Klahadore

As two of the biggest foodies and drunks around, they obviously couldn't resist temptation.

Especially Luffy—his craving for meat had reached the level of an obsession.

Since Usopp knew his father, he generously brought them to the best restaurant in the village. At the table, Luffy devoured meat like crazy, Zoro drank like crazy, while Nami and Moonlight ate their fried rice bite by bite, helplessly watching the two of them.

Halfway through the meal, Usopp checked the time and suddenly left.

He left Onion, Carrot, and Pepper behind to entertain them.

"Eh, where's Usopp?"

It was only after a full hour that Luffy finally finished eating. Stuffed and satisfied, he suddenly realized Usopp was gone and couldn't help asking.

"You only just noticed?"

"Luffy, what is your stomach even made of? How can you eat that much?"

"Seriously!"

Hearing that, Nami and Moonlight were speechless. Nami's eyes widened as she pointed at Luffy.

Even Zoro joined in.

"So amazing! Is this what a real pirate is like? He ate enough for at least fifty people in one meal! That appetite is terrifying!"

"More than fifty! I'd say that was enough for a hundred people!"

"Usopp? He had something to do, so he left!"

Onion, Carrot, and Pepper looked at Luffy with utter admiration, their eyes full of amazement.

"He left? I still had something to ask him!"

Luffy couldn't help sounding disappointed.

"You can ask us instead!"

"That's right! If there's anything we can help you with, just say the word. We'll definitely do everything we can!"

"How cool would it be to help real pirates!"

The three of them pounded their chests and declared solemnly.

"Then thanks a lot. We want to get our own pirate ship. Do you know who the richest person on this island is? We'll ask them to give us a ship!"

Luffy stated his purpose directly.

"The richest? Everyone in the village is about the same. No one's particularly rich, but maybe everyone could chip in a little!"

"That doesn't seem right. Everyone's lives are pretty ordinary as it is!"

"Wait, maybe that person could help!"

The three immediately began discussing it. The villagers on the island were self-sufficient and not wealthy. Besides, asking everyone to scrape together money for pirates wasn't realistic.

Suddenly, Onion seemed to think of something. His eyes lit up as he spoke.

"That person?"

Luffy's eyes lit up as well.

"That's right. She's the richest person in our village. If you ask her, she might be able to help you!"

"You mean Lady Kaya, who lives in the villa up on the mountain?"

Pepper and Carrot remembered as well and spoke up.

"Lady Kaya?"

Now not only Luffy, but Zoro and Nami's eyes also lit up.

Since they were going to sail out as a group, they naturally needed their own ship. That was the most basic requirement.

But getting a ship wasn't easy. Nami clearly wasn't going to spend her own money, while Zoro and Luffy were both broke. Moonlight had only just arrived and didn't have a penny either. Who knew how long it would take to get a ship?

Buggy's ship wasn't theirs anyway, and it was so battered that it could never reach the Grand Line! Luffy knew that clearly. How could he wait that long? Finding someone to fund a ship was both the easiest and fastest option!

"That's right. She's the richest person in our village and lives up on the mountain!"

The three nodded and pointed toward the large villa faintly visible on the mountain outside the window.

"Great! In that case, let's get moving!"

Luffy said excitedly. Without another word, he headed out.

"Let's go!"

Zoro and the others followed.

Meanwhile, at the villa on the mountain, Usopp climbed in through a gap in the back courtyard fence, climbed up a tree, and called softly toward one of the rooms.

"Kaya!"

The window immediately opened. A sickly girl who was not yet twenty saw Usopp and cheered.

"Usopp, you came!"

"Yeah, Kaya, I came to see you. This time, I'll tell you about my heroic exploits at sea."

Usopp's eyes lit up when he saw the girl. She was Lady Kaya, the owner of this villa.

He nodded firmly and spoke.

He lied often, so the entire village disliked him. It hadn't quite reached the point where everyone shouted at him like a rat in the street, but it was close.

But the girl before him was the only one who believed him. Usopp felt a long-forgotten warmth from her. Especially since she was young and beautiful, and Usopp was just beginning to understand love. He only wished he could see her every day, so he often sneaked in to tell her sea stories he had made up himself.

Perhaps because lying had become second nature to him, Usopp could spin stories the moment he opened his mouth.

Kaya immediately listened in astonishment, exclaiming in wonder again and again.

Because of her frail health, she had been bedridden for years. Apart from a butler, she had never come into contact with anyone else. Usopp made her eyes light up, and she especially longed for the sea after hearing his stories.

Thus, one loved making things up while the other loved listening, and the two got along happily.

"Sigh, the captain is lying again!"

Just then, Pepper and the other two arrived with Luffy's group of four. They did not take the usual route either, climbing in through the back courtyard. Seeing this scene, they could only sigh helplessly.

"Usopp, who are they?"

Kaya's eyes widened when she saw Luffy and the others.

"Kaya, these are my friends. They're pirates too. This is Captain Luffy, and these are... um, his three subordinates!"

Seeing Luffy, Usopp slid down from the tree and introduced them.

"They came here because..."

Usopp then explained their purpose.

"Lady Kaya, don't listen to this man's nonsense. He's nothing but a liar!"

At that moment, a cold voice rang out.

A man in his thirties approached, dressed in butler's clothes and wearing gold-rimmed glasses and black gloves. He looked at Usopp and spoke without the slightest courtesy.

"Bartel!"

Kaya called out when she saw the man.

"Butler Klahadore!"

Usopp's expression changed when he saw him.

"Lady Kaya, did he tell you that he's some great pirate who often goes on adventures at sea? Those are merely lies he made up himself. Everyone in the village knows it. Besides, his father was a notoriously vile pirate. As the son of a pirate, he's no good either. Lady Kaya, you absolutely cannot believe a word someone like him says!"

Klahadore sneered.

"But Usopp..."

Kaya began.

"What did you say? What do you mean, someone like me?"

However, Usopp cut her off. His eyes instantly bloodshot, he glared furiously at Bartel.

Especially when Bartel mentioned the father he admired so deeply—that disdainful expression immediately enraged him!

Others could insult him, but insulting the father he worshipped was absolutely unacceptable!