Capítulo 56: Part nine - Once, a liar, a cheater and a deciver met 7/??
To say that at this moment Zoro felt uncomfortable is to say nothing. Looking up from Usopp leaning in front of him to Luffy, Zoro saw ... Zoro saw a choice. It is not clear, however, why he was given it at all. Help a barely familiar guy, even if he made a rather favorable impression, or side with your captain, who meant a million times more to him than the word "captain" could convey? It wasn't even a choice. There could only be one answer. And it was sounded:
- I'm sorry Usopp, but my captain has already said his word. - Zoro shook his head. - Since Luffy says that we will not help you, then we will not help you.
- Ca-captain ?! - Usopp jerked his head up and stared at Luffy in shock. - Aren't you the captain? - the guy's gaze moved back to Zoro. - The newspapers always said that you are the most important!
- You never know what they say in the newspapers, - the swordsman shrugged slightly. - Luffy is our captain, and he is the one who gives the orders. So sorry, nothing personal, but our captain has already said his word. I think it's time for you to leave.
Depressed, Usopp got to his feet and looked around uncertainly. Luffy smiled carelessly, Zoro's face was expressionless, as were Yosaku's and Johnny's, with only Nami frowning slightly.
- Aren't you… aren't you pirate hunters? Shouldn't you be helping people?
- Why's that? - Luffy snorted slightly at such naivety. - Almost all hunters, without exception, first of all think only about money. We are no exception in this regard. Sometimes money is the only reason why this or that hunter become a hunter. Therefore, if at the end they do not receive a worthy reward for all their efforts, they will never undertake this or that business. And who in their right mind would risk their skin for nothing? Hero hunters don't live long. Also, who told you that we are hunters at all?
- Wh-what? - Usopp stared blankly at Luffy. - I mean, who said? You have slaughtered all of the famous East Blue pirates! And in the papers, your team has always been called bounty hunters, haven't they? What else would you be then?
- Zoro has already told you that you should not believe everything that is written in the newspapers. And about who else we can be ... pirates, of course!
- What?!!
- I can repeat if you did not understand the first time.
- Are you pirates ?! Impossible !!!
- Why?
- Because you are killing pirates !!!
- And what does that prove? - Luffy raised an eyebrow. - If you don't know, pirates have always killed other pirates, not just marines and civilians.
- But you get bounties for pirate heads, so you can't be pirates! The Marines simply wouldn't pay you!
- If someone does not know about something, then this does not mean at all that it does not exist or cannot be. However, if you are so interested, I can say that it was all part of my little plan. A plan that is almost over. We no longer need to impersonate bounty hunters, so soon the whole world will know that we are actually pirates! Do you understand now? We have no reason to help you. So if you want to live, then I advise you to get out of the village. In the end, you honestly tried to save them, but they didn't believe you, so you are no longer responsible for them. Now, even if they die, it will not be your fault. Think about it yourself, you tried to save their lives, and they thanked you by shooting you in the arm. In my opinion, the time has come to forget about them and think about yourself.
Usopp was literally pounded, and tears rolled from his eyes.
- Maybe… Maybe they don't believe me… maybe they chased me away… shoot me in the arm… it's still my village… I grew up here… I buried my mother here… and I love my village! And I will not calmly watch how pirates will kill the inhabitants of my village! If no one believes me, if you refuse to help me, then ... then I will do everything myself! I'll stop the pirates myself! And then ... and then it just becomes another lie of mine. And that's all. Nothing more.
An observant person would easily have noticed that Usopp's little speech made a tangible impression on the people gathered around the fire ... except for one. There are no surprises here. Luffy looked at the long-nosed man like he was a complete idiot.
- I can't help but pay tribute to your courage and dedication, but you don't need to indulge yourself, - Luffy said. - There's no way in the world that you can stop the pirates from attacking your village. The most you can achieve is to kill several of them, and even then, only if you prepare a good ambush and show complete ruthlessness. Otherwise, you may not even start.
- You… you can't know for sure! - Wiping away his tears with his hand, glared at Luffy Usopp.
- Between the two of us, I'm the only one who deals with real pirates on a regular basis, which means I'm the only one of us who understands the real state of affairs. If you are really going to confront the pirates, then you will die. Fact. You do not trust me? Then ask them. - Luffy shook his head slightly towards Yosaku and Johnny. - As I said, even under the most favorable circumstances for you, the maximum you can achieve is that a little fewer pirates will attack your village than would have attacked initially. Of course, most likely, this will save someone's life, perhaps more than one, but the attack itself will not be prevented by your self-sacrifice. So is the game worth the candle?
- So be it, - Usopp said suddenly calmly. - Let my efforts save only a few people ... but I will still save these few people.
- Well, it's up to you, - Luffy sighed. - Then, let me at least give you two pieces of advice. We are not going to help you, but personally I have nothing against you. Consider yourself just unlucky. That happens.
- What ... what advice?
Judging by the tightly clenched fists, the long-nosed guy really didn't like what Luffy was just telling him - and also the carefree tone with which he said it all - but Usopp was willing to listen to Luffy anyway if it could help save him even more villagers. Seriously, the team liked the guy more and more. It's a pity that he was soon to die. Probably.
- Firstly, since you overheard this Fake Zombie of yours, wallowing behind the stone behind which we threw you, then, I suppose, you decided that they would attack along the road nearby.
- Is not it so? - Usopp frowned.
- Quite possibly - Louffy shrugged slightly - However, in my opinion, the road on which we returned to the beach is much more convenient for attack. Not only does it come close to the village itself, it also, unlike the first, passes through the forest almost along its entire length. If pirates attack it, the villagers will not be able to see them until the very last moment. But on another road going through the fields, they can be noticed from afar. I think your Fake Zombie got the nickname "Thousand plans" for a reason, so he should understand such things as well as I do. Of course, I could be wrong, but it's up to you to decide.
Usopp nodded.
- Now for my second tip… bend over… come on, come on, bend over! Like this, now feel it.
Usopp bent down, Luffy raised his hand, and in the next instant, the long-nosed guy found that the earth and sky were rapidly changing places with each other. Earth, sky, earth, sky, and so on several more times, until Usopp's impressive flight was interrupted by a hit to the ground. Slightly tumbling over the sand, the guy stopped. And he remained motionless, as if dead.
It took Usopp a few minutes before he recovered enough to start thinking again. Raising himself with difficulty in his arms, he sat on his ass. It was noisy in my head, the world around was swaying strangely. After another couple of minutes, Usopp finally realized that Luffy was smiling next to him.
- How are you? Have you come to your senses? Do you understand what I'm telling you?
The long-nosed guy nodded somewhat dully.
- Well! So now you know what will happen to you when the pirates get to you. Just keep in mind that I have only put you one single shack. However, you can be sure that the pirates you will fight against tomorrow will not be as generous as I am. And this is my second advice to you. At least now you have a little idea what kind of force you have to fight against. Now, good luck! Take care.
With that, Luffy walked back to the fire, around which the rest of the Straw Hats had already developed a vigorous activity. While Usopp was telling them his story, the water in the cauldron warmed up and boiled, so it was time to get serious about preparing their upcoming dinner.
After looking at Luffy, Usopp, still a little sluggish, got to his feet and slowly walked away from the beach, and at the same time from the famous hunters who settled on it, who in fact turned out to be real pirates.
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Sorry for being late, forgot that I must post 2 more chapters.
Have fun.!!
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