Gion watched Usopp finish his tea in one gulp and cautiously sipped hers without finishing it.
"Usopp, why do you keep calling yourself a pirate captain?" Gion asked curiously, holding her cup. "You don't seem like a pirate at all."
Though Gion wanted to find Arton right away, her curiosity about Usopp's bold self-proclamation as a captain piqued her interest.
But now, she plans to wait until she finds a better opportunity for Usopp to take her to meet Arton. That way, she can approach Arton more naturally.
"This, well, because I want to become a brave warrior of the sea."
"Warrior of the sea?"
"Yes!"
"But if we're talking about warriors of the sea, shouldn't that be the navy?"
"The navy? No, no, no, they are not the brave warriors of the sea in my eyes."
"But the navy has always protected ordinary people from the threat of pirates, I think they're more like the brave warriors of the sea." Gion spoke with a meaningful tone.
"This... Although that's true, I still admire pirates more."
Arton scratched the back of his head, looking somewhat troubled.
"Usopp, you're a good person."
"From the help you've given me, I can see that."
"Believe me, pirates are not brave warriors."
"They are fierce, dangerous, and if it weren't for them, I wouldn't have ended up stranded on this island."
Gion shook her head, looking rather sorrowful.
That pitiful appearance, no doubt, would make many men rush to comfort and protect her.
"But, not all pirates are like that."
"There must still be pirates who can truly be called brave warriors."
Arton said, looking distressed.
"Usopp, you've seen too little, that's why you think this way."
"How about this, let me tell you about the pirates I've seen during my years traveling the seas."
Gion shook her head, and after taking a sip of tea, she began to slowly tell Arton about the pirates she had encountered.
And Arton, transformed into Usopp, although his brow was slightly furrowed, still patiently listened to Gion after refilling her tea.
In a blink of an eye, about ten minutes had passed.
"...Usopp, after hearing these stories about pirates."
"Do you still think pirates can be brave warriors?"
"Usopp, you're a good person, believe me, you are not suited to be a pirate."
"Perhaps the navy would be more suitable for you."
Gion put down her teacup, speaking earnestly to Arton.
Arton bowed his head, not responding to Gion, but instead displayed an extremely troubled expression, as if he was struggling with something.
"Forget it, I know you might find it hard to accept right now."
"But you can think over what I've said."
Gion shook her head, stood up:
"Usopp, my clothes have completely dried."
"Now, I'd like to take a walk around this village."
"Could you guide me around and tell me about the village if possible?"
Although Gion had momentarily urged Usopp to reconsider, her main targets were still Arton and Uta. Now that she had become somewhat familiar with Usopp in front of her, Gion naturally wanted Usopp to take her to meet Arton and the others.
"By the way, when I drifted here earlier, I saw a nice ship on the coast."
"Usopp, is that ship preparing to set sail?"
Gion, standing up, asked curiously.
"I'm not too sure about that."
"Why do you ask, Miss Alice?"
Arton squinted, curiously asking.
"Well, if that ship plans to leave, I'd like to get the captain's permission to leave with it."
"Usopp, do you know the captain of that ship?"
Gion asked earnestly.
"Well, of course, I do."
"You want to meet the owner of that ship, Arton, right?"
Usopp said, his smile broadening.
"Yes, please do introduce me to him... ah!"
While Gion was speaking, she suddenly felt a wave of weakness spreading throughout her body, quickly moving to her limbs.
Not only that, but Gion's head, which was initially clear, also started to feel dizzy.
"What's going on..."
"Wait, was there something wrong with the tea?!"
"Usopp, did you poison me?!"
Gion braced herself with her right hand on a chair, her eyes widening as she looked at "Usopp."
"Hehe, you're looking at who I am."
After saying this, Arton used his transformation technique again.
A burst of white smoke suddenly exploded around his body.
When the white smoke cleared, Arton's face, which had not merged with Kaya, was clearly displayed in front of Gion.
"You... you're Arton?!"
Gion frowned, somewhat incredulously looking at the Arton in front of her.
"Hehe, to say my name right after seeing my face."
"Surely you came targeting me."
"I'm curious, Miss Gion of the Navy."
"How did you find your way here?"
"And did you come here because you learned about me from Garp?"
"Or did Garp tell Sengoku about me, and Sengoku sent you?"
"Lastly, tell me why you are looking for me."
***
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