Chapter 137: How Could Someone As Handsome As Me Be a Pirate?

"Achoo! Is someone talking about me?"

Standing at the bow of the Swan, facing the breeze, Tang Shen rubbed his nose.

"Master, our ship is about to dock for supplies. Up ahead is Syrup Village," reminded Nami, the navigator, who was dressed in a maid outfit.

"Syrup Village, huh? I wonder how far the plot has progressed. Koby, bring the Swan into the dock!" Tang Shen said with a smile.

"Yes, Captain!" Koby immediately stood at attention.

Tang Shen had originally wanted to throw Koby overboard—after all, the boy lacked strength and was cowardly—but since he needed someone to handle the chores and prepare simple meals, he kept him around.

Well, aside from being cowardly, timid, and weak, he was still somewhat useful.

...

In the distance lay lush, green trees—a typical rural landscape with winding paths. From afar, one could see an elegant mansion standing out in the most prominent spot. It was a picturesque, peaceful little village.

Suddenly, a desperate, hoarse roar shattered the tranquility.

"Everyone! Something terrible has happened!"

"Pirates! Pirates are attacking! Pirates!"

"Run for your lives!"

...

A guy with spinach-like curly hair and an astonishingly long nose was sprinting along the village path, panting and shouting. As he ran past, the tightly shut doors swung open, revealing villagers brandishing brooms, frying pans, and shovels, their faces filled with indignation.

"Stop right there!"

"You big liar, we're going to teach you a lesson today!"

"Get him! You jerk, Usopp!"

"What an incorrigible brat. If I catch him, I won't let him off lightly!"

...

Clearly, they had been fooled by the same trick too many times. The villagers had reached the end of their tether with this worn-out prank. They swarmed toward Usopp, raising their brooms and spatulas, shouting that they would give him a proper thrashing.

Watching the enraged mob, Usopp felt beads of cold sweat break out on his forehead, but the more intense the situation became, the more excited he felt. He yelled out gleefully, "If you've got the guts, come and catch me! Come on! Hahahaha!"

*Thud.*

As he turned to run, Usopp felt as if he had slammed into a wall. He stumbled and fell to the ground. His laughter cut off abruptly, and he looked up in shock.

The villagers behind him slowed their pace, their expressions shifting to absolute horror as they stared at what lay behind Usopp.

"Pi... Pirates! Pirates are actually here! Pirates are really here!"

Lying on the ground, Usopp trembled uncontrollably, his face as pale as paper. Even his voice had changed. His pupils constricted as he stared at Tang Shen in front of him, filled with raw fear.

Tang Shen pursed his lips. He hadn't expected to run into Usopp the moment he stepped ashore. However, his main purpose in coming to Syrup Village was to restock; he had heard the locals were simple-minded and hospitable.

"May I ask—"

Before Tang Shen could finish his sentence, the terror-stricken Usopp scrambled away on all fours, pointing behind Tang Shen and screaming, "They're pirates! The pirates are really here! I wasn't lying! This time it's real!"

Perhaps they had never dreamed that pirates would actually arrive. Even though it was only Tang Shen, Nami, and Koby stepping off the ship—people who looked harmless enough—the entire village of Syrup was instantly in an uproar. The villagers present stared at the trio as if facing a deadly enemy.

"Pirates! You aren't welcome here!"

"Get out! If you try to invade our village, I'll kill you!"

"We don't welcome pirates!"

...

The villagers looked at the three with vigilance, wariness, and fear. The people of Syrup Village despised pirates and viewed them as a disgrace. But the ten-meter-tall Swan behind Tang Shen and the pirate flag fluttering in the wind were clear signs that these three were those cold-blooded, murderous pirates.

"We aren't pirates! We're just passing through and want to buy some supplies!" Koby explained hurriedly. Even though his legs were shaking, he felt that if he didn't say something, the situation would only get worse.

"Buy supplies? Do pirates even buy things? Don't try to fool us!"

"Go call for help! We can't let these damn pirates into the village!"

"Everyone, grab your weapons!"

...

The villagers glared with such fierce intensity that Koby’s knees gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground. Meanwhile, Usopp had already vanished. In the minds of the villagers, if these cursed pirates invaded, the women, children, and elderly would certainly be slaughtered! The whole village would be looted!

"What an unreasonable bunch. Hey, mister, do we look like pirates to you?"

Nami, the navigator, couldn't take it anymore. She stepped forward with her hands on her hips and called out.

"You? What else could you be but pirates? Only a pirate's woman would dress like that!" the middle-aged villager retorted, his face reddening with anger as he looked at Nami's maid outfit.

"Get out of our Syrup Village!"

"You wicked woman, have you sold your conscience to these devils?"

...

The villagers' words left Nami speechless. Her pretty face flushed bright red, and she felt like crying. She was fed up with Koby’s canned fried rice every day, and she was sick of days without fruit or vegetables. She glanced at Tang Shen, only to find him looking completely calm. She felt a surge of secret resentment, but she had to maintain the innocent, pitiful look of a "Cat Burglar."

"Sigh..."

Tang Shen sighed softly and placed his hand gently on the hilt of his long sword. The surrounding villagers immediately grew tense, watching him with extreme caution.

"Do you really think a four-virtue, five-love youth like me—handsome, kind-hearted, well-versed in the core values of socialism, and who frequently helps elderly ladies cross the street—could be a pirate?"

With his harmless expression, clear and sincere eyes, and a handsome face that made the young girls of Syrup Village swoon, the atmosphere shifted.

"..."

Everyone fell silent.

"He makes a good point... I actually can't find a way to argue with that."

"Yeah, he... he doesn't really look like a pirate, does he?"

"How could such a young, handsome lad be a pirate? I think he’s telling the truth."

"It seems so, but we can't let our guard down that easily!"

...

The men were silenced, and the women were moved to tears. The villagers of Syrup Village grew hesitant and indecisive.

"..."

Nami was speechless, wondering if she should voice her frustration.

Tang Shen, meanwhile, wore a sunny smile. One could rely on talent to get by, but alas, he still had to rely on his face. This was true power!