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"Ah… ah?"
Usopp's expression went blank.
He blinked in disbelief at Luffy's sudden invitation.
"Y-You're not joking, are you?"
"Of course not!" Luffy grinned. "Red said you're a great sniper, and I need a sniper for my crew!"
"Red… you mean the vice captain?"
Usopp turned his head toward Red.
After talking with them for a bit, he had pieced together a rough idea of the Straw Hat Crew's hierarchy.
But he never would have imagined that a pirate with a 50,000,000-Berry bounty would invite him to join their crew.
Just like my father back then…!
However…
After struggling with his thoughts for a while, Usopp forced out an awkward yet polite smile.
"Although I appreciate the offer, Luffy… I am Captain Usopp, leader of 80 million loyal followers!"
"I'm sorry, but my personality won't allow me to serve under someone else."
"..."
As soon as Usopp finished speaking, the entire restaurant fell silent, as if a cold wind had swept through.
Smack!
Nami slapped her forehead, her expression full of exasperation.
Great. Another "talented" recruit Red found.
"Huh?" Luffy, unfazed by the rejection, opened his mouth to invite Usopp again—
But before he could, Red raised a hand to stop him.
"Wait a moment, Luffy."
Red smiled and leaned forward, sitting directly across from Usopp.
"Uh… what… what is it?"
For some reason, just by meeting Red's gaze, Usopp felt an unbearable pressure.
It was like…
All his secrets were laid bare before this man.
And sure enough—
As soon as Red spoke, Usopp's entire body tensed up.
"Miss Kaya…" Red chuckled. "How has she been lately?"
"!!!"
Usopp stiffened, his eyes wide with shock.
"Y-You know Miss Kaya?!"
There was no one in Syrup Village more important to Usopp than Kaya.
Sure, he admired her for her frail yet gentle nature…
But more than that—
She was the first person who ever truly listened to him. The first who believed in his stories.
However, Red shook his head.
"No, I don't know her personally."
"I just happened to hear that a certain pirate crew is plotting against her."
"They're after the Kaya family's fortune."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY!?"
Usopp shot to his feet, his pupils dilating in shock.
"What's going on?!" He turned to Red, desperate for answers.
His concern for Kaya was even greater than he himself had realized.
But Red, unfazed by Usopp's panic, simply waved a hand.
His calm looking eyes flickered with a strange glint.
Then, with an amused smile, he said—
"The Black Cat Pirates vanished three years ago. Do you remember them?"
Usopp nodded and quickly recited what he knew.
"A notorious crew with a total bounty exceeding 30 million Berries!"
"I remember their captain, Kuro, was supposedly killed by the Marines three years ago, and the entire crew disappeared from the East Blue."
"Wait—are you saying the remnants of the Black Cat Pirates are targeting Kaya?!"
"No… not just the remnants."
Red chuckled and reached into his coat.
From inside, he pulled out a worn-out bounty poster—one he had taken from Marine Branch 153.
Slowly, he unfolded it in front of Usopp.
"The truth is… Captain Kuro never died."
"He's been hiding in plain sight—working as the Kaya family's butler."
Red tapped the bounty poster with a finger.
"This bounty was officially erased from the Marine records. Take a good look."
Usopp's eyes widened as he stared at the paper.
And then—
SLAM!
Usopp's hands slammed down onto the table.
His face twisted in fear as he stared at the bounty in front of him.
"This… THIS IS—!!!"
There was no mistake!
The man on the bounty poster was definitely the butler who had been by Kaya's side this whole time!
What… what the hell is going on?!
Usopp's brain completely shut down for a moment.
The realization that a vicious pirate had been lurking so close to Kaya made his blood run cold.
Without hesitation, Usopp turned on his heel, ready to sprint to Kaya's mansion and warn her immediately.
His eyes flashed with urgency as he quickly said, "Sorry, everyone! I just remembered something important—I have to go!"
But just as he was about to rush out of the restaurant—
"Wait a minute, Usopp."
Red's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"You don't exactly have the best reputation in this village, do you?"
Usopp froze.
"Do you really think Kaya—or anyone at the mansion—will believe you with just your words alone?"
"And even if you do expose Kuro's identity as a pirate, can you guarantee that he won't just kill you and Kaya out of sheer rage?"
"..."
Usopp's legs suddenly felt as heavy as lead.
A cold sweat ran down his face, dripping onto the table.
He hadn't thought about that.
Kuro wasn't just a pirate—he was a dangerous strategist. If Usopp confronted him without a plan…
He and Kaya would both be doomed.
Seeing Usopp hesitate, Red simply smiled, resting one hand on the table and tapping his fingers lightly.
"Let's do this, Usopp…"
"How about we make a deal?"
Gulp.
Usopp swallowed nervously and slowly turned to face Red.
The way Red's dark, piercing eyes stared at him… the calm smile on his lips…
For a brief moment, Usopp felt like he was just a puppet on strings, completely at the mercy of the man in front of him.
"W-What kind of deal…?" Usopp asked hesitantly.
Red simply chuckled and patted Luffy on the shoulder.
"Simple. We help you solve all your problems… in exchange, you join our crew as our sniper."
"..."
Usopp hesitated again.
But not because he wanted to reject the offer.
No—what confused him was why they would want him.
Luffy and Red were big-time pirates with a bounty of 50 million Berries!
Why would they invite him—a nobody? Was it just because of his father?
He might act cocky and tell exaggerated lies, but deep down, Usopp knew his own limits.
On the outside, he was arrogant.
But on the inside… he felt deeply inferior.
Even so—
Just a few seconds later, Usopp clenched his fists and nodded firmly.
"I don't know what you see in me… but if you can help protect Kaya from those pirates, I'll join you!"
"No, no, no…"
Red shook his head, smirking.
"I think you got it backwards, Usopp."
"You don't join us after we take care of the pirates…"
"You join us first, and then we take care of them."
"Because helping a friend is just natural, isn't it?"
"That's right! Shishishi!" Luffy grinned, stretching out his hand. "You're a sniper that Red praised, so I have to make you my crewmate!"
"You guys…" Usopp was speechless for a moment.
Then, a wild grin spread across his face.
"But since you need me so much, I guess I have no choice!"
He grabbed Luffy's hand and shook it firmly.
For some reason, even though Red had just rearranged the wording, it made Usopp feel different—
Like he was truly being taken seriously.
Maybe… maybe he wasn't as useless as he thought.
And more than anything—
Hadn't it always been his dream to go to sea, become a pirate, and become a brave warrior of the sea?
A dream he had never chased because of his fear and self-doubt?
Yet now…
It was becoming real.
"So, are we heading up to the mansion next?"
Zoro, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke.
Then, glancing at Luffy and Red, he added—
"By the way… can you leave that guy to me later?"
"I want to test the results of my training these past few days."