While the three veteran figures at Marine Headquarters were arguing, the Straw Hat Pirates had already arrived near Water 7.
Currently, everyone had stopped training.
They were all dressing up, preparing for what might be several days of city life.
Ray naturally wouldn't stop them from enjoying themselves.
After intense training pressure, relaxation must follow.
At that moment, Zoro standing on the lookout platform suddenly showed a shocked expression and shouted down at Luffy.
"Luffy, there's a frog doing freestyle ahead!"
Hearing Zoro's words, Luffy who had been fooling around with Usopp froze as if struck by lightning, then immediately ran to the ship's railing without another word.
Usopp and Chopper quickly followed.
Amid the cheers, all the men except Ray grabbed oars and rowed toward the frog.
Ray was speechless—there were just too many coincidences
'I'll just pet the dog while watching you guys act like a fool,' he thought.
...
Sometime later, the Going Merry lost track of the frog and encountered the Sea Train.
Eventually, they met Kokoro, the stationmaster, along with her granddaughter and a strange rabbit.
Through Kokoro's introduction, Luffy, Nami and the others learned that their next destination was Water 7.
And that place had many highly skilled shipwrights.
This made Luffy and Usopp ecstatic.
The others were also very excited.
Everyone agreed to spend as much money as needed to properly repair the Going Merry.
At the same time, they also needed to build a ship capable of sailing through the Grand Line and navigating the New World.
After all, they currently had over 2 tons of gold, which if converted to Belly should amount to about 600-800 million Belly, depending on the exchange rate in Water 7.
At minimum, it was twice the amount from the original story.
Ray calculated that it should be enough to build a larger Sunny and modify the Going Merry.
If it wasn't enough, they could just pretend to sell Luffy to the Marines, get the money, then take him back.
Thus, the Straw Hat Pirates took Kokoro's letter of introduction and began heading toward Water 7's shipbuilding factories.
...
Upon arriving at Water 7, the Straw Hat Pirates, wearing freshly washed clothes, cheerfully headed into town.
Luffy, Nami, and Usopp took the gold to exchange for money, then went to find shipwrights to repair their ship.
Zoro was ordered to stay and guard the ship - partly because he didn't want to buy anything, and partly because everyone was afraid he'd get lost.
After all, the structure of this Water 7 looked like a giant maze no matter how you viewed it.
Sanji went alone to buy ingredients.
Robin took Chopper to buy books, also planning to relax herself.
Ray originally intended to take Chouchou for a walk with a leash, but thought the image would be embarrassing.!
So he abandoned the leash and went with Chouchou to wander around the city.
As for their destination?
Just straight ahead - anywhere could be their destination.
Ray wasn't worried about the current Straw Hat crew getting into trouble here.
With the group split this way, even if Rob Lucci appeared, he couldn't capture anyone quickly.
In fact, if CP9 engaged them, the agents would suffer significant losses.
Once combat started, Ray and Chouchou—with their keen sense of smell and Observation Haki—could provide support immediately.
This was the benefit of strength: a greatly increased sense of security.
As for why Ray didn't just disable those CP9 members based on his memories.
The reasons were clear.
First, to observe the World Government's arrangements in Water 7.
Second, to find the most suitable timing to recruit Franky onto the ship.
Third, what if Robin had another moment of doubt? The process of healing trauma is always full of ups and downs.
...
While the Straw Hat Pirates were beginning their shopping, a group of people stealthily approached the Going Merry.
They were a bunch of men dressed in ridiculously perverted outfits (the kind hard to describe in words—men wearing iron codpieces with their chests exposed?).
They were strange men armed with blades, clubs, and firearms, wearing fishnet stockings.
The group was whispering among themselves, their voices noticeably trembling.
"Aren't we being a bit reckless by picking a fight with the Straw Hat Pirates like this?"
"I wonder how many people are still on the ship. If it's just that sexy woman and the weakling with the slingshot, that'd be ideal."
"Yeah, the bounties on the others are just too high. Thinking about it, they're definitely not to be trifled with."
"You cowards! You have to understand—you can only catch big fish in rough seas! Besides, we absolutely cannot let these vicious pirates run rampant in Water 7."
"I get the reasoning, but is it really okay not to inform Franky-aniki?"
These men were the Franky Family, supposedly the underworld organization of Water 7.
In reality, they were a covert unit led by Franky, tasked with helping Mayor Iceburg defend against pirates.
Relying on their considerable skills, they had captured many pirates and destroyed numerous ships, significantly reducing turmoil in Water 7.
However, Mayor Iceburg had repeatedly urged them to stop it, deeming it too dangerous.
...
The leader of this group approaching the Going Merry was named Zanbai, a minor boss within the Franky Family.
He was conflicted but ready to sacrifice himself.
"The Straw Hat Pirates' strength is likely unfathomable," Zanbai said. "We are essentially a suicide squad. One person will hide to record their combat abilities. The rest of you, prepare for death. Our goal is to use our lives to help Boss Franky gauge their true strength."
"Yes!"
Everyone responded in trembling voices, but their eyes were determined.
To die for their aniki.... they would not hesitate!
What they didn't know was that the reports labeling the Straw Hat crew as vicious and utterly wicked were untrue.
They were merely fabricated rumors spread by some unscrupulous newspaper, purely out of retaliation, after someone's news coo had been repeatedly killed and cooked.
...
Meanwhile, inside Water 7, just as Chopper arrived in front of a certain door, a strange man wearing a mask and a theatrical costume brushed past Robin, who was a few meters behind Chopper.
In that moment of passing, he whisper to Robin.
"Nico Robin, I am from the CP9. Come with me. Otherwise..."
Upon hearing the name of the organization and the subsequent words, Robin's pupils trembled slightly.
After a moment of thought, she followed him.
A few streets away from Robin, Ray and Chouchou, who were out for a stroll, simultaneously sensed that Robin had separated from Chopper and was now walking alongside an unfamiliar man.
Chouchou was puzzled.
"Master, what's going on with Robin? Is she on a date with another man? I cannot tolerate this."
Ray thought to himself, 'Who she wants to date is her own business. Why does this little mutt care so much?'
But then Chouchou immediately started speaking again.
"No matter whether Master likes Robin and Nami or not, I, Chouchou, absolutely won't allow those who like Master to shift their affections elsewhere!"
As expected, a large bump swelled on Chouchou's head.
"Barbaric, rude, and illogical~"
Ray was speechless.
What was this puppy thinking?.
The key was that this possessiveness was rather strange.
Of course, Ray and Chouchou were thinking about completely different matters.
The person beside Robin should be one of the CP9 members.
Why was this woman walking with CP9 members again?
Was she afraid something would happen to the Straw Hat Pirates like in the original story? That definitely couldn't be the reason.
Suddenly, Ray thought of one possibility.
"So that's it."