Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Stepping out of Kaya's mansion, Usopp was about to go home when he bumped into his trusty companions.
"Usopp's Pirates, assemble!" Carrot and Pepper hollered, their voices echoing through the morning air like a rooster's wake-up call.
Waving his dagger, Pepper saluted. "Captain Usopp, How are you! Pepper and Carrot are here!"
Grinning from ear to ear, Usopp surveyed his loyal squad. These kids, rare gems in the village, share the grand pirate dream with him.
Pepper, with his dark hair tucked under a pepper-shaped hat and clad in a green shirt emblazoned with the skull symbol of the Usopp Pirates, harbored ambitions of skilled carpentry.
Beside him stood Carrot, his youthful face freckled, and spiky purple hair shadowing his eyes. A red hat, adorned with frills and the iconic Usopp Pirates' insignia, sat atop his head, his sharp chin giving him a distinctive look. His aspiration? To one day be the owner of a bustling tavern.
But wait! Someone's missing from this picture...
"Speaking of which, where's Onion?" Usopp scratched his head.
"Beats us!" "Maybe he's still sleeping?" The duo shrugged, clueless.
"Captain!" A voice cut through their chat.
Onion, true to his name, had hair resembling the vegetable in question, with a peculiar tuft sprouting from the top. His minuscule eyes peered from behind square glasses, and his attire consisted of a yellow shirt covered by a blue vest.
"Captain, this is not good!" Onion blurted, tears practically streaming down his face. "Pirates are coming! I've seen their ship!"
"WHAT?!" Among the group, Usopp's reaction was the most pronounced. He fixed his gaze upon the panting Onion. "Surely, you joking!"
"Cross my heart!" Onion insisted, panting like he ran a marathon. "The ship is huge, just like in the newspaper! Even though the pirate flag wasn't visible on the ship, there's no mistaking that it's Buggy the Clown's notorious pirate vessel, given its unique shape."
"Buggy the Clown?!" Usopp felt his heart leap. "The very same Buggy with a bounty of 16 million?"
"Yep, the very same!" Onion nodded, caught up in the moment.
However, Usopp's demeanor shifted abruptly, his voice grave. "Ah, it appears to be time for my afternoon tea. I must take my leave." Without another word, he spun on his heel, ready to dash.
Onion's protest was swift. "Hold on, Captain! Don't run away!"
Carrot chimed in, "It's barely past the morning, far too early for tea!"
"And since when do you even drink tea?!" Pepper added, eyebrow arching sky-high.
Halting in his tracks, Usopp faced them, his expression solemn."You got me, didn't you?"
He sighed, shoulders slumping. "The truth is, I'm afflicted with a rare condition. I face certain death if I don't return home fast."
"..... ... ....."
Silence fell over the trio, their faces a blend of confusion and disbelief.
"Come off it, Captain Usopp!" Pepper groaned.
"That's not even a real thing," Carrot sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, Cap! You're a fearless sea warrior!" Onion piped up, his voice full of pep. "Since when are you scared of four measly pirates?"
Usopp's attention snagged on Onion's words. "Four? Are you certain, Onion?"
"Absolutely, Captain. I, too, was taken aback initially. But as their ship drew nearer, it was unmistakable: just four people aboard," Onion clarified, pushing his glasses up.
"Well then," Usopp puffed out his chest, "We should show them what we're made of!""
"Usopp's crew, away!"
"AYE AYE, CAPTAIN!"
-----
"Really? In some distant village, a chronic liar and a sick young woman share an odd bond?" On Buggy's pirate ship, Nami pondered aloud after hearing Bai Ye's recounting of the dynamics between Usopp and Kaya.
"Nami, you have a knack for getting straight to the heart of things," Bai Ye responded, a wry smile tugging at his lips, betraying a hint of amusement.
"A dream of becoming a Brave Sea Warrior, huh?" Luffy, contrasting with Nami's analytical approach, showed a keen interest in Usopp's aspirations. "Well then, we should pay this village a visit. If he's as good-hearted as he sounds, he might just fit in with our crew," Luffy concluded after mulling it over briefly.
"Luffy, hold on! You're jumping to conclusions too quickly. Besides, didn't Bai Ye say the guy's a habitual liar?" Zoro interjected, clearly irritated by Luffy's hasty decision-making.
"No need to fret, Zoro," Bai Ye intervened, giving Zoro a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Remember, Luffy chose you in much the same spontaneous manner."
Zoro: ...
It's not the the first time???
As Zoro grappled with this revelation, doubting the choices of his life, Luffy's voice boomed in excitement. "Ah! There it is!!"
His eyes on the nearing island, Luffy's enthusiasm was palpable.
"Gomu Gomu no Rocket! ! "
With a burst of laughter, Bai Ye and the crew could only watch helplessly as Luffy propelled himself towards the island in the distance.
"This bastard, can't you wait a moment??" Nami sighed in resignation.
Zoro, sharing in the sentiment, turned to Bai Ye, concern etched on his face. "What's our next move? Given Luffy's talent for making chaos, I'm afraid there will be a lot of troubles when we arrive at the island."
"Don't sweat it, Zoro," Bai Ye replied, his voice carrying a hint of lament, though his demeanor remained nonchalant. "With Luffy, it'd be odd if things didn't get chaotic."
Zoro: "So let's hurry up and catch up with him"
"That's impossible. The ship's already at top speed," Nami interjected, her expertise as a navigator informing her statement.
"Who said anything about sailing?" Bai Ye retorted, a frown creasing his brow as he flexed his wrist.
"Wait, are you up to something new? What's it this time - some Daoist magic... pills, talismans, techniques?" Zoro, now accustomed to Bai Ye's tricks, recognized his habit when he saw Bai Ye's wrist flick.
Before, from seemingly nowhere, Bai Ye produced the three swords, paper figurines, a mysterious elixir, and a bottle of his cherished wine.
"Really? I'm curious about what trick Bai Ye has up his sleeve now," Nami confessed, her gaze fixed intently on him.
"Hey, you two staring like that is pretty daunting," Bai Ye chuckled, finding the duo's curious expressions amusing. "But, I'm not pulling out any objects this time." With that, he crouched slightly, his hands weaving intricate seals.
Xun Gua - Yu Feng Xing
No sooner had Bai Ye's chant echoed than the once-still deck transformed. It was as if they were at the world's epicenter, all air surging toward Bai Ye. An invisible whirlwind swirled at their feet, its force undeniable.
"What in the world?!" Zoro yelped, stability forsaking him. No longer cross-armed, he flailed, seeking balance as his body defied gravity, lifting skyward.
"I'm flying! I'm really flying!" Nami's reaction was even more pronounced as she twirled mid-air, even revealing some of her beauty.
"Alright, we'd better hurry. We can't keep Luffy waiting," Bai Ye said, opting not to calm his companions. Instead, he controlled the wind, steering their aerial ascent towards the island.
Their target: Luffy.