The very beach where the Straw Hats landed in the original.
The Money and the Black Gold stopped about fifty meters off the coast. Any farther and they'd run aground on the sand.
Thump, thump, thump!
Ten dinghies splashed into the sea.
Lister boarded one with Nami, Akame, and Sheele. The other ten girls split across two more boats and rowed toward different points along the shore. Johnson took the remaining boats with First Division. Rocky and Second Division stayed behind to guard the Money and the Black Gold.
The boats touched sand. Lister was first to step onto the beach. Since crossing into this world, it was his first time setting foot on land. The sand was soft, yet solid underfoot. His heart stirred.
"Land really is better."
After a quick look around, he walked a few steps forward.
Thunk!
A pebble smacked into the sand at his feet, gouging a small pit. A voice carried from the treeline up ahead:
"Pirates! This is Captain Usopp's pirate crew's territory. Go no farther!"
Lister blinked, then smiled. "I was wondering where we'd ended up—so it's here. In that case, I'm not worried about provisions."
The people here weren't short on supplies, and a great household lived on the island. An insidious pirate hid in that rich man's home. Help the heiress with her problem and she wouldn't begrudge a little grain. With the Money Pirates' sterling martial virtue, she surely wouldn't.
"You know this place?" Nami asked, coming up beside him.
"More or less. There are a few interesting folks here," Lister said, and ignored Usopp's warning, taking a few more steps.
Bang!
A shot cracked into the sky. Lister stopped and looked toward the thicket.
"I'm warning you—do not advance. Are you making fun of Captain Usopp, commander of eight hundred men?" the voice boomed again, trying for menace.
"You dare fire a gun? Sounds like you're ready to stake your life," Lister said coolly.
Behind him, Johnson and the pirates bared their weapons. Killing intent rolled out.
Usopp nearly wet himself.
"Usopp, calm down. Miss Kaya will be here with everyone any moment. We have to stall them," Merry whispered at his ear.
"But I'm scared!"
"Now's the time to prove you're a man. Don't slip up. Miss Kaya loves adventure stories. Don't disappoint her," Merry urged. His own legs were shaking, so he pushed Usopp forward and played support from the side.
"Fine, I'll hold out a bit longer!" Hearing Kaya's name gave Usopp a flash of courage.
"Staking your life? I'm Captain Usopp. I've cut down not a thousand then eight hundred. Think I won't go all the way? You're in the wrong place. Turn back while you can!"
"Go," Lister said. He couldn't be bothered to banter. If they wanted to play, he'd show them what real pirates were like.
"Kill!"
Johnson, round shield in one hand and a huge wrench in the other, charged. Thirty-odd pirates surged after him.
Usopp and Merry were dumbstruck. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. A few quick-thinking guards grabbed them and tried to run, but they couldn't outrun Johnson. In moments they were surrounded. The guards resisted and were knocked flat by a few hefty swings of Johnson's wrench. Because Lister had strictly forbidden killing or harming civilians, no one dealt fatal blows.
"I surrender! I surrender!" Usopp cried, dropping to his knees. Merry's legs went to jelly and he knelt without a word.
"Bring them," Lister told Johnson.
They hauled Usopp and Merry over.
"Captain Usopp, commander of eight hundred?" Lister asked, smiling faintly.
"I—no—" Usopp stammered, pointing at Merry.
Smack.
Lister slapped him. "I hate liars."
Usopp was on the verge of tears. "I'm sorry, I was wrong. I'm Usopp. Please, great sir, spare me."
"Who fired just now?" Lister asked.
Usopp glanced at Merry, then at a nearby guard. "I didn't aim at anyone. I shot into the sky. Captain, sir—please be magnanimous and spare me."
"If he'd aimed at me, you think he'd still be alive?" Lister snorted. "Who pulled the trigger?"
"Him." Usopp pointed helplessly at the guard.
"Smash his hand," Lister said.
Johnson raised the wrench to bring it down on the guard's right hand—
"Stop!" A rush of footsteps pounded nearer, and a voice rang out.