Chapter 11 The Entrance to Xirob VillageSyrup Village and Cocoyasi Village present two completely different landscapes.
There's no towering Dragon Paradise, no oppressive atmosphere of despair.
The houses are neat and tidy, the fields are well-planned, a few small fishing boats are moored in the harbor, and the villagers' faces bear the simplicity and tranquility typical of a seaside village in the East Blue.
The air is filled with a faint scent of flowers mixed with the briny smell of the sea.
Luffy's small boat slowly approached a simple wooden dock.
He stood at the bow, his eyes slightly narrowed beneath his straw hat, his Observation Haki silently spreading, sweeping across the entire village like mercury.
Peaceful, prosperous, and lacking in vigilance—this was Luffy's first impression.
Soon, Luffy's senses locked onto the most luxurious mansion nestled against the mountainside of the village!
It was a Western-style villa with a garden and a large balcony!
There, there was a faint but pure aura of life, and… another aura tinged with calculation.
"Interesting," Luffy smiled.
Nami and Nojiko disembarked one after the other. After several days of sailing and rest, both sisters looked much better and were gradually getting used to Luffy's rubber body.
Nami held a simple sea chart and a logging pin, surveying her surroundings.
Nojiko, carrying their small packs, warily and curiously scanned the unfamiliar village.
As the three stepped onto the wooden planks of the dock, an exaggerated voice came from the side:
"Hey—! You guys over there! Look here, look here!"
A boy with a long nose and curly hair stood atop a pile of wooden crates, gesticulating wildly and boasting to the three children surrounding him:
"...Back then, I faced a whole hundred ferocious pirates! But Captain Usopp wasn't afraid at all. I pulled out my ultimate weapon, the 'Gunpowder Star,' bang bang bang! and blew them all away! Hahaha!"
The three children's eyes lit up, exclaiming repeatedly, "Amazing! Captain Usopp!"
Luffy glanced at them briefly before turning away, heading straight for the center of the village. He had no interest in such clownish characters.
"Eh? Are you outsiders? Are you pirates?"
Usopp noticed Luffy and his companions, especially their small but uniquely designed straitjack speedboat. His eyes lit up, and he jumped down from the crates, wanting to strike up a conversation.
"Captain Usopp has seen it all! My father is…"
Nojiko stepped forward, politely but firmly blocking Usopp and Luffy's path, a gentle yet aloof smile on her face: "Sorry, we're just passing through, stopping by to resupply."
Usopp was momentarily stunned by Nojiko's imposing presence, awkwardly touching his nose. He wanted to say something, but Luffy had already walked away without looking back.
Nami followed behind Luffy, whispering to him as they passed Usopp, "That long-nosed guy, a complete liar."
Luffy continued walking: "It's irrelevant."
His target was clear: the villa, and the target inside that matched the system's description.
The three walked along the tidy village path towards the villa on the hillside.
Along the way, villagers curiously observed them, but none approached to question them. Syrup Village seemed to be welcoming to outsiders.
As Luffy approached the villa, he seemed to sense something and looked up at a second-floor window.
Just then, the window was gently pushed open a crack, and a young girl appeared in the window.
She looked very young, perhaps fifteen or sixteen, with long, flowing blonde hair. Her face was sickly pale, and she wore a simple nightgown. Her figure was so thin it seemed a gust of wind could knock her over.
But her eyes were bright, like blue gemstones shimmering with moisture, gentle and clear, carrying an innocent purity.
Her gaze met Luffy's in mid-air.
The girl seemed startled, clearly not expecting anyone to be looking directly into her window.
She saw Luffy's distinctive straw hat, his slightly disheveled black hair, and those calm yet seemingly all-seeing eyes.
A slight blush rose to her cheeks, perhaps from shyness, or perhaps the instinctive reaction of someone who had been ill for a long time upon seeing a stranger.
She nodded slightly as a greeting, then quickly and gently drew the curtains, concealing her figure.
A fleeting glimpse.
[System Notification: Potential target detected: Kaya, a wealthy young lady from Syrup Village, physically weak, kind and pure. Initial favorability assessment: 10/100]
Luffy withdrew his gaze, his face expressionless, but he already understood.
Physically weak, kind and pure, a wealthy heiress… this type has its unique approach.
Moreover, the chilling aura surrounding her might be a good starting point.
"What did you see?" Nojiko followed Luffy's gaze, only seeing the tightly closed curtains.
"That's the target."
Luffy spoke succinctly, turning and heading towards a small, reasonably clean-looking inn in the center of the village. "Let's stay here first."
After settling in, Luffy called the two sisters to his room. The room was simple, but large enough to talk in.
Luffy pointed towards the villa on the hillside and said to Nojiko, "Tomorrow, find a way to get into that villa."
Nojiko immediately understood: "You want me to get close to that girl? The one by the window?"
Luffy nodded: "She's sick. You need a reason to stay."
Nojiko frowned slightly: "You want me to be a doctor? I can only treat simple wounds and common ailments. I'm far from being a real doctor."
Luffy explained, "A little knowledge is enough. The key is to gain her trust and stay by her side. As for her illness… we'll find a way later."
Nojiko looked into Luffy's deep eyes, understanding that this was another part of his plan.
She didn't ask any more questions, simply nodding, "I understand, I'll figure something out."
Nami, listening nearby, couldn't help but pout, muttering under her breath, "Here we go again."
Her tone carried a complex emotion that even Nami herself didn't realize.
Luffy turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow slightly, "Jealous?"
Nami's face flushed instantly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: "Who, who's jealous! Don't talk nonsense!"
Nami turned her head away angrily, the tips of her ears slightly red.
Nojiko, watching her sister's reaction and then at Luffy's knowing yet unconcerned expression, couldn't help but smile.
The plan was set. Luffy stood by the window of his inn room, his gaze once again fixed on the quiet villa on the hillside.
As night deepened, warm lights began to illuminate the villa's windows.
Upon the second floor, in the room with the curtains drawn, Kaya lay on the soft bed, unable to sleep.
The image of the black-haired boy in the straw hat from earlier that day kept replaying in her mind.
Those eyes… were unlike anyone she had ever seen.
No pity, no curiosity, only an unfathomable calm.
Who was he? What was he doing in Syrup Village?
Outside the door, extremely light footsteps sounded. Kaya immediately closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep.
The footsteps paused for a moment outside the door, seemingly listening for any movement inside, before slowly fading away.
Outside the door stood the butler, Krabatel.
Or rather, Baiji Kuro, adjusting his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses sweeping darkly across the end of the corridor.
A new stranger? Hopefully, he won't disrupt his meticulously planned scheme of three years.
Any variables must be eliminated.
The village of Syrup, shrouded in night, appears tranquil, yet undercurrents are already surging.
Luffy withdrew his gaze from the villa and drew the inn's curtains.