Everyone's rings were different; first was Lu Yue's, which was purple with a golden gem embedded in it.
Kuina's was black, with a black gem embedded.
Nojiko's was light blue, but with a dark blue gem embedded.
Finally, Platinum Longlong's own ring was white, with a yellow gem embedded.
"This is..."
"Why are you giving us rings?" Kuina and Nojiko asked, puzzled. Kuina had already guessed something; after all, she knew Platinum Longlong's position on the Pirate Crew.
The most precious and rare profession on the Grand Line.
Nojiko, on the other hand, truly didn't know. Because before, on the Pirate Crew, she was only responsible for the duties a Navigator should have, and with the original Navigator, she spent more of her time on cultivation.
Developing her Devil Fruit Ability and practicing physical techniques.
Haki had not yet been cultivated, as Lu Yue suggested waiting until her physical fitness improved. There was no need to specifically cultivate it now, and battle itself was the best way to awaken and improve Haki.
But precisely because of these things, Nojiko still didn't know that Platinum Longlong was the Scientist on their Pirate Crew.
"This is a spatial storage ring I invented. It has at least ten cubic meters of space inside. Objects can be sucked in by holding them near the gem for three seconds. To retrieve something, just think about it and place your hand on the gem for three seconds. If you want to take everything out, just wave your hand over it three times."
Platinum Longlong said with a smile, explaining the usage method.
Kuina and Nojiko were both very shocked after hearing this.
"It seems your scientific research ability is very strong," Kuina praised. As expected of a Scientist Lu Yue would invite, her abilities were truly extraordinary.
She had already tried it and found that the demon blade thousand blades could indeed be stored inside, and she could also feel that the space inside was truly vast.
"How amazing! And you're a Scientist, able to develop such a miraculous item." Nojiko was also astonished at this moment. Not only was she surprised to just now learn that Platinum Longlong was the Scientist on the Pirate Crew, but she was even more amazed by the spatial storage ring she had developed.
"Alright, everyone, temporarily store all the food, water, and Berries from the Pirate Crew into your rings. Nojiko, you're good at dealing with people, go sell this pirate ship. Make it cheap, earning 5 million Berries will be enough."
"Platinum Longlong, Kuina, and I will go there. Our new companion whom we are inviting this time is there."
As the Captain, Lu Yue immediately assigned tasks to everyone.
And as she finished the last sentence, Lu Yue pointed directly to the large house on the hilltop.
"The house doesn't look small, and it's located in such a place. It seems our companion this time will likely be very wealthy."
Kuina immediately made a deduction. Living in the East Blue, her home in Shimotsuki Village was basically similar to this. In a sense, she was also considered a young lady from a small place, so she could still make such a judgment.
And from her words, it was not difficult to see that she was not at all worried about Lu Yue successfully inviting this companion to join.
After all, there were already precedents, whether it was herself or Nojiko, and she could easily invite a top Scientist like Platinum Longlong. This was not something that could be achieved by just being friends; it also required personal ability and a persuasive tongue.
"I have no objection," Platinum Longlong said.
"I have experience with this; just leave it to me," Nojiko said confidently, patting her chest.
They quickly put all the food, water, and wealth from the Pirate Crew into their storage rings.
Nojiko immediately separated from them. She was going to find a buyer to see who wanted such a cheap fishing boat.
Lu Yue, meanwhile, led Platinum Longlong and Kuina towards the house on the hillside.
Syrup Village, a house on the hillside, a wealthy family. Lu Yue's intended target for an invitation this time was already very clear.
It was Kaya, the only young lady of Syrup Village and Usopp's childhood friend. Although she was frail and sickly, she had a certain foundation in medical skills.
Young, beautiful, and possessing some medical skills, which could be improved! Kaya was very talented and capable in medicine. As for her strength, hehe, don't forget she also obtained another Devil Fruit, and this time it was a powerful Devil Fruit no less inferior to the previous Ice Sky Snow Woman Fruit. Not only could it directly boost Kaya's physical fitness beyond ordinary people, but it could also allow her to rapidly increase her strength like Nojiko.
As for whether she could be invited to join, hehe, Lu Yue was very confident about this. After all, compared to Nojiko, who had experienced the harshness of life and many things—though she also went through Kuro's incident, she ultimately didn't suffer any actual harm—Kaya, who was naive and rich, was much easier to abduct, hehehehe.
Lu Yue, walking at the very front, revealed a mischievous smile. Fortunately, she was at the very front; otherwise, if Kuina and Platinum Longlong saw her like this, they would surely think, 'Why is Lu Yue being foolish again, and smiling so wickedly?'
This time, they didn't encounter any villagers along the way, not even Usopp's three loyal followers whom Lu Yue had originally expected to meet.
However, upon thinking that they were just three little kids and dealing with them would be a bit troublesome, she decided it was better not to encounter them.
But what she didn't know was that Nojiko had already met these three little rascals—Onion Head, Pepper Head, and Carrot Head—on the other side.
And being skilled at dealing with people, she quickly befriended the three kids. With their introductions and help, Nojiko soon found some fishermen who frequently went out to sea together and were willing to buy the pirate ship.
Nojiko quickly settled on a price with them, ultimately selling it for a full 7 million Berries. The villagers were also very satisfied with Lu Yue's original pirate ship.
Finally, the money and goods were exchanged. Seeing the fishing boat already driven away by the villagers and heading out to sea for fishing, the three little ones also wanted to experience fishing at sea, so the villagers took them along. Nojiko, holding a large bag of money, also smiled, a beautiful smile like a rainbow.
She immediately headed towards the large house on the hillside. Now she was going to rendezvous with Lu Yue and the others.
The progress here was truly fast. Meanwhile, Lu Yue and her companions arrived at Kaya's house. They first met Butler Merry. Lu Yue politely stated their purpose: they were there to buy a pirate ship.
Because she knew that Kaya's family was in the shipbuilding business, and doing shipbuilding business on this vast sea was very profitable. No wonder Kaya was a wealthy young lady. Moreover, they themselves needed a truly functional pirate ship.
Lu Yue also stated that this pirate ship purchase would involve a large sum of money and that she wished to discuss it with Kaya in person. Merry immediately understood that this was a big deal and he couldn't make the decision alone. He could only invite Lu Yue and her companions into the house, as he knew this matter required Kaya's permission and approval, and would also need some discussion.
Merry led them to the reception hall, offered them some food and drink, and asked them to wait while he went to fetch Miss Kaya.
After Lu Yue and her companions had only eaten a few snacks and drunk a few sips of water, Merry returned with Kaya.
Kaya had shoulder-length, light golden, straight hair styled with a center part. She had large brown eyes and fair skin. Although she was at home, since she was receiving guests, Kaya was wearing a light yellow short dress with brown long boots and a yellow jacket.
She immediately sat on another sofa. Merry stood respectfully beside her, holding a large stack of papers with what seemed like a lot of content written on them, clearly related to buying and selling ships.
Kaya's beautiful and lovely eyes showed curiosity. She hadn't expected that the ones doing a big shipbuilding business with her this time were actually some equally beautiful young women, and they all seemed to be of similar age.
"I am Kaya, the mistress of this house. You wish to buy a pirate ship, and you're willing to spend a lot of money for a good one, correct?" Kaya introduced herself first, sitting elegantly, a sweet smile on her face.
"My name is Lu Yue, and these are Kuina and Platinum Longlong. The three of us and another companion have already formed a Pirate Crew, but we now need a better pirate ship, one that can carry us through storms and waves into the Grand Line, and also serve as a cozy home for us," Lu Yue said with a gentle smile.
"You are pirates." Kaya immediately looked surprised, and even Merry beside her was shocked. They hadn't expected that such a group of beautiful, young, and vibrant Little girls would actually be pirates.
But at the same time, both of them became wary and worried, because they knew that among pirates, those like the Straw Hat Pirates were ultimately a tiny minority. Most of the pirates on this sea were vicious, evil criminals.
Even if this group in front of them didn't look like it, and instead seemed like a clear stream in the pirate world, like Luffy and Usopp's group, an anomaly among pirates.
They were also filled with worry and caution.
"Haha, don't worry, I'm not that kind of low-level, malicious pirate. Our essence is actually the same as the Straw Hat Pirates: to freely sail, adventure, and fully enjoy battles on this vast sea, never harming innocent civilians. I want to form a young female Pirate Crew primarily composed of strong young women, each a professional expert, with sisterhood at its core. This time I'm just buying a pirate ship; once I get it, I'll leave."
Lu Yue laughed, also stating their Pirate Crew's core principle to Kaya.
"Is that... a Pirate Crew like that?" Kaya was a bit stunned after hearing this, including Merry beside her.
So, they were another group of anomalies among pirates, like Mr. Luffy.