Usopp Joins the Straw Hat Pirates

"What?!" Usopp's face suddenly went deathly pale.

The blonde girl tightly covered her mouth, unable to believe that this ferocious-looking man before her was Klahadore, the gentle butler who had been by her side for three years.

"Then why did you change your name and hide here in the first place? And why did you arrange for the Black Cat Pirates to launch an attack tomorrow?" Rayson questioned calmly, without the slightest ripple in his expression.

Rayson already knew the reason from his familiarity with the story, but only Kuro's own confession could truly shatter the girl's last illusions.

"I..." Kuro's throat went dry, and he stammered without being able to say anything.

"Don't want to talk? Then... die." Rayson coldly spat out the words, a chill flashing through his eyes.

"I'll talk! I'll tell you everything! I infiltrated this place for this family's wealth! I was sick of being endlessly hunted by the Marines as my bounty kept rising! That was why I faked my death and retired! Then I spent three years earning the villagers' trust! Tomorrow, as long as the Black Cat Pirates kill the young lady and force her to write a will leaving her property to me, I can legally inherit it and live out the rest of my life in peace!" Under Rayson's threat of death, Kuro completely broke down and poured out the truth in one breath.

As for lying? Under such overwhelming terror, Kuro's thoughts had long since fallen into chaos. He had no energy left to fabricate a lie.

"Klahadore..." the blonde girl murmured softly, her eyes filled with disbelief.

The butler her family had kindly taken in and treated as one of their own had been plotting all along to wipe them out completely.

"Spare me! I'll lure out those Black Cat bastards! I'll never be a pirate again! Just spare my life!" Kuro begged humbly, caring nothing for the girl's feelings as he only sought to survive.

Bang!

A massive fist, faintly reddened, slammed viciously into Kuro's face, the tremendous force twisting his features out of shape.

"Trading your companions' lives... scum like you doesn't deserve to be a pirate! Companions aren't there for you to betray!" Luffy roared with eyes blazing, glaring down at Kuro, who lay on the ground like a dead dog.

Zoro let out a cold laugh from the side.

Rayson turned to glance at Nami. She bit her lip tightly and avoided his gaze.

The words Rayson had spoken back in Orange Town once again quietly stirred ripples across Nami's heart.

"Hey, Luffy! You still haven't asked where those pirates are attacking from tomorrow!" Usopp yelled while clutching his head. Then he rushed anxiously to Kuro's side and shook the unconscious man with all his strength.

"Hey! Wake up, you bastard! Where are those pirates coming ashore?!" Sweat covered Usopp's forehead with anxiety.

But after Rayson stripped Kuro of his combat trait, his physique was no stronger than that of an ordinary villager.

After taking Luffy's full-strength punch fueled by rage, there was no way he could wake up anytime soon.

"Damn it!" Seeing that Kuro showed no response, Usopp punched the lawn, his heart filled with frustration.

"Go notify the villagers. Tell them to evacuate tomorrow," Zoro suggested, folding his arms across his chest.

"It's useless! They won't believe me! I always used pirates coming to trick them!" Usopp's face twisted in pain, his voice full of deep self-reproach.

"Usopp... I can explain," the blonde girl said weakly, coughing lightly as she spoke.

Her body had always been frail, and the emotional blow from Kuro's betrayal had left her feeling terrible.

"No! Who knows whether Kuro left behind some other backup plan?! What if those pirates refuse to show themselves if they don't see the signal?! If you notify everyone and the pirates don't come tomorrow, the villagers will never trust you again! When the pirates really do come charging in, it'll be too late!" Usopp was naturally suspicious and timid, and he immediately imagined the worst possible outcome.

There was a reason Usopp shouted that pirates were coming every day. After Yasopp set off for the sea, Usopp's mother fell gravely ill. Seeing how she still missed his father even while wasting away in bed, Usopp ran through the village every day shouting, "Pirates are coming!" in an attempt to rekindle her will to live.

Even after his mother died, he kept the habit, carrying his endless longing for her.

Besides, Syrup Village was remote and boring, and the villagers' lives were as dull as still water.

Watching them chase after him with brooms every day while yelling at him, Usopp could also see the delighted smiles on their faces.

So he had kept the lie going until now.

But now, the bitter consequences of his long-term lies had finally come back to haunt him.

"Oh? You're not going to ask us for help?" Rayson looked at Usopp with a smile.

"This is my village! I have a responsibility to protect it! Besides, we still can't be sure whether those pirates will really come tomorrow! If they never show up, are you supposed to waste your whole lives here?! You have your own adventures to pursue. How could I shamelessly hold you back?!" Usopp turned his head away. Though his legs shook violently, he still refused loudly.

"Fine! Captain Usopp will face those pirates alone outside the village!" Usopp puffed out his chest, trying his best to look righteous and fearless.

"But your legs are shaking," Nami bluntly pointed out.

"Damn it! This isn't a joke! Real thugs are coming tomorrow! I can't back down!" Usopp looked down at his uncontrollable knees, weeping as he desperately hammered them with his fists.

"Damn it! So what if I'm a coward?! Go ahead and laugh if you want!" Unable to stop his body from trembling on instinct, Usopp shouted in despair.

"No one will laugh at you. Who would mock a truly fearless warrior of the sea?" Rayson said calmly.

"Rayson... me? A true warrior of the sea?" Hearing those words, Usopp suddenly felt his nose sting.

His dream was to become a brave warrior of the sea.

And he had witnessed Rayson's mighty power with his own eyes.

To receive recognition from someone so strong made Usopp's throat feel dry.

"You... really aren't just pitying me?" Usopp still had his doubts.

"Who would risk their life fighting pirates just because they pitied someone?! Idiot!" Luffy grinned, flashing a mouthful of white teeth.

"Hehehe! Besides, what do you mean, our adventure? Aren't you already our companion?"

Usopp could hardly believe his ears as he stared blankly at the friendly hand Luffy held out to him.

"Will you set sail with us, Usopp?" Rayson asked with a smile.

"Hmph." Zoro wore a faint smile, his tone teasing.

Though he looked down on Usopp's cowardice, he admired the kid's resolve to face death in order to protect the village.

"Luffy! Rayson! Everyone!" Usopp's eyes suddenly reddened as he threw himself forward and hugged Luffy.

"But can I be the captain?!"

"I'm the captain!"

"Vice-captain is fine too!"

"Stop daydreaming!"

Usopp has joined the Straw Hat Pirates~ Trait synchronization rate increased. Synchronizable trait activated: Courage Anthem~