"Hey Sushi Master, you want to join my captain's crew-" Before Carina could even finish her words, she was interrupted.
"Ahhhh!! I'll give you all the golden salt I got!! Please let me go!!!" Mooshu screamed in fear as he took the small bag of golden salt out of his sac that contains the ingredients he used for the competition. Immediately after, he ran away, leaving Rowan and Carina dumbfounded.
Soon after, Carina giddily took a hold onto the bag of golden salt, and shook it gently. The rustling sound, which was mixed with high-pitched sound of metals clanging, was heard, identifying that it was indeed the golden salt.
"Hehe, believe it or not, this golden salt is even more expensive than gold, since not only is gold rare, but the natural combination of gold and salt is even rarer, for gold is known to be one of the least reactive metal! Even for a bag as small as this, I am sure that we can fetch at least a million Beli!" When Carina said this, Rowan's eyes widened in amazement.
"A million?!! I've never had more than 100 thousand in my life!!" Rowan remarked in shock, having remembered the journey he has been going through, where he was stressing over his poverty.
Carina placed the bag in her cleavage; she, as a thief, knew just how vulnerable the pockets are. Rowan, seeing that, quickly turned his head to the sideways—he's never seen someone being able to store stuffs in there!
"So how did your side go? I don't think we need a bald sushi chef like that." Carina said with disinterested tone.
"You are only saying that because you got what you wanted." Rowan scratched his head. "Well, it was neither yes nor no. She asked me for time, which is understandable really. I am complete stranger to her, and bam! I walked up to her, and was like, hey join my crew since your talent is too amazing to rot in the East Blue."
Carina tilted her head in response. "Does that mean we are going to stay here for some time?"
"Heh, obviously not." Rowan immediately replied with a smirk. "She said she will consider it, even though I am a stranger. Which means, she's pretty much into to the idea. What's holding her back is probably the fact that she doesn't know anything about us."
"Oh, so you have a plan?"
"We have to push her to willingly join us by herself. Create some scene tomorrow that will 'accidentally' reveal our identities. Then we will act all dramatic and give speech about how we have dreams that we must accomplish. Right after, we express that we wish no harm upon the innocents, and that we will leave right away to avoid any disasters from happening, to show that we are good human beings, even though we are labelled as pirates.
Even if she doesn't join, we will probably leave a good impression on her. After dealing with Rowly, everyone will receive the news of our whereabouts; she will come by herself if she wishes a spot in. Well, hopefully. I can't predict a human's mind. It's entirely up to her."
"Fair enough." Carina shrugged. "But if we are unable to recruit any chef here as well, you are the one cooking. Well, unless you want me to poison you by accident."
"Alright. Let's go back to our ship then. We got to put these bags away, at least."
_____________
In the next day, as the street vendors continued their desperate attempts to fish in any customer, there was a bounty poster that hasn't been posted the day ago. It featured Rowan: a black-haired man with black eyes, staring menacingly with muscular frame.
The people thought as they walked by, that they have seen the man in the picture somewhere; they sensed a familiarity in the photo.
It was at that moment, where Rowan and Carina were seen to be walking next to them. This caused them to stop abruptly.
"Huh?"
"Isn't that man... what?" The people stared in fear as the man in the poster was walking in their town!
The people slowly backed off from Rowan and Carina, forming a circle around. Holding the bounty poster, one person exclaimed in shock. "Grimheart Rowan, the Demon of the East Blue! 30 million Beli!"
The conflict in people's face was obvious in their face. They have witnessed and received the good wills of the Angel pirates ran by Rowan before. However, it was 6 months ago that Angel pirates was no longer under Rowan's command; they didn't know how they should respond.
"It's a pity." Rowan spoke with his head lowered. "I have come into this town out of good will, but am repelled simply due to my status as pirate!"
Rowan then rose up, with his eyes looking at the sky intently. "Pirate, the title that the marines decided to use to label me, because I slew Arlong who threatened and overtook my hometown! Because I stopped Don Krieg from committing mass raid! Tell me, what have I done to deserve this fear? It was all out of good will!"
He secretly eyed Carina, with her giving a small nod to him. Subsequently, Carina grabbed Rowan's shoulder while letting tears out.
"Oh, my captain! How can the world be so cruel to you! Betrayed by those who claim themselves to be a justice, by those who claimed to be your subordinates!" Carina flicked her fake tear. "Do not worry, for I, your one and only crew mate, will never leave your side, unlike those wretched animals!"
Looking at such emotional outbursts from Rowan and Carina, people started to soften up.
"Is that true? That's simply too much for one to handle!" One person said with gritted teeth. "Where is justice in this?! What are marines doing!!"
"Hey, don't believe in that! He's pirate, you don't know if he's lying!"
"Don't you remember how he used to lead the Angel pirates and help everyone? Surely, you couldn't have forgotten that!" The townspeople started to argue among themselves, as to whether Rowan is credible or not.
"Everyone, please calm down!" Rowan's voice boomed with charismatic demeanour. "You need not to worry about me! Although I have been living through many troubles, I have come out stronger after every ordeal! The marines, pirates, and whosoever won't be able to stop my dream!" He deliberately pumped his fist up in the sky.
"I'm sorry for causing all this commotion. I'll leave swiftly before the marines find out and decide to rampage upon this town." Rowan made a courteous bow, before walking away with Carina.
"Hey, just wondering... who placed this poster here?" The person who was holding the bounty poster said in confusion, before ripping it off. "This honourable man does not deserve to be issued with a bounty!!"
All of this was being watched by Carmen, whose hotel was located in the building right next to where the commotion happened.
'What an amazing man... believing firmly in his goal, even if faced by such obstacles!' Carmen thought as she stared at the duo walking away. 'Is this a sign? Has the destiny set me to join their crew and embark on the journey full of hardships, and become a legend?'
Carmen began to dream of the glorious future that she may achieve by following Rowan. 'This may be my only chance.'
Hurriedly, Carmen packed her belongings and ran out of the hotel, not caring that her hair wasn't tended to form a fiery-spike shape like the usual.
"Grimheart Rowan!!" Carmen shouted as she reached Rowan and Carina, who were walking quite slow. They stopped as they heard Carmen's voice.
*Huff* *Huff* Breathing heavily, Carmen looked up to see Rowan's eyes staring at her in shock. "Let me join your crew! Just as you harbour a big dream in the vast ocean, so do I! Who else, but I, the Fiery Carmen, deserve to be the cook of the best adventurers to be known in the history!!"
Rowan gave out a serious expression. "It won't be easy. We will have to bleed, suffer, and give our everything. Are you truly ready to accept such life?"
"Yes! With you as my captain, I am not afraid of betting my life, knowing that my dream isn't a foolish one!!" Carmen cried out passionately, earning a nod from Rowan.
"Then from here on, you are the cook of the Demon pirates!" Rowan grinned and held his out. Carmen grabbed the hand with her own, and shook it. "I look forward to our journey together from now on!!"
From behind, the audience were clapping, some even tearing up at such dramatic scene. Some others began to be inspired to write a good story off of it: Tale of the Saint Demon!
'All according to the plan.' Rowan made a satisfactory smile inwardly, and made a high-five with Carina, unseen by everyone else.