Greetings, fellow readers. As the author, I've chosen to omit the scene involving the trapped individual within a chest. Frankly, it didn't captivate my interest, and I believe many of you share that sentiment.
......
Out of nowhere, Nami's voice breaks the silence, her gaze thoughtful as she scans each of us. "You know, we might be acting a bit rash," she ventures, her eyes focused on the grand line. Luffy's brows knit in confusion, and he turns to her. "Rash? Why?" he questions, genuine curiosity in his tone. Swiftly, Nami interjects, "I mean, sailing the grand line like this might not be the best idea." Her emphasis on 'grand line' carries a sense of urgency.
Luffy, as predictable as ever, places his right hand on his stomach, exclaiming, "You're onto something! We can't keep going without enough food, especially meat to fuel us!" His enthusiasm suggests he interpreted Nami's concern as a dietary issue.
Frustration edges into Nami's voice as she raises it a notch. "It's not about the food!" she retorts, her patience wearing thin. Zoro chimes in, his words overlapping with Nami's raised tone. "You're right, not to mention we're running low on booze," he adds, seemingly assuming Nami's point was about the alcohol shortage. Her response is immediate and fiery, "No, that's not it either!"
Stepping in to clear up the confusion, I redirect their focus, my voice measured and calm. "Luffy, Zoro, you guys are missing the mark. Nami's concern doesn't revolve around food or booze." Nami's eyes glimmer, perhaps hoping that my intervention will shed light on her intentions. With a glint of hope, I continue, "What we lack is a source of entertainment. Imagine the expanse of the sea ahead; how are we going to keep ourselves engaged? We need to think beyond just sustenance."
A shadow clouds Nami's expression, her frustration escalating as she directs her ire towards me. "No, you're not grasping it either!" she snaps, her frustration palpable in her voice.
"We're setting our course for the grand line, the most treacherous and perilous sea route known to mankind!" she began, a determined glint in her eyes. "The most infamous and wildly successful pirates to ever sail the seas are hot on the trail of the legendary one piece as well! Their imposing ships are like floating fortresses, built to weather any storm," she continued, her voice tinged with a mixture of awe and apprehension. As her words sank in, it became clear that we were truly embarking on an audacious and dangerous quest.
With a dawning realization, I grasped the gravity of her words. "Ah, now I understand her point. We're in desperate need of a sturdy ship," I muttered to myself, nodding in agreement.
Gesturing towards the humble vessels, Nami's voice carried a touch of frustration. "Our own ships resemble nothing more than modest tubs, and to make matters worse, a formidable crew is nowhere in sight," she lamented, her hand thoughtfully resting on her shin. "If we persist down this reckless path, we'll be courting disaster at every turn," she declared, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air.
Turning his gaze towards Nami, Luffy's face adopted an expression of contemplation. "So, what's the plan then?" he inquired, a glimmer of curiosity dancing in his eyes. Nami promptly retrieved a map, her fingers tracing the intricate lines with precision. "Our strategy hinges on foresight and preparation. A village lies a short distance to the south of our current position. Our first order of business must be to secure a worthy vessel," she asserted, her tone resolute and unwavering.
In a burst of enthusiasm, Luffy's hands shot up in the air as he bellowed, "And don't forget about satisfying our rumbling stomachs with a hearty meat feast!"
With the stage set and the challenge before us, it was clear that our journey was about to take an intense and calculated turn. The grand line beckoned, and we were determined to rise to the occasion, equipped with both a formidable ship and, of course, a satisfying meal to fuel our endeavors.
....
Luffy's excitement is palpable as he bursts out, "You won't believe it! Look here, there's actually an island!" He practically leaps off the boat, his eyes feasting on the breathtaking view before him. Overcome with curiosity, Nami whips out the map and eagerly presents it to Luffy, chiming in, "No surprises there. We're right on track according to the map."
I disembark from the boat too, surveying the surroundings with an appreciative nod. "Finally, we've got someone who knows their way around," I jest, casting a good-natured glance at both Zoro and Luffy. I can't help but shake my head playfully, adding, "Honestly, how have you two managed to stay afloat for this long?" My finger playfully points in their direction, highlighting the camaraderie that exists between us.
Zoro grins and hops off the boat, responding in his usual nonchalant manner, "I make do." His muscles flex as he stretches, and he lets out a contented sigh, "Ah, solid ground, my old friend," seemingly oblivious to the fact that he'd been snoozing through most of our journey.
Luffy's incredulous voice echoes my thoughts as he teases, "Wait, you slept the entire way!" He playfully calls Zoro out, emphasizing the hilarity of the situation.
Zoro's attention drifts away from Luffy, Ignoring him, his gaze fixed on a random spot obscured by the dense foliage. He breaks the silence with a contemplative tone, "So, what do you think is up with those guys?" His finger extends to indicate the hidden figures nestled among the trees, their presence suspiciously inconspicuous.
I was on the verge of vocalizing my observations, but Zoro managed to beat me to the punch. With a thoughtful expression, I chimed in, "Three kids and a long-nosed guy... wait a minute, scratch that – it seems like only the long-nosed guy is left." My gaze followed the trio of youngsters as they abruptly abandoned their comrade, fleeing with spirited yells and arms raised high in alarm. "AAAGH! They see us!!" their panicked voices echoed through the surroundings.
In a desperate attempt to retain his fleeting audience, the elongated-nosed fellow raises his voice, an odd blend of authority and anxiousness evident in his tone. "Hold on, you little rascals! You can't just bolt like that!" he implores, witnessing his companions' rapid escape before his very eyes. Beads of sweat began to form on his forehead, and he glanced between us, his arms crossed defensively. "I am the notorious Captain Usop!" he proclaimed, his tone laced with a mixture of bravado and anxiety. "Feared by pirates and ruler of this village!!" he continued, attempting to assert his dominance.
Unable to contain my skepticism, I exchanged a bemused glance with Nami. "So you'd better think twice before you invade! I have eighty million men poised to stop you!" Usopp's declaration grew more extravagant, but it only deepened the sense of absurdity surrounding him. It was becoming clear that we had encountered yet another eccentric character on our journey. I shook my head subtly, my amusement evident. After all, did he genuinely believe that we'd buy into his grandiose claims?
"Liar," Nami uttered with a deadpan expression, her eyes narrowing slightly as she sized up Usopp. The disbelief on Usopp's face was evident as his eyes practically bulged out of his head. His mouth fell open in an exaggerated display of exasperation, and he couldn't help but blurt out, "Darn, she saw through me!" His arms instinctively shot up and clutched his head, a mix of embarrassment and awe washing over him.
Nami's lips curved into a knowing and self-assured smirk, a subtle but noticeable movement that accompanied the arched lift of one finely arched eyebrow, indicating her mounting confidence in the unfolding scenario. With a triumphant gleam dancing in her eyes, a glint that spoke volumes of her anticipation, she responded with a voice tinted by a blend of satisfaction and assertion, "See? I knew it." In that very moment, she seemed to bask in the glory of her prescient insight, embracing the truth she had been certain of.
Observing the transformation of Usopp's expression from mere surprise to a more profound amazement, the widening of his eyes bore witness to the transition of disbelief into awe. The realization of his own falsehood seemed to crystallize within him, and his voice, tinged with a genuine sense of astonishment, escaped his lips as he marveled, "Darn, I admitted that I lied!! She's a master of interrogation."
Seizing the perfect opportunity, I couldn't help but inject a touch of sarcasm into the conversation, my words laced with an undeniable note of disdain. "No, you are just stupid," I retorted, my retort directed at the unsuspectingly credulous Usopp. Exhaling a deep sigh, the kind that carries the weight of exasperation and disbelief, I couldn't help but reflect on the seemingly boundless extent of idiocy that the world occasionally presented, a sentiment that left me contemplating whether it was misfortune or fate that continuously brought such encounters my way.
The resonant sound of Luffy's unrestrained laughter filled the air, its infectious quality seeming to weave an invisible thread that linked us all in shared amusement. His hearty chuckles reverberated with a contagious joy that was impossible to ignore, as he exclaimed, "Hahahah, you're funny!" The echoes of his laughter seemed to carry a carefree spirit that was quintessentially Luffy, as he clutched his stomach in mirthful surrender to the humor of the moment.
Not to be outdone, Usopp's pride surged to the forefront, transforming him into a figure of mock seriousness and exaggerated bravado. His chest visibly swelled with an air of self-importance as he defiantly pointed towards himself, a gesture punctuated by his confident declaration, "Hey, are you laughing at me?! I'm a proud man! That's why they call me Proud Captain Usopp." The blend of indignation and playful seriousness in his tone only served to accentuate the whimsicality of the moment, reminding us all that even in the midst of such interactions, there was always room for a touch of theatrical flair.
...
"Really!? You're looking for a crew?" Usopp's loud voice resonated within the cozy village restaurant, his eyes widening in disbelief as he fixed his gaze upon Luffy, who sat across the table. With an air of excitement, he leaned in, placing his right hand firmly on the tabletop, his entire body pivoting towards Luffy.
Luffy, his teeth sinking into a succulent piece of meat, beamed with pride as he responded, "That's right!" His grin was as clear as day, an embodiment of his unwavering determination. "Wow, what an incredible adventure this is going to be," Usopp chimed in enthusiastically, his gaze sweeping across everyone present. "Well, you won't stumble upon any grand galleons in this little town, but there's a destination worth considering," he continued.
Nami's interest piqued as she leaned in, asking, "Where exactly?" Usopp's eyes twinkled mischievously as he pointed with a flourish. "That colossal mansion that stands out like a sore thumb! That's the one!" He then directed his attention towards Nami, his expression animated. "Interestingly, the owner of that mansion is a young girl, bedridden due to some unknown ailment."
Just as Usopp was about to delve deeper into his tale, a sudden interruption shook the conversation. Luffy's voice, carrying excitement and urgency, burst forth as he waved an empty plate in the air. "More meat, please!" Not far behind, Zoro chimed in, his tone equally lively. "And more booze!"
Usopp's eyes widened incredulously, his words a mixture of disbelief and exasperation. "Are you two even listening to the story I'm sharing?" he exclaimed, flabbergasted by their antics.
Nevertheless, he continues, "About a year ago both the poor girl's parents got sick and died. They left her with a huge inheritance, a mansion, and a dozen servants" Laying more comfortably on his chair with both his arms behind his head he continues, "She's rich and lives in luxury, but nobody is more unfortunate than her" he added.
Nami takes a quick look at him before stating, "Never mind, searching for a ship here is pointless. We should seek out another town," she adds with a faint sigh.
"Well, it's quite apparent that our original plan was rather flawed," I remark, leisurely taking the final bite of succulent meat from my plate, which Luffy had been eyeing with an increasingly voracious appetite. Flashing a grin, I suggest, "I suppose we could afford to divert some time for a more viable option. Let's gather the necessary supplies and set out."
In an unexpected turn, Usopp shifts his focus to Luffy, his eyes alight with newfound determination. "Speaking of which, if you're still on the lookout for potential crewmates," Usopp declares with a flourish, pointing emphatically at himself, "I humbly offer my services as captain!"
The collective response is immediate and unanimous, each of us speaking in perfect synchrony as if choreographed, "Regrettably, we must decline your generous offer." The resonance of this statement leaves Usopp momentarily taken aback, prompting him to hastily respond, "Wouldn't it be prudent to at least mull it over?" His astonishment is evident, his mouth agape in disbelief.