Bab 73: Filling in Destiny
While marveling at the incredible sight of the sea train during their journey, the Straw Hat Pirates arrived at Water 7, the city of water. They docked their ship at a cape as advised by the residents.
Feeling that the Going Merry was in worse condition than they had imagined, they discussed where to find the shipyard and how to locate a shipwright for consultation.
"For now, let's split into two groups: one to search for the shipyard and another to find a place to exchange gold..."
As Nami discussed their plan, suddenly loud music began playing at the cape.
"What's this music?"
"Hey, you guys, pirates? Ah!"
Riding the rhythm of the music, a blue-haired man in swim trunks and an aloha shirt appeared, accompanied by two women.
"It's purely coincidental that we met here. But if you're thinking of plundering this island, then you'll have to deal with the super man of this island! That's right, I'm none other than... Suupaa... Franky!!"
"What's with this weirdo..."
Observing Franky's entrance, Luffy muttered in disbelief, and the rest of the crew wore astonished expressions. Ignoring their stares, Franky pushed up his sunglasses with a finger and began speaking.
"Hey, you guys, I'm not out here to beat you up just because you're pirates. I just want to know what your purpose is."
"I'm the head of the dismantler Franky Family and a bounty hunter, ya know!"
"In a way, you could say I'm the underworld of this island!"
Franky's words were echoed by Mozu and Kiwi. Upon hearing the term "bounty hunter," Zoro and Sanji's expressions sharpened, and they shifted into combat readiness at a moment's notice.
"Hey, Luffy. This guy seems sketchy."
Sensing Franky's unusual aura, Usopp commented nervously. Luffy, however, gazed quietly at Franky.
"...So, what did you come here for?"
"Ship repairs."
"I see. Then it's not a problem."
"Is that really okay!?"
Luffy's quick response seemed to ease the tension, prompting the crew members to question him. Unfazed, Franky continued to observe the Going Merry.
"...Hmm, it's quite a remarkable ship. It carries the bearing of having weathered numerous voyages. However, the repairs seem inadequate. It's clearly the work of an amateur."
"Hey, are you a shipwright or something?"
"Ah, well, I'm actually a dismantler... But I do have some knowledge about shipbuilding."
"I see. Then do you know where the shipyard is? We want to get the ship repaired."
"When you talk about a shipyard on this island, you mean Galley-La Company... But for this ship's repairs... Hmm, something about the balance of the hull... It's possible that... Hey, have you ever had the hull submerged?"
"Huh? Yeah, a few times..."
"I thought so..."
At Sanji's response to Franky's question, Franky seemed lost in thought for a moment before suddenly diving into the sea.
Concerned, the crew watched as he emerged from the water, adjusting his hair, and then shook his head.
"No good. It's a shame, but this ship can't be repaired anymore."
"What!? What are you suddenly... Saying that the Merry can't be repaired? Don't we have enough money..."
"It's not about the money... It's not that... The problem is... Can anyone who can swim dive into the water and check the ship's hull from front to back? There are keel timbers that run through the entire length of the hull, from bow to stern. They're crucial structural elements. Unfortunately, they've suffered severe damage."
"Did you guys check that? The keel timber, I mean."
"Yeah, we did... We've seen it a few times..."
"I thought so..."
Franky's words left the crew in shock. His expression conveyed sincerity, and they could feel that he was telling the truth.
Of course, they couldn't simply accept this news. Luffy confronted Franky, asking if it was possible to rebuild the same ship.
"...Rebuild? Even if it looks the same, it won't be the same ship. It's a different ship altogether. You'd be the ones hurting from it. After all, for you guys, this ship isn't just a ship; it's a friend, isn't it?"
The heavy silence hung in the air as Luffy clenched his fist, shouting out his conviction.
"...Can you believe it?! Just today... We had a comfortable... You... You don't know how sturdy the Going Merry is..."
"Yeah, that's right! You're a dismantler, aren't you? So you're just saying that on purpose, right?"
"Hey, you guys..."
Seeing Luffy and Usopp's emotional reactions, Nami tried to intervene, but Franky silenced her with a gesture.
"No, it's fine. I get it. I understand that you can't accept this, and I can see how much you value this ship. You can tell by how you talk about it. Sure, it's hard to suddenly hear from a dismantler like me that your ship is past its prime and beyond repair. I know you won't easily accept that."
Franky smiled warmly, patting Usopp's shoulder, and then stood up. He struck a dramatic pose in front of Luffy and the others.
"Meeting you here must be fate. Count on this Franky to help you out in various ways! You guys are new to Water 7, right? Walking around with gloomy faces won't lead to any good results, and I'll guide you through the town on your way to Galley-La!"
"This town's like Aniki's backyard, you know!"
***
At the Tower of Justice in Enies Lobby, I sat sipping coffee while reading a report. The information, obtained from Tama who excelled in information warfare, detailed the activities of pirates near Water 7.
"...Pirate alliance, huh."
According to the report, three pirate crews with bounties exceeding a billion have formed an alliance, an unusual sight in the first half of the Grand Line, and they're said to be near this area.
Among them, the highest-bounty pirate stands at 240 million, an extraordinary sum for this vicinity. Moreover, this pirate is a former Rear Admiral of the Marines, known for wearing a blood-stained coat and conducting pirate activities. They're referred to as "Blood-Soaked Marines" or "Red Maroons."
It seems that the pirate alliance's goal is the revival of ancient weapons. Understanding that they can't compete in strength against the Yonko, they're likely aiming to become Pirate King using the ancient weapons.
However, that makes sense... A former Rear Admiral could be skilled in the Rokushiki techniques, and this opponent would be tough for the current state of Luffy.
The other two pirate crews are also led by captains with bounties exceeding a billion. Although it's speculative, Zoro and Sanji might end up facing them in battle.
Considering that the pirate alliance's aim is the revival of ancient weapons, it would lead to a battle revolving around Robin. Furthermore, Water 7 has Franky and Iceburg who know about Robin's past, information I've shared.
In other words, this could be seen as an element filling the role of "destiny's compensation," akin to CP9 in the original story.
I see... Honestly, I'm a little relieved. I want Luffy and the others to find the One Piece. Even if not, for me, who wants to learn more about what the One Piece is, it was a bit concerning.
If Franky doesn't join as a crew member in Water 7 and if they don't obtain the Thousand Sunny, I was a bit worried that they might reach a deadlock. But with this, without me intervening, it seems like Franky's joining and obtaining the Thousand Sunny will go smoothly.
However, well, it's natural since it was like this in the original story... Aqua Laguna is approaching, and it lines up perfectly with my timing to deal with Tom's request.
...For now, when dealing with Aqua Laguna, I'll need to be even more cautious around my surroundings... If I inadvertently involve others, considering that I can alter fate, there's even the possibility that Luffy and the others could get caught up and die.
If that happens, I'd have no choice but to search for the One Piece myself. Given that it's not a high priority for me right now, knowing the true nature of the One Piece will have to wait quite a bit.
For now, it's probably best to keep an eye on the pirate alliance's movements... But, well, then again...
"...Pochi."
"Yes?"
"How about we go eat some meat at Mizu Mizu Restaurant after a long time..."
***
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