Bab 15: Chapter 15 Me and my eight thousand subordinates
"In that case, Captain, you stay here, and we'll go warn the villagers!"
"Goodbye, Captain!"
"Good luck!"
Hearing Usopp's words, the three kids turned and ran without hesitation!
It was one thing to play pirate games, but when facing real pirates, who would stay behind and risk their lives?
"You guys… go warn the villagers… hurry!"
Usopp's voice trembled, and his legs were shaking, but he stayed put. He was a man, and he would stop the pirates from coming ashore!
"I won't let you set foot on this island. You won't lay a finger on this village!"
Usopp's voice grew firm as he steeled his resolve.
Suddenly, his body stopped trembling, and his gaze became resolute as he walked into the forest.
By this time, Moonlight and his crew had docked. After anchoring the ship, Moonlight jumped ashore. Luffy, Zoro, and Nami had already disembarked and were making their way toward the village after briefly checking their bearings.
Suddenly, figures appeared on the hilltop ahead, and the trees rustled as if a vast army was hiding there!
"Halt! This island has been claimed by the great Captain Usopp and the Usopp Pirates! You petty thieves better scram, or my 8,000 followers and I won't show mercy!"
A loud voice echoed, followed by more rustling and noise, as if 8,000 men were about to emerge!
"Wow! That's amazing!"
Luffy's eyes widened in amazement.
"Idiot, that's obviously just a trick!"
Despite the intimidating display, Zoro and Nami saw through the ruse immediately. Zoro even shouted toward the hilltop.
"Don't be so cocky! If that's how it is, I'll have my 8,000 followers take action…"
The voice from the hilltop grew more frantic, and the noise became even more terrifying!
"Enough of this!"
Moonlight grew impatient. He drew his sword and swung!
A crescent-shaped slash of sword energy cut through the air, slicing the hill in two!
"Boom!"
The hill split down the middle, collapsing in two halves!
Usopp, along with various props, tumbled down from the hilltop!
"Ahhh!"
Usopp screamed, falling headfirst and landing in front of the group with a thud, upside-down in the ground!
"Whoa, someone just flew down!"
Luffy exclaimed in surprise.
"Only one person?"
Zoro had his hand on his sword, ready for a fight, but seeing only one person tumble down, he was stunned.
"So it was just one guy after all!"
Nami laughed. She had already suspected but wasn't sure until now, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Captain! Captain!"
"Captain Usopp!"
"We're the Usopp Pirates! Let go of our captain, or we'll fight you to the death!"
Just then, Onion, Pepper, and Carrot ran up, rushing to Usopp's side. Two of them pulled Usopp out of the ground, while the third stood in front of Moonlight and his crew, glaring defiantly.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch! Good thing the ground was soft, or I'd be dead!"
Usopp, holding his long nose, winced in pain but was relieved he wasn't seriously hurt.
He'd narrowly escaped death!
"Onion, Pepper, Carrot, why are you here? Did you warn the villagers to run?"
Seeing the three, Usopp's face changed, and he quickly moved to protect them behind him.
"Captain, it's no use. We've lied to them too many times before; they don't believe us anymore!"
"Yeah, we've fooled the villagers so many times that no one believes a word we say now!"
"We have no choice, Captain. We can only protect the village ourselves!"
The three kids said dejectedly.
They had lied to the villagers too often, and now no one believed them, even in a real emergency.
"Damn it, so that's how it is? In that case, I'll protect this island myself! Listen up, I am—"
Though disappointed, Usopp looked at Moonlight's group of four and shouted.
"You're lying. You don't really have 8,000 followers!"
Nami interrupted before he could finish.
"I…"
Usopp hesitated, about to argue back.
"The so-called Usopp Pirates are just you and these three kids, aren't they?"
Zoro pointed to the trio, speaking calmly.
"I…"
Usopp froze again, trying to say something more.
Luffy, however, pointed at his long nose and burst out laughing!
"I know you, you're Usopp, right?"
"Huh? You know me?"
Usopp was stunned. He had never met them before, so how could they know him?
"Haha, you really are! I met your father, Yasopp, when I was on Shanks' ship. He used to talk about you all the time, so much that I got tired of hearing it!"
Luffy laughed, mentioning a familiar name.
"Yasopp! You… you know my father? Is he doing well?"
Usopp trembled at the mention of the name, looking at Luffy with all his guard dropped. Only someone with a close connection would know that name!
"The call of the pirate flag is what drove him to the sea—he always said that. He also said he had a newborn son, but the boy couldn't resist the call of the pirate flag, so he set sail."
Luffy explained.
"He's doing great. He's one of the best sharpshooters on Shanks' ship, often hitting ants right between the eyes with his rifle!"
"That's great! My father is okay, and he still remembers me!"
Usopp breathed a sigh of relief, recalling his father, Yasopp, and feeling proud. Perhaps it was in his blood, but he, too, yearned for the sea!
"A friend of Luffy's?"
"Seems like it!"
"Probably!"
Nami and Zoro exchanged glances.
Moonlight simply smiled; he had known all along but was witnessing it unfold firsthand.
"Grumble…"
At that moment, Luffy's stomach growled loudly. He looked at Usopp, his energy drained, and asked,
"I'm starving. I want some meat!"
"Hungry? No problem, follow me, I'll treat you to a feast!"
"Onion, Pepper, Carrot, let's go!"
Usopp, still in high spirits, waved his hand with grand confidence.
"Yay, meat!"
Luffy's eyes sparkled, and he dashed toward the village.
Zoro's eyes sparkled, too!
"Hope there's some sake!"
He followed quickly after.
That left Nami and Moonlight, who shared a helpless smile and slowly followed the others toward the village.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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