Chapter 143: Arrival at Water 7Traveling through the city's network of canals, Namitruly felt the wonder of this maritime metropolis."Amazing! This city looks like it grew right out of the ocean!""This place is awesome!" Luffy looked around excitedly.On the canals, people piloted small boats to transport goods, while the banks were lined with shops—cafes, restaurants, and clothing stores were everywhere.What surprised them even more was that the local residents enthusiastically smiled and waved at them."But, it looks like the whole city is soaked in water. Look, so many houses are submerged!" Chopperleaned over the railing, looking through the clear seawater to see the flooded old rooftops below."That's not the case." Robin smiled and pointed to a clear architectural foundation."Look at where the houses connect to the water surface.""Really! The houses are built on raised foundations!" Chopper realized with a start."But isn't the total volume of seawater constant? Why does it feel like the water level gets higher every year?" Merry tilted her head, asking in confusion."That, we don't know." Robin shook her head gently."So that's why it's called Water 7?"Sanji adjusted the orange shirt and black vest he had specifically put on, tightening his tie."Dock quickly! Guys!" Luffy had already raised his hands, shouting impatiently.His loud voice startled an old man sweeping the bank."Hey! I'm telling you! You can't park a pirate ship here!" the old man shouted, raising his voice."What are you here for? Are you here to plunder us?""No! We're here to repair our ship!" Luffy shouted back."Do normal people ask if you're here to plunder right off the bat..." Usopp muttered to the side."If you're here for repairs, there's a cape up ahead. Just park the ship there!" the old man pointed out the direction."Okay!" Nami responded."Thanks!" Luffy shouted."Here we go again..." Usopp covered his face with his hand."Can't be helped. We are pirates, after all." Zoro was quite calm.The going merry navigated through turns and finally arrived at the place the old man had indicated.This was the edge of the city, empty and deserted, but the environment was clean and tidy, with a lush green lawn on the shore."This place is not bad!" Usopp said."What's so good about it! I can't even see a single cute lady!" Sanji's voice was filled with irritation."Alright! Drop the anchor, furl the sails!" Luffy gave the Captain's order.Zoro stepped forward as instructed and pulled the sail ropes tight.Snap!A shocking cracking sound rang out, and the main mast of the going merry bent on impact, presenting a startling angle!"Ah!" everyone exclaimed in unison."Hey! Marimo! What the hell are you doing?!" Sanji, who was already in a bad mood, immediately lashed out."...I just pulled the rope... and it..." Zoro held the collapsing mast tightly with both hands, finding it hard to believe himself."Don't explain! Fix it!" Sanji roared."I know!" Zoro knew he was in the wrong and didn't argue further.Relying on his astonishing brute strength, he forced the thousand-pound mast back into its original position."Scared the hell out of me..." A cold drop of sweat slid down Zoro's temple."I didn't expect the going merry... to have become this fragile.""Our going merry is already amazing!" Usopp picked up little Merry, his tone full of pity."The mast was burned off at Sky Island, and after experiencing the previous storms and battles, being able to make it this far is a miracle in itself!""Creak... creak..." Sanji stepped on a raised spot on the deck."The deck also needs a complete replacement. Long-term exposure to wind and sun has caused too much aging.""It's okay! We have plenty of money!" Luffyannounced confidently."Let's give the going merry a complete overhaul!""Fortunately, the keel is undamaged." Mark said after checking."We need to find an experienced craftsman to perfectly dismantle the keel so I can replace the material.""Should we park the ship here, or put it into your space?" Usopp asked."Just park it here." Mark pondered."It's better not to expose the space ability as much as possible." He turned to look at Nami."Nami, how many Berries do we have left?""Since we set sail, we haven't exchanged our treasure for cash yet." Nami shrugged helplessly."You could say we're completely broke right now.""Is that so... are we so poor that we only have gold left?" Mark sighed."That's that 'flexing' you're always talking about, right!" Usopp retorted."Then, I'm heading out first!" Luffy said and was about to run off."Stop!" Nami immediately called him to a halt."Luffy, Mark, come with me! We have to take the letter of introduction to find Mr. Iceburg to arrange the ship repairs, and we also need to exchange the gold for Berries! These are important matters!""Nami, I won't go. Luffy is enough." Mark indicated."But without you and your 'convenience,' moving the gold will be very troublesome!" Nami immediately put on a wronged expression."Here!" Mark pushed Usopp forward."A ready-made laborer, easy to command, with a fuel consumption of only two bowls of rice per hundred kilometers.""Why me?!" Usopp pointed at his long nose in disbelief."Alright, everything is for the going merry, what's wrong with you working a bit harder..."Mark patted Usopp's shoulder and winked at Nami!"Think about it, Usopp!" Nami immediately chimed in, her eyes filled with "trust" and "anticipation,""Who else but the brave Captain Usopp could take on this arduous task? You are the most reliable man among us!""That's true, y-yes, I am the reliable Captain Usopp!"Usopp's long nose involuntarily perked up a bit.Mark struck while the iron was hot, lowered his voice, and spoke in a tone of sharing a secret:"This is a top-secret mission that only core members can participate in! It's the cornerstone of our entire team's future development! Luffy is the Captain and responsible for decision-making, and I have to oversee the big picture. Who else but a key member like you could be entrusted with such a heavy responsibility of implementation?""And look," Nami pointed at Luffy, "Luffy is simple-minded and only knows how to charge forward. With such a huge amount of wealth, if it weren't for careful and cautious you to transport it, what if it gets scammed or stolen halfway? All of our hopes are pinned on you!""Think about how the going merry will look after it's repaired!" Mark waved his arm as if painting a grand blueprint, "At that time, you can proudly say to everyone—Look! This brand-new going merry, its first plank was exchanged with the gold that I, Captain Usopp, worked hard to transport back! What an honor that would be!"Under the barrage of sweet talk, Usopp felt a sense of mission welling up, his chest puffed out involuntarily, and his previous reluctance had long since vanished."I... I understand!" Flames burned in Usopp's eyes, and he slapped his chest hard, "That's right! Who else but me for such a critical task! It's really not safe to leave it to an idiot like Luffy! For the going merry, for everyone, let me, Captain Usopp, shoulder this heavy responsibility!"Thus, the scene shifted to an energized Usopptaking the initiative to carry the heaviest load, setting off on the journey full of motivation."Be careful, Miss Nami!" Sanji waved his hand from the ship."Ah, it seems I won't have the chance to go with them." Chopper looked dejectedly at the three figures moving away."Then, Doctor, shall we go out for a stroll later?" Robin smiled slightly at Chopper."Really? Will there be bookstores?" Chopper perked up instantly."There certainly will be.""Is Miss Robin going out too?" Sanji bit his sleeve, looking aggrieved."Yes.""Robin! Let's go!" Chopper jumped off the ship in a flash."Coming." Robin also gracefully leaped off the deck."It's a good thing Mark and cute little Merry are here," Sanji looked at the two left behind, "Otherwise, being left with just me and that Marimowould be worse than death.""Then go die! Swirly-brow!" Zoro, who was repairing the mast with a wooden hammer, cursed without turning his head."Idiot Marimo! If you can't fix the mast, I'll cut off your food tonight!" Sanji blew out a smoke ring."As if I care!" Zoro looked disdainful, but his repair work became even more serious—at least it had to look decent when the shipwrights came to inspect it."Hey, Sanji, we're going out for a while later." Marksaid, "Merry, you and Zoro guard the ship.""Okay! But looking at you, it doesn't seem like you're going grocery shopping?" Sanji noticed that Markseemed preoccupied."Hmm," Mark nodded, his gaze sharp, "To be precise, there might be a fight.""Hey, Mark, I'm good at fighting! The mast is already fixed!" Zoro immediately turned around, eager to try."No, the target this time is to 'catch someone'." Marklooked in the direction where Robin and Chopperhad disappeared, his voice deep, "This place is not far from Marineford, I suspect someone might be watching Robin. After all, even Aokiji has personally made a move.""I see!" Sanji immediately understood the seriousness of the situation, "Then we must rush to protect them!""Not just protect them." Mark explained, "The enemy is in the dark, and we are in the light, which is very passive. We might as well use a trick—the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.""Understood!" Sanji immediately caught on and turned to shout at Zoro, "Marimo! Protect Merrywell!"He bent down and patted Merry's little head, his tone gentle, "Little Merry, Mark and I will be right back, and we'll bring you delicious candy! Once we figure out the situation, we'll pick you up to go play.""Mm-mm! I know!" Merry nodded obediently.Meanwhile, on Luffy's team side.Usopp, sweating profusely, suggested, "I say... shouldn't we go to the exchange office first?""Why?" Luffy pulled the cart, seemingly not feeling tired at all."These two big bags of stuff are too flashy! It would be much more convenient if we exchanged them for Berries.""Mm-mm, I agree too!" Nami immediately chimed in, "If we exchange them for Berries, I can help carry some too.""You could carry them now, couldn't you?" Usopplooked at her speechlessly."How could you make such an unreasonable request to a beautiful young lady!" Nami immediately put on a wronged expression."I don't know who just made an entire island disappear, and now she's acting weak..." Usoppmuttered to himself.As the three were talking, they had already arrived at the stone bridge leading to the main district of the city."The entrance to the city... is this the only one?" Nami observed."Bull Rental Shop?" Usopp read the sign of a fairly large shop across the bridge."Bull? What is that?" Luffy asked curiously."It must be for renting something, right?" Namiguessed."A cow? Or a dog?" Usopp was also confused.Just as they were guessing, Luffy had already dragged the wooden cart to the shop entrance and shouted loudly, "Boss! Give me one Bull!""Hey! Ask first, will you!" Usopp and Nami retorted in unison."Oh! Distinguished guests! Do you want to rent a Bull?" The boss put down the newspaper, stood up enthusiastically, and introduced, "How many people are there? What kind of Bull do you need?""Three people!" Luffy held up three fingers."What about the type? We have fast'Swordfish Bulls', steady'Shark Bulls', and 'Kingfish Bulls' for cargo. If there are only three of you, renting two'Swordfish Bulls' should be enough." The boss explained in detail."Okay, Boss! Help us grill it dry, and add extra chili!" Luffy nodded seriously."Hahaha, you must be from out of town!" The boss was amused and pointed to the river in the distance, "Bulls aren't food; they are transportation tools that swim with their heads sticking out of the water! We have a crisscrossing network of waterways here, and Bulls are the best way to get around!"As the boss spoke, he dragged two boat-like vehicles out of the shop and put them into the water, pointing to a pool next to it, "If you want to choose a Bull, go to the pond over there and pick one yourself!"
Chapter 144: Chasing and Encountering in Water 7"Why does this fish look just like a horse!"Luffy clung to the fence, his brows knitted together, his face full of disgust.That dark green swordfish, however, seemed particularly fond of him; the moment Luffyapproached, it swam over happily.It stuck out its wide tongue and gave Luffy's face a "slap" of slobber."You bastard! What are you doing! Damn it!"Luffy immediately jumped up in anger, shouting wildly.Beside him, Nami and Usopp were already laughing their heads off."Hehe, it looks like it really likes you! Let's pick this one!"The fish rental boss also laughed heartily, then opened the water pen and released the dark green swordfish that had shown favor to Luffy, along with another light green companion."Two swordfish, that'll be 2,000 Berries!"Nami looked at the sturdy swordfish, then at the few large and heavy bundles at her feet, and asked with some concern:"Boss, our luggage is quite heavy. Can they really pull it?""Rather than pulling, it's more like carrying! Swordfish are very strong; many people rely on them when moving!"The boss explained heartily while skillfully guiding the two swordfish to swim beneath the small boat.Sure enough, as he said, the swordfish's broad backs held firmly against the bottom of the boat, lifting it slightly."Is the luggage very heavy? What's inside?"The boss asked casually."Gold."Luffy answered just as casually."Hahaha, you're really humorous! No matter what's inside, the swordfish will have no problem!"The boss clearly thought Luffy was joking."Look!"Luffy ripped open the bag, and instantly, golden light shone everywhere, nearly blinding the boss's glasses."G-give it to me!""As if I would!"Nami unceremoniously punched him."This boss is a pretty honest guy..."Usopp shrank back, whispering, afraid of angering the furious Nami.Sure enough, in the next second, Luffy was severely reprimanded:"What's wrong with you! How could you just show gold to someone else!""What's wrong with looking? It won't disappear!"Luffy was still being stubborn, which naturally earned him a beating from Nami."Won't disappear... Won't disappear!"Accompanied by two dull thuds and Nami's angry scolding, Luffy, sporting a fresh lump on his head, honestly admitted his mistake:"I'm really sorry!""Honestly, you have no common sense at all! Good thing I came along!"Nami jumped onto the boat angrily, turned her head, and glared at the two,"Hurry up and get on!""Yes!"Luffy and Usopp immediately and nimbly moved the three huge bundles onto the boat.The small boat sank suddenly, and the two swordfish drivers also broke into a cold sweat, but immediately braced themselves, heads held high, as if competing with the heavy load on their backs."Here, 2,000 Berries. By the way, Boss, do you know where there's a gold exchange?"Nami asked while paying.The boss was indeed the honest person Usoppdescribed; not only did he not raise the price, but he also analyzed it carefully:"You have so much gold, I'm afraid regular exchange shops can't handle it. You'll have to go to the Central District!""Mister, is the Central District close to the shipyard?"Luffy sat on the boat and asked, looking back."Oh, very close! It's all in the Central District! And that's where the world's top shipyard is!""Awesome! After exchanging for Berries, we can go straight to the shipyard! Thanks, mister!"The fish rental uncle handed Nami a detailed map."Great! It's a real map, not that abstract art piece Kokoro drew!"Nami looked at it carefully and was overjoyed."Let's go! Charge! Swordfish!"At Luffy's command, the swordfish lived up to their name, darting away like arrows from a bow.The three waved goodbye to the boss and, riding the swordfish-powered boat, sped toward the central street.Meanwhile, on Mark and Sanji's side."Hey, Mark, do you feel like people are looking at us strangely?"Sanji leaned against the wall, poked half his head out, and peeked at Robin's back ahead.Below his head, Mark was spying with the same posture."Can't be helped; excellent people attract attention wherever they go."Mark said softly, but his gaze was locked on the front."That's... damn right! With our looks, it's hard not to attract attention."Sanji agreed deeply and straightened his tie."Let's go, keep up!"After tailing Robin for about ten minutes like this, the two finally sensed something was off."Hey, Mark, why do I feel like the way they look at us... doesn't look like infatuation, but more like... disdain?"Behind a fish stall, two half-heads popped out again."Jealousy."Mark threw out the conclusion indifferently."Hiss... That makes so much sense! As expected of our Vice Captain."Sanji realized, then suggested,"How about, there's a mask seller over there, should we buy one?""Here."Mark directly shoved a mask into Sanji's hand."When did you buy that?"Sanji was stunned."Borrowed! They're turning, keep up!"Mark said, already sneaking against the next wall."Borrowed? This is clearly stealing!"Sanji complained, but still put on the mask nimbly."In the pirate world, how can this be called stealing? This is giving them face!"Mark explained confidently, and took out a skewer of roasted meat to eat."This isn't right! Super not right!"Mark chewed the meat, muttering incoherently, watching helplessly as Robin and Chopper entered the library safely.His heart was in turmoil:Where is CP0?Wasn't there an agent who came out to threaten Robin in the original story?What happened to the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?Now we look like perverted stalkers! Do I not have a reputation to maintain?Just as Luffy and the others headed to the city center and Mark and Sanji secretly trailed Robin, the going merry, docked at the edge of the city, welcomed a group of uninvited guests.Little Merry was sitting leisurely on the repaired mast crossbeam, swinging her little feet, humming an out-of-tune song.Zoro, who had finished the temporary reinforcement of the mast, leaned against the gunwale, holding his wado ichimonji, snoring lightly, fast asleep.A burst of noisy footsteps and commotion approached from afar, breaking the tranquility.Merry looked over curiously, only to see a group of guys wearing flashy beach shorts and Hawaiian shirts, with various hairstyles, who looked like bad news,Crowding around an exceptionally burly figure, strutting onto the lawn next to the going merry.The leader had an extremely impactful look.He was very tall and burly, even taller than Zoro, wearing a floral shirt with a star pattern, and his shoulders were shockingly broad.Most eye-catching was his blue hairstyle that stood high like a pompadour, and a pair of orange sunglasses that covered most of his face.However, what was most astonishing were his exposed, huge mechanical palms glittering with cold metallic luster, and his legs, which were completely out of proportion to his upper body and clad only in underwear."Oh——! Super sorry for the intrusion!"The man opened his mechanical arms, made a complete pentagram shape above his head, and shouted in a loud and unique voice.This sudden loud voice instantly woke the light-sleeping Zoro."Enemy attack?!"Almost the moment he opened his eyes, Zoro's body reacted before his consciousness.His eyes sharpened, killing intent burst forth, and wado ichimonji was instantly half-drawn, the cold blade carrying a sharp gust of wind, pointing directly at the exaggeratedly styled leader on the shore!The posture was as if he would cut the other person in two in the next second!"Wait wait wait wait!"Franky was startled by his swift sword-drawing action, and his mechanical palms waved in front of his chest in a hurry,"Super don't be impulsive! We didn't come to fight!"His underlings behind him also collectively took a step back.Zoro narrowed his eyes, his hand still on the hilt, his tone dangerous:"What do you want?""Relax, green-haired guy!"Franky pointed at the going merry and stated the primary purpose of this trip,"We just saw the news and are very interested in you guys! Especially that... flying ship in the photo! Super cool! Does that thing really exist?""None of your business!"Zoro crossed his arms; this was their secret weapon, how could he easily tell a stranger?Franky changed the subject, pointing at the old and somewhat dilapidated going merry in front of him, his huge mechanical hand rubbing his chin, his tone full of confusion:"But... I am super confused! Since you have that kind of ship that can fly—even if you didn't, why not buy a new one? Why go to such lengths to repair this... uh, 'old partner' that looks like it's about to fall apart?"This sentence instantly ignited the anger of the two "residents" on the ship."What did you say?! Do you believe I'll tear you into scrap!"Zoro's voice turned cold abruptly, the veins on his hand pressing on the sword bulging,"The going merry is just old! It has never abandoned us in a crisis, so we will never abandon it either!"At the same time, a childish voice filled with anger and grievance came from the mast:"The going merry is our home! And it's my birthplace!"Franky and his underlings looked up in unison, only then noticing the pouting little girl on the mast."B-birthplace?"Franky's huge sunglasses slid down a bit, revealing the shocked eyes behind them,"Married and had kids?! On this ship?!"His thinking clearly veered in a super absurd direction."Idiot!"Merry was so angry her little face turned red, and she corrected loudly,"The ship itself gave birth to me! My name is Merry! That's the name of this ship!""W-what?!..."This time, Franky was truly, genuinely shocked.His huge body even swayed, his mechanical mouth wide open."The ship... gave birth to... a spirit? You are the legendary... ship spirit?! Super... unbelievable!!!"He lunged closer to the going merry, his huge mechanical palms carefully, almost reverently, touching the hull, his previous frivolity and confusion swept away, replaced by an unprecedented fanaticism and excitement."I understand... I super understand! So the story Mr. Tom told back then was true!"He turned around abruptly, announcing to Zoro and Merry at the top of his lungs:"Listen! My name is Franky! I am the most Super genius shipwright in Water 7... No! In the whole world! Let me repair it! Please!"This sudden enthusiasm and request left Zoro and Merry stunned."Why?"Zoro remained vigilant."Because—!"Franky opened his arms, his voice full of excitement like he had found a kindred spirit,"Because I super like pirates like you, who treat their ship as a partner, cherish it so much that a'ship spirit' can even be born! This is the super partner every shipwright dreams of!"He immediately followed up:"By the way, where is your Captain? It's the guy wearing a Straw Hat, right!"Zoro frowned:"Luffy and the others went to the Galley-La Company in the city center, saying they wanted to find a guy named Iceburg to repair the ship.""What?! That suit-wearing bastard Iceburg?!?"Upon hearing this, Franky instantly bristled, steam almost spraying from his mechanical nostrils,"He actually dared to snatch the super business I had my eye on... No, it's a super dream!"He waved his hand abruptly and roared at the underlings behind him:"Brothers! Let's go! To the Galley-La Company!"As he turned around in a hurry, he rubbed his chin with his huge mechanical hand, his eyes shining with excitement and curiosity:"Straw Hat Luffy, is it...?... A super interesting man! I'm going to meet him myself to confirm if he is the man in my dream who can sail the ship I built to the end of the world!"Before he finished speaking, Franky led his noisy group of underlings, rushing toward the city center like a whirlwind, leaving behind a cloud of dust on the shore, and Zoro and Merry looking at each other on the going merry.
Chapter 145: Water 7 Adventure"This is so awesome!"Luffy looked like he had no bones, lounging comfortably on the bundles filled with gold, swaying gently with the small boat."I can't believe such creatures exist in the world! This is so convenient, it's as useful as Mark's ability!"Usopp examined the bullfish in front of them, which were as steady as a rock, and sighed in sincere admiration."It really is very stable; I can barely feel any swaying."Nami also gave this peculiar mode of transportation a high rating."Turn right, turn right!"Nami directed."This area seems to be a residential district."Usopp observed the surroundings. Women were using pulleys to collect dried laundry from high windows, while children were chasing a soccer ball in the open spaces along the riverbanks, full of the atmosphere of daily life.However, the enthusiasm of Water 7 could sometimes be overwhelming.Just as they turned into a narrow alley, a curly-haired uncle's head suddenly poked out from a third-floor window."What a beautiful blonde lady! Could we have dinner together tonight?"He shouted enthusiastically at Nami.Before Nami could even respond, a hand larger than his head suddenly grabbed his curly hair from behind and dragged him back inside.Immediately after, the muffled sounds of punches landing, the man's pig-like screams, and a rough-voiced woman's thunderous reprimand echoed from the room:"How dare you try to pick up girls on me! You should consider it the blessing of a lifetime that I even look at you!""...! Should I call this enthusiasm, or is it a miracle that he's still alive?"Cold sweat beaded on Usopp's forehead; he felt speechless at such a sight."Who knows!"Nami also looked speechless."Hey... Long Nose!"Another man on the top floor shouted down at Usopp."Huh?"Usopp looked up blankly."Nothing, just calling you for fun! Hahaha!"The man waved his hand as if his prank had succeeded."Damn it, be careful or I'll beat you up!"Usopp clenched his fists and shouted angrily at the top.This comical scene made Luffy and Nami burst into laughter.The relaxed atmosphere changed when they passed through the residential area and arrived at a fork in the road. One path went down, and one path went up."We've reached a fork, which way should we go?" Usopp asked Nami, who was looking at the map.Before Nami could make a decision, the two bullfish seemed to have eaten some "super strength" and kept pulling them, rushing up the climbing path on the left."Wrong! It's the right side... go to the right!"Nami hurriedly corrected.But the bullfish didn't listen to her directions at all, and in the blink of an eye, they rushed to the top of the slope."Hey, hey, hey! I'm familiar with this scene! Back on Sky Island... don't tell me there's another huge drop ahead!"Usopp gripped the edge of the boat tightly, wishing he could glue himself to the deck."That's why...! You jinx... Usopp!"Nami had already foreseen the ending, rolling her eyes."Yo-ho! You two are really something! This is so fun!"Only Luffy excitedly praised the bullfish, raising his hands, ready to welcome the upcoming high-speed ride."Ahhh—!""Yo-ho—!"Amidst Nami and Usopp's screams and Luffy's cheers, the two bullfish dove rapidly down from the high slope with the small boat, kicking up white splashes over ten meters high behind them.Following that were a few heart-stopping sharp turns and wavy routes, and finally, at the end of a long slope, the two small boats soared into the air!"Nooo!~""So cool!~"Accompanied by the vastly different shouts, with two "Bang... Bang..." sounds, the boats landed steadily back into the canal, resuming smooth navigation."Hehe! Hehe!"Luffy and the two bullfish all revealed the same happy and smug expressions."Don't you dare get carried away! Bang!"Nami punched the light green bullfish on the head, creating a red bump. The bullfish turned its head, aggrieved, and let out a whimper.Nami panted, examined the surrounding environment, compared it with the map, and discovered with surprise:"This is the commercial district? Was that just now... a shortcut?""Haha, sorry, sorry! You guys are really smart!"Realizing she had blamed them wrongly, Namihurriedly apologized."Hmm? Where's Luffy?"She turned her head and found that Luffy, who was originally on the boat on the left, had disappeared.At this moment, Luffy's excited voice came from afar: "This is too delicious!""Whoa..."Accompanied by the call of the bullfish."You have a good eye, customer; this is a Water 7specialty, 'Water Water Meat'!"A landlady's voice came over."Ma'am, pack it up! Pack it all up!"Luffy shouted."Alright! Please wait a moment, customer!"The landlady was quick and efficient."Hey! Don't you dare spend money recklessly!"Nami hurriedly rushed over, fearing that Luffy would pay directly with gold."Look!"Luffy pulled a handful of Berries from his pants pocket and shook them triumphantly, "Robin and Mark gave them to me! Hehe!""Hey! Luffy, is it really that delicious? Give me one!"Usopp's appetite was whetted."No, go buy it yourself!"Luffy cradled the meat in his arms."Hey! Nami, buy me two..."Usopp begged with a crying tone."Buy, buy, buy! Where would I have cash? Let's go to the currency exchange first! Let's go!"Nami held her forehead, deeply feeling how difficult it was to go out with two troublemakers.Meanwhile, in a quiet alley of the commercial district.A curly-haired man was beaten beyond recognition by Mark and Sanji, slumped on the ground."You've got a tough mouth!"Mark said, and threw two more punches."Don't hold out anymore, are you going to talk or not!"Sanji grabbed the man's hair, his eyes fierce."Cough, cough...! Talk or not! You have to ask first!"The man gathered his last breath and shouted indignantly."Didn't you ask?"Mark looked at Sanji in confusion."I thought you had asked on the way!"Sanji was also stunned.The two looked at each other, then laughed awkwardly."Oops! Little brother, look, what a big misunderstanding! Do you need to see a doctor? Hahaha!"Mark rubbed his nose with his index finger, trying to ease the atmosphere."So, what did you say when you passed by Robinjust now?"Sanji lifted the man up and hung him on a street lamp hook in the alley.Looking at the bewildered man, Sanji added:"The beautiful woman in all black, with a reindeer next to her!""Big brother! Let me go! I... I just wanted to ask her out for din... ner!"Because he had lost a few teeth, the man spoke with a lisp."Bang!"Sanji kicked him again, knocking him out directly."How dare you hit on Miss Robin; you deserve this beating!"Sanji lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and calmed his emotions.Mark put the mask that the man on the ground had been wearing back on his face."Something's wrong... where are the agents?"Mark rubbed his temples, feeling very confused about following for half a day only to beat up a flirt.On the going merry, time seemed much quieter.Zoro and the ship spirit Merry were playing a game of "Old Maid" with poker cards on the deck.Suddenly, a strange door appeared in the air in front of them without any warning. A minotaur poked its head out from inside, looked at the going merry in confusion, then retracted it, and the air door disappeared instantly."A cow? Enemy attack?"Zoro became instantly alert, his hand already on the hilt of his sword.Merry also clenched her little fists nervously.Zoro closed his eyes, fully utilizing Observation Hakito perceive his surroundings, but he found nothing."Nothing... who exactly is that? A space ability user?"His brows were locked tight; he didn't dare to be careless in the slightest.Luffy and his group followed the bullfish to a giant semi-circular building; this was the "Water Elevator" leading to the central street.After entering the gate, the water level began to rise, lifting them and their small boat to a higher level. When they emerged from the exit, the scene before their eyes opened up.This was the central street of Water 7, far more prosperous than the previous areas, with waterways and land intersecting, and pedestrians weaving through.The huge fountain was right in front of them, and they could feel its majestic momentum even more.Luffy was immediately attracted by the crowd gathered at the entrance of Dock One.Pushing in to take a look, it turned out that the shipyard workers were teaching a rule-breaking pirate a lesson.From the onlookers' discussions, Luffy learned that the shipwrights here were not only world-class in technology but also astonishing in combat power."Alright, stop watching!"Nami patted Usopp, who was carrying two large bags of gold and was so tired he was almost collapsing."Let's go to the currency exchange first to trade the gold for Berries, and then we'll come find Mr. Iceburg to repair the ship.""Alright!"Luffy readily agreed, having no objections to the process of getting money before repairing the ship.Thus, the three of them, carrying expectations of huge wealth, walked toward the currency exchange. The core adventure of Water 7 was about to unfold before them.
Chapter 146: Exchanging Berries and Meeting IcebergIn front of the magnificent white building, the three members of the Straw Hat Pirates finally arrived at their destination.Usopp, carrying two enormous bundles, asked breathlessly, "I-is, is this the place?"Luffy looked up at the impressive building and exclaimed, "Whoa! What a huge house!""Of course it is," Nami said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "This is the biggest gold exchange in Water 7! Let's go!"Usopp dragged the heavy bundles behind them, wailing weakly, "Fi-finally here..."The three walked into the exchange, and Luffyslammed the bundles onto the counter with a "bang," startling the staff member.When the staff member caught a glimpse of the golden contents inside the bundles, his eyes widened, and without a word, he dashed into the manager's office."Ma-manager! Big business! Go-gold... three big bags!" He was so excited he was incoherent, gesturing wildly."Quick! Invite the VIPs to the super VIP room immediately!" The manager dropped his newspaper and rushed out at an astonishing speed.In the luxurious VIP room, Usopp curiously jumped on the soft Water 7 sofa, and Nami gave him an impatient glare.The manager was holding a magnifying glass, carefully appraising every piece of gold."Hey, you've been appraising it for so long, you aren't going to say these are fake, are you?" Usoppcouldn't help but ask."Absolutely not!" The manager raised his head, trying to feign composure despite his obvious excitement. "I guarantee with my twenty-five years of experience that the purity and quality of this gold are top-notch! A preliminary estimate puts the value at least...""Two hundred million!!!" Luffy's booming voice made the room vibrate."Keep your voice down! You idiot!" Nami quickly covered his mouth.The manager wiped his sweat and respectfully handed over a document. "In that case, please place your thumbprint here, and we will prepare the cash for you immediately.""A thumbprint? Is one enough? I'll do a few more!" Luffy reached out happily."Wait!" Nami's long leg stomped heavily onto the table, pinning the document under her foot.The scattered gold clinked, and the manager retreated in fear."What's wrong, Nami?" Luffy asked, looking confused.Nami ignored him, instead pinching Luffy's rubbery face as she looked coldly at the manager. "I only have three things to say.""First, this guy who looks like an idiot has a bounty of 230 million Berries.""Second, I do not accept your previous appraisal.""Third," her gaze swept over the newspaper on the table reporting the disappearance of the uninhabited island, "if you dare to pull any tricks, that 'island-destroying woman' in the newspaper will be me. If I'm in a bad mood, this shop will disappear from Water 7. Do you understand?""I-I'm sorry! Please calm down, Lady Thunder Goddess!" The manager kowtowed repeatedly in fear.A moment later, Nami finally realized her dream—swimming in a mountain of Berries."One billion... one billion Berries!" "The adventure on Sky Island finally paid off! I'm rich!" She blissfully pressed the banknotes against her face."That's enough to fix the going merry! Let's build a bronze statue with the rest!" Luffy excitedly tossed the Berries around."Idiot! Of course we should buy the latest cannons!" Usopp held a banknote up to the light to inspect it carefully.Shortly after, the three walked out of the exchange, each dragging a suitcase full of Berries.Luffy sat in the small boat, feeling aggrieved. "I feel like I've been hit...""How can you even say that! You just swung around those heavy bundles so casually, nearly dropping them into the river!" Nami's anger hadn't subsided."But they didn't fall, did they...""But we fell in!" Nami and Usopp roared in unison."I am very sorry!" Luffy instantly wilted."Hey, it's Water 7 buns! Let's buy a hundred!" Luffypointed to a bun shop on the shore, trying to change the subject."Shut up!" The two rejected him in unison."Then a thousand!""Shut up!""Ten thousand!""Shut up!""Fine..." Luffy was completely defeated, hanging his head and drawing circles on the deck.The small boat passed through the bustling streets and returned to Dock 1 of the Galley-La Company."Back again! The shipyard!" Luffy was the first to jump ashore."Great, the crowd has dispersed." Usopp cautiously looked around."Anyway, let's go look! Who was it we were looking for... that... that..." Luffy scratched his head, struggling to remember."It's Mr. Iceberg!" Nami reminded him helplessly."Right! That's Uncle Ace!" Luffy realized.Usopp retorted, "You got his name wrong, didn't you?""Excuse me..." As Luffy was about to climb over the fence, a man wearing a baseball cap appeared instantly, pressing a finger against his forehead."Wait, outsiders. Say what you need to say outside." The man looked up, revealing his signature rectangular nose."Are you Usopp?" Luffy asked, staring at the other person's nose."Idiot! I'm right here!" Usopp was so angry he slapped Luffy."Oh, right! Look, his nose is square!" Nami compared them carefully."Then you must be'Square Usopp'! Hahaha!" Luffyconcluded.Usopp felt despair at this conversation where the nose was considered the real body, and he slumped weakly onto the suitcase."We have business with Mr. Iceberg. Here is a letter of introduction." Nami stepped forward and handed over the letter."Let me see! Oh! It's a letter of introduction from Kokoro!" The man with the rectangular nose said."Are you an old man?" Luffy poked his head out to look at him from below."I am twenty-three years old this year!"Usopp was shocked, "Why are you using 'I' (old man) at twenty-three!""Hahaha, everyone says that." The man laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "What business do you have with Mr. Iceberg?""We are here to repair our ship! Do you know him?" Nami asked."Of course I know him! Mr. Iceberg is not only the mayor of this city but also the president of our Galley-La Company!"Luffy looked calm. "Huh~ Is he that impressive?""Then, where can we see him?" Usopp pressed."Well..." the man mused, "he is very busy. Are you in a hurry?"Nami shook her head. "Not particularly.""Haha, then let me run over and check for you! Where is your ship docked? That way, it'll be easier to discuss repair prices after you meet the president." The man said, starting to stretch his legs to warm up."Just over there in the rocky area of the cape. You're going to run? Won't you take a Yagara Bull?" Usoppasked in surprise."Taking a Yagara Bull is too slow. I can be back in ten minutes!""Ten minutes?" Nami couldn't believe it."That's right!" The man assumed a starting stance, his eyes instantly sharpening, and he dashed off like an arrow released from a bow.He leaped onto a rooftop in one step, his speed not diminishing in the slightest."Hey! That side is..." Before Usopp could finish his warning, the man had already leaped from the edge of the roof.Luffy exclaimed, "So cool!"Usopp worried, "Is that guy okay? That's a cliff over there!""Rest assured." A voice came from behind. "He is the foreman of our Dock 1—Kaku. Nicknamed 'Mountain Wind'."A moment later, on the going merry."Is this the one! Excuse me!" Kaku landed lightly on the deck.Zoro lazily opened his eyes and glanced at him."What is it, is it Usopp?" He said, about to close his eyes and sleep again.Kaku looked around the deck, tapping here and stepping there, causing the old wooden planks to creak."Hmm, well maintained, but unfortunately the hull is too old." He commented, reaching out to stroke the mast, and looked up just in time to meet the eyes of Merry sitting on the crossbeam.Kaku's pupils constricted slightly, but he immediately returned to normal, nonchalantly waving at Merry.Merry also nodded in response.Suddenly, Zoro's blade cut through the air!"Hey! Who are you? Usopp's nose isn't square! And... I felt a moment of killing intent!"Kaku quickly drew his shipwright's file, blocking the strike with a "clang.""Wait a minute! What killing intent? I'm a shipwright from the Galley-La Company, here to inspect the ship!""Hmph! Don't try any tricks!" The fleeting killing intent from just a moment ago, and the fact that the opponent could easily block his casual strike, both indicated that this "shipwright" was by no means simple.On Luffy's side, Iceberg was wearing a simple plaid shirt, had purple hair, and possessed a capable and steady demeanor."Kalifa." Iceberg turned to his secretary—a blonde beauty wearing glasses and a standard secretary outfit.Kalifa pushed up her glasses and reported meticulously, "The investigation is complete. Monkey D. Luffy, Monkey D. Moxing, Roronoa Zoro, Nico Robin... all eight members of the Straw Hat Pirates are registered wanted criminals."The wanted posters of everyone were neatly arranged in the folder in her hand."And Merry!" Usopp emphasized."Oh? Is that so?" Iceberg said noncommittally, smiling gently. "Anyway, welcome to Water 7. I am the mayor here, Iceberg." He petted the white mouse in his shirt pocket. "It's called... that's right... Tyrannosaurus."He said to Kalifa, "Prepare a cage and food for it.""It has already been arranged.""As expected of you, Kalifa.""It's my duty." Kalifa adjusted her glasses and meticulously opened the schedule book in her hand. "Next is your work schedule for today: In the morning, there is a public speech in the central square regarding the city's water circulation system; at 12:00 PM, a lunch with representatives from the lumber merchant association of St. Poplar; at 2:00 PM, presiding over the monthly municipal meeting of Water 7; at 4:00 PM..."She fluently recited a series of packed schedules."No." Iceberg leaned back in his chair, interrupting her directly."Very well." Kalifa closed the schedule book without a change in expression, as if she were long accustomed to this answer.Usopp watched, dumbfounded. "Hey, hey, hey, is that allowed? They all sound like important matters!...""What a willful person!" Luffy commented."Are you any less willful?" Nami and Usopp retorted in unison."Is this the guy that old lady was talking about?" Luffy pointed at Iceberg and asked."Rude individual!" Kalifa's eyes turned cold, and her long, beautiful leg kicked toward Luffy like lightning.Nami quickly stepped forward, her clima-tactparrying all attacks with a few "clacks.""As a fellow woman, I suggest you control your temper." Nami looked straight at Kalifa, not backing down.Kalifa adjusted her glasses. "Treating the mayor with this kind of attitude is truly too rude!"Iceberg added calmly from the side, "I suggest you don't make Kalifa angry, because..." Before he could finish, Kalifa kicked Iceberg away with a side kick, "...she doesn't distinguish between friend and foe when she's angry.""Hahaha, he got beaten up so badly!" Luffy and Usopp laughed, pointing at Iceberg, whose face was half-swollen.Kalifa gave Nami a cold glance and ultimately chose to restrain herself."Anyway, you are Mr. Iceberg, right? Here is the letter of introduction." Nami presented the letter with both hands.Iceberg unfolded the letter. It only had the scrawled words "Help them check the ship," the rest was all graffiti, and there was a striking lipstick mark at the signature."Oh, it's a letter from Kokoro." Saying this, he casually tore the letter to shreds."Eh—huh?!" The three were shocked."Is it not okay? We can pay!" Nami quickly pulled over the suitcase full of Berries."Please! The going merry is falling apart!" Luffypleaded."Sure." Iceberg readily agreed."So it was okay!" Usopp retorted. "Then why did you tear up the letter?""That lipstick mark really annoyed me."Iceberg stood up. "Anyway, Kaku has already gone to check your ship. It happens to be a bit boring today, so let me take you on a tour of the shipyard!"Just then, a loud and arrogant voice exploded like thunder: "If you're bored, go die! Iceberg! I, the Super one, have already decided to take this job for the Straw Hat Pirates! Get out of my way!"
Chapter 147: The Straw Hat Crew Reunited"Franky, why aren't you staying in the Back Street? What are you doing here?"Iceburg's voice was a mixture of seven parts headache and three parts helplessness as he looked at this junior who always appeared in the most exaggerated way.Franky's signature outfit—a floral beach shirt, black briefs, and mechanical limbs—glistened in the sunlight."Obviously, I'm here to talk business with the super interesting Straw Hat crew!"Franky spread his mechanical arms, striking his signature star pose, his mechanical joints emitting a smooth whirring sound."Iceburg, you bastard, how could your antiquated designs ever be good enough for this crew! They need some super creativity!"Sunlight danced on his blue pompadour, and the eyes behind his orange sunglasses shimmered with excitement."It seems you must be the Straw Hat! How about it, my proposal is pretty good, right?"The reaction of the Straw Hat crew was surprisingly unanimous.Luffy, Nami, and Usopp widened their eyes simultaneously and spoke in unison:"Who is this pervert?""What a total pervert!""This is seriously perverted; he's only wearing briefs, and his hands are bigger than his feet!"Usopp suddenly froze as if struck by lightning, pointing a trembling finger at Franky:"Wait! Isn't this guy... exactly what Luffy drew for the future shipwright? No way, right?"Nami waved her hands repeatedly, looking incredulous:"No way, absolutely not. He's not five meters tall! And what Luffy drew was a robot that could breathe fire..."Hearing this, Franky actually started wiggling like a little girl, his mechanical joints emitting cheerful "click" sounds:"Ooh~! You're complimenting me the first time we meet, I'm going to be super shy!"He made a shy gesture with his massive body, the contrast giving everyone present goosebumps.Nami and Usopp immediately retorted in unison:"Who's complimenting you, you pervert!"Only Luffy stared at Franky, a bright smile blooming on his rubber face, before suddenly bursting into his signature laugh:"Hahaha, this guy is so interesting!"Nami rubbed her chin and stepped forward, eyeing Franky up and down:"Hey, pervert! Why do you want to help us repair the going merry? We've never met you before!"Usopp crossed his arms, also scrutinizing the pervert in front of them:"This guy doesn't look like a good person at all. Does he even have the shipwright skills with that getup? That's our going merry! No way am I handing it over to this pervert."Franky struck a flashy pose, "Long Nose, you can question my character, but please don't question my creativity!"Iceburg sighed, his tone complex:"Rest assured. He does have the skills, it's just that his ideas... are very strange."He recalled Franky's wild designs and couldn't help but rub his temples."Strange? How strange?" Usopp asked curiously.Iceburg looked meaningfully at Franky's exaggerated mechanical body:"How should I put it... swimming pools... weapons... aquariums... In short, you'll know just by looking at his body. He's a cyborg!"Luffy's eyes immediately lit up, his rubber neck stretching to reach in front of Franky:"What? A cyborg! Can you shoot lasers? Can you transform? Can you swim in the water?"As if responding to Luffy's expectations, Frankysuddenly made a move:"Strong Right!"His mechanical arm detached with a "click," flying straight toward Luffy's face with a whistling wind.Luffy easily tilted his head to dodge, his rubber neck stretching at an impossible angle."Wow, it really flew off! Just like my rubber fist! You're strong!"Franky retracted his arm, the mechanical parts reassembling precisely with a satisfying "click":"The 230 million beli Straw Hat, you're impressive indeed! I'll be straight with you, I admire you guys, and I have a lot of ideas I want to implement on your ship! I'll waive the labor fee, but you have to give me the money; I need to buy some super materials!"Nami immediately stood in front of the suitcases like a mother hen protecting her chicks:"How could we possibly give you money! Who knows what you want to install on my ship! And our Mark has already decided on the shipbuilding materials."Usopp also waved his hands repeatedly:"Exactly, what if you run off with the money? Who would we even complain to?"Amidst the objections, Luffy said firmly:"Give it to him!"Usopp tried to object again: "Hey! Luffy..."Luffy looked straight into Franky's eyes, his tone exceptionally serious:"That kind of look doesn't lie."At this moment, Franky's massive body paused slightly.He pushed up his orange sunglasses, and suddenly tears began to stream down like a waterfall, while he struck various bodybuilding poses through his crying:"Straw Hat... I super like you! Waaaah! I finally met someone who knows how to appreciate a super genius!"Just in this touching atmosphere, Usopp suddenly let out a scream:"Oh no! One suitcase is missing!"Everyone then realized that of the three suitcases containing money, only two remained."There!" Nami pointed toward a crane boom in the distance.A man wearing sunglasses and sporting a slicked-back hairstyle was using a rope to snag their suitcase, a triumphant smile on his face.When he noticed Nami's short skirt, he instantly turned beet red, stuttering indignantly:"Un... unashamed! Wearing so little! What kind of decency is this!"Kalifa arrived upon hearing the commotion:"Bari, what are you doing? This is truly a disgrace to my Galley-La Company."Seeing her low-cut secretary outfit, Bari turned even redder, frantically trying to cover his eyes:"Kalifa, you... you're the same! Too revealing! Unashamed!"It turned out that this shipwright, Bari, who was skilled in rope arts, had resorted to this desperate measure because of huge gambling debts.Iceburg rubbed his forehead, "Our employee has caused you trouble," Iceburg said, looking at the distant shipwrights."Lucci."Suddenly, a white figure flashed by like a ghost—Lucci appeared silently behind Bari and easily subdued him.His movements were clean and efficient. He grabbed Bari by the ear and brought him over.Lucci's mouth didn't move! It was the pigeon on his shoulder speaking."Sorry, this guy has caused you trouble!"Luffy and Usopp were instantly stunned, dumbfounded:"Ah, the pigeon talked!"The pigeon on Lucci's shoulder not only spoke but also made gestures:"Hurry up and apologize, Bari!"The subdued Bari apologized reluctantly, muttering under his breath:"At least give me a cut of the reward... I took a huge risk..."Before he could finish, Lucci tapped him on the head with a wooden mallet he was carrying, creating a bump.The pigeon continued:"This guy is drowning in debt, he loses his manners when he sees money."Although the money was recovered, Bari was furious and embarrassed. He suddenly wrapped a special rope around Lucci and performed a beautiful back throw.The rope seemed to have a life of its own in his hands, winding around Lucci's body like a spirit snake.However, everyone present gasped—as Lucci fell, he steadied himself on the ground with just one finger, the tip of which sank deep into the hard stone slab, leaving a clear fingerprint.Usopp: "What is going on with the shipwrights here? Are they all this strong?"Luffy watched Lucci's finger sink into the stone; the scene seemed familiar, but he couldn't recall it for a moment.Luffy immediately jumped in front of Bari:"Hey, Goggles, why did you attack him! Think about it carefully!"Just as everyone was confused, Luffy pointed at the pigeon and said:"The one who kept provoking you was that pigeon!"Bari stomped his feet in anger: "So what, the one who hit me was Lucci!"Luffy: "That's because the pigeon can't fight, so he made him do it!"Nami: Are you an idiot? That's obviously ventriloquism!After this incident, Luffy officially announced:"Franky, right? You're the one who will repair our going merry!"Nami and Usopp originally had doubts, but when Franky excitedly explained his modification plans, their attitudes did a complete one-eighty."Not only will I fix the damage, but I'm also going to add a super swimming pool for you guys! So you can enjoy sunbathing even at sea!""And I'll upgrade the weapon systems, guaranteed to let you sail through the Grand Line without fear!"Nami and Usopp's eyes instantly sparkled, and they said in unison:"That's good!"Luffy took the opportunity to propose:"And build a bronze statue of me! A super big one!"As a result, he was rejected by Nami and Usopp in unison:"No way! Don't even think about it!"Meanwhile, Mark and Sanji, who had been tailing Robin in the commercial district for a long time, finally gave up and decided to approach for a "chance encounter.""What a coincidence, Robin," Sanji appeared while spinning in circles, holding a bouquet of roses that had appeared out of nowhere.Mark was much more direct, still chewing on roasted meat:"Done shopping? We've almost walked through the entire commercial district."Robin smiled slightly, having long since sensed their intentions, and said tacitly:"Perfect, I was planning on heading back anyway."At Chopper's suggestion, the three decided to return to the going merry first.The sunset began to sink, dyeing Water 7 in a golden hue.Luffy and his crew bid farewell to Iceburg and invited Franky to go to the going merry to discuss the specifics with Vice Captain Mark.Franky excitedly gathered his henchmen, and the group set off in a grand procession.As the last ray of sunlight spilled onto the deck of the going merry, all the partners finally gathered there from different directions—Luffy returned with his new friend Franky, Mark's group returned from the commercial district, and Zoro and Merry had been waiting on the ship all along.
Chapter 148: A Ship with No Way BackInside the lounge of the going merry, the atmosphere was warm and lively.Usopp proudly pushed the suitcase filled with Berries in front of Mark, his long nose held high:"Look! This is the bounty of the great Captain Usopptoday! We are rich now! We must equip the going merry with ten cannons!"Luffy, sprawled on the deck, also turned his face, waiting eagerly for the Vice Captain's praise.However, Mark's response left both of them deeply disappointed:"Take it away. I have no interest in money.""Mark the blockhead." Nami immediately pulled all three suitcases to her side and hugged them happily,"Berries, my Berries! If this is a dream, let me stay in it forever and never wake up..."Usopp crossed his arms and gave an accurate assessment of Mark's behavior:"Cold-faced!"Luffy followed suit, picking his nose while saying: "Convenient person!"Usopp quickly corrected him: "Hey, Luffy, 'convenient person' isn't an insult!""Oh, long-hair, convenient person!"Luffy lay sprawled on the deck, starving, his tongue lolling out."Sanji, isn't the food ready yet? I'm going to starve to death!""Shut up! The chicken legs need to marinate for a while to soak up the flavor. Wait patiently!"Sanji's voice came from the kitchen.Mark looked around, confirming that all his companions were safe and sound, then scanned his gaze back and forth between Franky and Luffy:"How did you two end up together... did you fight?"Luffy shook his head."Did you get beaten up?"Luffy continued to shake his head."Oh...! Can't we just super become good friends?"Franky extended his mechanical fist, and Luffyimmediately extended his rubber fist in response with tacit understanding.The moment the two fists collided, they shouted in unison:"Super!"Mark covered his forehead: "How long have you had this condition?"Chopper immediately jumped off the sofa, took his stethoscope, and pressed it against Luffy's chest:"Huh? Luffy, are you sick? Let me see! Is this some kind of new virus?""Perverted chuunibyou." Mark said helplessly."Ah, I've never heard of this disease! Tell me the symptoms and the treatment method, Mark!"Chopper leaned in with a serious face, his little hooves already pulling out a notebook to take notes."Hiss..."Mark took a deep breath, calmed his urge to hit someone, and turned to Zoro:"Has there been any unusual activity on the going merry today?""Hey! Buddy, shouldn't we discuss the ship modification first?"Franky couldn't sit still.He had sent his subordinates back, intending to finalize the modification plan once the Vice Captainreturned and start work the next day.Instead, he was dragged around by Luffy for a tour and then kept for dinner, and now the Vice Captainseemed indifferent."My time is super precious!""Study this first." Mark tossed a piece of special metal, "moon god steel," which gleamed with a moon-white luster, to Franky.Franky took the metal and examined it carefully: "Oh? What material is this? The density and hardness are super special!""This is definitely a perfect material!"Mark ignored Franky, who was lost in his research enthusiasm, and continued to press Zoro for information.It wasn't that he didn't care about the going merry's modification, but he was more worried about the World Government acting in the shadows.The calmer it was, the more unsettling it felt.Zoro rubbed his chin in thought for a moment before recounting:"First, Franky came to say he wanted to modify our ship.Then... later, a space ability user came to spy; he looked like a minotaur.""What minotaur? Where?"Luffy sprang up and looked around, his rubber neck stretching long, "Does it look like a cow? Can we eat it?""Space minotaur..."Mark was lost in thought, having already guessed who it was.As expected, the other party wouldn't just sit idly by."What else?""Finally, an employee from the Galley-La Companycame to check the ship. He had a square, long nose; I almost thought it was Usopp.""Oh~ that is... right, his name is Kaku!" Usopp's expression changed immediately."And I am the real Usopp! What kind of perception do you guys have...!"Zoro laughed it off, "Sorry, sorry.""But he suddenly erupted with a moment of malice; that was when I was jolted awake.That feeling... it was as if the guy had killed many people.""Malice? What was he doing at the time?""It seemed like he was looking at the mast..." Zoroseemed to realize something,"No, he saw Merry!"Zoro's voice rose suddenly, and his hand gripping his sword tightened involuntarily.Mark became tense immediately: "Was Merry on the mast at the time?"Merry, lying on Ink Meteor's back, raised her head to explain: "Mhm, I was on the mast, and I even greeted him.Afterward, he went to check the keel under the deck and then left.He seemed like a good person..."Robin closed her book and analyzed calmly: "Wings.He must have seen Merry's wings.""What? Should we go silence him?"Zoro's hand pressed against his hilt, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes.Usopp quickly dissuaded him: "Hey, Zoro, don't talk about silencing people at every turn!He's just a regular shipwright.Maybe we're overthinking it?""Regular employee?"Mark sneered, "A regular employee wouldn't recognize Merry's racial traits.I suspect he's an agent,CP9.""Clatter" — the book in Robin's hand fell to the floor, and her face turned pale instantly.For her, the name CP9 meant the deepest fear."What's wrong, Robin?" Nami asked with concern, gently holding her cold hand."I'm... I'm fine." Robin tried to remain calm, but her terrified eyes betrayed her."It's okay, Robin, don't be afraid. We're here for you!"Mark looked around at his companions,"Besides, we have no way back.Robin, you actually knew that Sanji and I were following you, right?""Following? Why?"Luffy looked at Mark in confusion, and the other companions also showed puzzled expressions.Chopper looked at everyone with worry, not knowing what had happened.Mark sighed and explained patiently:"Aokiji letting us go doesn't mean he will keep our secret.Following the log pose's instructions, we are bound to appear at Water 7.The World Government will never let this opportunity go.They will definitely send someone to contact Robin, or... take more extreme measures."Nami covered her mouth, saying in horror: "Then, their target is... Robin?""Not anymore."Mark said in a deep voice, his gaze softening as he looked at Merry, who was playing with Ink Meteor, "Merry is also their target now.I don't need to tell you what a living lunarian racemeans to them."Nami added: "Come to think of it, that Bari who stole our money is also very suspicious!Could he have been creating chaos on purpose?"Usopp nodded: "That's right, the guy who keeps pigeons is better; not only did he help us get our money back, but he also taught Bari a lesson.Thinking about it, his strength is terrifying; his fingers could even pierce through stone slabs!"Luffy clapped his hands suddenly: "I remember!Didn't Grandpa teach you this, Mark?You even performed it for me back then!"He said nonchalantly, "Big deal, just piercing a stone slab, it's nothing special.""That's a special technique that only Marine officers above the rank of Captain can perform—Shigan."Mark's words made everyone gasp,"And being able to pierce a stone slab with a single finger so easily shows that his Shigan mastery is extremely deep."Usopp said in shock: "That means that pigeon guy is also a Marine?...No... he's Kaku's partner.""Hey, hey, hey! You guys really don't treat me like an outsider!Is this something I should be hearing?"Franky suddenly stood up, his mechanical arms clanking,"I just wanted to fix a ship, you guys aren't going to silence me, are you!And I'm super curious about that pigeon guy!"Mark threw a doodle directly at Franky—it was Luffy's five-meter shipwright dream:"You've not only been targeted by the future Pirate King, but you've also boarded a pirate ship.Still don't get it?That guy Luffy doesn't just want your technology for free, he wants to take you away too!""Hehe!" Luffy laughed happily. Having a Vice Captain who understood his intentions was really convenient."Franky, come be our companion!""I don't want to!" Franky turned his mouth to the side!Sanji walked in carrying the food, the cigarette in his mouth bobbing as he spoke:"Give it up. No one targeted by Luffy has ever escaped!Everyone sitting here is proof of that.Also, dinner is served!I made a super fried chicken set meal today!""Great!"Luffy launched himself to grab a chicken leg, but Sanji kicked him away:"Go wash your hands, idiot!""Yes!" Luffy obediently held his hands out in front of Mark.Mark waved his hand casually, a blue aura flashed over Luffy's hands, and all the dirt vanished instantly.Mark looked at the bewildered Franky: "Time to eat, Franky.First lesson today: if you aren't proactive about eating on this ship, your portion will be happily accepted by Luffy in no time."Franky protested: "Hey, Straw Hat!I finally built up the mental fortitude to let you sail the ship I built to the end of the world.But I didn't agree to join your ship! I have dozens of subordinates to support!They're all counting on me!"No one paid attention to Franky. As long as Luffydidn't call him by a nickname, it meant he had already decided on him. No one could change that."Let's drink cola today!" Mark took a crate of cola from his space—this was a tribute received from the subordinates back at Long Ring Long Land.Zoro held his bottle of liquor with dissatisfaction: "Why? Isn't drinking alcohol better?""Fried chicken legs must be paired with cola." Markexplained, handing a bottle to everyone."What? Cola! Give me a whole crate!"As soon as Franky heard 'cola,' he immediately threw the previous matter to the back of his mind.He opened the storage compartment in his abdomen directly, and in the surprised gazes of everyone, replaced the three empty cola bottles with new ones.This scene shocked everyone.Luffy even forgot to eat his chicken leg, his rubber chin almost hitting the floor: "So cool! It can actually open? So interesting! What else is inside?"Usopp gulped down a large mouthful of cola and let out a loud burp: "As expected, fried chicken legs go best with cola!Truly a cyborg!But isn't it better to just drink it directly?Why do you have to store it in your stomach?""I'm super in the zone today!"Franky's pompadour stood up in excitement.Nami gave Franky a look of disgust:"Really, making such a racket while eating.Can you boys be any quieter?"Luffy raised his cola, standing on his chair: "For our new member, the shipwright Franky, cheers!""Cheers!" Everyone raised their glasses.Franky also shouted: "Oh! Even though I didn't agree, cheers anyway! To a super meeting!"After dinner, Mark found Robin on the second-floor balcony, looking out at the sea alone.The sea surface in the night shimmered, and the lights of Water 7 in the distance were like stars."I really want days as stable and peaceful as this to last forever." Robin said softly, her voice carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling."I understand you, Robin." Mark stood beside her, stroking the big head of Ink Meteor on his shoulder,"If my identity is exposed, I don't know how big a storm it will stir up, or how much trouble it will bring to our companions.But..."Mark's gaze became firm,"I will never compromise, never accept fate, and never hand the power of decision to others.From the moment Merry, you, and I boarded the ship, we have had no way back, Robin."Of course, there was also Sanji; Mark did not mention the young master of the Vinsmoke family.In short, no one on this ship could stay out of it.Robin was silent for a long time, and finally said softly: "You're right.After running away for so many years, perhaps... a miracle will happen!""Who's to say? We have the child of miracles in our crew, haha." Mark turned and walked toward the workshop.Meanwhile, in the workshop, Franky, Usopp, and Nami had been discussing for a long time.Franky looked at the modification plan in shock, his mechanical fingers gesturing over it: "This... how is this possible?Replacing the keel is simple, but changing the material on the existing foundation is just too super!""My fruit ability can do it." Mark said as he pushed the door open, "But it requires the keel of the going merry to be completely..."The four of them discussed enthusiastically how to design their future home...Meanwhile, in a corner of a dimly lit bar in Water 7, several figures were speaking secretly.The radio on the bar counter played soft jazz, covering the sound of their conversation.Lucci swirled the glass in his hand, the ice cubes making a crisp clinking sound: "Is what you said true?"Kaku nodded seriously: "Although it was just a glance, I did indeed see a pair of black wings through the hood.It is definitely the characteristic of the lunarian race.""This is a good opportunity." Kalifa sipped her red wine, her eyes behind her lenses flashing with shrewd light,"Don't report it yet.Once we over-fulfill this mission and round them all up, we might be promoted directly to core members."Blueno wiped the glass silently, his low voice joining the discussion:"That swordsman is not to be underestimated.When I used my door-door fruit ability to scout, I was discovered by him."Lucci downed his drink and stood up, the pigeon Hattori flying back to his shoulder obediently: "It seems we need to act ahead of schedule.Let's make a detailed plan tonight and start closely monitoring every move of the Straw Hat crew tomorrow."The night deepened, and the laughter on the going merry could not hide the crisis surging in the shadows.Franky was shouting at the design drawings in the workshop, Luffy was chasing Chopper on the deck, Sanji was preparing dessert for the ladies, and Zorohad already started his evening workout in a corner.A seemingly ordinary night, yet unknown to them, a crisis was quietly approaching.Mark stood at the bow, looking at the lights of the city in the distance, his brow slightly furrowed.He could feel an invisible net slowly tightening."Come on! World."
Chapter 149: The Tsunami and Iceburg's LetterThe lights in the going merry's workshop did not go out all night.Mark and Franky hunched over a workbench covered in blueprints, repeatedly deliberating on every detail of the ship's modification.When the first ray of morning light filtered through the porthole, the plan was finally finalized.However, they did not know that during this sleepless night, the CP9 members inside Blueno's bar had displayed completely different efficiency."The operation plan is confirmed."Lucci's voice sounded exceptionally cold and stern in the dim light, "You must create the illusion of an accident scene."Kalifa pushed up her glasses: "The target's daily schedule has been figured out; 3:00 AM is the best time."By the time the first light of dawn appeared, this nocturnal operation had already been completed."What? Mr. Iceburg has been attacked?"Early in the morning, Luffy's eyes widened, and the bread in his mouth nearly sprayed out. He had been playing on the deck with Chopper, and he jumped up in shock at the news.Sanji walked quickly into the kitchen holding a shopping bag full of ingredients, his expression grave: "The news has spread throughout the city. When I went to the market this morning, every stall was discussing this matter."Nami, who pushed open the door and stepped out, had dark circles under her eyes and asked anxiously: "Is Mr. Iceburg okay? Is he hurt badly?""It is said that he only suffered an injury to his shoulder; the attacker wore a mask and used a firearm." Sanji answered while skillfully organizing the ingredients, "The detailed situation should be published in today's newspaper. Miss Nami, if you need, I would be very happy to accompany you...""Now is not the time to talk about that!" Namiinterrupted him, her brows furrowed, "Something happening at this time is too suspicious."In the corner, Franky unconsciously clenched his mechanical fist, but relaxed it upon hearing their conversation. He snorted coldly: "That guy has a really tough life."Mark took in this scene. He knew the relationship between Franky and Iceburg—the deep bond hidden beneath those deliberate arguments, yet it was never pointed out."The design plan is basically confirmed." Frankysuddenly said seriously, pulling the topic back to business, "But I have a presumptuous request. If the attack was really carried out by the government, and Lucci and the others are agents, that guy Iceburg definitely wouldn't know, so...""Do you need to send a message? Or send someone to protect him?" Mark asked straightforwardly."I cannot go to see him now even more." Frankyshook his head, "I hope you can warn him to be careful of the shipwrights around him. Especially that guy who is always following a pigeon.""Clang—" Usopp pushed the door open in a panic: "Mark, Kaku is here! He is right outside the ship!""He came just in time." Mark stood up and straightened his collar, "I will go and meet him."On the deck, Kaku had just stood steady on the gunwale and hadn't had time to look around when Mark's fingertip was already pressed against his square nose. This move was silent, causing Kaku's pupils to constrict slightly."What is your business, Mr. Rectangular Nose?" Mark's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable sense of oppression."Ah! It's that guy who can fly!" Luffy poked his head out from the lounge, his rubber neck stretched out long.Inside the lounge, Zoro's hand was already pressed on the hilt of his sword, his eyes showing a fierce look. Robin gently pulled his sleeve and shook her head."You must be the Straw Hat Crew's Vice CaptainMark, right? You are really much cuter than on the bounty poster." Kaku flattered him with his mouth, but his gaze kept scanning the surroundings, as if confirming something."State your purpose directly." Mark remained unmoved, his fingertip still steadily resting in front of the other's nose."Look at my memory!" Kaku slapped his forehead and revealed an honest smile, "This is a letter that Mr. Iceburg entrusted me to deliver to you personally."He took out a letter sealed with red wax, and the company logo of the Galley-La Company was printed on the wax."By the way, let me kindly remind you that the 'Gods of Water' are coming tonight." Kaku stood up and pretended to admire the going merry, "It's really a good ship. It's a pity that the position you are docked at now will definitely be completely submerged by then; you had better prepare early."After saying this, he did a neat backflip and landed steadily, disappearing onto the lawn in the blink of an eye; the speed was astonishing."A letter?" Everyone gathered around, curiously staring at the envelope in Mark's hand.Mark first used his ability to form an invisible blue light film to wrap the envelope, and only after carefully checking it did he break the wax seal.Inside was a piece of high-quality white paper with only a concise line of handwriting on it: "Please allow me to meet with Nico Robin. —Iceburg""Hey! This is obviously a trap!" Usopp shouted, "How can there be such a coincidence? Just attacked and now wants to meet?""No, not necessarily." Franky took the letter and scrutinized it carefully, "This is indeed his own handwriting. And... he really has a reason why he must see Robin."Nami hugged her arms worriedly: "A big tsunami is coming tonight; at this time, we shouldn't create extra complications.""I agree with Nami's opinion, but the final decision lies with the person involved." Zoro said, hugging his arms, but his gaze remained fixed on the direction Kaku had left.Robin looked directly at Franky: "May I ask what is the reason that I must meet him?"Franky hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice: "ancient weapon.""What?" Robin's pupils contracted sharply."That thing that Crocodile was desperately searching for?" Usopp exclaimed, "How could it be involved in this?""The power that can destroy the world in legends, the clue is actually with Iceburg?" Sanji also felt shocked, even his action of lighting a cigarette paused."You can read the poneglyph, right, Nico Robin?" Franky asked seriously."Of course, Robin is amazing!" Luffy answered eagerly, looking proud."Then that is correct." Franky nodded affirmatively, "Iceburg indeed has a reason why he must see you. This concerns a very important thing."Everyone's eyes were focused on Robin, waiting for her decision.Robin was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath: "If it involves the truth of history, I will not evade it. I will go.""Sigh! Alright, the time agreed upon in the letter is 10:00 PM." Mark looked around at everyone, "But we cannot act alone; we must ensure Robin's absolute safety, and by the way, complete Franky's entrustment to protect Mr. Iceburg.""Leave Miss Robin to me to protect!" Sanjiimmediately declared with boiling blood."I want to go too!" Luffy raised his hand high."I suggest letting Luffy and Zoro accompany Robinto go." Mark said after thinking, stating his arrangement, "Sanji, you have another task.""Mark! Are you questioning my strength?" Sanji said, holding his cigarette in his mouth, dissatisfied."I agree with this arrangement, and I also want to go." Nami added, her expression serious, "That female secretary of Iceburg, although she only acted once, I can feel the aura of a Marine on her. Her kicking technique is very unusual; it is definitely not the skill a normal secretary should have.""That's right, the lecherous cook who can't walk when he sees a woman should just stay home and watch the house." Zoro took the opportunity to mock."What did you say, Marimo! Do you want to fight?""Stop arguing!" Nami stopped the conflict that was about to break out in time, "The situation is urgent now; we must plan well."Mark took over the conversation: "The going merrycan be put into my space, but we are not familiar with the tsunami; we need Franky's advice.""You asked the right person for this!" Franky patted his chest, his mechanical palm making a clanging sound, "I have witnessed the power of the Gods of Water more than once. As long as the ship can be put away, people just need to take refuge in a high place. However, I must go to the auction today; the Treasure Tree Adam appeared on the auction list, and that is a necessary material for the modification.""Sanji and Usopp will go to the auction with you." Mark decided immediately, "Ensure that you get the material.""Super! I just happen to need help!" Franky excitedly struck his classic pose.The final division of labor was determined after intense discussion: Mark, Merry, and Chopper were responsible for securing the going merry and finding a safe shelter; Luffy, Nami, Robin, and Zoro were to go and meet with Iceburg, while also delivering the warning; Usopp, Sanji, and Franky were to attend the auction to bid on the Treasure Tree Adam.Just as everyone was splitting up to prepare, a sea train was whistling towards Water 7, the sound of the wheels hitting the tracks echoing on the sea."Grandma Kokoro, I see Water 7!" Chimney, with her little head and ram-horn braids, poked out of the train window, pointing excitedly at the gradually clearing city outline in the distance."Oh ho ho, it's been a long time since I've been back." Grandma Kokoro took a big gulp of alcohol, squinting her eyes as she looked into the distance, "I wonder if Iceburg and that brat have missed this old lady."The sea breeze grew stronger, and dark clouds gathered on the horizon. The shadow of the Gods of Water was quietly approaching this city of water.