Chương 128: The Battle for Water 7

The news spread quickly, sending ripples of shock through Water 7. Iceburg, the revered mayor and master shipwright, had been shot. Whispers of suspicion grew into waves of anger, especially when Iceburg himself identified one of his attackers as Nico Robin. Confusion filled the Straw Hat crew, especially Luffy and Nami, who rushed to see Iceburg for themselves, determined to learn the truth. Meanwhile, the looming threat of the Aqua Laguna high tide added urgency, threatening to flood the lower city.

Amidst the chaos, Franky was furious. He couldn't believe that anyone would harm Iceburg, let alone someone affiliated with Luffy's crew. Driven by anger, he stormed in to confront Luffy. "Your crewmate, Robin, attacked Iceburg!" he shouted, fists clenched and eyes blazing.

Luffy didn't back down. "We don't have all the answers yet!" he argued, but Franky wasn't interested in reasoning. With a roar, he launched a powerful attack. His Coup de Vent created a massive blast that sent Luffy and Nami scrambling to avoid the shockwave. The dock was obliterated, forcing Luffy and Nami to retreat, vowing to get to the bottom of the mystery.

That night, under the cover of darkness, Luffy broke into the Galley-La headquarters. He was on a mission: find Iceburg and get the truth. However, the shipwrights were ready and chased him down, catching him in a brief but intense standoff. When Luffy finally reached Iceburg's room, Iceburg confirmed Robin's involvement in the attack but seemed to be holding back some information, pulling a gun in frustration. "You have to understand! There's more to this than you realize!" Iceburg shouted. Luffy, barely dodging Iceburg's anger, managed to escape.

Elsewhere, Sanji and Chopper finally located Robin, only to find her ready to leave. Her expression was resolute, yet her eyes held a sadness that Chopper noticed instantly. "I'm leaving the crew," she said firmly. "My past… it's too dangerous for you all. It's better if I go."

Sanji tried to persuade her, but Raja stepped from the shadows. "It's Luffy's decision whether you leave or stay," he said with calm certainty. "But remember, Robin, if Luffy chooses to bring you back, we will follow him without question. You can go for now, but I know our captain will come for you."

Meanwhile, the rest of the crew prepared for a confrontation. Luffy believed Robin was being coerced by someone else—a masked figure Iceburg had briefly mentioned. Before they could take action, however, Franky kidnapped Usopp and stole the Going Merry, hoping to draw Luffy out for a final showdown.

The Galley-La foremen were on high alert. Workers and foremen patrolled every corner of the headquarters, ready to defend Iceburg from further attacks. Inside, Iceburg called Paulie aside, sharing a critical secret. With a heavy heart, Paulie agreed to protect Iceburg's hidden safe, where the legendary blueprints for Pluton were kept. But he knew this was only the beginning of a larger battle.

Late that night, an explosion shook the Galley-La headquarters. Amid the smoke and confusion, masked men, including Robin, rushed in. Many of the workers assumed it was an assault from the Straw Hats. Nami, Zoro, and Chopper broke into the building, searching for Luffy but found no sign of him. To their dismay, Luffy had managed to wedge himself between two buildings, hopelessly stuck.

In Iceburg's room, the masked men made their move. One of them, a tall figure with a bear mask, used the strange power of the Doa Doa no Mi to slip through the walls, ambushing Iceburg and shooting him in front of Robin, leaving her to guard him. The masked agent then overpowered a foreman with ease, his hardened body unyielding to any attack. Iceburg, barely conscious, revealed their attackers were agents of Cipher Pol 9 (CP9), a covert government agency intent on finding Pluton's blueprints—an ancient weapon of immense power.

Raja, Zoro, Nami, and Chopper pushed through the halls, expecting to find Luffy causing havoc, only to be surrounded by Galley-La guards themselves. Just as they needed him most, Luffy was still stuck, wedged tightly between two buildings. Frustration mounted, but their mission was clear.

Inside the safe room, Paulie discovered the blueprints—only to realize they were decoys. Two CP9 agents, one wearing a bull mask and the other a skull mask, revealed themselves and attacked. Paulie fought back but was swiftly overpowered, despite his desperation to protect Iceburg's legacy. CP9, including the powerful agents Lucci, Kaku, Kalifa, and Blueno, were now converging toward Iceburg's room, using their Den Den Mushi to coordinate.

When Luffy finally broke free, he burst into Iceburg's room only to be met with CP9's fearsome abilities. Each member wielded techniques beyond his understanding, moves they called Rokushiki, which allowed them to harden their bodies, slice through air, and move with superhuman speed. Paulie joined Luffy in the fight, but both were quickly overwhelmed. Though Luffy narrowly escaped, the threat was clearer than ever.

The full extent of the CP9 threat was revealed when Lucci confronted Iceburg, theorizing about Pluton's blueprints and Iceburg's connection to the legendary shipwright Tom. Lucci further pressed that the blueprints were passed from Tom to his apprentices, one of whom was Cutty Flam—a man now known as Franky. Iceburg's reaction confirmed Lucci's theory, setting CP9's plans into motion.

Paulie, in a final desperate act, attacked Lucci head-on but was quickly defeated, stunned by the abilities granted by Rokushiki. As the battle raged, Robin, standing with CP9, bid her farewell to the Straw Hats. "There's a wish I need to fulfill, and I cannot do it with you," she said solemnly.

With Iceburg and Paulie restrained, CP9 planted a firebomb, setting the building ablaze. Lucci revealed his true power, transforming into a menacing leopard using his Neko Neko no Mi powers. Luffy and Zoro tried to take him down, but Lucci's strength and speed proved too much. The building burned, with Iceburg and Paulie left tied up inside. Outside, Nami had been thrown from the building, and Chopper barely escaped the flames, thanks to Raja's quick reflexes.

Meanwhile, in a hidden hideout, Usopp was hard at work repairing the Going Merry. Franky, observing Usopp's dedication, couldn't help but ask, "How is this ship still holding together after everything it's been through?"

Usopp remembered an incident in Skypiea when the ship had seemingly repaired itself. "It's because Merry has a soul. It's protected us," he said, reflecting on Raja's uncanny ability to maintain the ship. Franky then introduced him to the concept of a Klabautermann—a ship spirit that appears when a vessel is loved by its crew. Usopp's eyes sparkled, realizing that Going Merry's soul was indeed real.

CP9, still searching for Pluton's blueprints, stormed Franky's hideout, dispatching the Square Sisters with ease. Franky fought back but was hurled through a wall, crashing into Tom's dusty old workshop. As CP9 began tearing the room apart, Franky stood his ground, protecting the secrets of Tom's Workers.

Ultimately, CP9 managed to capture both Franky and Usopp, handing them over to their leader, Spandam, who relished the chance to settle an old score with Franky. To make matters worse, the Going Merry was released into Aqua Laguna's deadly current, as the massive tidal wave loomed closer to Water 7.

Elsewhere, Iceburg, rescued by Chopper, revealed to Nami why Robin had joined CP9: she hoped to protect the Straw Hats from a government-sanctioned Buster Call, an all-destructive military assault. Nami's heart ached, realizing that Robin had sacrificed herself to save them.

Meanwhile, Sanji, ever resourceful, had snuck aboard the Sea Train that CP9 would use to transport Robin. Before it departed, he left a note with a Baby Den Den Mushi, allowing the crew to keep track of his whereabouts.

As the Aqua Laguna approached, Nami and Chopper scoured Water 7, eventually finding Luffy and Zoro wedged in awkward positions within the city's narrow alleys. Raja freed them both just before the monstrous tidal wave struck, helping them reach higher ground with Paulie's assistance.

On the Sea Train, Sanji launched his own offensive, effortlessly dispatching Jerry from CP6, one of the agents. Despite the CP9's confidence in their security, Sanji was determined to reach Robin.

In the dim light of a hidden cellar, Kokoro revealed her daring plan: she would take the Straw Hats to Enies Lobby using an old, unused Sea Train prototype known as Rocketman. The train gleamed, a steel beast ready to race across the ocean, its powerful engine waiting to roar to life.

Luffy and Zoro, having regained their strength from Kokoro's offerings of meat and sake, could hardly contain their excitement. They were soon joined by the Franky Family, whose leader pleaded to join the mission to save their "brother" Franky from the clutches of the government. Luffy gave an enthusiastic nod, sealing an alliance that would carry them through the battle to come.

As Rocketman prepared to launch, Iceburg appeared, his expression one of grim determination. "This train isn't easy to control," he warned, "but it's our best shot to get there in time."

Without a moment's hesitation, the Franky Family lashed their carts, complete with their enormous bulls, Sodom and Gomorrah, to the back of the train. In a roar of steam and a powerful lurch, Rocketman tore out of Water 7, its wheels biting into the tracks with ferocious speed. Paulie, Tilestone, Lulu, Chimney, and Gonbe clung tightly as Rocketman surged ahead, the sound of wheels on steel echoing through the air.

The newly formed alliance of Straw Hats, Galley-La shipwrights, and the Franky Family felt an energy building between them, fueled by their shared mission: to rescue Nico Robin and put an end to CP9's schemes. Paulie took the opportunity to reveal the identities of the government agents who had betrayed them, solidifying the unity of the crew and allies as they sped toward Enies Lobby.

Meanwhile, on the Puffing Tom, Sanji was hard at work on his own mission. He freed Usopp and Franky, explaining the alliance and reassuring them of their allies' commitment. Though hesitant at first, Usopp donned a mask and introduced himself as "Sogeking," claiming he would help save Robin with a new identity. Sanji and Franky grinned, seeing through the disguise, but let him join all the same.

Back on Rocketman, a massive wave rose ahead, threatening to overturn the speeding train. Luffy and Zoro wasted no time, combining their attacks to smash through the wave with a "Gomu Gomu no Sanbyaku Pound Cannon," their united strength clearing the way as Rocketman barreled forward.

Raja formed a barrier around the train and brace for that impact and saved everyone.

Inside the Sea Train, Sanji faced off with Wanze, a chef from CP7 who fought using ramen. Sanji, appalled at the misuse of food, quickly ended the battle by skillfully wielding knives, abandoning his usual "no-hands" rule. With Wanze defeated, the team moved on.

Finally, "Sogeking" reached Robin, assuring her that the Straw Hats were coming to rescue her. Robin, torn by doubt, initially resisted but found herself forced to flee when Blueno attacked. Franky heroically stepped forward, sacrificing himself to slow Blueno and allow Robin to escape.

Rocketman neared Enies Lobby, breaking through the mist. A familiar figure, Yokozuna the frog, leaped alongside them, ready to join the battle. With the sunlight breaking through as they approached, the alliance braced for their most dangerous confrontation yet. The gates of Enies Lobby awaited.