The Thousand Sunny sailed steadily across the azure sea.
Sunlight spilled over the rippling water, reflecting a dazzling brilliance.
A gentle sea breeze stirred the sails, making them flap and rustle. Seagulls circled overhead, their clear cries ringing through the sky.
To anyone unaware of the circumstances, the scene would have seemed peaceful and beautiful, full of the pleasures of sailing.
Yet an indescribable sense of unease and oppression hung over the ship.
Everyone stood scattered across different corners of the deck. No one spoke, and the stifling silence made it hard to breathe.
At last, Usopp was the first to break the silence.
With a blade of grass between his lips, he leaned against the mast and said with a mocking half-smile:
"Well, well. You guys really are brave."
His voice dripped with undisguised sarcasm:
"You actually dared to go after Shirahoshi?"
"You even tried to assassinate her?"
"Tsk, tsk. You've certainly got guts."
As he spoke, he cast sidelong glances at Luffy and Shanks, his eyes full of mockery.
Honestly, if he had his way, he would have gone over and beaten Luffy up.
Who was Shirahoshi?
She was the person who had saved his mother's life!
Back then, if not for Lady Shirahoshi, his mother would have died of her illness long ago.
It was Shirahoshi's unexpected arrival that had saved her.
He had never forgotten that debt.
Yet now, Luffy and the others had actually tried to assassinate Shirahoshi?
That alone was enough for him to hold a serious grudge.
He had only kept himself from exploding on the spot because Luffy was the protagonist of this little play.
"Why would you do something so stupid?"
Nami spoke lazily from the side.
She held a bowl of shaved ice, eating it slowly, spoonful by spoonful. Her