Summary:
The chapter begins with Masira and Shoujo meeting. Shoujou is surprised that Masira is alive and Masira asks why, but Shoujou ignores him. They both heard the gunshot so they wonder if something happened to Cricket. They burst into the house to find the Straw Hats nursing Cricket. The two are confused while Chopper, Nami, and Usopp panic and the others continue what they were doing. Masira and Shoujou shout and ask what they are doing. Luffy tells them to get lost because they’re nursing an old guy and Usopp and Chopper shout that wild animals don’t listen to you properly, but the two shout that the Straw Hats are good guys, much to Usopp and Chopper’s shock.
Masira and Shoujou have a nice chat with Luffy. In this lecture, it is revealed that they are called “Saruyama Alliance”. Zoro and Usopp wonder why Luffy fit in with the group and deduce that they are all the same. Shoujou is amazed that a little prick like Luffy would be able to kick Masira, and Luffy says that it was pretty easy and Shoujou could probably do it too, so Shoujou kicks Masira to see how easy it is and agrees. Chopper arrives to announce that Cricket has woken up, and Luffy goes to ask a question. Cricket thanked them and said he thought they were idiot gold diggers. Nami hears this and her eyes turn into belly marks, but Usopp tells her to stop. Luffy asks Cricket how to get to Sky Island, to which he laughs, so Nami wants to punch him, but Usopp stops her, saying that he is a patient. Luffy asks if Sky Island doesn’t exist, and Cricket replies that he knows a person who claimed it existed, but that person was a famous liar whose descendants are the laughing stock of the world. At this, Luffy glares at Usopp, who is shocked and denies him. Cricket says there is a story called “Noland the Liar”. Luffy looks again at Usopp who denies him.
Cricket reveals that he is a descendant of this Noland and that this is where the story took place. He explained that no one in his family ever hated Noland because he was actually “a very honest person”. He says that even though his face looks stupid in the book, Noland actually died sad, trying desperately to get everyone to believe him. Cricket furiously asks if they know what it’s like to have people you don’t even know laugh. He just wanted to free himself from everyone’s ridicule and became a pirate. But 10 years later, he and his team stumble upon Jaya, and Cricket sets out to find the “gold” Noland spoke of. Because of this choice, Cricket’s crew parted ways with him, and he has been searching for gold underwater ever since. He says it’s a fight with the person who messed up his life. Usopp tears up at the story and Luffy asks how he knew the ape people. Usopp says that Cricket probably had other male drama with them, but Cricket says that they are just fans of the “Noland the Liar” book. Nami comments on the simple connection between them. Cricket explains how they formed the Saruyama Alliance 5 or 6 years ago while the two men had a friendly fight outside. Luffy says he just wants to know how to get to Sky Island, and Cricket hands over Noland’s journal for Nami to read. Nami and the others excitedly read and saw that Noland had written as if Sky Island normally existed. Everyone is happy and Cricket quietly leaves the house to talk to the Saruyama Alliance. Cricket asks if they like the Straw Hats and they ask why. He says that the Straw Hats desperately want to go to Sky Island and both men comment that they would die alone. The chapter ends with the Saruyam Alliance deciding to help the Straw Hats.