Nami and Luffy got around the corner. They wondered where Usopp went. He had the bags of money. They waited until the government agents had left when they walked out.
They saw a muscular man with black hair and a mustache. He had sunglasses on. His upper body was covered with tattoos. He wore pants that have lighter colored stripes around his waist and on the top of the legs, and shoes.
"Lulu going for lunch?" Paulie asked.
Lulu replied, "No."
"I wonder where Usopp went?" Luffy asked.
"Is your friend with a long nose?" Lulu asked.
"Yes, he is wearing brown clothes and a hat," Nami replied.
"I saw two men jumping him, tackling to the ground and then carrying on their back to help him up," Lulu explained.
"That sounds like kidnapping," Nami shouted.
"Who were they?" Paulie asked.
"The Franky family," Lulu replied.
"We need to go find Usopp," Luffy replied as he ran off.
"Luffy wait," Nami shouted but he had run off.
"Do you know where their hideout is?" Nami asked.
Paulie thought for a second. "It's more of a workshop north of where your ship is docked," Paulie explained.
Nami nodded. She took one of the boats which had a small animal and drove him away at full speed. She thought of heading back to the Going Merry to get Zoro and the others. She went past people at a rapid pace, dodging the other boat traffic. She then spotted there was a group of people crowded around. Nami thought that was strange. She looked to see a man beaten and bloodied. It was Usopp.
She stopped and got off the boat and ran towards Usopp. "Usopp are you okay, who did this to you?" Was it the Franky family," she asked. Nami saw his broken nose. There were scratches all over his body. His clothes were torn.
"Yeah because I am weak, " Usopp replied with a tear on his face. "They stole it all," he added. "Nami," Usopp said and paused. Tears were now streaking down. "I can't face anyone right now," he said.
Nami's eyes widened at his state. She felt angry. "We were going to fix Merry, we had the money. I feel so ashamed," Usopp commented.
"No, I will bring everyone and we will get the money back, their hideout is just north of where we are," Nami said. She put Usopp against the wall. "I will get Chopper to treat you," she added. "Just wait here," Nami said as she got up and ran over to her boat. She sped off at full speed towards the Going Merry. She thought back to what everyone Kaku, Iceburg and Paulie said. She thought with money, they can fix Merry, she will be with us.
Meanwhile on the Going Merry, Chopper, Porche and Sanji had returned. Sanji did some independent shopping until he bumped into Porche and Chopper shopping. They gathered around Zoro. "The shipwright said, the Going Merry cannot be fixed, she is too damaged and we would need to buy a new ship," Zoro explained.
"Is that really true?" Sanji asked.
"That sounds bad," Porche added.
"We will have to hear from Luffy and others on what they think," Zoro said.
"It sounds extreme," Sanji added.
"Pain makes us stronger," Zoro said. "The Going Merry has been with us the entire time," he added.
"I don't want to lose Merry," Chopper said.
"Don't cry Chopper, you are so cute," Porche said.
At that moment, they saw Nami coming towards them with one suitcase. "Nami-swan," Sanji said. He looked at her expressions. "Is everything alright?" he asked.
Meanwhile, at another location north of Going Merry. There was a building on the edge of the grassy plains. The building had conical blue roofs and chimneys, and was crowned by a giant crescent moon that arched over the building. Round, porthole-like windows dotted the upper walls, while two grand, arched doorways at the bottom. A large mechanical arm extended from one side, while windmills and a massive spherical contraption on the other side. The bold yellow sign above the entrance declared "FRANKY HOUSE."
Inside the building the Franky family gathered. "We have 200 million Beli Franky boss," the man shouted. He was a tall man with long black hair and a wide grin. He wore the Franky Family goggles, gloves, and suspenders with stockings on his legs. He also has shamrock-shaped tattoos on his shoulder.
"Perfect Zambai, we can finally get what we want. This money will help us," Franky replied, wearing a masked costume.
Next to Franky were two women. They two women were identical pairs of sibling. "Yes Franky," said a woman with straight-edged hair wearing a white fur collar, yellow goggles, bikini-top, slacks, and high-heels.
"Yes Franky," the other sister said, with curly-edged hair wearing a lilac pearl necklace, pink cropped top, pink bikini-bottom, gloves, and high-heels.
"Perfect, Mozu and Kiwi," Franky said. "To show my appreciation here is 5 million Beli for your food and drinks," Franky added. They all celebrated.
At that moment, the door got blown off. Franky and his family looked up to see a man with a bloody face. "I am going to take the money back to heal Merry," Usopp stated.
"Give me the money back," Usopp shouted.
"Give me the money back, you must be one of the Strawhats underlings," Franky replied.
"I will take it," Usopp said as he charged towards the bags. Franky picked it up and Usopp landed on his face. He looked at the masked man. Usopp then fired a ball at him. Franky raised his fist and punched the ball. The explosion did not damage him. Usopp looked shocked.
"Remember boy, my name is Franky. Do not cross me, "Franky stated as he walked away.
At that moment, the Franky Family ganged up on Usopp, ambushing him from all sides. They held him down, pinning his arms and legs so he couldn't move. One of them delivered a vicious kick to his face, followed by another to his stomach and then his chest. Usopp could barely register the pain as the relentless assault continued.
Through the haze of agony, he saw Franky striding away, indifferent to the violence being inflicted. The Franky Family's kicks and punches landed without mercy, each blow sending waves of pain through Usopp's battered body. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, mixing with the dirt on the ground. His wounds stung as blood seeped from them, staining his clothes and the ground beneath him. The world around him started to blur, his vision dimming with each savage blow. Yet, even as consciousness began to slip away, a spark of determination remained. He couldn't let his friends down. Not like this, he thought.