As one of the biggest gluttons and drinkers, Luffy was clearly unable to resist the temptation, especially when it came to his extreme craving for meat.
Because Luffy was acquainted with his father, Usopp went out of his way to take them to the best restaurant in the village. At the table, Luffy devoured meat like a maniac, Zoro drank sake endlessly, while Nami and Moonlight calmly ate their fried rice, helplessly watching the two.
Halfway through the meal, Usopp glanced at the time and suddenly left, leaving Onion, Carrot, and Pepper to entertain the guests.
"Huh, where's Usopp?"
An hour later, after finishing his meal, Luffy was finally satisfied, only to realize Usopp was gone.
"You just noticed?"
"Seriously, Luffy, what's your stomach made of? You eat way too much!"
"Oh, come on!"
Hearing this, both Nami and Moonlight were speechless. Nami's eyes widened as she pointed at Luffy. Even Zoro joined in.
"Wow, is this what a real pirate is like? He just ate a meal meant for at least fifty people. That appetite is incredible!"
"Fifty? I'd say it was a hundred!"
"As for Usopp, he left because he had something to do."
The three kids stared at Luffy in awe, their eyes full of admiration.
"He's gone? I still had things I wanted to ask him!"
Luffy said, disappointed.
"You can ask us! We know just as much!"
"Yeah, if there's anything we can help with, just let us know. Helping real pirates would be so cool!"
The three kids thumped their chests with confidence.
"Thanks a lot! We need our own pirate ship. Do you know who the richest person on this island is? We want to ask them to give us a ship!"
Luffy stated his intentions directly.
"The richest? Well, everyone in the village is about the same; there's no one particularly wealthy. But we could all chip in a little!"
"That might not work. Everyone's just getting by."
"Wait, maybe that person can help!"
The three kids thought for a moment. The island's villagers were self-sufficient and not particularly wealthy, so asking them all to contribute to buying a ship for pirates was unrealistic.
Suddenly, Onion seemed to remember something and his eyes lit up.
"That person?"
Luffy's eyes also lit up.
"Yes, she's the richest person in our village. If you ask her, she might be able to help you!"
"Are you talking about Miss Kaya, who lives in the mansion on the hill?"
Pepper and Carrot recalled, nodding.
"Miss Kaya?"
Hearing this, Luffy, Zoro, and Nami's eyes lit up as well.
If they were going to set sail, having their own ship was essential. However, getting a ship wasn't easy. Nami obviously wasn't going to use her money, Zoro and Luffy were broke, and Moonlight, who had just joined, was also penniless. It was hard to say when they'd be able to get a ship.
Buggy's ship wasn't really theirs, and it was so worn out it wouldn't make it to the Grand Line!
Luffy knew they couldn't wait that long. Finding someone to sponsor them was the quickest and easiest way to get a ship!
"Yes, she lives up on the hill!"
The three kids pointed to the mountain outside the window, where a large villa was faintly visible.
"Great! Let's get moving!"
Luffy exclaimed excitedly and immediately headed out the door.
"Let's go!"
Zoro and the others followed suit.
At the hilltop villa, Usopp climbed through a gap in the back fence, scrambled up a tree, and called softly toward a room.
"Kaya!"
The window opened immediately, and a frail girl, not yet twenty, saw Usopp and cheered.
"Usopp, you're here!"
"Yeah, Kaya, I'm here to see you. This time, I'll tell you about my heroic adventures at sea."
Seeing the girl, Usopp's eyes lit up. She was Miss Kaya, the owner of the villa. Usopp nodded earnestly.
Usopp often lied, which caused the villagers to shun him. Although he wasn't literally chased away, his reputation was low.
But the girl in front of him was the only one who believed in him. From her, Usopp felt a long-lost warmth. Being young and beautiful, Kaya had captured Usopp's heart, and he found himself wanting to see her every day. He often sneaked in to tell her made-up tales of the sea.
Because of his lying habits, the stories flowed easily from Usopp's mouth, captivating Kaya with his every word.
Due to her frail health, Kaya spent most of her time bedridden, and apart from a single butler, she had little contact with anyone. Usopp's stories about the sea fascinated her, making her long for the outside world. One loved to tell stories, and the other loved to listen, so the two enjoyed their time together immensely.
"Ah, the captain is lying again!"
At that moment, Onion, Pepper, and Carrot arrived with Luffy and the others. They didn't take the normal path but climbed in through the back garden, and upon seeing the scene, they sighed helplessly.
"Usopp, who are they?"
Kaya asked, her eyes wide as she saw Luffy and his crew.
"Kaya, these are my friends, and they're also pirates. This is Captain Luffy, and these are… well, his three subordinates!"
Seeing Luffy, Usopp slid down from the tree and introduced them.
"They're here because…"
Usopp explained their intentions.
"Miss Kaya, don't listen to this nonsense. He's just a liar!"
Suddenly, a cold voice interrupted. A man in his thirties, dressed in a butler's outfit with gold-rimmed glasses and black gloves, approached, glaring at Usopp.
"Bartel!"
Kaya called out.
"Klahaador!"
Usopp's face changed when he saw the man.
"Miss Kaya, did he tell you that he's a great pirate who often goes on sea adventures? These are just lies that everyone in the village knows about. And his father is a notorious pirate, so as his son, he's no good either. You shouldn't believe a word this man says!"
Klahaador sneered.
"But Usopp, he…"
Kaya began, trying to defend him.
"What did you say? What do you mean by someone like me?"
But Usopp interrupted, his eyes instantly bloodshot as he glared at Bartel in fury.
Especially when Bartel mentioned his revered father with such disdain, it made Usopp snap.
Insult him all you want, but insulting his beloved father was unacceptable!