[30] : [BONUS] - Usopp's Resolve! Traits Updated!

~ Thank you, We've hit 400 Powerstones. This is the Bonus Chapter~

~ Long Chapter~

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"Don't kill me! I have information! We can trade!" Kuro, his earlier composure completely shattered, pleaded, his face contorted with terror.

Only someone who had truly experienced having their power utterly plundered by Rowen could understand that level of despair.

Years of effort, years of training and battle forging his strength—all stolen in an instant.

All that remained was a broken shell, a body now struggling even to stand.

And for a pirate, being stripped of power meant being stripped of everything!

Monster!

Kuro, unable to even stand properly due to the sudden loss of strength, sat paralyzed on the ground, staring up at Rowen in utter horror, not even daring to meet his eyes.

He had been a notorious pirate in the East Blue, yet he had never encountered such a monster.

Whether it was the moment earlier when the man's mere gaze sent an irresistible force washing over him, knocking him unconscious, or now, having everything stolen by some unknown means...

Kuro felt like an ant before this man, someone who could be crushed at any moment.

He didn't even have the right to look this man in the eye.

Now, completely terrified, Kuro only wanted to survive.

"Information?" Rowen's lips curved slightly.

"Y-Yes! I'm the former captain of the Black Cat Pirates! But I can still actually command them! Tomorrow! Tomorrow, the Black Cat Pirates are coming to attack this village! Even if you're strong, preventing any damage to the village during that kind of chaos is impossible, right?! Spare my life, and I can help you take out all those guys!"

"Hey! Usopp! You're friends with them, right?! You don't want the villagers to get hurt, do you?! Tell them to let me go!" Kuro babbled desperately, then immediately turned his pleading gaze towards Usopp.

"What?!" Usopp's face turned pale instantly.

Kaya covered her mouth, unable to believe this was the true face of Klahadore, the butler she had trusted for three years.

"So, why did you infiltrate this place as a butler? And why arrange for the Black Cat Pirates to attack?" Rowen asked calmly, his expression unchanged.

Knowing the plot, Rowen already knew the reasons, but having Kuro confess himself would completely shatter any remaining illusions Kaya might hold.

"I..." Kuro's throat felt dry. He hesitated, unable to speak for a long moment.

"Not talking? Then... die," Rowen stated coldly, his eyes narrowing.

"I-I'll talk! I infiltrated here for this family's fortune! I was sick and tired of the Marines chasing me because my bounty kept getting higher! So I faked my death to hide! Then I spent three years earning the villagers' trust! Tomorrow, after the Black Cat Pirates kill Miss Kaya and force her to write a will leaving everything to me, I can legally claim the fortune and live peacefully!" Terrified beyond reason by Rowen, Kuro spilled everything immediately.

As for why he didn't lie? Under such extreme fear, Kuro's mind had already crumbled; lying was beyond him.

"Klahadore..." Kaya whispered, covering her mouth, staring at Kuro in disbelief.

The butler her family had taken in, treated like one of their own... intended to murder them all.

"Let me go! I'll tell you where those Black Cat bastards are! I won't be a pirate anymore! Just spare my life!" Kuro begged, completely disregarding Kaya's feelings, focused solely on survival.

WHAM! An elongated fist slammed heavily into Kuro's face, the force so great it distorted his features.

"Trading your crewmates' lives for your own... scum like you don't even deserve to be called pirates! Comrades aren't meant to be used like that!" Luffy roared, looking down furiously at the now silent Kuro on the ground.

Zoro smirked faintly.

Rowen glanced at Nami, who pressed her lips together, understanding his unspoken meaning.

Rowen's earlier words about risking his life to help her echoed in her mind, along with the memory of him carrying her. Waves of complex emotion washed over Nami again.

"Hey, Luffy! You didn't even ask where those pirates are!" Usopp yelled, clutching his head, then rushed over to Kuro, shaking him desperately, trying to wake him up.

"Hey! Wake up, you jerk! Where are those pirates?!" Usopp shook Kuro frantically, sweat dripping down his forehead.

But Kuro, completely stripped of his power by Rowen, now possessed the constitution of an ordinary villager.

After taking a full-force angry punch from Luffy, there was no way he could wake up now.

"Damn it!" Realizing Kuro was truly unresponsive, Usopp slammed his fist onto the ground in frustration.

"Just go tell the villagers pirates are coming tomorrow. Have them evacuate," Zoro suggested, arms crossed.

"They won't believe me! I've always lied to them about pirates coming!" Usopp cried out, anguish etched on his face.

"Usopp... I can tell them," Kaya offered weakly, coughing slightly.

Her body was already frail, and the shock of Kuro's betrayal had taken a heavy toll, leaving her feeling unwell.

"No! Who knows if that Kuro guy hid anything else?! Like maybe the pirates won't attack without his signal! If you tell everyone, Kaya, but the pirates don't show up tomorrow, then people won't trust you either! By the time the pirates do attack for real, it'll be too late!" Usopp's inherent pessimism and cowardice immediately conjured the worst-case scenario.

The reason he constantly lied about pirates coming was rooted in his past. After his father Yasopp left for the sea, Usopp's mother fell gravely ill. Seeing his mother suffering yet still longing for his father, Usopp had a sudden idea. He ran through the village shouting "Pirates are coming!" hoping his mother would hear.

Hearing Usopp's cries gave his mother hope for Yasopp's return, and her condition improved slightly. So, Usopp continued shouting "Pirates are coming!" every day.

He kept up the habit even after his mother passed away, preserving it to this day.

It held his deep longing for his deceased mother.

Furthermore, Syrup Village was quite isolated on the sea; the villagers were often bored.

After chasing and scolding him each day, Usopp sometimes saw genuine smiles of amusement on some villagers' faces.

So, Usopp persisted.

But now, years of crying wolf had finally led to bitter consequences.

"Hm? You're not going to ask us for help?" Rowen asked, looking at Usopp, a slight curve to his lips.

"This is my village! It's my responsibility to protect it! Besides, we don't even know if those pirates will actually come tomorrow! What if they don't show up? Are you guys supposed to just wait here forever? You have your own adventures to go on! How could I shamelessly ask you for help?!" Usopp turned his head away, shouting loudly despite his obvious fear.

"Alright! Then Captain Usopp will defend the village outskirts from those pirates myself!" Usopp declared, puffing out his chest.

"But your legs are shaking," Nami pointed out, looking at Usopp.

"D-Damn it! This isn't a joke! These are real pirates! I can't be so cowardly!" Usopp looked down at his trembling legs, sweat pouring down his face as he desperately hit them with his fists.

"Fine! So what if I'm scared?! Go ahead and laugh if you want!" Unable to control his shaking legs, Usopp looked up and shouted defiantly.

"No one's laughing at you. Who would laugh at a truly brave warrior of the sea?" Rowen stated calmly.

"Rowen... M-Me? A brave warrior of the sea?" Hearing Rowen's words, Usopp felt his nose sting.

Becoming a brave warrior of the sea was Usopp's dream.

And Usopp had witnessed Rowen's power.

To be acknowledged by such a man... Usopp felt his mouth go dry.

"Y-You guys aren't just pitying me, are you?" Usopp asked, still plagued by self-doubt.

"Who would risk their life fighting pirates out of pity?! Idiot!" Luffy yelled, then grinned at Usopp.

"Shishishi! Besides, what do you mean 'our adventure'? Aren't you already our comrade?"

Usopp's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Luffy, who was grinning and holding out his hand towards him.

"Will you join us, Usopp?" Rowen asked, a smile playing on his lips.

"Hmph," Zoro simply smirked, saying nothing.

Zoro could see Usopp's inherent cowardice, but he also saw the courage Usopp mustered to face pirates for the sake of his village. He respected a man like that.

"Luffy! Rowen! Everyone!" Usopp's eyes instantly turned red. He lunged forward, tackling Luffy in a hug.

"But I wanna be the captain!"

"I'm the captain!"

"Vice-captain is okay too!"

"Don't be stupid!"

———

Rowen watched Usopp roughhousing with Luffy, a faint smile on his lips.

—[Usopp has joined the Straw Hat Pirates. Equipable Trait list updated.]—

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