"If you don't know how to choose, why not listen to me? Don't eat either Devil Fruit. Wait until I find a suitable Devil Fruit for you, how about that?"
Yun Lie looked at Karina with gentle eyes and patience.
He keenly sensed the struggle and hesitation in the girl's eyes. On this perilous sea, every decision concerning a Devil Fruit could completely alter the course of one's destiny.
Karina looked up, her clear eyes full of trust. She quickly nodded her head, her voice soft and sweet: "Mhm, okay, I'll listen to you."
Karina quickly nodded her head, not having any objections at all.
"You rest well. I'll go get you some food to replenish your energy and, while I'm at it, teach Nami a lesson."
Yun Lie reached out and gently stroked Karina's head, his movements as tender as if he were handling a precious treasure, his words tinged with a hint of helplessness and doting affection.
After speaking, he turned and left the room, heading towards the kitchen.
As soon as he stepped into the kitchen, he saw Nojiko's busy figure.
"Yun Lie, you're awake. I'll take this seafood porridge to Karina. Don't go to her room, Nami isn't in the closet."
Nojiko, sharp-eyed, immediately picked up a bowl of steaming hot seafood porridge that had just come off the stove and handed it over.
The fresh, savory aroma filled the air, whetting one's appetite.
Yun Lie instantly understood that Nojiko was also Nami's accomplice, and now she was even "selling out" Nami.
However, seeing that she was thoughtfully cooking porridge for Karina, Yun Lie decided to let her off the hook for now and turned to walk towards Nami's room.
Standing at the door of Nami's room, Yun Lie gently knocked on the door, then raised his voice: "Nami, stop hiding, I know you're here."
His gaze was fixed on the wardrobe in the room, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
With a "creak," the wardrobe door slowly opened, and Nami awkwardly poked her head out, still holding a piece of clothing in her hand, her face crumpled in a plea: "Um, if I said I was looking for clothes, would you believe me?"
Before Nami could react, she felt a sudden dizzying sensation as her entire body was gently tossed onto the bed.
Yun Lie casually closed the room door, his expression becoming serious: "Nami, you actually dared to play tricks on me. If I don't give you a little punishment, it really wouldn't be right."
Yun Lie casually closed the room door, then looked at Nami, who was trembling in the corner of the bed, and instantly transformed into a big bad wolf, pouncing on her.
What Nami did this time was truly too much; she actually took advantage of his poor alcohol tolerance to steal Karina's most precious possession.
"Yamete, ow~"
Nami let out a cry of surprise, but Yun Lie would not let her go no matter what. Nami had to experience Karina's pain too.
"Ow~~"
.....
In the adjacent room, Karina was leaning against the headboard, listening to the intermittent sounds of talking coming from next door. Feeling a little worried, she couldn't help but ask Nojiko: "Nojiko, Nami won't be in trouble, will she?"
Nojiko scooped a spoonful of seafood porridge and brought it to Karina's mouth, reassuring her with a relaxed tone: "Don't worry, Yun Lie is just punishing Nami; he won't cause any fatalities."
She also secretly felt fortunate that she was clever enough to run to the kitchen to make porridge for Karina; otherwise, she would probably have to receive "education" with Nami right now.
"Nojiko, can you tell me about Yun Lie?"
Karina gently blew on the porridge at her lips, then took a small sip before asking.
Before boarding the ship, she had originally planned to take a merchant ship to leave the East Blue and try her luck in the Golden City mentioned in the newspapers, but plans couldn't keep up with changes, and everything was disrupted.
However, Yun Lie was handsome, and aside from that previous accident, he was usually very gentle with her. And most importantly, Yun Lie seemed to be very strong and wealthy, which made her very curious about him.
Nojiko put down the bowl, her eyes softening: "Of course, no problem. Actually, I'm Yun Lie's woman too, and I knew him even earlier than Nami."
Seeing Karina's shocked expression, Nojiko smiled and explained: "I'm Nami's older sister, but not by blood. We were both raised by Belle-Mere. Nami and I aren't blood sisters, but we're closer than real sisters."
Then, Nojiko began to tell the story of her and her sister, from their difficult childhood to their struggle against the Arlong Pirates to protect their home. Every detail was filled with deep emotion.
Karina listened intently. After learning about Nami's experiences since childhood, she finally understood why Nami became the "Little Thief Cat" and why she often competed with her for spoils.
Subsequently, Nojiko recounted her process of meeting and getting to know Yun Lie to Karina.
These were all her beautiful memories, which only made Karina even more curious about Yun Lie.
.....
At noon, the sun shone on the sea, creating shimmering ripples.
The Infinite Space set sail, its sails flapping in the wind.
Nami was sound asleep in the bedroom, as she wished.
Karina was also resting in her room due to the earlier ordeal.
On the deck, only Yun Lie and Nojiko stood side by side, while Little Kong and Xiao Mei chatted happily in the observation tower.
"Nojiko, I haven't asked you yet, have you ever thought about what kind of Devil Fruit you want to eat in the future?"
Yun Lie broke the silence, turning his head to look at Nojiko beside him.
When he first invited Nojiko to sea, he promised to find a suitable Devil Fruit for her, and he had always kept that promise in his heart.
Nojiko leaned quietly against Yun Lie's shoulder, her voice soft and firm: "As long as it can help you and doesn't hold you back, any Devil Fruit is fine for me."
In her heart, being able to adventure at sea with everyone, cook for her companions every day, and enjoy this rare camaraderie was already very satisfying. She didn't have too many extravagant desires for the power of a Devil Fruit.
Yun Lie pondered for a moment, then took out a strangely shaped fruit from his embrace and solemnly said: "Nojiko, this Barrier Fruit can give you the strongest defense. I want to use it to protect you in my place, okay?"
His eyes were full of concern and worry. Nojiko's combat ability was even weaker than Nami's. On the perilous sea, once she was alone, the consequences would be unimaginable.
But if she had the Barrier Fruit, she could at least hold on until he arrived to support her when danger struck.
"Sea Treasure, when did you get that?"
Nojiko's eyes widened, her face filled with shock as she looked at the Barrier Fruit so close to her.
She was no longer the little girl who knew nothing; she deeply understood that Devil Fruits were called Sea Treasures, and even the most ordinary Zoan Devil Fruit was priceless.
"Just yesterday, in Loguetown, I got it after eliminating a gang leader."
Yun Lie briefly explained the origin of the Barrier Fruit, then tucked the fruit into Nojiko's arms.
"Won't it be too wasteful? This is a Paramecia Devil Fruit, it's too precious."
Nojiko fumbled with the fruit, her eyes full of struggle. She longed to possess this powerful strength but also felt it was a shame to give such a precious fruit to herself.
Yun Lie didn't say much, just looked at her gently, his eyes full of encouragement.
Under this trusting gaze, Nojiko mustered her courage and took a big bite of the Barrier Fruit.
Instantly, an indescribable bitterness and nausea surged through her, and a pained expression immediately appeared on her face.
But thinking that this fruit carried Yun Lie's concern and was the hope for protecting herself and her companions, Nojiko endured the discomfort and finished the fruit in three or five bites.
"Ugh~" As soon as she finished eating, Nojiko could no longer hold it in and ran to the side to dry heave.
Yun Lie immediately stepped forward, gently patting her back, his eyes full of heartache.
And Nojiko, though so uncomfortable that tears were almost coming out, had a happy smile on her lips, because she knew that she had gained another power to protect her companions.