One by one, the crew arrived in the dining hall carrying their bowls and chopsticks.
"Hey, Brio! The food looks great today!"
Aldo sniffed the air and grinned.
Chef Brio, wearing his apron, leaned out from the kitchen window.
"Oh, Brother Aldo! The ingredients we just restocked are still fresh, so eat plenty!"
"Enjoy it while you can. Once the food starts going stale again, don't complain too much!"
"Hahaha! I've been used to that for years!"
Aldo waved his hand carelessly.
"Give the young guy behind me a bigger portion. He's still growing!"
After getting their food, everyone found seats.
The dining hall wasn't large enough to hold the entire crew at once. Besides, someone always had to stay on deck for lookout and steering.
So meals were divided into three shifts.
Naturally, Aldo led Sargins to the table where the officers sat.
Isaac glanced over and teased,
"Aldo, I heard you've taken on a disciple?"
"Hahaha!" Aldo laughed proudly.
Marcus, his mouth stuffed with food, chimed in through the chewing.
"Old Third actually has a student now?"
"Huh?!" Aldo glared.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Kahailo swallowed his food and calmly added the finishing blow.
"He's not Third anymore. He's Fourth now."
"At this rate, give it a couple days and he'll be Fifth."
"Hahaha!"
"Hmph!"
Aldo turned his head away, deciding not to argue with them.
"Hello! One meal for me please. The soup smells amazing today!"
"Coming right up! Your food will be ready—wait… who are you?!"
Swish—
The dining hall fell silent instantly.
Almost everyone turned toward the serving counter.
A man wearing a brown leather vest stood before the chef.
A bright, carefree smile sat on his face, as if he were simply a crew member who had arrived late for dinner.
"Gale Wind Ryan."
Kahailo spoke his name in a low voice.
That's right.
It was the agile thief they had seen in Faris Valley Town days earlier—the one being chased by the kingdom guards.
Nearly every sailor instinctively reached for their weapon.
Chairs scraped across the floor.
"Yes, that's me." Ryan raised both hands, smiling brightly.
"Easy there, friends. I don't mean any harm."
"How did you get onto our ship?"
Aldo had already grabbed the spiked club resting beside the table.
"Well…" Ryan scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"It's a bit embarrassing."
"I caused a bit of trouble in town last time. The kingdom guards—and even some Marines nearby—seem to be after me."
"The port and town are under heavy inspection."
"I had nowhere to hide, so… I just slipped onto a random ship."
"I only want a ride to the next island. I won't cause any trouble!"
"I can pay for the trip. If I've disturbed you all, I'm truly sorry."
He bowed deeply.
His sincere attitude, combined with that sunny and open demeanor, eased the tense atmosphere slightly.
The crew exchanged uncertain glances.
No one wanted to make the decision.
Naturally, all eyes turned toward Captain Sami.
Sami silently studied Ryan.
The man's attitude was calm and respectful.
His behavior felt natural.
With that cheerful appearance, he hardly looked like a dangerous man.
More importantly—
He had entered enemy territory alone.
That kind of courage earned a bit of respect.
After a moment of thought, Sami spoke.
"Alright then."
"Our next stop is Liashda Island."
"We can drop you there."
"Really? Thank you so much!"
Ryan's eyes lit up.
He immediately pulled out a small handful of gold jewelry from his pocket and placed it on Sami's table.
"Please accept this token of gratitude."
Sami didn't refuse.
He simply signaled a nearby sailor to collect it.
For the next two days, Ryan perfectly played the role of a polite passenger.
After meals he helped clean up dishes.
On deck he chatted with sailors, sharing fascinating stories from across the Grand Line.
His humorous and easygoing personality quickly won many people over.
When the topic of bounties came up, he scratched the back of his head shyly.
Ryan seemed to possess a natural charm that made others relax around him.
His cheerful personality gradually erased the awkwardness of his sudden appearance.
Until one night.
Deep into the night, Ryan left the cabin.
"I can't sleep. I'm going up to get some fresh air."
Once outside, he checked carefully.
No one around.
His eyes sharpened instantly.
Using the ship layout he had secretly memorized over the past two days, he avoided the night watch and located a hidden passage leading to the lower prison deck.
Strictly speaking, he shouldn't have taken this risk.
But since boarding the ship, he had never seen Barnes.
Nor had he seen Morris, the supposed strongest officer of the Jellyfish Pirates.
A growing sense of unease had been building inside him.
And it kept getting stronger.
Under the dim, flickering oil lamps of the corridor, he reached the deepest part of the ship.
When he saw who was inside—
His pupils shrank violently.
There they were.
Morris, wearing seastone shackles.
And Barnes, wrapped in chains like a bound caterpillar, completely immobilized.
"Barnes! Morris! How did you two—"
The prisoners woke at the noise.
The moment Barnes saw Ryan, a desperate light exploded in his previously dull eyes.
"Ryan! Hurry and inform—"
"I say, Gale Wind…"
A teasing voice suddenly came from the corridor entrance.
It cut Barnes off mid-sentence.
"A thief really is a thief."
"Why can't you stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong?"
Ryan's entire body went rigid.
All the blood drained from his face.
For the first time, the cheerful smile he always wore disappeared—replaced by pure shock.
He spun around.
At the corridor entrance—
Sami leaned casually against the wall with arms crossed.
A faint smile played on his lips.
Behind him, Aldo, Marcus, Kahailo, and the other officers stepped out from the shadows one by one.
Like walls closing in.
Every escape route was sealed.
Sami shook his head, sounding almost regretful.
"You were doing pretty well these past two days."
"If you'd behaved yourself until the next island, I might've let you go."
"Could've called it making a new friend."
"But unfortunately…"
"Too bad."
Ryan opened his mouth.
But any excuse now felt meaningless.
He understood.
He was completely exposed.
Sami had already lost interest in watching his expression change.
He waved lazily to Aldo.
"Lock him up."
"Let him keep those two company."
Aldo stepped forward with a vicious grin, holding the chains he had prepared.
Inside the cell, the last spark of hope in Barnes' eyes died.
Morris, on the other hand, seemed completely indifferent to gaining another cellmate.
Ignoring the struggle and the clanking of chains behind him, Sami slowly climbed the stairs back to the deck.
Cool sea wind brushed his hair.
He leaned against the railing, gazing at the moonlit ocean shimmering in broken silver.
Then he muttered quietly to himself.
"Thirty-four million…"
"Hmm. A bit low."
"But bundled together with those two big catches…"
"Gilliam should still be willing to buy them."
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