Captain Usopp Stories - First Volume Mystery Cache

This story takes place in Koh Lipe; one of the nicest islands I've seen in my life.

It's located in the Adang archipelago of the Andaman sea (close to the Malaysia-Thailand border), and its name means "Paper Island" in the local Chao Leh language.

It's a small paradise on earth where you can really appreciate your luck to be alive.

So if you've never been there, don't hesitate any longer... come and admire its magnificent turquoise waters and its fine sand by yourself!

On the left side of the picture, you can see two tiny islands.
The one at the top is named "Koh Usen" and remembrer this... it means "Island Minimum".

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The crazy adventures of Captain Usopp

First volume - The unstopable fire

Captain's logbook
Tuesday, December 24th, 2013

Today, I, the great Captain Usopp, was sailing in the Adang archipelago aboard my boat the Going Merry.

Waters were calm on this beautiful day of December.

I was trying hard to catch a Sea King of several tens of meters long to celebrate Christmas at night, when suddenly, I heard people screaming for help.

According to the sound volume, they were a few kilometers away from my position; but fortunately for them, I’ve got an exceptional hearing that allows me to perceive even the tiniest sounds within a 10 kilometers radius.

Without thinking, I immediately turned the boat in the right direction, lowered the main sail and started to row with all my strength.

“But why?” you may ask.

To go faster of course!

And believe me or not, I was on the spot in 5 minutes.

Well, I know it’s a bit too long... however, a row broke on the way and I had no solution but to repair it before I could continue.

***

Then, I had a terrible vision!

Hundreds of people completely frightened were running here and there on a beach.

“Welcome to the party!” I thought.

I was in Koh Lipe; a small but wonderful island usually very calm and soothing.

Something really bad was happening here!

I anchored quickly, determined to find someone who could tell me what was going on... and as expected, I didn’t need to search for long.

No sooner did I step ashore than everybody recognized me; the great...

“Usen! Usen! Please, come to our help!”

I don’t know why but in Thailand people always called me Usen. If I remember well, I believe it to mean “maximum” in their language. Perhaps it’s because they know that whatever I do, I’m always the best.

“Usen, you must help us!

The bloody tyrant Captain Buggy is heading to our island and should be here by tomorrow morning.

He wants to enslave us and steal all our wealth.

We know who you are Usen; your devious mind can sometimes generate strokes of genius and that’s exactly what we need right now.

So please, find a solution which will force Buggy to turn back.”

Hearing these words, my whole body started to shake (because of the excitement of course!).

Buggy, my longtime enemy... the only one on earth who could face my power.

The task was not going to be easy but thinking it through carefully, I already had my own view on how to proceed.

So, I jumped on a rock and started to talk to the population.

“Citizens of Koh Lipe, don’t be afraid anymore!

Now, the great Usopp is here to help you.

I will handle this problem, but as the enemy is extremely strong and dangerous, I will need your help to prepare my plan.

First, I need the women to find a way to camouflage my boat with sheets or whatever else.

Then, I want the men to align all their long tail boats in front of the beach to form a protective barrier.

After this, go home my friends and close your door carefully... and once you’re locked up don’t get out before I tell you it’s over.

For my part, I have something very important to do before night falls; something... dangerous!

So please, don’t try to follow me; the success of our plan depends on it.”

***

When I came back, all was quiet on the island.

It was already 7 pm and soon it would be pitch dark outside.

The barrier was set up and my boat... very well camouflaged!

Anyway, I’ve always appreciated a good restful night on the beach.

So, it just remained for me to sit down on the sand and wait for the sleep to come, listening to the sound of waves.

Captain's logbook
Wednesday, December 25th, 2013

When I woke up this morning (or should I say, when I stand up this morning), the sun was just rising but it was already bright.

I hadn’t closed my eyes for the whole night (because of the excitement of course!) and I was starving.

“Merry Christmas Usopp!” I thought without heart.

But however, I had to prepare myself for the fight.

Everybody was already awoke and looking at me by the window.

It was 8 am now... Captain Buggy was about to arrive and the Lipeans were counting on me.

In fact, all these people were also having a bad Christmas because of this bad guy.

This thought gave me an incredible energy; I was definitely ready to defend the island!

Then, all of a sudden, Buggy’s ship appeared on the horizon.

It was time for me to join the barrier as fast as possible.

***

The wind was blowing slowly in my hair and the sun was burning my back; the sea was rocking the boats in a soft rhythm... time seemed to have stood still.

Buggy stopped his ship 50 meters before the barrier in an unreassuring calm.

The anchor came to hit the water, cutting the silence with a great noise, and then I heard the devil voice...

“USOOOOOOOOPP!

My old enemy... what are you doing here, you want to fight me?

You think that you’re strong enough, eh?

Tiny Usen... I will crush you as I would step on a stupid insect!”

After his speech, all his crew members shouted to approve.

This unscrupulous man was trying to destabilize me, but I kept my calm:

“You #*?%!+$, I will surpass you!” I said.

I snapped my fingers and one thousand men appeared on the boat barrier.

“Me and my thousand men army we will put you out from this island Buggy!”

At this moment, the poker game was just starting.

People in their house could see the trick, but Buggy, blinded by the sun and his self-confidence, was going to be surprised!

“Usopp, What are you doing?

I know you’re a liar, perhaps the greatest on earth, and I know your old trick of the carton army already.

This will not stop me this time… PREPARE TO BOARD!”

Now, Buggy’s fellows were motivated and ready to attack.

They started to sent their grapnels directly on my supposedly carton men.

But what was their surprise when instead of tearing my men, the grapnels passed through them without any resistance.

A short period of silence ensued... then, thousands of small red points started to climb up the ropes.

Buggy was confused.

“What is this again Usopp?”

“This is my new trick Buggy; I've named it the unstoppable fire!

My friends the red ants will now come to you to say hello in their own way.”

The ants were going so fast that Buggy’s crew couldn’t react in time to cut the ropes.

In a few seconds, they had covered the distance between us and the ship.

“I give you 2 minutes to back off Buggy or else you will know my fury!” I shout.

Buggy was becoming nervous.

“Are you crazy Usopp?

As I told you before, I will crush all these insects and after it will be your turn.

I will settle your case once and for all!”

Without caring about what this clown was saying anymore, I whistled loudly with my fingers.

Since he didn’t want to listen to me, it was my time to fight back now.

The ants, instead of attacking directly our enemy, started to climb on the mast of the ship and then to spread on the main sail.

The mass of insects was organizing itself slowly; and after a while, the magic happened.

Now, on the main sail, my face was standing proudly...

That was so touching!

And Buggy was so surprised that he didn’t see the ants that were climbing on his body.

In an instant, they attacked him on the face with a so great violence that he felt down on the ground as dead.

Then, after an unending period of silence, he started to slap his face although there were no more ants on it.

“SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, Arghhhh... USOPP, I WILL KILL YOU!”

Buggy was now in a fury.

He ordered his men to attack immediately, no matter how.

But instead of moving, they started to laugh louder and louder.

They were like crazy… some of them were crying and others were rolling on the ground!

“WHAT’S SO FUNNY?” shouted at them Buggy.

“But Captain, your face... you look like Usopp!” they said all together.

On hearing this, Buggy stood still.

Indeed, the ants had done an amazing job!

He looked at his face in the water, without saying a word, and everybody held his breath.

Then, he turned his head in my direction... his eyes were bloodshot!

“Usopp, I don’t know what you are up to, but I swear that you will pay for this affront.”

But I, the great Captain Usopp, was smiling now.

Because I knew that all was over... it was just a matter of time.

That’s when the sea and the ground started to shake hard!

Just a little aside:
Do you remember the Sea King I was trying to catch just before all this story begins?
Sometimes, I admit, I’m a big liar!
But concerning this specific event, all was absolutely true except for one thing...
Actually, it was just a baby Sea King (in reality, the adult form measures a few hundred meters long) and now his mommy was very angry against me!

I just had the time to cover my head and hide myself at the bottom of a boat before the enormous thing shows itself.

***

When it came out of the sea, it was even better than what I had been expecting.

A family of 5 Sea Kings (four adults plus one smaller but already very impressive baby) appeared, determined to get rid of me... the fake me.

What happened next was not a pretty sight, far from it!

Finally, Captain Buggy and his crew tried to escape; but until now, we don’t really know if they could get out from this trap alive... it must be said that the Sea Kings were REALLY pissed.

Well, anyway, that doesn’t matter!

The most important was that the Lipeans were safe and sound.

They thanked me a lot, carried me on their shoulders as a hero, sang about my exploits... but after all this explosion of joy, when all had a bit calmed down, they still had a question to ask me.

“Thank you again for all Usen, but sincerely... where did you find all these ants to help you?”

“Uh, actually, that’s the unique problem!” I said.

“These red ants, I met them last time I came to this area; it was 6 months ago.

It’s a long story, so I will not bother you with this right now.

They live in a small island, just in front of the castle of Serendipity located on the east part of Koh Lipe.

As you could see during the battle they are very aggressive, and trust me, I know something about that!

But they can also become very friendly if you offer them gold.”

Suddenly, the red ants appeared behind me, as waiting for something.

Then, all the Lipeans became very suspicious.

“USEN, don’t you have something to tell us?”

“Uh, to tell the truth, if each one of you could give just a little gold to these brave warriors now, it would help me a lot... thank you in advance my friends!”

They were astounded; a collective and loud “Eeeeeeeh!” came up from the beach.

But in fact, with me as a defender, that was clearly predictable!

***

Finally, the ants left with their booty...

And, all's well that ends well, the Lipeans forgave me for the gold and organized a party to celebrate the victory.

It was Christmas after all!

Then, they decided to name the red ants island “Koh Usen”... as a present in honor of my intelligence.

“Wow, maximum intelligence!” I thought smiling.

“Thank you very much my friends, I gladly accept your gift.

But if I may say so, this place should rather be considered as the more gigantic anthill on earth than as a wonderful island!”

“That’s why it suits you perfectly Usen!!!” we heard in the crowd.

They all laughed a lot... then, after this, we enjoyed the party until late in the night.

And from that day forward, there’s a fabulous treasure hidden somewhere on Koh Usen.

Fiercely guarded by several thousands of fire ants!

Captain Usopp
        

Post Scriptum:

If you’re a brave geocacher, you should try to find this treasure.

For my part, I’m not really interested in this quest (I don’t have the time and it’s too easy for me of course!), but if you are, I have some interesting things for you in my possession.

First, I give you the encrypted GPS coordinates of the red ants HQ (the place where they keep all their valuable items if you know what I mean):

N 06° ab.cde

E 099° fg.hij

And don't ask me how I got it...
It's a memory I would rather forget!

Then, I give you this:

Actually, this piece of paper is the key for deciphering the code I’ve used to encrypt the GPS coordinates.

Yes, because I first thought that it would be a good idea to protect this secret with a code...

But now, I realize that I made it so complex that I can’t understand it anymore.

So, I won’t be able to help you for this riddle my friend, I'm sorry.

However, keep your spirits up!

If you can solve the problem, the treasure will be almost yours.

But be very careful because the last part is perilous and you could get injured.

Or even worst, you could end up with your face looking like mine...

Yuuuuuck! I'm disgusted just thinking about it!

  Good luck geocachers!