The Silver Dragon sailed steadily toward Syrup Village. After a day of smooth travel, Eli Winters and his crew finally reached the tranquil shores of their next destination.
Syrup Village was small and peaceful, its residents living simple lives by growing cotton and trading small goods. As Eli and his crew stepped off the ship, they were immediately greeted by the sound of hurried footsteps.
A lanky boy with a long nose, curly hair, and lips like sausages sprinted toward them. His voice trembled as he shouted, "Hey! Are you guys pirates?"
Eli instantly recognized him the boy was none other than Usopp. Smiling kindly, he replied, "No, we're not pirates. We're just a group of traveling adventurers."
Hearing that, Usopp let out a long sigh of relief, but then puffed out his chest proudly. "Ah, what a shame! If you were pirates, I, Captain Usopp, would've captured you and traded you for a bounty!"
Big Pan leaned on his massive coiled dragon staff and stepped forward. His five-meter frame cast a huge shadow over the boy as he snorted, "Kid, you think you could catch us?"
Usopp's knees began to shake violently, but he forced himself to stand tall. "O-of course! I I'm the great Captain Usopp! I command eight thousand loyal subordinates!"
Big Pan grinned, vanishing in an instant. Before Usopp could react, he was already dangling helplessly in Big Pan's massive hand. "Eight thousand subordinates, huh? Then where are they now?" he teased. "Call them out to pay your ransom, or maybe I'll just squish you instead."
Usopp's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Trembling like a leaf, he screamed, "P-please! Don't kill me! My men will definitely come for revenge if you hurt me! You'll regret this! They'll tear you apart for capturing their captain!"
Eli and the others burst out laughing. The scene was so absurd that even stoic Fiona had to turn away to hide her smirk.
Meanwhile, on a nearby hill, three small boys were peeking out from behind a bush each barely four or five years old. Their eyes were wide with fear.
"W-what do we do? Usopp's been caught!" whispered one boy with a pepper-shaped hairstyle.
"Pepper, we should run! Those guys look scary. If they see us, we're dead!" said another boy with an onion-shaped haircut and round glasses.
Pepper swallowed his fear and said firmly, "No, we can't just abandon Usopp! Carrot, run to the village and tell the guards that pirates are here! Onion, you go warn Miss Banchina. I'll stay here and keep an eye on them!"
Without hesitation, Carrot and Onion sprinted toward the village. Since they hadn't heard Eli's earlier conversation, they truly believed Usopp had been captured by real pirates.
Big Pan carried the squirming Usopp toward the village while Eli and the rest followed, chatting and laughing along the way.
Moments later, Carrot returned with several armed guards, all panting heavily. The guards raised their rifles and shouted, "Put the boy down, you pirates!"
Eli opened his mouth to explain, but before he could speak, Usopp wailed dramatically, "Help me! They really are pirates!"
Big Pan rolled his eyes and gave Usopp a light shake. "You little liar! After all that, you still don't stop?"
Just then, Onion arrived, pulling along a gentle-looking woman with a pointed nose and kind eyes it was Usopp's mother, Banchina.
"Wait! Everyone, don't be rash! This might be a misunderstanding!" she cried out weakly.
Eli nodded quickly. "We're travelers, not pirates. My friend here just scared your son a little after he started bragging about his crew."
Big Pan set Usopp down, who now stood red-faced and silent. The guards exchanged awkward glances before lowering their guns clearly, this wasn't the first time the boy had cried wolf.
Relief softened Banchina's face. But before she could say anything more, a harsh cough tore through her chest. She doubled over, pressing a trembling hand to her lips as the coughing fit shook her frail body.
"Mom!" Usopp cried, rushing forward to support her. He gently patted her back, his eyes filled with panic.
The villagers nearby hurried over, their faces etched with worry. "Banchina, are you all right?" one asked. "Do you need a doctor?"
Banchina forced a weak smile and shook her head. "It's nothing serious, just a little cold," she whispered. But her pale lips and labored breathing told another story.
Eli frowned. His sharp gaze took in the details the trembling hands, the shallow breaths, the faint blue beneath her skin. This wasn't a simple illness; she'd been sick for a long time.
Despite her condition, Banchina still apologized for the misunderstanding and invited Eli's group to her home.
Her house was small and tidy, though the signs of poverty were everywhere. Usopp helped his mother sit down, looking guilty and restless.
After a long silence, Banchina spoke softly, her voice trembling. "You must have noticed how my son… likes to lie. But he only does it to make me smile."
Her story unfolded like a melancholy sea breeze. Years ago, a pirate crew had stopped by their village the Red-Haired Pirates. Usopp's father, Yasopp, met their captain, Shanks, and after a few days together, chose to join their crew.
That decision changed everything. With Yasopp gone, life grew unbearably hard. The fields went untended, money dried up, and illness soon claimed her strength.
To lift his mother's spirits, young Usopp began shouting every morning, "Pirates are coming!" pretending his father was finally returning home. Though the lie was simple, it carried a child's desperate hope the wish that one day, it might become true.
Eli listened in silence, his heart heavy. He couldn't admire Yasopp's choice. Chasing dreams was noble, but abandoning one's family? That wasn't something Eli could forgive.
With a sigh, he stepped forward and handed Banchina a small vial from his inventory. "Mrs. Banchina, take this. It might help with your illness."
Banchina's eyes widened. She accepted the vial carefully and took a sip. Almost instantly, a warm energy coursed through her body. Her cheeks regained color, and the pain in her chest faded.
She stood, astonished. "I… I feel so much better! Thank you!"
Usopp threw his arms around her, shouting with joy, "Mom! You're really okay!"
Eli smiled as warmth filled the small home.
Banchina wanted to thank them properly, but when she opened her purse, it was empty. She looked helplessly at the bare cupboards.
Noticing her discomfort, Chiyo Mochizuki smiled faintly and raised her hand. From the shimmering glow of her spatial ring, piles of fresh ingredients appeared fish, vegetables, meat, and fragrant spices.
Banchina gasped, while Usopp's jaw nearly hit the floor. "How… how did you do that?" he whispered.
Chiyo simply winked and began helping in the kitchen. Together, she and Banchina prepared a feast, laughter and the sound of chopping filling the house.
When the food was ready, everyone gathered around the table, eating heartily and chatting. For the first time in a long while, Banchina's house was filled with joy instead of silence.
After the meal, Eli and his crew stood to leave. At the door, Eli turned to Usopp and said warmly, "If we ever meet your father on the sea, I'll tell him you're both doing well."
Usopp's eyes shone with hope. He nodded vigorously. "Thank you, mister!"
As they walked back to the Silver Dragon, Eli whispered to his system, "System, check-in."
"Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have successfully checked in at Syrup Village. Rewards: 433 Prosperity Points, a perfect-accuracy slingshot, and two packs of Chinese cigarettes."
Eli blinked. "Uh… well, it's better than nothing."
Big Pan roared with laughter as the ship set sail once more, leaving behind the small village where lies were born from love and a boy who would one day chase the horizon.
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