After hearing Lu Yu's words, Kuina was momentarily stunned.
There was no denying that what he had just said was incredibly compelling. She found herself drawn to his charisma and vision. The future he described wasn't just some vague ambition like becoming the Pirate King or finding the legendary One Piece—it was clear, direct, and purposeful.
"I'm in!" Kuina declared after a brief moment of thought.
Lu Yu was right. Their strength might not be overwhelming now, but they had the will to grow stronger. Given enough time, they could very well shake the world to its core.
"Sister Kuina, I'm Roelki, an apprentice crew member of the Dragon Hunter Pirates!" Roelki introduced himself enthusiastically. "Those guys over there? They're our ship's handymen. And this here is Akame, our enforcer. And finally, this is our esteemed and great Captain, Lu Yu!"
His enthusiasm left Kuina slightly bewildered. Was this how pirates typically interacted? Did she need to start introducing newcomers like this in the future?
Fortunately, Lu Yu interrupted before Roelki could continue. "Roelki, do you know anything about the Kingdom of Yacoslan?"
The sudden question snapped Kuina out of her thoughts and redirected Roelki's focus, preventing him from rambling any further. While Lu Yu appreciated the flattering introduction, he couldn't shake the feeling that it was a little excessive.
"The Kingdom of Yacoslan?" Roelki repeated. "Captain, that's one of the World Government's allied nations—one of only three in the East Blue. Why are you bringing it up? Their military force isn't weak. They have a massive trade network and a well-trained army. The private guards of the high-ranking nobles are said to be as strong as Marine Headquarters officers."
Roelki had been a pirate in the East Blue for a while. He might not have extensive knowledge of the Grand Line or the New World, but when it came to his home waters, he knew plenty. Any pirate hoping to survive long in the East Blue needed to understand who they could afford to mess with—and who they absolutely couldn't.
"That powerful, huh?" Lu Yu mused before turning to Akame. "You have more experience dealing with nobles. I need a strategy."
Akame, who had been munching on a box of candy, looked at Lu Yu with an innocent expression. "I'm just the executioner. Najenda was the one who handled the planning."
"Is that so?" Lu Yu raised an eyebrow before turning back to Roelki. "How deep is your understanding of the Kingdom of Yacoslan? Tell me about their combat capabilities, the nobles' personal guards, and, most importantly, the country's overall situation."
Before making any moves, Lu Yu needed solid intelligence. Only fools acted without proper information.
"I know a fair bit," Roelki replied. "I've been to Yacoslan before. It's like most allied nations—the rich drown in luxury while the poor freeze to death on the streets. They not only pay regular taxes but also have to contribute extra every year for the Heavenly Tribute. Life for the common folk is miserable. The only upside is that, as an allied nation, the World Government offers them protection. No sane pirate would dare attack one of these kingdoms."
He paused before adding, "For more detailed intelligence, I'd need to make a purchase. A thorough report on an allied nation would cost around ten million Berries."
Lu Yu appreciated Roelki's initiative and execution ability. He was proving to be a valuable asset.
"Here, take twenty million," Lu Yu said, tossing a box of money at him. "I have to make a stop at Cocoyasi Village. You handle the intel gathering. Be back in five days, and when you return, you'll officially be a full-fledged member of the Dragon Hunter Pirates."
Roelki's face lit up with excitement. "Got it, Captain! The honor of the Dragon Hunter Pirates will always shine upon me!"
He quickly disappeared, eager to complete his task.
With Roelki gone, Lu Yu turned his gaze toward Nami, who stood frozen in shock. Her mind raced. What kind of pirate crew was this? They were openly planning an attack on a World Government ally! This wasn't just some small-time raid on a defenseless village—this was an assault on a kingdom. Even the Marine branches in the East Blue wouldn't be as formidable as a nation's army!
She realized with growing dread that she had chosen the wrong group to steal from.
"Nami, you can steer a ship, right?" Lu Yu asked with a smile. "Take that merchant vessel and bring us to Cocoyasi Village."
Though his words were polite, Nami sensed there was no room for refusal. If she refused, she might not make it off this ship alive. Given how ruthlessly these people handled nobles, killing her would be nothing to them.
"I can!" Nami quickly replied, scrambling onto the luxurious merchant vessel. The group set sail for Cocoyasi Village without further delay.
---
Meanwhile, in Marineford…
A report landed on Fleet Admiral Sengoku's desk. He skimmed through the contents, his brows furrowing.
"The Dragon Hunter Pirates?" he muttered. The descriptions in the report raised several concerns. Since when had such a dangerous crew appeared in the East Blue? He vaguely remembered Garp mentioning something about this Lu Yu before.
He flipped through his files and found the original report Garp had submitted on Lu Yu. The contents didn't quite match up with the new intelligence. There was a significant discrepancy between the initial assessment and the latest developments. Worse yet, the Dragon Hunter Pirates had acquired a new swordsman— a female one at that.
Just then, Garp strolled into the office, munching on a rice cracker. "What's up, Sengoku?"
Sengoku slid the report across the desk. "The Dragon Hunter Pirates just looted a merchant vessel from the Kingdom of Yacoslan. No survivors."
Garp paused mid-bite. "That brat's got some guts! Attacking an allied nation's ship? Hah!" He burst into laughter.
Sengoku's face darkened. "Why is it that every major problem in the East Blue seems to be connected to you?! First, your son Dragon becomes the leader of the Revolutionary Army. Then, your grandson Ace joins Whitebeard's crew. Now, this Lu Yu appears out of nowhere."
Garp merely grinned. "Guess the East Blue breeds interesting people."
Sengoku clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to smack Garp over the head. If they weren't in the office, he might have done it already.
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