Scaring Usopp

Ronan watched this scene, chuckling inwardly.

He knew these two were in a mischievous mood, deliberately trying to scare Usopp.

But he didn't call them out; instead, he played along.

Ronan twirled the broken short staff in his hand into a few sharp flourishes, the rod whistling through the air.

He also fixed Usopp with a grave expression, his aura restrained yet dangerous.

In Ronan's eyes, interacting with these familiar anime characters was an incredibly entertaining experience.

Even though this world was real, it didn't dampen his subjective enjoyment of these story figures.

He was having fun with it.

Zoro cracked one eye open, staring coldly at Usopp, who was drenched in cold sweat:

"Before your eyes stand real pirates!"

Luffy's Sense of oppression, Zoro's killing intent, Ronan's restrained Fighting Spirit—

Three distinct yet equally dangerous auras, like three towering mountains, pressed down heavily on Usopp.

Usopp looked at the three imposing, "don't-mess-with-us" figures before him, his hand gripping the slingshot trembling more violently, sweat pouring down his face like a waterfall.

He held out for a few seconds, then the "pride" he'd forced up finally shattered completely.

"Clatter."

Usopp's slingshot slowly slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.

His legs gave way, and he collapsed, limp as if his soul had left him.

Mustering his last bit of strength, he looked up at the three, a glint of awe shining in his eyes:

"As... as expected... the words and presence of real pirates... are truly extraordinary! So... so awesome!"

Seeing Usopp's exaggerated, "awestruck-to-the-point-of-prostration" act, Ronan, Luffy, and Zoro could no longer hold back their forced serious expressions.

They exchanged glances and burst into deafening laughter:

"Hahahaha—!!"

Luffy laughed so hard he doubled over, pointing at Usopp sprawled on the slope as he loudly revealed the truth:

"—I just made that up on the spot!"

"Huh?" Usopp looked stunned.

Luffy dropped his smile, his face filled with immense pride and nostalgia:

"That line came from a pirate I respect—Shanks!"

"Sh... Shanks?!"

Hearing that name, Usopp was even more shaken than when he'd been scared.

He sprang up from the ground, stammering, "You, you mean Red-Haired Shanks?! That great pirate?!"

Luffy nodded happily: "Yeah!" He studied Usopp's face closely, then let out an "Ah!" as if remembering something.

"Your dad is Yasopp, right?!"

"—!!!"

Those words hit Usopp like a thunderbolt.

He stumbled, lost his balance, and tumbled down the slope with a "rumble rumble," kicking up dust, finally landing in a heap before them.

"Yasopp... is indeed my dad's name..." Usopp ignored the pain, looking up at Luffy in shock, "But... how do you know that?!"

After a brief chat, the misunderstanding cleared up, and Usopp realized Ronan and the others weren't bad people.

Led by Usopp, they arrived at the only restaurant in Syrup Village.

Luffy immediately launched into a "feast mode," while Ronan and Zoro enjoyed the long-missed food and drink.

Usopp took a huge bite out of a bread roll and mumbled, "Good, right?"

Luffy, stuffing meat into his mouth, explained to Usopp:

"When I was a kid, I saw your dad on Shanks' ship. You look exactly like him, so I recognized you right away!"

"My dad... he's on Shanks' ship!"

Usopp put down the bread excitedly, his eyes shining with admiration, "I can't believe my dad's on such an awesome crew!"

Luffy nodded vigorously, swallowing his food: "Yeah! I'm not sure now, but they should still be together!"

He recalled his childhood memories, his tone full of praise:

"Speaking of which, your dad's aim is incredible! Yasopp is a really outstanding pirate."

Ronan, swallowing a big chunk of meat, quietly listened to Luffy and Usopp's conversation.

When he heard that Yasopp had abandoned his wife and child for his dream, a flicker of barely perceptible disdain passed through his eyes.

In Ronan's value system, behavior like Yasopp's only earned his contempt.

There was nothing wrong with chasing a dream.

But either settle your wife and child first before leaving;

Or simply don't marry and have children at all.

And what did this Yasopp do?

He was the epitome of wanting it both ways—taking what he wanted and walking away without a second thought.

For his own selfish desires, he let his wife die of illness and left his son as a "child stranded on the island."

It was easy to imagine how miserable Usopp's childhood must have been.

Ronan sneered inwardly.

This twisted Great Pirate Era had spawned too many tragedies, and the people caught up in it didn't even recognize them as tragedies.

Sure enough, Usopp was still in high spirits, completely unaware of anything wrong with his father's actions. Instead, he spoke with immense pride:

"That's right! A father who charged into the sea without caring about the consequences, living his life on the line—I've always been proud of him!"

Nami had no interest in this kind of "manly romance." She sharply cut off Usopp's sentimental speech and dragged the conversation back to reality.

She looked at Usopp and asked, "Is it possible to find someone in your village who can sail a ship, along with a large vessel?"

Usopp was pulled back to reality and sighed. "You've seen it—this is just a small village. Sorry to disappoint you!"

Just as Nami's face fell with disappointment, Zoro, who had been quietly drinking, suddenly glanced at a hill in the distance. "There's a big mansion on that hill."

"Mansion?!"

Nami instantly "revived."

She immediately turned to Usopp, her face blooming with the brightest smile, her voice syrupy sweet:

"Usopp~ Is that where your friend lives? Could you... ask them to chip in some money?"

The moment Usopp heard "mansion," he jumped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, frantically waving his hands. "No way! Not that place!"

He looked at Ronan and the others' scrutinizing gazes, forcing an awkward smile that was uglier than crying, then abruptly shoved the table away from him:

"I suddenly remembered I have urgent business! I know the owner well—eat and drink as much as you like! I'm off, I'm gone!"

Ronan watched him flee almost in panic and quickly reached out to grab him. "Hey, Usopp! Is there a blacksmith in your village?"

"There... there is one, but he only makes farm tools! Turn right after leaving the restaurant, and you'll see it!"

With that, Usopp ran off without looking back, vanishing around the street corner in an instant.