【One Piece】Dawn in the Darkness

Chapter 289 Usopp's Perseverance

"Hmm!" Usopp stroked the deck, his eyes blurred with tears, thinking of the conversation with Merry on Sky Island, and whispered, "Is what Merry said true? It might die."

"Usopp..." Lucci looked at the sad Usopp and felt a little sad. "As long as you feel deep in your heart that Merry is still alive, it's good, but we all have to face the facts. It will leave one day."

"No, I can't accept this..." Usopp stood up and tried to wipe away his tears, but it was of no use.

"Merry is a great ship, Usopp," Lucci said, placing a hand on Usopp's shoulder to comfort him, "I can sense that it is very happy sailing with you."

"I believe in Merry! It won't fall down..." Usopp took a deep breath and calmed down. Merry's final outcome was not known yet. He believed that Luffy would not give up Merry just like him. "It has accompanied us for such a long way... We will definitely repair it, even if it... I will never abandon it..."

Lucci looked at Usopp who was still insisting and sighed softly. It seemed that Luffy would soon have a team problem to solve. He could already guess the choice Luffy would face next and could imagine the pain involved, but this was a decision Luffy had to make as the captain and a pain he had to endure. He could not intervene, and Luffy had to solve this problem in his own way.

But... Lucci looked at Usopp who had lost his judgment and couldn't help but said, "Usopp, the purpose of the ship is to safely transport all the crew members to the next island. Driving a problematic ship on the Grand Line can lead to death. How could Merry want the crew to die on the ship? And even if Merry is intact, he can't lead you forever, so changing ships will be the inevitable result."

"How can you be so calm?" Usopp couldn't accept that Lucci told him so coldly that it was necessary to replace Merry.

"Don't think that a person who appears calm doesn't mean he is not sad, Usopp." Lucci lowered his eyes and looked at Usopp sitting on the deck with a serious expression. He really hoped that Usopp could realize that his captain would also be the one who suffered the most from this matter. "Maybe he just wants to accept certain unchangeable facts with a man's dignity."

Usopp looked up in surprise, he thought Lucci was just like he acted, and thought he wouldn't understand the sadness he felt.

"I know it's difficult, Usopp, but I hope you can accept Merry's final outcome with the dignity of a man."

Lucci patted Usopp's shoulder, turned and left, intending to end the conversation. However, when he was about to leave the deck completely, he couldn't help but tell Usopp his true thoughts, "When that moment really comes, the captain will always be the most painful person." After all, he still didn't want to see Luffy bear this pain alone behind his back.

Usopp fell into deep thought as he watched Lucci leave.

……

The next day, Merry successfully resumed the route, and Luffy, fully rejuvenated early in the morning, was able to demonstrate his frozen self to everyone on the deck, and it seemed as if he didn't care at all about how they were completely defeated two days ago, and even found the strength to laugh in the incident with Usopp and the others.

"Ms. Nami~" Sanji excitedly rushed towards Nami who was basking in the sun on the second deck with food.

“I made potato-flavored paille.”

"Miss, please taste it if you can."

Nami took the snack from Sanji, tasted it and said with a smile, "Mm, delicious."

After hearing Nami's comment, Sanji excitedly shouted towards the sea "I'm so happy!!"

Zoro, who was sleeping by the railing next to him, was awakened by Sanji's yelling and couldn't help shouting, "It's so noisy! Can't I sleep anymore?!"

"Yes, yes, I'm sorry, Cactus." Sanji raised his hands and apologized perfunctorily.

"What did you say!? Wrinkles!" Zoro immediately retorted angrily

"You...what did you say about me!? Bastard!!" Sanji shouted in disbelief.

"Pleated eyebrow curling!!"

Qi came out of the kitchen while eating the paille that Sanji had carefully prepared. He looked at Zoro and Sanji who were quarreling and said, "Why are these two quarreling again?"

"Those guys, what's so fun about this kind of thing? They almost froze to death." Nami complained as she watched Luffy being frozen by flour on the first deck.

"That's Luffy, isn't it?" Qi said with a smile as he forked a piece of mashed potatoes.

"Qi, what is this? I want to eat it too!" Luffy smelled the aroma and immediately rushed to Qi and took the fried potatoes from his fork. "Delicious!!"

"You're really sharp," Qi complained, giving him the remaining piece on the plate. "Fried with mashed potatoes."

Luffy took it with a smile, then turned to Sanji who was arguing and shouted, "Sanji, I want to eat this potato too!"

Sanji stopped arguing with Zoro and responded "Go get it from the kitchen yourself!"

Robin stood at the cabin door, looking at everything on the deck in front of him and chuckled.

Hearing the voice, everyone turned to look, Sanji waved excitedly, "Sister Robin~"

"Robin, how do you feel? Are you still feeling cold?" Chopper asked with concern.

"Thanks to you, I'm much better now." Robin chuckled and said, "Thank you, Mr. Famous Doctor."

"Just... I wouldn't be happy even if you praised me as a famous doctor, you bastard!" Chopper spun around happily, even though he denied that he was happy.

"Ms. Robin, do you want me to make something for you to warm you up?" Sanji suggested with a smile.

"Then a cup of coffee would be nice." Robin said with a smile.

Luffy and Usopp came out of the kitchen with mashed potatoes. Seeing Chopper's happy look, Usopp complained, "He's obviously very happy."

"Don't force yourself, Robin." Nami said with concern. "Don't try to be brave just because Luffy and Odd are full of energy. You should continue to rest."

Luffy raised his hands proudly when he heard Nami's compliment.

"I'm not praising you." Nami complained when she saw Luffy's smugness.

"I'm fine now." Robin said with a smile.

Luffy grabbed a piece of fried mashed potatoes and put it in his mouth. As he chewed, he noticed that Lucci wasn't in his usual position. "Lucci, where is Lucci?"

"Still sleeping." Qi took a piece of mashed potatoes from Luffy's hand and answered while chewing.

"He's already missed breakfast," Sanji added as he came out with coffee, a hint of worry in his voice.

"I'll go call him." Luffy nodded, stuffed the remaining food into his mouth, and walked towards the boys' dormitory.

......