

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(Meshi means 'food' or 'meals' in Japanese)

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"So you're looking for a ship too? Sounds like a big adventure!" Usopp looked at Luffy with an interested gaze while Luffy was munching on some meat.

They were eating in the restaurant called Meshi. From outside, Meshi looks like a normal restaurant. Its interior is not too big, making Meshi a restaurant where many people cannot have lunch at the same time.

"There's only one place where you can find the stuff you want in this village. It's not a very big ship, but it's not small either." Usopp revealed.

" Where's it located? " Nami asked him before drinking the orange juice from her glass.

"There's a mansion not far from this village that belongs to a wealthy family. The ship belongs to the mansion's owner. Although we say that she's the owner, she is a pitiful young girl. A weak and sick girl that always lies on the bed." Usopp told them. Luffy and Zoro stopped eating and drinking sake. They were completely focused on Usopp's story.

"Eh? Then how come she's the owner of the mansion?" Nami asked him. Usopp rubbed his chin.

"I think it happened around a year ago, the girl's parents died of sickness, leaving her a large inheritance, a mansion and over ten servants. Even if you are rich, it doesn't exempt you from sorrow. " Usopp sighed and leaned back on the wooden chair he was sitting on.

"Then we will not disturb her. Let's search for a ship somewhere else. But we're not in a hurry either, so let's buy some more food for our food supply." Luffy grinned at them.

" Oh yeah, Luffy. You said you want me to join your crew. "Usopp commented.

" Mhm. Have you thought about it? " Luffy asked him hopefully. Usopp smirked and pointed at him.

" Let me be the captain, and I'll join you! " Usopp declared, making Luffy laugh loudly.

"Shishishishishi!!!! Usopp! I'll never give the Captain's position to anyone ever! It's mine and mine only!"

" But I'll be a good captain, I promise! "

" Never!!! "

.

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In a bedroom in the mansion, there was a girl sitting on the bed while looking out at the window beside her.

She is a slim and pale-skinned girl with blonde hair. She has wide brown eyes, that are of a sort of lighter shade.

Despite her fortune, she is rarely seen in anything but simple neat clothing, be it a plain long dress or 'common' clothing such as a skirt and jacket.

Her name is Kaya and she is the owner of the mansion.

"Um, Klahadore...." Kaya muttered and looked at Klahadore who had his back facing her.

Klahadore is a tall and slim man with glasses and slicked black hair, he wore a black suit with two golden markings on it over a white shirt with a curious collar, with spiral-like protrusions on the edges, and a standard black tie. He also sports striped shoes.

"What is it? Kaya Ojou-sama?" Klahadore asked her.

"I..... I want to see Usopp-san..... "

To be continued.....

(Should Kaya join the crew? She's rich and she wants to be a doctor. If she joins what weapon should I give her? Chopper is still gonna join by the way I'm not leaving the emergency food out.)