Buena Festa's show was a game. A series of games, chosen from several options, were played consecutively, with participants vying to steal what the other had wagered. However, anything could be wagered. It was an unspoken rule not to steal ships, but everything else—money, supplies, pirate flags, crewmates—was fair game in this pirate competition.
"Crewmates, symbols, or any other possessions lost in a Davy Back Fight cannot be reclaimed except by winning another Davy Back Fight."
"Those chosen by the victor and handed over shall promptly swear allegiance to the captain of the enemy ship."
"A stolen symbol may never be flown again."
These were the "Three Articles of Defeat," and the game was decided by mutual agreement and a sworn oath.
"This time, it's a classic three-coin game, meaning you'll compete in three games. Got it?"
"Fine by me."
"Fehfehfehfeh!! Quite confident, aren't ya, Straw Hat! Do ya say that knowin' I'm Foxy the Silver Fox, who's never lost this game!?"
"Don't know ya. Who are you?"
"Don't… know…?"
"Pfft!! Pfffpffpff."
Ignoring Foxy, who was dejected that Luffy had no idea who he was, and his subordinate Hamburg, Festa continued explaining the game. The number of participants for the three games was three, three, and one, requiring a total of seven people. The Straw Hat crew had nine members, leaving two spare. When it came to who would participate, Nami and Usopp immediately declined. It was a dangerous game, and Nami and Usopp, who were self-aware enough to know they weren't particularly strong, had no intention of participating.
"Well, who participates is decided then."
The first race would feature Robin, Zepo, and Pedro.
The second ball game would have Chopper, Zoro, and Sanji.
The third combat round would be Luffy.
Participants couldn't be changed even if someone was taken. So, if Zoro were taken, for example, the second game would be played with only two people. There had been some argument about who would participate in the combat round, but they eventually settled on this formation.
"Well then, let the games begin! Report to Davy Jones that the game has started!!"
Three coins, flicked by a finger, soared high into the air and fell into the sea, signaling the start of the battle.
…
"I got caught up in something crazy while I wasn't lookin'…"
Franky hadn't expected them to start a Davy Back Fight the moment he took his eyes off them. "They're more eager to fight than I thought," he muttered, taking a bottle of cola he'd bought by the case from a nearby shop and tilting it back.
He quenched his thirst with the strong sweetness and carbonation unique to cola and, like the surrounding spectators, settled in to watch Luffy and his crew's game.
Once things started, there was nothing to be done, and it was Franky's nature to enjoy things by hyping them up extravagantly. His younger sister figures, Mozu and Kiwi, sitting beside him with yakisoba bought from a stall, were also cheering for the Straw Hats.
No one was paying any attention to the Merry, but Zambai, the one who usually kept Franky's apprentices in line, noticed and spoke to him from behind.
"But bro, aren't you gonna check out their ship?"
"...Ah, it's fine. Already looked at it."
"You already looked!? You're fast as always, bro…"
Franky had been a shipwright for a respectable amount of time. Zambai and the others were still practically apprentices and didn't know much, but Franky could spot what was wrong and fix it in no time. This was partly due to years of experience, but this time, Franky had to scold Zambai.
"You idiot! One look at that ship and you should know!"
"Sorry!! …So, what should I have been lookin' at?"
"The deck is off-center. That's a tell-tale sign the keel's been damaged."
"The keel… then that ship…"
"...Yeah. Wouldn't be surprised if she sank anytime."
A ship is built around its keel. If the deck was off, the entire ship's balance would be compromised, making it dangerous. Zambai probably hadn't noticed because the broken mast had further tilted the ship.
The mast, rudder, and holes in the deck could be repaired, but if the foundational keel was damaged, there was nothing to be done, and the keel couldn't be replaced. Replacing the keel was synonymous with rebuilding the ship from scratch. Zambai understood this and fell silent, looking at Franky.
"I was gonna take 'em to Water 7 as is, but there was a real risk the ship would sink before we got there. You could say it's Straw Hat's negligence for not havin' a shipwright, but it's a fact they've been repairin' her, however clumsily, and sailin' her with care. I don't like guys who don't take care of their ships, but I don't dislike guys who clearly do."
Franky could tell they had sailed with care for their ship. But, that aside, he also knew the ship was at its limit. As a shipwright, he couldn't let them continue sailing like that. If they knew and intended to go down with the ship, he wouldn't try to stop them, but he hadn't confirmed their intentions yet. That was why he had planned to transport the ship via Sea Train, even if it cost a bit more, by going through Banaro Island. There was even a chance they loved their ship too much to accept Franky's words and would try to set sail as is.
"Bro, that's why our finances are always so tight."
"That part of you is a virtue, bro, but if it keeps up, we're gonna go bankrupt."
"Ugh…"
Franky tensed up at his two younger sister figures' words. He went above and beyond what was necessary for others and insisted on not holding onto money overnight, throwing parties here and there, so the Franky Family was basically living hand-to-mouth. Their main business was shipbuilding, but they occasionally made a living as bounty hunters, capturing wanted criminals and turning them over to the Navy.
As he listened to Kiwi and Mozu's lecture with a pout, someone approached him.
"Oh my, are you in some trouble?"
"Huh? …Maraptonoka? What do you want?"
"What do I want, you say? Such a rude greeting. I believe I've done a fair bit of business with you."
Maraptonoka had sat down to Franky's left, next to Kiwi. She was in her usual suit, but today, unusually, she wore sunglasses.
"Rare to see you in sunglasses. New look?"
"No. I'm, ah, having a bit of a situation and am currently an enemy of Twilight, so this is a disguise."
Sunglasses alone don't make a disguise, Franky thought, but he read the room and decided to keep quiet. While Franky chugged his cola, Maraptonoka quietly watched Luffy and Foxy's Davy Back Fight on a monitor set up in the plaza. Without taking her eyes off the monitor, Maraptonoka spoke to Franky.
"Franky-san, have you taken on any shipbuilding jobs recently?"
"What's with the sudden question? Haven't taken any…"
"Hmm…"
Franky couldn't help but frown at Maraptonoka, who was lost in thought without taking her eyes off the monitor.
"Oi, what's the meaning of that question?"
"Oh, it's not particularly significant… but I heard Twilight has been building new types of ships here and there recently, so I just wondered if perhaps your workshop had received an order."
"New types of ships, ya say? That sounds like Iceburg's kinda job."
"I acknowledge your skills, Franky-san. Even if you are a pervert who always wears swim trunks."
"A pervert, ya say…? Hey, hey, don't praise me so much~~ You're makin' me blush."
"I wasn't praising you."
Maraptonoka couldn't help but retort at Franky, who was genuinely blushing. Nevertheless, the information that Twilight was building new types of ships was something Franky, as a shipwright, couldn't ignore. He was purely curious. He asked what kind of ships they were, but Maraptonoka, apparently not knowing the details yet, shook her head.
"I don't know anything. I just heard rumors they were building new types of ships, so I'm currently trying to confirm them."
Shipbuilding required a considerable number of people. Depending on the ship's size, even for a galleon-sized vessel, dozens of Water 7's renowned shipwrights would be mobilized. No matter how strictly a gag order was enforced, rumors were impossible to contain.
The Navy and the government would likely pay a high price for information on Twilight's new ships. Recently, voices within the World Government opposing Twilight had grown louder. Maraptonoka surmised it was related to their rampage against the Beasts-Big Mom pirate alliance. In fact, Maraptonoka herself had just clashed with Komurasaki, a force comparable to a Navy Admiral. She considered caution to be entirely natural.
"New types of ships, huh… If they're not bein' built in Water 7, then somewhere in the New World, maybe?"
"That seems highly probable."
The islands in the New World under Twilight's influence had various counter-intelligence measures in place against the Four Emperors and the government. Security was tight, so obtaining information wouldn't be easy. "Troublesome," she sighed, then, sensing something, whirled around.
"—!?"
Silver hair with several red streaks. A sharp face and a well-toned physique. The man, exuding a commanding presence as his cloak billowed, walked straight towards Maraptonoka. Maraptonoka ground her teeth, not having noticed him until he was this close, and waited for him to approach, glaring.
"Are you Alpha Maraptonoka?"
"...Yes. A pleasure to meet you for the first time. May I ask your name?"
Even as she spoke, Maraptonoka's eyes darted around, trying to find an escape route while avoiding combat. She didn't think she would lose if she fought, but she had just had a terrible experience thinking the same thing recently. She couldn't help but be somewhat wary.
"I'm Yuisheeze. One of the Twilight Pirates' subordinates."
"It's surprising that the 'Adventure Man' has joined someone's crew, but do you have some business with me?"
"Yeah, there are a lot of things I want to ask. Like why you, who took hostile action against us, are here."
The air crackled with tension. Franky and the others kept their distance, but this island was fundamentally full of pirates gathered by Festa. Many were egging them on, eager for a fight. Franky clutched his bottle of cola protectively and backed away. It was his precious fuel. He couldn't let it get broken.
"There are many things I wish to know. Since it seemed unlikely I'd be told if I asked directly, I've been making inquiries."
"I see—that was a bit careless."
Crackling white sparks flew as their fists collided.