"That's right. I'm worried about Nojiko staying in Coco Village, and although I can't claim to dominate the East Blue, there are no more than three people in the East Blue who can catch me."
Yun Lie understood Nami's concerns and patiently explained.
He knew that the East Blue was called the weakest sea because Marine Hero Garp often returned home to visit, which meant that pirates in the East Blue didn't even have time to develop before being captured one by one.
Even the strongest Krieg Pirate Crew two years later was only in its nascent stages now, far from the scale of the five-thousand-man fleet it would become in two years.
Therefore, with his strength, traveling and adventuring with Nojiko in the East Blue would basically not encounter too much danger.
Furthermore, he wasn't going to set sail that quickly; he had several ideas for his abilities that he was still researching, and if successful, their survival capabilities would definitely increase significantly.
"That's right, Nami, Yun Lie is very reliable!" Nojiko also said with a smile, walking in small steps towards Yun Lie and obediently holding his arm.
Yun Lie felt a softness; after his development, Nojiko's body had undergone a second growth spurt. In short, he wouldn't let the child go hungry in the future.
"Nojiko, you two!"
Nami watched the two of them being affectionate and standing on the same front, feeling like an outsider. Immediately, she was overcome with a surge of indignation, and the grievances and dissatisfaction in her heart welled up.
"Nojiko, you two chat, I'll go make you some food."
Yun Lie's lips curved into a gentle smile, but his stomach rumbled—intense training had lasted all day, and his muscles and cells were frantically demanding energy replenishment.
In this pirate world where strength was revered, sufficient food intake was the very foundation for forging formidable power.
Nojiko obediently let go of his arm and instead pulled the aggrieved Nami. The two sisters put their heads together and quickly fell into a hushed whisper.
At the same time, the kitchen suddenly erupted with the clatter of spatulas against iron pots, and the sizzling of hot oil splashed continuously, like a lively symphony.
This commotion instantly sparked Nami's doubts. She frowned slightly: "Does he really know how to cook?"
"Rest assured, Yun Lie's cooking skills are amazing!" Nojiko replied almost without hesitation.
Living together day and night, she had long tasted all sorts of delicious dishes he meticulously prepared. Whether it was the sweet and sour appetizing orange-stewed fish or the crispy and tasty fried shrimp, Yun Lie could always perfectly replicate the good flavors from her memory.
Nami pouted, silently complaining to herself—sure enough, people in love lose their minds.
In a blink of an eye, half an hour quietly passed.
"Dinner's ready! Come and try it!" Yun Lie walked out of the kitchen with the last dish, filling the entire dining table with steaming hot dishes.
The braised fish had an inviting caramel color, and the golden, crispy fried items gleamed under the light. The rising steam, infused with a rich aroma of home cooking, instantly filled the entire house.
Nami stared at the lavish spread on the table, her eyes wide with shock: "So much? Can we eat all of this?"
In her impression, a simple stir-fry was usually enough for her and her sister for a meal. This array of more than a dozen dishes was enough to last them for several days.
"Don't worry, I'll finish it. But you need to pick up food quickly, don't be scared."
Yun Lie gave a hearty laugh, deftly scooped a full bowl of rice, and in a blink of an eye, entered "battle mode."
The crisp clinking of porcelain bowls against the table and the sounds of chewing and swallowing food formed a unique rhythm.
Seeing this, Nami said no more, scooped a bowl of rice, and sat down.
But as soon as she put down her chopsticks, her peripheral vision caught sight of the braised eggplant on the table, which was already more than half gone. She couldn't help but widen her eyes.
"Nami, if you don't start eating, Yun Lie will really clear out all the dishes!"
Nojiko gently nudged her still-stunned sister. By the time Nami came to her senses, the fragrant fried pork chops in front of her only had a few lonely pieces left at the bottom of the plate.
"How could it be so fast!"
Nami exclaimed, hastily waving her chopsticks, swiftly picking her favorite dishes into her bowl, and then breathed a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Yun Lie continued his whirlwind eating pace, the rice in his bowl rapidly diminishing at a visible speed.
For him, "not being active in eating means there's a problem with your thinking" was no joke.
The reason he could eat so much was partly due to his Devil Fruit ability; he had opened a stomach space where every bite of food was slowly decomposed, maximizing the conversion of nutrients into his own strength.
After all, on this turbulent sea, an astonishing appetite might not be the only proof of a strong person, but truly strong people were invariably "gluttons" at the dining table.