"What, am I wrong? Aren't you the son of a pirate? Doesn't filthy pirate blood flow in your veins? Everyone knows this, and as for the things you've done, don't you have any idea yourself? What, do you want me to list them out one by one?"
"You people, everything you say is filthy, just like your father. Like father, like son!"
Klahaador sneered coldly, showing no care for the fury in Usopp's eyes. He continued speaking, unbothered.
"Bartel, stop it! That's enough!" Kaya shouted.
Though she was bedridden, she had heard stories about Usopp from her servants. She vaguely understood, but she didn't dislike Usopp. However, Bartel's words were crossing the line!
"This guy, calling us filthy!"
"Those words are really unpleasant!"
"Hmph!"
Luffy and his crew were also displeased by Bartel's remarks.
But there was nothing they could do. They couldn't just attack a regular person, could they?
Moreover, Bartel wasn't entirely wrong. In this age of pirates, where piracy was rampant and murderous, pirates were seen as symbols of evil. So, if they were afraid of being talked about, they shouldn't have become pirates in the first place!
Therefore, the four of them said nothing.
"Captain Usopp!"
"Damn it, this guy dares to look down on us. What a jerk!"
"Captain!"
However, the same couldn't be said for Onion, Carrot, and Pepper, who were furious and were about to charge at Bartel.
But someone beat them to it!
"You bastard, don't you dare insult my father!"
Usopp's face turned dark as he shouted and swung a punch at Bartel!
"Bang!"
Bartel didn't dodge; he took the punch head-on! He staggered back five steps, and his glasses were knocked off his face!
"Bartel!"
Kaya exclaimed, full of worry.
"Miss, don't worry. I'm fine."
Bartel calmly smiled, picked up his glasses from the ground, adjusted them, wiped the blood from his face, and looked at Usopp with contempt.
"Indeed, you're just a filthy pirate's son who only knows how to solve problems with his fists. It seems I wasn't wrong at all."
"You!"
Usopp was furious and was about to strike again.
"Stop it, Usopp! Cough, cough…"
Kaya cried out, but in doing so, she began to cough violently.
"Kaya!"
Usopp's heart tightened, and he quickly looked over.
"Miss, it's time for your medicine. I'll bring it to you right away!"
"And as for you, get lost. Don't come sneaking in through the back garden anymore. And as for your request, I won't agree to it."
Bartel sneered, his gaze sweeping over Luffy and the others before finally settling on Usopp with disdain. He then turned and went inside to get Kaya's medicine.
"Damn it, damn it!"
Usopp was filled with resentment, but seeing Kaya's poor health, he had no choice but to leave in frustration.
"Captain, Captain!"
Onion, Carrot, and Pepper quickly ran after him.
"Hey, hey, hey, what did that guy mean by his last words? Does that mean he refused us?"
"Probably. What else could he mean?"
"Ah, so much for the ship! The plan's ruined!"
Hearing Bartel's final words, Luffy and the others were visibly dejected.
Their hope of getting a ship was clearly dashed!
"Captain Kuro, huh?"
Moonlight watched Bartel leave, a gleam of insight in his eyes.
Recalling Bartel's distinctive habit of adjusting his glasses with his palm, Moonlight knew this was not the behavior of a normal person.
"If this plan is shot, we'll have to think of something else!"
Luffy said dejectedly, leaving the villa.
He couldn't just steal a ship, and now that they had been refused and offended the butler, they had to find another way.
"Usopp, Usopp!"
Suddenly, Luffy remembered Usopp and ran out.
"Hey, hey, hey, Captain, where are you going?"
"Luffy!"
Seeing Luffy run off without them, Zoro and Nami shouted after him.
But Luffy was already far ahead, his speed leaving them behind in an instant.
"Damn it, this captain is so irresponsible!"
Nami and Zoro couldn't help but complain.
"Haha, don't worry. Maybe he'll find something interesting. Besides, I've noticed something peculiar!"
Seeing the annoyed expressions on their faces, Moonlight chuckled.
"Something peculiar?"
"What did you notice?"
They asked, intrigued.
"That butler, don't you think there's something odd about him?"
Moonlight smiled.
"Odd? Now that you mention it, his way of adjusting his glasses was strange. Why would a normal person do that?"
"Yeah, when you put it that way, it really isn't normal!"
They thought back, feeling a sense of unease as they connected the dots.
"It's obvious; he's not a normal person. While there could be other explanations, like some kind of illness or habit, this behavior is far too unusual. Excluding the possibility of illness, such habits are acquired, not innate. Think about it—in this house, with its deceased owner, and only a young mistress and a butler left, what comes to mind?"
Moonlight said calmly.
The answer was simple and chilling, a realization slowly dawning on them.
"Now that you mention it, it really is suspicious. Are you suggesting the butler isn't an ordinary person? Could he be a pirate or a bandit?"
"Moonlight, this…"
They were stunned, and the more they pondered Moonlight's words, the more unsettling it felt.
Nami quickly made the connection.
"Exactly. Out here on the sea, if they're not normal people, they're likely pirates. Though there's no evidence, my instincts tell me there's more to this. And as for Luffy, don't worry about him. That butler really irritates me!"
"As a servant, he's overstepping his bounds, making decisions in place of the owner. I really don't like him. Besides, without a ship, we can't reach the Grand Line, and I don't want to waste time here."
Moonlight said calmly.
"What do you plan to do?"
Nami nodded, agreeing with Moonlight's assessment.
"I'm curious too."
Zoro nodded, his curiosity piqued.
"It's simple. We split up and search the area—especially the back hills and other directions—to see if there's a pirate ship docked. If he's a pirate, there must be a ship."
"If we find a pirate ship, everything will make sense."
Moonlight explained.
"Alright, we came from the west, and it was clear, so I'll take the east, Zoro can take the south, and Moonlight, you check the north."
Nami quickly divided the task.
"Hey, can you stop bossing me around? Did I say I was going to the south?"
Zoro grumbled, annoyed by Nami's
assumption.