"Gh-Ghosts?! That's terrifying!"
Chopper let out a shrill scream and hid tightly behind Usopp.
"Do you think we'll meet a living skeleton?"
Luffy's eyes lit up instantly, and he waved his arms excitedly as his imagination ran wild.
Sitting nearby, Ronan slowly rubbed the shaft of his spear as he watched Luffy's enthusiastic reaction.
"As expected of Luffy."
He sighed inwardly.
"His instincts are so absurdly accurate that he's accidentally guessed the truth."
"Brook… that lonely musician who has wandered in the fog for decades… really is waiting for us there."
"No way! Absolutely not!"
Nami clutched her head and shook it frantically.
"I do not want to run into something like that!"
"That sea must be the site of some supernatural catastrophe!"
Kokoro suddenly produced a lit candle from somewhere.
The tiny flame flickered violently in the morning breeze.
She leaned in close, the pale candlelight illuminating her wrinkled face and eerie grin, making her look uncannily like a sea witch from an ancient legend.
"Those who encounter such things…"
Her voice dropped to a hoarse whisper, echoing through the spacious dockyard.
"Never find their way back."
"It is a dead sea wrapped in eternal fog. Once you lose your way, even your soul may never return home."
She narrowed her eyes.
"So be careful, children."
The deliberately crafted horror atmosphere was so effective that Usopp and Chopper immediately hugged each other in terror.
Both of them trembled like they'd been thrown into the arctic, their teeth chattering uncontrollably.
"In short, it's a cursed sea with countless disasters."
Kokoro blew out the candle.
A thin trail of smoke rose and twisted mysteriously through the air.
"Make sure you're fully prepared before setting sail."
Robin, who had maintained her graceful composure the entire time, suddenly spoke up with a faintly amused smile.
"I've heard that many of the ghost ships there are filled with forgotten treasures."
"Real treasure ships."
The effect was instantaneous.
All fear vanished from Nami's face.
"Ghost ships!"
She clenched her fists, her eyes blazing.
"We're going treasure hunting! Set sail immediately!"
"Leave it to me!"
Luffy shouted just as loudly.
"Skeleton treasure!"
As everyone erupted into noisy excitement, Zoro quietly remarked:
"Treasure ships, huh?"
He rested a hand on the hilts at his waist.
"I wonder if any of them might contain a Great Grade Sword."
Ronan walked over with his spear in hand and glanced at him with a teasing smile.
"What's wrong, Zoro?"
"Have your ambitions outgrown the three swords you already carry?"
Zoro's palm gently brushed across the scabbards at his side.
"Heh. Just a passing thought."
He looked down at his blades.
"I'm satisfied with these three."
"I have no intention of replacing them."
His gaze sharpened.
Black Armament Haki slowly wrapped around his fingertips, resonating with the thunderous internal energy within him and producing a low humming vibration.
"Even if Yubashiri and Sandai Kitetsu aren't among the highest-ranked blades…"
He grinned.
"I'll temper them day and night with my Haki and inner power."
"I'll forge them through battle until they evolve into swords that rival even the Supreme Grade."
"The rank of a sword is fixed."
He lifted his head.
"But the man wielding it is not."
"Excellent ambition."
Ronan nodded approvingly.
"Though Yubashiri and Sandai Kitetsu are not Great Grade blades, you're absolutely right."
"The final quality of a sword depends on the will of its owner."
He smiled.
"Zoro, I can already see them becoming black blades in your hands—blades capable of splitting the heavens."
"Of course."
Zoro affectionately stroked the scabbards, his fingers eventually coming to rest on Yubashiri.
This was the trust he had received in Loguetown.
"Even this sword carries the dreams of that shopkeeper."
His expression turned solemn.
"I promised him."
"I'll never allow this blade to be disgraced in my hands."
At that moment, hurried footsteps thundered from the entrance.
"Straw Hat guys! Big Bro Straw Hat!"
The doors burst open, sending sawdust and dust into the air.
Chimney, along with the square-haired sisters Kiwi and Mozu, rushed inside, panting heavily.
"What's wrong?"
Luffy pressed down on his straw hat, but his eyes had already begun to sparkle with excitement.
"Franky Big Bro…"
Kiwi wiped sweat from her forehead, barely containing her enthusiasm.
"He told us to notify everyone!"
"The upgraded Going Merry is finally complete!"
"Really?!"
Luffy exploded with joy.
"That was fast!"
Mozu puffed out her chest proudly.
"It was designed overnight by five top-class shipwrights working together!"
Ronan exchanged a glance with Zoro.
Both saw the same anticipation in the other's eyes.
Five world-class shipwrights.
One billion berries' worth of Treasure Tree Adam.
What kind of monstrous vessel had the Merry evolved into?
Just as everyone prepared to head for the scrap yard, another series of rough voices rang out from outside.
"Big Bro Straw Hat! Is Big Bro Straw Hat here?!"
The newcomers were Zambai and the rest of the Franky Family.
Unlike their usual boisterous selves, their faces were grave, even desperate.
Zambai stepped up to Luffy—
And dropped to both knees with a heavy thud.
"Actually…"
His voice trembled.
"We have a favor to ask."
Luffy immediately put away his grin and looked at him seriously.
With shaking hands, Zambai pulled a crumpled wanted poster from his coat and spread it across the floor.
Cyborg Franky
Bounty: 44,000,000 Berries
"Big Bro's wanted poster has arrived."
Zambai lowered his head, speaking rapidly.
"He may be the boss of the underground here…"
"But he can't escape the eyes of the World Government forever."
"What happened at Enies Lobby was too big."
"If Big Bro stays in Water 7, his life will be in constant danger."
"And if the Navy Headquarters ever captures him…"
His fists clenched.
"With our strength, we'll never be able to save him."
Luffy stared at the wanted poster and thoughtfully rubbed his chin.
"But didn't Franky already agree to become our shipwright?"
Ronan planted his spear on the ground and analyzed calmly.
"He did."
"But at the time, his decision was driven by the chance to build his dream ship."
He looked toward the shipyard.
"Now that the ship is complete, Franky may choose to stay behind."
"To take care of the family he built here."
"Exactly!"
Zambai suddenly raised his head, his eyes red.
"Big Bro will definitely worry about us."
"That's why he might decide not to leave the island."
He bowed deeply.
"So please, Big Bro Straw Hat…"
"Even if you have to force him."
"Even if you have to knock him out and drag him aboard…"
His voice cracked with emotion.
"Please take our boss to sea!"
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