Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Luffy, who always recognized people based on their unique features, immediately mistook the long-nosed shipbuilder standing before him for Usopp. "Ah! So it's you, Usopp!" he exclaimed cheerfully, pointing at the man.
Standing right beside Luffy, the real Usopp's eyes widened in disbelief. "I'm right here, you idiot!" he shouted, waving his arms frantically to get Luffy's attention.
Merry, observing the mix-up, leaned over and gently corrected Luffy. "That's right, Luffy. This man's nose is square-shaped, not like Usopp's long, rounded nose."
"Oh!" Luffy tapped his fist into his palm as realization dawned on him. "So he's square Usopp?"
Usopp's face turned red with frustration. "Shut up, you idiot!" he retorted angrily, stomping his foot. "Don't go giving people weird versions of my name!"
Bai Ye watched the exchange with amusement, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Knowing the original story, he recognized the long-nosed man as Kaku, an important member of CP9 and a key figure in the Water 7 arc. However, for the current Straw Hat Pirates, CP9 was no longer a significant threat, and Bai Ye felt no urgency to confront them directly.
At that moment, Granny Kokoro stepped forward, her hearty laughter filling the air. "Hahahaha, let's get down to business, little Kaku," she said warmly to the shipbuilder. "We're here to find that boy Iceburg."
Kaku turned his attention to her and smiled politely. "Oh, it's Granny Kokoro. Since you're here, there should be no problem," he replied respectfully.
He then looked at Luffy and the others. "Since Granny Kokoro has brought you here in person, I, your senior, can guess that you're here to fix your ship?" he asked in a formal tone.
"Huh?" Luffy blinked in confusion, tilting his head. "How old are you?" he asked, clearly puzzled.
"Twenty-three years old," Kaku replied seriously, adjusting his cap.
"Then why do you call yourself a senior and talk like an old man?" Luffy questioned, scratching his head. His brows furrowed as he tried to make sense of it.
Kaku chuckled heartily. "Wahahaha! Many people have said the same thing," he admitted, unfazed by Luffy's confusion.
Usopp sighed and gently pulled Luffy back. "Alright, Luffy, that's enough," he said before turning to Kaku. "Yes, we really want to upgrade our ship. That's why we came to find Iceburg."
"Is that so?" Kaku nodded thoughtfully. "So, where have you docked your ship?"
"It's at the pier in the city," Usopp answered promptly, pointing in the general direction.
"In that case, I shall run over there and take a look at your ship first," Kaku suggested, stepping aside and stretching his legs. "This way, after you meet with Mr. Iceburg, I can report back and we can discuss the repair costs more conveniently."
"Run there?" Usopp repeated, eyebrows raised in surprise. "You mean you're going to ride over there on a bull?"
"Wahhaha, you won't be able to wait for that," Kaku said with a smile, looking at the group gathered before him. "Please wait patiently for ten minutes." He was ready to sprint off to check on their ship when Bai Ye suddenly halted him.
"Wait a moment!" Bai Ye's call stopped Kaku in his tracks, almost causing him to stumble. "If you want to check the situation of our ship, you need this thing," Bai Ye continued, walking toward Kaku with a friendly smile.
As Kaku steadied himself, Bai Ye explained, flicking his wrist to produce a talisman. "You know, as pirates, all our valuables are on board, so I've set up plenty of surprises on the ship. Although we have crew on board, if you board directly, it might cause quite the stir."
He handed the talisman to Kaku, adding, "So, please be sure to keep this talisman with you. It's a unique treasure of mine that will help avoid unnecessary commotion."
Kaku took the talisman, feeling a pang of nervousness. Even though he believed he hadn't revealed any of his CP9 secrets, being in Bai Ye's presence always put him slightly on edge. After CP9 had gathered detailed information on the Straw Hats upon learning they were heading to Water 7, Kaku knew that among the crew, Luffy was the most unpredictable, but Bai Ye was the most inscrutable.
As Bai Ye called him to a halt, Kaku momentarily feared he'd been compromised. However, he soon reassured himself it was just his nerves. After all, how could anyone just meet him and instantly discern his true identity?
Kaku carefully examined the talisman Bai Ye had handed him. The World Government possessed extensive data on Bai Ye's unorthodox methods, yet his Daoist magic—a system of powers entirely distinct from Devil Fruit abilities—remained an enigma. They were particularly intrigued by the rain talisman Bai Ye had once provided in Alabasta.
Securing one of Bai Ye's talismans had proven challenging. Following Vivi's coronation, Alabasta, a kingdom that had once renounced its Celestial Dragon title, appeared rejuvenated and rapidly consolidated power. This resurgence drew the attention of the Five Elders, prompting them to personally engage in negotiations with the desert nation. Ultimately, the World Government decided to cease their operations in Alabasta, leaving it with a status not unlike that of Wano—still part of the World Government's sphere but markedly autonomous.
Kaku had assumed acquiring one of Bai Ye's talismans would be nearly impossible following these developments. Yet, unexpectedly, Bai Ye had just handed one over. Even the simplest of these talismans held potential for significant research by the World Government.
As Kaku held the talisman tightly, Merry added, "That's right, you wouldn't be able to board the Golden Merry without this." Though her explanation was somewhat redundant.
"Alright, I got it," Kaku said as he tucked the talisman into his pocket. Without wasting another moment, he sprinted forward, his feet barely touching the ground, giving the illusion that he was flying.
Usopp watched in awe, shouting after him, "Hey, watch out, isn't there a cliff that way?" But then, his confusion turned to amazement. "Is he actually flying?"
Bai Ye, observing the scene, murmured under his breath with a hint of irritation, "He uses that technique every day, yet nobody seems to notice?"
Merry, standing next to Bai Ye, chimed in with a curious observation. "Bai Ye, the talisman you gave him... it's different from the ones we have, isn't it?"
Bai Ye looked at Merry, a bit surprised. "You noticed, huh?" He confirmed, "Yes, that talisman not only allows him to bypass the spiritual formation guarding the Golden Merry but I've also embedded it with additional features."
Merry's curiosity peaked. "What kind of features?"
Before Bai Ye could reveal more about the talisman's new capabilities, Luffy and Usopp interrupted from a distance, waving enthusiastically. "Hey, Bai Ye, Merry, we found iceberg!" Usopp corrected loudly, "It's Iceburg, Luffy! Come over here, guys!"
Hearing their call, Merry quickly headed towards their voices, and Bai Ye followed closely behind.
When Bai Ye and Merry caught up, they saw two distinct figures standing with Luffy and Usopp. The first was a tall man with striking blue hair and matching lips, dressed in a vibrant red and orange striped jacket, his pet mouse peeking from his jacket pocket. This was Iceburg, the mayor and a renowned shipwright.
Beside him stood a striking woman, her strawberry-blonde hair neatly tied back, her secretary uniform complementing her tall, slender figure. This was Kalifa, known for her elegance and also secretly a member of CP9. Her poised appearance, accentuated by her gold-rimmed glasses and meticulously applied lipstick, made her stand out even more.
At that moment, Iceburg leaned over to Kalifa, who adjusted her glasses before swiftly rattling off: "The Straw Hat Pirates, Captain Monkey D. Luffy, Deputy Captain Bai Ye. The crew includes Roronoa Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, and Nico Robin, plus a pet. The total bounty is 554,000,050."
Kalifa then nodded toward Merry, who had just approached. "As for this young one, there is no bounty or other notable information."
Usopp couldn't hide his admiration. "Wow, did you memorize all that?" he marveled.
Luffy laughed heartily, thrilled by the figures. "Hahaha, so our bounty is over 500 million now! That's awesome!"
Merry looked a bit puzzled, perhaps empathizing with how Chopper usually felt in these discussions.
Upon hearing Kalifa's rundown, Iceburg's expression remained mostly unreadable, although he did raise an eyebrow when Nico Robin's name was mentioned. After Kalifa finished, Iceburg nodded and acknowledged, "Indeed, it's the crew that's been causing quite a stir lately."
He was about to introduce himself formally when Granny Kokoro cut in sharply, "No need for formalities, Iceburg. We know who you are. Let's get down to business. Take us to your office; we have things to discuss."
Iceburg caught the urgency in Granny Kokoro's tone. Giving a slight nod of understanding, he replied, "Alright then, follow me."
In the midst of their conversation, Kalifa interjected with a reminder for Iceburg. "Mayor, in ten minutes you need to attend a dinner at the Zhisha Hotel with the glass factory executives, followed by a speech in Liguria Square. After that..."
Iceburg crossed his arms and cut her off with a wave of his hand, "Cancel them all. I'm not doing any of that tonight!"
Kalifa, unfazed by the abrupt decision, nodded and responded, "Understood, I'll cancel them immediately."
Usopp's eyes widened in amazement. "Can you really just do that?!"
Iceburg nodded, a proud grin spreading across his face. "Of course! I'm the mayor, so I have some authority here."
Luffy pointed at Iceburg, turning to Granny Kokoro with a skeptical look. "Hey, Granny Kokoro, this guy seems pretty unreliable. Are you sure we should be dealing with him?"
Kalifa adjusted her glasses with a sharp snap, her gaze fixing on Luffy. "How rude!" she exclaimed.
Without warning, Kalifa's figure blurred, and she launched a kick at Luffy. Bai Ye, noticing the sudden movement and her short skirt, winced at the shamelessness, though internally he was somewhat pleased by the situation.
Luffy easily dodged Kalifa's attack, his agility on full display.
Bai Ye quickly intervened, restraining Kalifa with a technique. "Wind Trigram - Wind Rope!" he declared, then turned to Iceburg. "Mr. Iceburg, were you aware of your secretary's formidable abilities? Between the shipbuilders and now your secretary, your staff are impressively strong. It's quite enviable."
Kalifa bristled at Bai Ye's comment, nervous. "Irreverent fellow! This is sexual harassment!" she accused.
Bai Ye was taken aback. "I haven't even touched you, how is it harassment?" he wondered, genuinely confused.
Iceburg finally intervened, putting an end to the commotion. "Enough, Kalifa."
Despite Bai Ye's pointed reminder of the potential threats within his ranks, Iceburg appeared unbothered and oblivious. Bai Ye could only sigh inwardly. Iceburg's nonchalance, especially after the CP department's past actions against Tom, struck him as remarkably careless. It seemed like mere fate that Iceburg had managed to survive so long without the secrets of Pluton being exposed.
-----
As Iceburg ushered everyone into his office, Kaku had already arrived at the Golden Merry, getting there even before Franky, Sanji, and the others.
"Is it you, Usopp?" Zoro called out from the bow, eyeing Kaku. The similarity in their long noses led Zoro to initially mistake him for Usopp. However, he quickly sensed something was off and corrected himself, "Who are you, guy?"
Kaku responded smoothly, pulling out the talisman Bai Ye had given him, "This old man is a shipbuilder from Galley-La Company, sent here by your companion to check the condition of the ship."
Zoro relaxed slightly upon hearing this, allowing Kaku to board the ship for an inspection, though he remained vigilant, his instincts telling him to be wary. This alertness stemmed from a task Bai Ye had assigned him. Bai Ye had warned that after their departure, the Merry might face a new threat—the Franky family. Zoro's role was to intercept these intruders and potentially lead them to their leader, Franky.
But as time passed, the expected attackers hadn't shown up, leaving Zoro to ponder whether Bai Ye had set this up as a peculiar sort of revenge for a past grievance in a dream. Unbeknownst to Zoro, Bai Ye hadn't intended any revenge; his warnings were based on past events from the original storyline where the Franky family targeted the ship when Zoro was alone.
Bai Ye had assumed that some elements of the past would persist unchanged despite the evolving storyline. Typically, the Franky family, being ship dismantlers and part-time bounty hunters, would have attacked any pirate ship they found.
What Bai Ye hadn't anticipated was the change in perception caused by the "Straw Hat Special" in the newspaper, which painted the Straw Hats in a somewhat heroic light against the World Government. This new reputation influenced Franky's view of them, leading to unforeseen changes in the timeline and the current misunderstanding with Zoro.
Though the circumstances had shifted, it seemed they might be shifting for the better, altering the course of their interactions in unexpected but potentially positive ways.
As Kaku meticulously inspected the Merry, Zoro's attention was diverted by a boisterous shout.
"Ah! I've filled up on Coke! Today remains SU.PER!!"
At the bustling pier, a man clad only in snug shorts strutted into view. He flamboyantly joined his arms overhead, creating a five-pointed star. The spectacle left an impression...
"Pervert?" Zoro muttered, eyeing the blue-haired man skeptically.
Unexpectedly, the man didn't take offense at Zoro's label. Instead, he seemed to revel in it, striking an even more embarrassing pose. "Wow! Calling me a pervert right off the bat? You guys are SUPER!"
At that moment, the Square Sisters chimed in, echoing Franky's enthusiasm: "That's right!" "That's it!"
The members of the Franky family, who had just arrived, joined in the chorus of praise: "Boss Franky is the best!"
"Franky?" Zoro mused, a twitch forming at the corner of his mouth as he recalled the name. Bai Ye had mentioned looking out for someone named Franky, and Luffy was keen on inviting this very Franky to join their crew.
Considering the display before him, Zoro couldn't help but dread the thought of what daily life on the ship would become with such a character on board.
Just as Zoro's patience was thinning, Franky approached with a wide grin. "You must be Roronoa Zoro! I'm Franky, the head of the Franky Family. I've heard a lot about your pirate crew!"
"So, how about it? Want to come over to my place as guests?" Franky beamed, striking a new pose with every word, his enthusiasm undiminished.
"SU.PER!"
With each of Franky's dramatic flourishes, Zoro's eyelid twitched uncontrollably. The prospect of having such an eccentric aboard was almost too much to bear.
As Zoro grappled with the unfolding situation, a new voice interjected: "These folks are known for breaking down pirate ships." Kaku approached Zoro and continued, "If you leave now, this ship might end up dismantled by them."
Franky's face twisted into a scowl. "Huh?" he snapped. "A shipbuilder from the Galley-La Company? Really distasteful."
"I, Franky, would never stoop to backstabbing," he declared with indignation.
Kaku responded sharply, "We might ask those pirates who've been left shipless by your actions what they think about that."
In Water 7, the Franky family's reputation was no secret, and Kaku's words were designed to seed doubt in Zoro's mind. Although CP9's immediate directive was to halt actions against the Straw Hats, they were also deeply invested in uncovering the blueprint of Pluton, with Franky as a significant suspect.
Seeing Franky mingling with the Straw Hats wasn't ideal from their perspective.
Understanding the situation was slipping from control, Kaku quickly wrapped up. "I've finished inspecting the ship, I'll be on my way now," he said, hastily exiting to avoid further complications—particularly, Zoro potentially seizing the talisman.
Franky watched Kaku depart, then turned back to Zoro with a challenging grin. "How about it, Roronoa Zoro? Care for a man-to-man chat? Aww~"
"As the head of the Franky family, I..."
Before he could continue showcasing his poses, Sanji, alongside others who had just found Chopper, arrived on the scene. "Franky?" Sanji called out, curious. "Is this the Franky that Granny Kokoro mentioned?"
Zoro, relieved by the arrival of his crewmates, nodded. "It must be him. Though I didn't get a good look earlier, this guy definitely fits the bill of being 'special'."
Handling such eccentricity solo was proving to be a challenge.
Franky, noting new faces, asked, "Are you also with the Straw Hat crew? Did something happen to Granny Kokoro?"
Robin stepped forward, smoothing the situation. "Granny Kokoro recommended a shipbuilder to us. It's a long story, perhaps best discussed aboard our ship."
Franky was caught off guard to see Nico Robin among the Straw Hats. "Nico Robin?" he uttered, his surprise evident as he realized the implications of his current situation.
-----
Meanwhile, back in Iceburg's office, Luffy and the others had settled down, and Kalifa had been sent away by Iceburg. It was there that Usopp noticed something familiar—a bounty poster for Robin. It matched the one that Bai Ye had shown them earlier. "It's actually the same as what Granny Kokoro mentioned," Usopp remarked.
Iceburg, far from being flustered, acknowledged openly, "Yes, I keep it here as a reminder to myself."
He was about to elaborate on his philosophy—that possessing the ability to awaken ancient weapons made one inherently guilty, regardless of intentions—when Granny Kokoro cut him off. "No need to go over it, Iceburg. I've already filled them in on your story," she said, sparing him the need to explain.
"That's why you're here today?" Iceburg continued, his voice steady. "It's about Franky, isn't it?"
Iceburg had suspected the Straw Hats' visit had something to do with Franky given their reputation and past actions. He managed a wry smile and admitted, "That guy might not listen to me, though." His relationship with Franky was complicated, to say the least.
Bai Ye, taking over the conversation, halted Luffy who was busily indulging in the fruit plate. "We don't need Mr. Iceberg to persuade Franky," he stated clearly. "We've come to you with a specific inquiry."
He glanced at Merry, who appeared anxious, before continuing, "Is there truly no technology that can upgrade a ship by 100%?"
Iceburg, caught off guard by the question, turned to look at Granny Kokoro, his expression one of surprise. "Um?" he articulated, clearly not expecting Kokoro to have shared such sensitive information with the Straw Hats, especially since it related to the legendary ancient weapon Pluton.