Luffy and the others immediately chased after Usopp, but they quickly lost sight of him. Usopp ran so fast that he left a cloud of dust behind him.
They continued searching from the village to Kaya's mansion. Time continued to pass, and as evening began to approach, they finally found Usopp.
He was standing with his back toward them, his shoulders lowered. From his posture, he looked exhausted and desperate.
The sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow across the sky. The three children immediately called out to Usopp happily when they saw him.
"Captain!"
"Captain!"
Luffy, Nami, and Zoro realized that something was wrong with Usopp, so they slowed their steps. They remembered the conversation they had heard earlier in the village.
Hearing the voices of his three followers, Usopp immediately changed his expression to a cheerful one. He turned around and greeted them.
"Oh, it's you guys!"
"Captain, is what you said true? That the butler is actually a pirate and is planning to attack this village?"
Ninjin, Tamanegi, and Piiman looked at Usopp expectantly.
Usopp opened his mouth. He almost told them that it was all true.
However, his gaze fell upon the three children standing in front of him. They were still looking at him with the same trust they always had.
Usopp fell silent for a moment.
Then, just as he had done so many times before, he chose to lie.
Usopp placed one hand behind his head and laughed awkwardly.
"Hahahah, so you guys heard that too, huh? But unfortunately, that was a lie."
"I was just annoyed with that butler and decided to play a little prank on him."
The three children began to doubt him. Tamanegi then spoke.
"But Straw Hat said that the butler really is a pirate known as Kuro of a Hundred Plans."
Piiman and Ninjin nodded in agreement.
Usopp looked slightly surprised to hear that. However, he still tried to hide what was really happening. He did not want the three children to get involved when those pirates came later.
At that moment, Luffy walked closer while pressing down on his straw hat and smiling.
"So our plan was discovered. That's a shame, isn't it, Zoro?"
Luffy turned toward Zoro, who was standing beside him.
"Yeah, that's a shame. It was such a great plan, too."
Zoro shrugged helplessly.
"Hah... that's a shame. I guess we'll have to find a ship somewhere else."
Nami shook her head while sighing.
Usopp stared at the three of them in surprise and confusion. The three children also turned their attention toward Luffy and the others.
"So you were working together with Captain after all."
"Yeah."
"So that's how it is."
"So it really was a lie."
The three children then laughed and turned around to leave.
However, after taking a few steps, their laughter stopped.
So did their footsteps.
"What's wrong with you guys?" Usopp asked, his voice still sounding cheerful.
The three children continued to face away from him.
"I'm not going to believe Captain anymore," Ninjin said.
"Me neither," Piiman added.
"Me neither. Even though that butler is really rude, I never thought Captain would lie about something that could put other people in danger," Tamanegi said.
Usopp fell silent.
The smile he had been wearing slowly disappeared.
He looked at the three children, but he did not know what to say.
The three of them were the people who had always believed every story that came out of his mouth. They always called him captain, always followed him, and always believed that all of his lies were actually true.
But this time, one lie from him had made them no longer want to believe him.
After saying that, Tamanegi followed his two friends.
Usopp watched the backs of the three children as they grew farther away. His mouth opened several times.
"W-wait..."
His voice was barely audible.
The three children continued walking.
Usopp finally closed his mouth.
The hand that had been behind his head slowly dropped to his side. He lowered his head in silence.
"So, when are they going to attack this village?" Luffy asked.
Usopp turned toward them with an expression of disbelief.
"You guys believe me?!"
"Yeah, of course. We're friends, aren't we?"
Luffy smiled widely, revealing his rows of teeth.
"And we already know that the butler is a pirate."
Usopp stared at the three of them.
He did not answer immediately.
His gaze shifted from Luffy to Nami, then to Zoro.
They knew that he had been lying.
They knew that everything he had said might have sounded like another lie.
Yet they were still standing there.
They still believed him.
Tears began to flow from Usopp's eyes before he even realized it.
He quickly wiped them away, as if he did not want them to see him crying.
"So, when are they coming?"
Zoro asked seriously while resting one hand on the hilt of his sword.
Usopp wiped away his tears again. After that, he began telling them what he had heard on the coast, about Kuro's conversation with a tall pirate who had a mustache and wore heart-shaped glasses.
"So they're going to attack tomorrow morning, right?"
Zoro placed one hand on his chin as he thought.
"Oh, right. Klahadore also said he wanted Luffy killed when they attacked," Usopp added after remembering something.
"Looks like he's afraid that Luffy will expose his identity," Nami commented.
"So, what's your plan now, Usopp?"
Luffy looked at Usopp. Nami and Zoro also turned their attention toward him.
Usopp stared at the three of them in disbelief before finally asking,
"Why do you want to help me?"
"Hmm? What are you talking about? We're friends, aren't we?"
Luffy smiled.
"You've also joined my pirate crew, so of course we'll help you. And also..."
Luffy lowered his gaze toward Usopp's legs.
His legs were trembling slightly.
"You look scared."
Usopp immediately slapped both of his legs, trying to make them stop trembling.
"Of course I'm scared! Our opponents are real pirates!"
Hearing that, Luffy, Nami, and Zoro could only laugh.