Chương 235: Chapter 235: Iceburg's Bodyguard × Franky's Resolve
"Dimensional trade!?"
Iceburg was momentarily stunned by Leo's proposal.
For a moment, he couldn't believe that the dimensional merchant, sought after by the entire world, had entered his office so quietly.
But once he recovered, a look of eagerness flashed across his face.
Although Iceburg had no desire to fight or seek power, the idea of having a Pokémon bodyguard to protect him personally was highly appealing.
And as luck would have it...
He had plenty of wealth!
Though the City of Water 7 wasn't a country, but merely a city, it served as a crucial hub connecting the World Government and the underground world—a vital shipping center in the first half of the Grand Line. Its annual revenue ran into tens of billions!
Since it wasn't classified as a nation, it didn't have to pay the Heavenly Tribute.
And with its proximity to the World Government's judicial body, pirates rarely dared to cause trouble.
In short, Water 7 lacked for nothing—except perhaps the need for more protection.
After regaining his composure, Iceburg answered earnestly:
"It would be the greatest honor of my life to conduct a dimensional trade with you, Sir Leo!"
Leo chuckled, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes.
"Choosing Water 7 to trade was clearly the right decision," he murmured with a satisfied smile. Raising his right hand, he snapped his fingers sharply.
"Now then, Mr. Iceburg, please redeem your points!"
Swish—
As Leo's words echoed in Iceburg's mind, the rules and knowledge regarding dimensional trades flooded his consciousness. Along with it came the transaction interface, showing all the options he could access.
"Amazing!"
After a moment of silent awe, Iceburg focused his mind on the trading interface, carefully reviewing his options.
Although he had a vast fortune, much of his wealth was tied to company resources, so he couldn't afford to be reckless.
Ten minutes later, he had identified all his available surplus assets.
When he opened his eyes again, a sleek, dark-gray Rotom mobile device materialized in front of him, displaying his current status:
[Iceburg]
[VIP Level: 5]
[VIP Experience: 60,000/100,000]
[Current Points: 60,000]
"60,000 points?"
Iceburg nodded in satisfaction as he looked at the information displayed.
At the same time, a wealth of information about available trading items surged into his thoughts.
Beside him, Leo grinned and said, "Congratulations, Mr. Iceburg, on reaching VIP Level 5 in the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce. Please take care of your exclusive Rotom mobile phone."
Seeing the significant increase in points, Leo felt a surge of confidence about his next venture into new worlds.
Previously, he had been cautious not to overextend himself with trades, wanting to preserve the Pirate World's balance. But with important matters looming, he couldn't afford to hold back any longer.
Leo had already planned to strike deals with several prominent figures before venturing into a new world, at which point he would cease converting currency into points.
This would prevent any destabilization of the Pirate World's economy.
As for renewable resources like famed weapons, he didn't plan to restrict them.
And Devil Fruits...
In the future, Leo planned to collect all the Devil Fruits in the Pirate World, replicate their abilities as needed, and convert the rest into raw source power.
This way, he could cut off the cycle of ability users and steer the Pirate World towards focusing on Pokémon cultivation.
A bit underhanded? Perhaps. But if it meant saving more Pokémon, Leo was willing to shoulder the burden.
Besides, Leo believed that even if he went through with this plan, the people of the Pirate World would likely thank him, rather than criticize him!
...
"Thank you, Sir Leo," Iceburg said, his eyes gleaming with excitement and gratitude.
After absorbing the trade item information, he already had a rough plan for his next transaction.
Organizing his thoughts, Iceburg bowed respectfully toward Leo.
"Thank you for considering me, Sir Leo, and allowing me to become one of your traders!" he said.
"May I share my trade request now?"
"Of course!" Leo replied, his smile warm. High-value clients always brought out his best.
Iceburg nodded and continued, "First, Sir Leo, I need a Pokémon that can guard me at all times."
Although he had secretly entrusted the blueprints for the ancient weapon Pluton to Franky, he knew that the World Government would never give up searching for them. Having a powerful Pokémon to protect him was essential.
After hearing Iceburg's request, Leo nodded in understanding.
"Is the priority purely on personal protection?" Leo murmured, quickly browsing through the system's database.
Within seconds, a smile spread across his face.
Turning to Iceburg, Leo asked, "Mr. Iceburg, do you think this Pokémon meets your expectations?"
Snap!
With a sharp snap of his fingers, a virtual light screen appeared before Iceburg, displaying detailed information about a Pokémon tailored to his needs.
[Pokémon: Alakazam]
[Type: Psychic]
[Ability: Synchronize (If the Pokémon is poisoned, paralyzed, or burned, its opponent will suffer the same condition.)]
[Level: 76]
[Price: 10,000 Points]
"Alakazam?" Iceburg looked at the yellow Pokémon on the screen, who had the appearance of an elderly sage, with a puzzled expression.
Leo promptly explained:
"Alakazam is the final evolution of the Psychic-type Pokémon Abra. As its brain cells continue to multiply, its mental faculties grow with age, causing its forehead to expand and brighten."
"Likewise, its psychic abilities become incredibly powerful, allowing it to detect environmental changes instantly."
"The Alakazam before you, Mr. Iceburg, not only possesses immense mental power and psychic abilities but also excels at all psychic-type moves."
"Whether it's offensive moves like Psychic, defensive techniques like Reflect, or abilities like Light Screen, this Alakazam can deploy them flawlessly and almost instantaneously."
"Even if a Navy admiral or one of the Four Emperors attacked, Alakazam could teleport you to safety in the blink of an eye."
"I understand that you're not looking to participate in Pokémon battles, so this Alakazam would be the perfect fit for your needs."
"Say no more, Sir Leo!" Iceburg interrupted excitedly. "I'll take this Alakazam!"
Although Iceburg had heard of how versatile Pokémon could be, this was the first time he'd encountered one that so perfectly matched his needs—a Pokémon that could attack, defend, detect danger, and even escape from the most powerful enemies!
With Alakazam, he could ensure his own safety, no matter the threat.
Iceburg's decision to make his first purchase was quick.
"A wise choice," Leo said with a chuckle.
Suddenly, a red-and-white Poké Ball appeared in his hand, which he handed over to Iceburg.
"Please take care of your Pokémon, Mr. Iceburg."
"Thank you, Sir Leo!" Iceburg accepted the Poké Ball as though it were a priceless treasure.
Glancing at his remaining 50,000 points, Iceburg hesitated for a moment before asking:
"Sir Leo, may I use my points to purchase Pokémon or abilities for others?"
"Of course," Leo responded with a smile. "All your assets are at your disposal."
"Excellent..." Iceburg's eyes lit up. "Actually, I have a younger apprentice brother who has been hiding here in Water 7…"
"His talent far exceeds mine, and I'd like to buy him a Pokémon or some special abilities to help him on his journey."
"Your apprentice brother?" Leo smiled knowingly. "You must be talking about Franky."
"Uh..." Iceburg paused before laughing. "As expected, there's no secret in this world you don't know."
Leo smiled in silence at the compliment.
After nodding in agreement, Iceburg continued, "Yes, his real name is Cutty Flam, has been living in Water 7 under a rough exterior."
"If possible, I'd like him to pursue his dreams once again, instead of hiding away in grief as he is now."
As Iceburg spoke, his emotions surged, and he clenched his fists unconsciously.
In truth…
There was something Iceburg hadn't mentioned.
Deep down, he longed to see justice for their mentor, Tom the Fish-Man.
But Iceburg knew his own limits. He would never be able to challenge the World Government in his lifetime.
However...
He believed in Franky. He believed in the man who was bold enough to wear nothing but underwear!
If Franky agreed, Iceburg would support him wholeheartedly, providing him with all the resources necessary to reach his full potential.
This idea first flashed in Iceburg's mind after encountering the dimensional merchant, and though it seemed naive and overly idealistic, it represented his most genuine desire.
"Hmm..." After hearing Iceburg's heartfelt words, Leo paused in thought before showing a slightly helpless expression.
"To be honest, Mr. Iceburg, based solely on your description, it's a bit challenging to determine which Pokémon would be best suited for Franky..."
"In that case, why don't we call Mr. Franky here?"
"This way, I can choose a Pokémon that best aligns with his needs."
Although Leo, who had watched the One Piece anime, already had a good idea of what would suit Franky, bond evolutions and other special powers could only be given in person.
To avoid complications and, truthfully, out of his own curiosity to meet the notorious Franky, Leo decided to summon him.
Snap!
With a familiar snap of his fingers...
In an instant, a man wielding a flower fan and dancing awkwardly appeared between Iceburg and Leo.
"Hey, hey, hey... hey!?" Franky's dance halted abruptly as the sound of the party vanished, and he realized something was off. He looked up to find Iceburg standing in front of him.
Since Franky's only beverage of choice was cola, his mind remained sharp despite the festivities.
Franky quickly straightened out of his odd dance pose, scanning his surroundings with a puzzled expression.
"What's going on? I was just having a perverted dance party with my boys! How did I end up in your office?"
"Show some respect, Franky!" Iceburg coughed awkwardly, trying to maintain his composure. He discreetly pointed behind Franky.
"Huh?"
Sensing something was wrong, Franky turned and spotted Leo standing there with a smile.
In that moment, a flash of understanding struck Franky like lightning.
His pupils narrowed. "Wait, you're... the dimensional merchant!?"
Wham!
Iceburg's meaty hand came down hard on Franky's steel head.
Although Franky always claimed that he'd only transformed half of his body, the way he could deploy bizarre weapons from any part of himself suggested his modifications were far more extensive than just "half."
Suppressing the pain in his palms, Iceburg shouted, "Show some respect!"
"Uh..." Franky quickly realized something was off and immediately adjusted his posture.
Although his stance was still somewhat flamboyant, he at least toned it down considerably.
Leo, on the other hand, simply smiled as he faced Franky. "There's no need to be so formal, Mr. Iceburg."
"Let's continue with the transaction."
"Yes, yes, Sir Leo is right!" Iceburg, sensing the tension easing, swiftly responded with a smile, saying to Leo, "Then, please, Sir Leo, select a Pokémon that would suit Franky..."
"Of course," Leo nodded, then turned to Franky with a grin.
"Mr. Franky, Mr. Iceburg wishes to purchase a Pokémon for you. Could you tell us what kind of Pokémon you'd like?"
"Huh? What?!" Franky was clearly still catching up to the situation. But after noticing Iceburg's subtle hint, he thought for a moment before standing upright, bursting into boisterous laughter and declaring:
"If I'm getting a Pokémon... it's gotta be like me—made of steel! Super tough and manly!"
Bang! Bang!
As if it were muscle memory, when Franky said the word super, he struck his signature pose, raising his two iron arms high in the air with a deafening clash of metal.
"This guy..." Iceburg groaned, covering half of his face in embarrassment as Franky dared to show off in front of the dimensional merchant.
Thankfully, Iceburg knew that Leo didn't mind Franky's antics.
Quickly stepping forward, Iceburg pulled down Franky's raised arms.
Leo, meanwhile, simply smiled knowingly.
In that moment, he activated the system, focusing his consciousness for just a few seconds.
Snap!
A virtual screen materialized before Franky and Iceburg.
Leo gestured toward the screen. "Mr. Franky, take a look. I wonder if either of these two Pokémon catches your eye?"
"Huh?" Franky muttered, instantly shifting his attention to the display.
On the screen, detailed information about two Pokémon appeared.
The first Pokémon was composed of two interlocking gears, each adorned with patterns that resembled eyes and mouths. The left gear rotated clockwise, while the right gear spun counterclockwise.
The second Pokémon was even more peculiar. Its body was a spherical shape, dominated by a large central eye. On either side of its spherical body were horseshoe-shaped magnets with opposing poles. Atop its head sat a large screw, while two smaller screws were fastened to the front of its body. All of the screws and magnets seemed capable of rotating freely.
Gears, magnets... one represented mechanical motion, and the other, electromagnetic energy.
In Leo's mind, aside from legendary Pokémon, there were no Pokémon more perfectly suited for Franky than these two.
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Note: Three new stories have just been added to Webnovel.
theme of the story:
(One Piece)
(Danmachi)
(Zombie)
Check them out—you might find one to your liking!
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