Chapter 24: Since You've Drawn Your Gun, You'd Better Be Prepared to Stake Your Life
"Hahaha! You're quite interesting."
Looking at Luffy's meaningful smile, Usopp suddenly felt a surge of shame and anger.
"Hey! You kid, don't look down on people! I am the proud Captain Usopp!"
As he spoke, he suddenly pulled back his slingshot, the rubber band stretched tight, aiming it at Luffy below.
"You saw it just now, right? My slingshot is even more accurate than a pistol!
"If you dare take another step forward, I really won't be polite!"
The slingshot in Usopp's hand trembled slightly as he made a gesture to shoot at Luffy.
However, facing the dark opening of the slingshot, Luffy showed no intention of dodging at all.
He only slowly raised his hand and pressed down on the Straw Hat atop his head. The shadow cast by the brim covered his eyes, making it impossible to see his expression.
But his aura changed completely in that instant.
"Since you've drawn your gun, you'd better be prepared to stake your life..."
Luffy's voice was low and calm, yet it carried a heart-chilling coldness.
Usopp's face turned pale, frightened by Luffy's sudden aura, and he subconsciously took half a step back.
"Wh-what are you saying... what stake your life..."
Luffy slowly raised his head. Those large eyes that were usually full of laughter now flickered with a terrifying light.
"I'm saying, this thing isn't a toy for scaring people."
"Hmph."
Zoro, standing to the side, instantly understood Luffy's intention.
A cruel smile curled at the corner of his mouth. With a light push of his thumb, Wado Ichimonji was unsheathed an inch, its cold light glinting fiercely.
"That's right, kid. Standing before you are real pirates."
The killing intent emanating from Zoro pressed against the cliff like something tangible.
"Since you've raised your weapon, does that mean you're challenging us?"
Tatsuya also had his hands in his pockets, looking at the sweat-drenched Usopp with a smiling face.
"Oh my, how interesting. Is the battle about to begin?"
"Uh... ah..."
Usopp was covered in sweat. The hand holding the slingshot began to tremble uncontrollably, and his teeth were chattering.
These three guys... are completely different from the thugs I've seen before!
That is an aura that has truly experienced slaughter!
It's the aura of real pirates!
Nami, hiding behind them, sighed helplessly as she watched this scene, holding her forehead as she complained:
"Every single one of them... what are they even doing?"
Finally.
*Clack.*
Usopp could not withstand the terrifying pressure emanating from the three of them.
The slingshot fell from his hand to the ground, and he slumped powerlessly to his knees at the edge of the cliff, cold sweat soaking his back.
"As... as expected of real pirates, their aura is truly extraordinary..."
Looking at the terrified Usopp, Luffy could no longer maintain his stern face.
"Shishishishi!!"
Luffy instantly broke character, clutching his stomach and pointing at Usopp while laughing loudly.
Zoro also withdrew his killing intent and leaned against a rock, laughing heartily.
Watching this classic scene from the original story, Tatsuya also showed a nostalgic smile.
"Eh?"
Usopp's expression of despair froze as he stared blankly at the three people below laughing in a heap.
"Wh-what?"
"I was just repeating what I learned!" Luffy said, wiping away the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes. "Those are the exact words spoken by the pirate I respect most—Shanks!"
"Sha... Shanks?!"
Usopp's eyes widened suddenly. "You said Shanks? You know that great pirate, Shanks?!"
"Of course I know him!"
Luffy puffed out his chest proudly. "Ah, that's right, looking at your face reminded me—your dad is Yasopp, right?"
"Ah?!!"
The impact of these words was too great. Usopp's foot slipped, and he screamed as he fell directly off the cliff.
*Thud!*
Fortunately, there was a beach below. Usopp fell flat on his face, but he didn't care about the pain, scrambling to his feet and rushing in front of Luffy.
While Luffy and Usopp were busy bonding, Nami approached Tatsuya and nudged him with her elbow.
"Hey, Tatsuya. The name Shanks sounds a bit familiar. Is he very famous?"
Tatsuya glanced at her and said nonchalantly:
"He's alright. He's one of the Four Emperors standing at the peak of the Grand Line, known as 'Red Hair' Shanks."
"The... the Four Emperors of the Grand Line?!!"
Nami's mouth hung open in surprise. That silly-looking Luffy actually knew a big shot of that level?
"Is... is that Shanks very powerful?"
Tatsuya rubbed his chin and spoke nonsense with a straight face:
"Ah, he's just a little bit weaker than me."
"..."
Nami's face instantly darkened, and a vein popped on her forehead: "What kind of nonsense are you talking about again!!"
She took a deep breath, deciding not to argue with this egomaniac, and then held out her hand in front of Tatsuya.
"Tatsuya! Hurry up and give me the keys to the cabin! You guys go catch up, I'm going to the ship to get some Berries and buy some supplies in town!"
Tatsuya looked at that fair hand, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly: "Hmm. No."
"Ha?!" Nami was just about to lose her temper.
Although he said he wouldn't, Tatsuya still casually pulled out a set of keys, tossed them in an arc through the air, and threw them to Nami.
"Remember to take plenty; we have a lot of things to buy." Tatsuya turned and waved his hand.
Nami caught the keys, her expression freezing.
She looked at the heavy keys in her hand, then at Tatsuya's retreating back, and the look in her eyes became complicated.
This guy...
He clearly knows I only stayed for the money, yet he's so relaxed about giving me the key to the treasure room?
Is he really stupid, or...
"Ah, got it," Nami muttered in a low voice, gripping the keys tightly.
Then, Tatsuya looked at the group ahead chatting happily and clapped his hands:
"Hey, Luffy, stop chatting. It's about to get dark. Let's go into the Village and eat first."
Luffy's ears twitched, and he immediately jumped up happily:
"Ah! I almost forgot about the meat! I want to eat meat!!"
With that, he took off running towards the Village, leaving a trail of dust behind him.
"Hey! You don't even know the way!"
Usopp was shocked and hurriedly scrambled off the ground to chase after him. "Wait for me! Hey! Hey! That's someone else's house!"
"Ah! Luffy, don't run so fast!" Zoro could only shout helplessly as he followed.
...
The scene changed.
Half an hour later, in a small restaurant in Syrup Village.
*Munch munch*... "Delicious! This meat is so good!"
Luffy held a large piece of meat on the bone, his mouth stuffed full, chewing loudly with grease all over his face.
Usopp sat beside him, asking excitedly:
"Really?! My old man is actually on Shanks' ship!"
"Yeah, of course." Luffy swallowed the meat in his mouth. "You look exactly like him, so I guessed it as soon as I saw you."
"Really? That's great! My old man... is actually on such an amazing ship!"
Usopp was flushed with excitement, his eyes shining with pride.
For years, because his father went out to sea to be a pirate, he had endured many cold shoulders from the villagers.
But now that he knew his father was a truly formidable pirate, the weight in his heart finally lifted.
"Mhm..."
Zoro was off to the side, taking a large gulp of beer and letting out a satisfied sigh:
"Hoo! Good ale! As expected, drinking on land is the best."
Nami sat next to Tatsuya, also eating happily. Although she had things on her mind, she couldn't resist the delicious food in front of her.
Hearing Luffy's words, she looked up, curiously glanced at Usopp's face, and said with some hesitation:
"Look the same? Does... that Yasopp's nose also grow that long?"
Luffy was reaching for the last piece of meat on Zoro's plate and nodded upon hearing this:
"Ah, yes. Yasopp's nose didn't seem this long... but his dad's marksmanship is truly accurate, shishishi."
"Hey! That piece of meat is mine!" Zoro rapped Luffy's hand with a chopstick.
"Ah, that hurts."
"If it hurts, let go! You bastard!"
Watching this lively scene, Nami couldn't help but show a relaxed smile.
These guys, though they seem unreliable, are indeed quite interesting.
"Ah, it's so greasy. Hey, Tatsuya, that apple in front of you looks pretty good..."
Nami was just about to ask Tatsuya to help her grab the fruit in front of him to refresh her palate.
However, before she could finish her sentence.
"Here."
Tatsuya was quick, grabbing the bright red apple and, with lightning speed, stuffing it directly into Nami's just-opened mouth.
"Mmph—!!!"
Nami's eyes widened instantly, her mouth stuffed full by the apple, only able to make protesting whimpers.
"Don't mention it, Miss Navigator. Eating more fruit is good for your skin." Tatsuya withdrew his hand with a smile, hiding his contribution.
"Mmph mmph mmph! Bastard Tatsuya!!"