Lucci and Kaku still disembarked.
Kalifa could only wish them a bright future.
—Although, strictly speaking, they were still in a 'wanted' state.
With Karin's protection, Kalifa naturally didn't need to worry about anything.
Most of those on the sea who could threaten Karin knew Naruto.
And those minor characters who weren't familiar with Naruto generally couldn't stop Karin anyway.
Kalifa's arrival finally made up for Karin and the others' lack of a navigator.
Although she couldn't be as knowledgeable about weather, currents, and navigation as those famous navigators, Kalifa had some experience in sailing, which was much better than Karin and Naomi.
Moreover, from the current perspective, Kalifa was the only one in their small team who could communicate with outsiders.
On the island where Lucci and Kaku disembarked earlier, Naomi hadn't even shown her face, precisely because she was worried about scaring ordinary people.
"Captain, are we heading to Dressrosa next?"
Kalifa called her 'captain' with peace of mind. When choosing to leave Lucci, she also abandoned her past along with it.
Now, she was free.
"No, let's go back to Punk Hazard first."
"Why?"
Naomi looked at Karin with confusion, only to see Karin point behind herself.
The little ones who were hiding earlier had now popped out, struggling to raise and lower the sails, clean the deck, and some went to the second-floor cabins, unknown what they were doing.
But even with these Tontatta spontaneously helping, the entire ship's operation was still chaotic, ultimately relying on Karin's Devil Fruit power.
There was no helping it. Although the little people had considerable strength, their size was insufficient, and they also lacked sailing experience. With many people, everything became a mess.
In comparison, the original Shark Emeralda was more suitable for them.
This time, Karin decided to return to Punk Hazard first, partly with the intention of switching back to a smaller ship.
If it weren't for taking those children away together, they wouldn't need such a large transport ship at all.
Not only was it slower to turn, but its self-defense capability was also poor.
As for the corpses and bloodstains… they could just let Kalifa clean them up with her Awa Awa no Mi.
Speaking of which, this was a really convenient Devil Fruit ability.
Not only could it remove dirt, but it could even wash away conceptual things like 'lines', turning people into a slippery, soap-like state.
This was something Karin learned recently.
After all, sailing such a large cargo ship with no escort vessels around, it was quite reasonable to attract the attention of some pirates.
This time, Karin and Naomi didn't even need to act. Kalifa, the new member, took the lead, jumping into the enemy group and using her ability.
This was also the first time Karin saw the Awa Awa no Mi's effects.
After all, before this, Kalifa was either defeated in one move or used her ability to save people… she really hadn't used her ability in direct combat.
"Somehow, I feel your ability has a very high ceiling, Kalifa. Perhaps after awakening, it could become an incredible power."
As an Awakened Devil Fruit user, Karin had some basis for saying this.
Hearing this, Kalifa gently adjusted her glasses, standing beside her and nodding slightly.
"I will train twice as hard."
"I didn't mean that... sigh, actually, you don't need to be so cautious."
Karin flew from Naomi's head to Kalifa's, then felt Kalifa, who had just been a cool, composed older sister, suddenly shudder, then freeze in place.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Karin bent her head down, meeting Kalifa's eyes, just in time to see her slightly flushed cheeks.
"It feels hot. Kalifa, do you have a fever?"
Saying this, Karin rubbed her cheek against Kalifa's, not expecting the other's forehead to become even hotter, even emitting a bit of steam.
'Too! Too cute!'
"I-I'm fine!"
Kalifa's finger adjusting her glasses was almost a blur, making Naomi behind her facepalm.
It seemed that because she had completely joined their team, Kalifa gradually shed her outer disguise during these days of interaction, revealing some of her true emotions.
Among them, her fondness for the captain's 'chick form' was one manifestation.
Karin was mostly in this mode.
Round head, round belly, even the halo behind her head seemed less glaring.
According to her, this mode was more 'energy-efficient'. She couldn't be expected to maintain the giant bird form every moment.
And Kalifa seemed to like cute things.
In fact, not just Kalifa… even Naomi wanted to hold the captain in this form in her palm and rub her.
But… Naomi always felt there was something indescribable in Kalifa's attitude towards the captain, but she lacked the words to describe it.
'Could this be Kalifa's true nature?'
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Karin looked up, then enlarged her size a bit.
Kalifa's face immediately showed a regretful expression, but she quickly concealed it.
"What's wrong, Captain?"
"Someone's approaching. Prepare for battle."
"Another clueless pirate?"
Perhaps because her enjoyment was interrupted, Kalifa's face now carried a frosty expression.
That look was even colder than when she was a secretary in Water 7.
"No... don't take it lightly. It's a big one."
Sure enough, after sailing further, a large-scale fleet appeared on the horizon.
"Are they pirates?"
Kalifa narrowed her eyes slightly, seeing two three-masted ships with tiger heads carved on the prows, accompanied by several small escort vessels.
Upon seeing the black flag on the sails, Karin immediately prepared to attack but was stopped by Kalifa.
"Captain, those aren't pirates."
"Or rather, they're not ordinary pirates. They're the Kano Country's national armed force, the Happo Navy."
From her database, Kalifa didn't take long to find out which group the flag with the kanji for 8 on a black background belonged to.
"So? Are they pirates or not?"
Karin was somewhat confused by Kalifa's explanation.
"Strictly speaking, they are pirates, but they probably won't attack us."
Kalifa tried her best to recall information about the Happo Navy.
"The Happo Navy is nominally pirates but actually a national force. The pirate label is mainly for easier action against enemy nations."
Because the Kano Country and its enemy nations were both World Government's member countries, wars between them were always interfered with and mediated.
—Of course, it couldn't be fair mediation. The World Government generally sided with whichever country paid more Heavenly Tribute.
To act against enemy nations, the Happo Navy and the other seven armed forces, nominally pirates but actually armies, were formed.
They rarely plundered unrelated forces… more often, they legitimately robbed enemy nations' merchant ships.
As for what if the other side 'reported to the World Government'?
The King of the Kano Country, Ramen, would simply say these people were pirates and he couldn't control them.
Perhaps the Warlord system had some reference to this as well.
As the ships drew closer, Karin's perception of the other side became clearer.
"There's a powerful guy on the other ship."
Karin suddenly said to Kalifa.
Kalifa looked over and saw Chinjao's mountain-like figure and his iconic pointed head.
"That should be... the current leader of the Happo Navy, Don Chinjao."
This was the advantage of having a former agent as a companion.
Unlike Karin or Naomi, who knew nothing about sea forces, Kalifa's intelligence covered the Four Blues and the Grand Line.
Especially since they had worked under Stussy for a while, accessing that deeper intelligence network, they knew even more.
At this time, the people on the Happo Navy's warship also hailed them.
"Ship ahead! Stop!"
Hearing this, Karin immediately turned to look at Kalifa.
Meaning: Didn't you say they wouldn't attack us?
Kalifa also scratched her head at this.
"Forget it, it doesn't matter."
Karin suddenly flew into the air, and a flash of golden light appeared in the atmosphere.
The next moment, the majestic divine bird was already in front of the Happo Navy's flagship.
"Hey! Pointy-headed old man, are you planning to attack us?"