The next day, training at the Isshin Dojo continued as usual.
Kuina's incident, including what happened that night, was not mentioned by the three who knew about it. Everything was as it was before, as if nothing had happened.
However, Kuina became stricter when teaching Nojiko and the others basic swordsmanship. She seemed to want to repay Ryuen for saving her life last night.
"Blub blub blub..."
"Hmm?"
Ryuen, who was training nearby, heard his Den Den Mushi ringing and felt puzzled. He stopped what he was doing, picked up the Den Den Mushi, and answered, "Moshi moshi?"
"Ryuen, it's Captain Gulachi. Where are you now?" Captain Gulachi asked eagerly as soon as the call connected.
"We're in Shimotsuki Village, Captain Gulachi. What's going on?" Ryuen asked with concern.
"Our business has been targeted by a royal family member here!
He wants to 'cooperate' with us, but it's not cooperation at all. He's demanding 70% of the profits!
This isn't cooperation, it's daylight robbery! He's trying to force me to give up this business!" Captain Gulachi explained, his voice full of anger and helplessness.
After hearing this, Ryuen immediately decided that this royal family member was as good as dead. The orange business was crucial to Cocoyasi Village's livelihood, and Captain Gulachi was a good man who always offered the highest prices for oranges. If this business was destroyed, Cocoyasi Village's future prosperity would be gone!
"Captain Gulachi, stall for a day. We'll come over right away!" Ryuen decided.
"Okay, but hurry. This royal family member is very aggressive..." Captain Gulachi urged, hoping Ryuen would arrive soon.
"Okay, I got it."
*Click*
After hanging up the phone, Ryuen called Nami over.
"What's going on, Ryuen?" Nami asked curiously, seeing Ryuen's mixed expression.
"Nami, Captain Gulachi needs our help..." Ryuen explained the situation.
As soon as Ryuen finished speaking, Nami's eyes lit up with excitement, even more than Ryuen's!
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Little Nami urged. She preferred helping the poor over learning swordsmanship!
At this moment, Kuina's teaching paused, and the three girls ran over to ask what was happening.
"Hey~"
"Ryuen, I want to go too!" Kuina couldn't hold back after hearing the story again.
Always her father's good girl, she now found Ryuen's adventures exciting and wanted to join!
"Alright, let's bring Zoro too!" Ryuen thought it would be good for the kids to gain some experience.
"No way!"
"We can't bring Zoro. He gets lost easily, and I'm afraid he won't find his way back!" Kuina immediately objected.
The other three girls nodded in agreement. They had experienced Zoro's terrible sense of direction over the past few days, and it was scary!
"Alright, let's go!" Ryuen agreed, realizing Zoro's sense of direction was indeed a problem.
With the decision made, Ryuen transformed into his full beast form.
A giant phoenix appeared, making Kuina's eyes sparkle with excitement. "So cool!!!"
"Get on!"
Nami and Nojiko skillfully jumped onto Ryuen's back and called to the two girls below. Kuina, excited, quickly jumped on too.
"I... I can't get up..." Little Daisy was almost in tears, unable to climb up Ryuen's tall form.
Seeing this, Ryuen used his wing to lift her up.
"Huh???"
"What is that? Wait, why are Kuina and the others on it? Master! Something's wrong, Kuina and the others are being taken by a monster!" Zoro saw the phoenix soaring into the sky and panicked, not knowing what it was but seeing Kuina and the others on it.
He wanted to run back to the dojo to tell his master but ended up running in circles in the forest. Without Kuina's help, he couldn't find his way back!
At the Isshin Dojo, Koushirou, who was teaching swordsmanship, looked up and was also surprised by the scene.
He had always known Ryuen and the kids were special, but he didn't expect them to have Devil Fruit powers!
"I didn't expect you to take this path... Kuina..." Koushirou muttered to himself as he watched the phoenix fly further away from Shimotsuki Village.
In the sky, Kuina and Daisy were excitedly looking at the sea from such a high place for the first time, like little sparrows.
Ryuen flew quickly, and by noon, the five kids arrived at Clover Island.
Ryuen landed in the dense forest, and Nami opened the space door. They all walked through it and reappeared in Captain Gulachi's hotel room.
"Ryuen! You're finally here!"
"Ryuen, Nami, Nojiko, you're finally back!"
As soon as Ryuen and the others emerged from the space, Captain Gulachi's crew greeted them, their worried faces now filled with joy.
"First Mate Ade, where's Captain Gulachi?" Ryuen asked without wasting any time.
"Captain Gulachi went to discuss the cooperation with the royal family member. He told us there wouldn't be any danger, so he asked us to wait here for you!" First Mate Ade said immediately.
"Ryuen, what should we do? Should we go now?" Little Nami asked excitedly.
"Not yet. We don't know this place well, so it's safer to act at night," Ryuen said after thinking for a moment.
This island is big, and he didn't know if there were any strong people here. After all, there was a strong person with Conqueror's Haki hiding in the back mountain of Foosha Village!
Nami thought it made sense, and Captain Gulachi's crew felt more at ease after seeing Ryuen's decision.
Ryuen then introduced Kuina and Daisy to everyone.
As night fell, Captain Gulachi still hadn't returned, making everyone worried.
"You stay here, we'll go rescue Captain Gulachi!" Ryuen said to the dozen crew members as they were about to leave.
"Ryuen, we're counting on you to save Captain Gulachi!" First Mate Ade said seriously.
"Don't worry, Captain Gulachi will be fine~" Ryuen said, and then he and the four girls entered the space door.
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