Starting with two Kamui, they raised the flag of rebellion in One Piece.

"It's nothing."

Karina responded quickly to Li Mingyuan's concern.

However, she simply shook her head and replied in a muffled voice, "I've just been drinking too much these past few days, and I'm feeling a little unwell."

"yes."

Li Mingyuan raised an eyebrow slightly as he looked at Karina's expression.

He's not blind, how could he not see that Karina wasn't telling the truth?

But since Karina didn't want to say more, he was too lazy to care. It was just a casual question after all.

"Then I'll go find Nami. If you're not feeling well, take some rest."

Li Mingyuan didn't seem to care much.

The focus right now is still on Nami.

One last glance, scanning the area around the house to make sure Nami wasn't nearby.

Li Mingyuan turned around and prepared to leave Nami's house without any hesitation.

Karina seemed somewhat surprised that Li Mingyuan would leave so decisively. Watching the man's departing figure, she paused for a moment, standing there somewhat at a loss.

Although she hadn't intended to voice her thoughts, Li Mingyuan clearly noticed her unusual behavior but ignored it, which only fueled her temper.

"Wait! You're going to find Nami, right?"

"Before that, I have something else to tell you!"

Karina gritted her teeth and shouted at Li Mingyuan's back.

Without waiting for Li Mingyuan's response, Karina slammed the door shut. In less than a minute, she had changed into an incredible outfit: a tight-fitting white shirt and black trousers. She rushed out of Nami's house and headed straight for Li Mingyuan.

"Did you close the door when you left?"

Li Mingyuan looked at Karina, who rushed to his side in a hurry, and offered a friendly reminder.

"Anyway, the orange grove is right next to Nami's house, no one will steal it!"

Karina gripped Li Mingyuan's sleeve, staring intently at his face, and nervously asked, "More importantly, I have something to tell you. Actually, I overheard your conversation with Nami the night before last... You said you wanted to invite Nami onto the ship, is that true?"

"Huh? You heard that?"

Li Mingyuan slightly raised his eyes and glanced at Karina with some surprise.

"What are you talking about, taking this for granted! I, the Phantom Thief Karina, have managed to survive on the high seas this long thanks to my wit. How could I possibly drink myself into a stupor with Nami? I felt like I was about to pass out, so I quickly pretended to be drunk and collapsed beforehand."

"Besides that, I'm also very curious about what you and Nami have to say. Nami didn't hear you call her, but I wouldn't dare miss anything you said. I just didn't reply because you didn't call me. For Lady Karina, it's a piece of cake to eavesdrop on a conversation without being discovered."

Karina waved her hand. "These aren't the important things."

"The key now is—"

"You're planning to invite Nami? Even though she already rejected you so decisively?"

Karina bit her lip, her expression somewhat heavy, and said, "You may not know much about Nami's situation, but I've inquired about it these past few days. She's different from me. Do you know that all these years she's worked so hard outside, all for this village?"

"She has finally been freed from Arlong's pirate crew, and she told you herself that she just wants to live a peaceful life in the village now. I think she really doesn't want to go to sea anymore. Is it really okay to force someone who doesn't want to go to sea to continue sailing? Especially since you are the benefactor of Nami's entire village. If you insist on inviting her, it will only make her feel awkward."

"So what you mean is?"

Li Mingyuan countered with a question.

"You need a navigator, right? Well, at least I'm here!"

Karina straightened her back and raised her head, her voice filled with a self-sacrificing compassion, and said emotionally, "You don't need to look for any more navigators. After all, I'm already on the ship. Why bother looking for someone else? I'll take Nami's place because she doesn't want to leave the village. Isn't that a win-win situation?"

It wasn't until then that he looked at Karina, who seemed to be possessed by a drama queen, spouting righteous indignation.

Li Mingyuan stared at the other person speechlessly before finally understanding the other person's intentions after going through such a long and roundabout way.

"Ugh."

"So, that's what you wanted to say?"

Li Mingyuan sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Yes, what could be more important than this for a girl who has just gained her freedom from the fishmen?"

Karina seemed to be recalling her past with Nami, and murmured with deep affection in her eyes, "Nami and I have known each other for so many years. No matter how much she denies it, she is still my best friend. How could I just watch her suffer again?"

"...Alright, alright, you don't need to say anymore."

Li Mingyuan raised his hand to stop Karina's incessant chatter.

"I really don't know how you managed to say all that without batting an eye."

"If I listen any longer, I'm afraid I'll throw up my dinner from last night."

Li Mingyuan shook his head slightly.

I thought he was already a master at being shameless.

But when faced with Karina, he had to admit that he was still inferior.

Regardless of how Karina had so casually claimed that she was pretending to be drunk to eavesdrop on their conversation, Li Mingyuan simply attributed that to his own limitations. After all, he only had Sharingan and no Observation Haki, so it was natural that his ability to perceive his surroundings would be weakened after being drunk and having his five senses paralyzed. However, even so, the fact that Karina could eavesdrop on his and Nami's conversation without being discovered meant that the title of "phantom thief" did indeed carry some weight.

But looking at Karina now, she was practically on the verge of tears, trying to stop him from recruiting Nami.

He really couldn't hold back anymore.

He could tell with his toes that Karina was simply worried that Nami's importance would decline after she joined the ship, which would lead to Karina taking Nami's life once the ransom issue, which Nami had been trying to conceal, came to light.

The intention was so obvious that it could not be hidden at all.

Going so far as to pretend to be a good friend to stop himself from recruiting Nami, he stands on moral high ground. Is this the kind of touching mutual consideration between best friends? That's just too much of a friendship.

"Huh? You want to throw up leftovers? What do you mean?"

Karina looked confused and continued innocently, "If you've had too much to drink, should I go get you some hangover soup?"

"To some extent, I actually admire you quite a bit. Your perseverance allows you to repeatedly pretend in front of others, and even when you're exposed, you can still act as if nothing happened and continue the next time."

Li Mingyuan patted Karina on the shoulder and said with deep admiration, "No wonder you're a phantom thief. If I were just an ordinary person, I might actually have been persuaded by you."