Now that Rolan and his crew's performance had concluded, Breaking Sky slowly made its way toward the port.
"You said you know that singer?" Vivi asked Nami, her curiosity piqued.
Nami nodded. "If I'm not mistaken, that songstress should be Carina."
"Carina?" Lina and the others exchanged confused glances; they hadn't heard the name before.
Nami explained, "Carina and I used to be partners."
"Partners?" Lina echoed.
Nami fell into a brief reverie. "Yes. Back then, every day was about gathering one hundred million berries. The fastest way to make money in this world was by taking ill-gotten gains from pirates."
Vivi and the others, already familiar with Nami's past, didn't show discomfort.
She continued, "It was during one operation that I met Carina. She was also taking money from pirates. Perhaps it was fate, but we became partners in theft. For a time, we stole from pirate crews and bounty hunters alike. We relied on each other, and our efficiency skyrocketed. Back then, I was known as the 'Little Thief Cat,' and Carina as the 'Little Fox.'"
A faint smile crossed Nami's face, reflecting a rare, relatively happy memory.
"As our successes mounted, we grew reckless. One day, we were caught while stealing treasure from a bounty hunter. She abandoned me and escaped alone."
Lina's fists clenched in anger. "What?! How heartless! How ungrateful!"
Robin, ever calm, commented, "This is human nature. At critical moments, people think only of themselves."
Nami shook her head. "I thought so too… at first."
"At first?" Robin raised an eyebrow, sensing more to the story.
Nami's voice softened. "I resented her at first, searching everywhere for an explanation. But Carina vanished as if into thin air. I eventually stopped and immersed myself in my work, stealing and saving."
She glanced at the purple-haired singer on stage, her eyes clear of bitterness.
Vivi noticed and asked, "Have you forgiven her now?"
Nami chuckled. "Not exactly. Later, I realized she hadn't abandoned me—she had acted as a decoy to create my escape. I felt guilty for a while."
"Oh? Really?" Lina covered her mouth, surprised.
Nami nodded. "Yes. Now that I see her safe, I can finally let go of the blame."
Hancock interjected, "Carina must be the star singer of Golden City. And now that this city belongs to Peach Garden, you can meet her whenever you wish."
Rolan nodded. "We can have Tesoro call her over later."
Nami immediately shot him a sharp glare. "Don't even think about using that as an excuse because she's pretty!"
Rolan felt as if a thousand knives were stabbing his back. Turning, he raised his hands in mock surrender. "I… I didn't mean anything. I just thought it would be best to clarify things face-to-face, so no one is left in the dark."
Internally, he protested vehemently: I didn't mean anything… I'm not the type to be swayed by looks.
Nami pouted. "I'll need to talk to Carina alone, at least for a moment."
Meanwhile, Breaking Sky arrived at the port.
"Even the port is this extravagant?" Lina exclaimed.
"Look at the red carpets, and the statues flanking the arches are made entirely of gold!" Lina's awe was unceasing as she disembarked.
A beautiful female attendant in a kimono drove an extended Turtle-Rolls-Royce to a stop before them. She stepped gracefully from the car. "Hello, Lord Rolan. I am here to welcome you personally."
Robin raised an eyebrow. "Was this arranged by Tesoro?"
If her calculations were correct, Tesoro had just arrived in Golden City and had a performance to attend. How could he have arranged this?
The attendant nodded. "Lord Rolan has always been on Golden City's VIP list."
Vivi speculated, "Tesoro must have put us on it long ago."
The attendant smiled politely. "I'm not sure, but Lord Rolan was already on the list when I started working here."
Rolan inclined his head. "Lead the way."
Nami's eyes sparkled with berries symbols. "Quick, take us to the casino!"
The attendant smiled. "Right this way, please."
Lina stepped inside the Turtle-Rolls-Royce. "Wow, so soft!"
"Is it powered by turtles?" Robin asked curiously.
"Yes, sixteen muscular turtles form a V16 engine," the attendant explained.
The vehicle glided through the city, passing under golden arches and entering streets lined with shimmering buildings.
"Even more luxurious than Peach Garden!" Lina gaped.
Every building was lavishly gilded, shops inlaid with gold, and the streets glowed under the sun.
"Look, a shopping mall! Let's buy clothes later!" Lina squealed.
The V16 engine roared smoothly, soon bringing them to a towering golden building.
"Wow… so tall!" Lina craned her neck.
"This is Golden City's pride, the only eight-star hotel in the world—the Golden King Hotel," the attendant said, pride evident in her voice.
"Let's head to the casino first!" Nami could barely contain her excitement.
The attendant nodded, "Please follow me to the VIP section."
Nami shook her head, "No, just the regular casino."
She didn't dislike VIP games but preferred the variety and lower pressure of the regular halls.
They entered a hall of opulence beyond belief.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting bright, soft light. The floor was carpeted in plush red, and every type of gambling game imaginable was available.
Giant roulette wheels turned slowly under glowing lights, poker tables brimmed with tense players, and electronic machines flashed with enticing colors and sounds.
Nearby, a commotion drew attention.
"Bet with me, Uncle! I've already won two million!"
"Yeah, is this guy blind?"
The crowd buzzed with excitement, the energy thick with the thrill of gambling.