"You're Admiral White Dove, Ryuya! But how...?" Carina exclaimed, utterly shocked.
Ryuya, unfazed, took a bite of Sea King meat. "So? Is there a conflict between that and my Dawn Bird leader identity?"
Carina stared, speechless.
Ryuya said, "Tell me, how did you meet Nami?"
"She's currently in special training." Ryuya openly revealed Nami's whereabouts.
"Of course. She's one of my people."
"I see…" Carina's expression was slightly downcast.
"My meeting with Nami was accidental. I'd just stolen treasure and was escaping a storm when I was shipwrecked."
Leaning against a tree branch in the Noah's Ark's orange grove, she continued.
"The waves washed me ashore during high tide. I thought I'd die. But then Nami and Nojiko appeared and rescued me. I stayed with them and became good friends."
Her voice turned sharp, "But that Nami… when I was leaving, she stole all my savings! She called it 'rent'!"
Ryuya, seeing Carina's anger, imagined Nami's miserly tendencies. Thɪs chapter is updated by NovᴇlFire(.)nᴇt
"Seems you two have a good relationship. Therefore, the death penalty is waived, but the lesser punishments remain!"
Carina's expression changed. "Please! Because I know Nami, can't you let me go? I'll return the treasure!"
Ryuya shook his head. "Absolutely not. I won't let a thief who sneaks onto my ship go. Stealing is wrong!"
Carina felt anxious, unsure of her fate. She hoped Ryuya would be lenient for Nami's sake. She definitely didn't want to experience another "Ghost Wall."
Ryuya produced a cloak from his system inventory and, using his spellcasting, draped it over Carina.
"From today, you're a member of the Dawn Bird—an external member."
Carina was initially delighted, then asked, "What's an external member?"
"An external member does odd jobs."
"No way! Odd jobs?!" Carina was slightly disappointed.
However, she was still satisfied. This was a chance to get close to the Dawn Bird organization!
She knew some rumors about them, even in the East Blue.
Becoming an internal member would be a huge step up!
Ryuya, anticipating her thoughts, said, "There's a chance to become an internal member. Just defeat Nami—or draw with her."
Carina's face lit up!
Ryuya tempered her excitement, "She's in intense training. If you don't work hard, you'll remain an external member forever."
"And don't even think about running. You know who I am. Do you think I'd let you go easily?"
Carina's smile vanished. She wasn't sure whether to be happy or sad.
After a morning's journey, they reached an East Blue island.
Ryuya used his spellcasting to bring Luffy and Koby down from the Noah's Ark, dropping them without a word.
"Luffy, if you don't want to lose your crewmates, train hard! Don't waste time eating and sleeping!"
Luffy grinned at Ryuya, "Thanks, old man! I'll work hard! No one will hurt my friends!"
"I hope so," Ryuya said, his face hidden.
As Luffy and Koby left, Carina called out, "Leader, I have a map! Should we explore? The owner said the treasure is enormous!"
Ryuya was curious. "Who owned this map?"
Carina scratched her head, "I don't know. He wasn't as famous as you, Leader."
She added with a sly smile, "But I remember the captain looked like a clown—a big red nose! Very funny!"
Ryuya was interested. "That sounds like Buggy the Clown."
"Buggy the Clown?" Carina repeated, unfamiliar with the name.
Ryuya said, "An interesting pirate. Since it's his map, let's check it out."
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