Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Hearing Franky's reply, a wave of silence swept over the Straw Hats. They cherished the Golden Merry deeply, not just as a vessel, but as a friend and companion on their perilous journeys. The possibility that it might not be upgradeable hit them hard, filling them with a mix of disappointment and resignation.
Bai Ye, ever the strategist, had suggested an alternative method earlier, but even he admitted it wasn't without its flaws. This left the crew grappling with uncertainty.
Chopper, the ever-emotional reindeer, looked up at Franky with big, teary eyes and asked in a voice choked with sadness, "Is there really no way at all?"
Franky's response was immediate and robust, infused with his characteristic flamboyance. "Of course, there is!" he boomed, striking a dramatic pose that was all too familiar to the Straw Hats.
"Really?!" The sudden shift in tone caught everyone off guard, morphing their disappointment into a flicker of hope.
Nami and Sanji, however, were less than amused. After riding the rollercoaster of emotional highs and lows, Franky's theatrics felt like a tease. They exchanged a look that mixed irritation with exasperation, their patience wearing thin.
Franky, oblivious to the growing frustration or perhaps simply used to it, plowed ahead with his explanation, unaffected by their glares. "This technology existed with the shipbuilders who built Pluton during the Void Century. Sadly, those shipbuilders are long gone."
"The reason I'm aware of it is through my master, Tom. He intended to pass down all he knew to Iceburg and me." Franky's voice softened, a shadow of regret passing over his features. "If only that incident hadn't happened, Tom would've taught us everything."
Franky's reference to 'that incident' was filled with sorrow. The tragedy that drove him to attempt to stop the sea train—ultimately failing and sustaining severe injuries—also led him to transform himself into a cyborg on Scrap Island. This same event marked not only a turning point in Franky's life but also the devastating loss of invaluable knowledge with Tom's death.
As a sharp-minded member of the Straw Hats, Robin quickly grasped the significance of Franky's revelation. "So, you're saying the method involves retrieving the expertise your master had?" she deduced. "And you believe it's impossible because this knowledge is now under the control of the World Government?"
Franky nodded solemnly. "Exactly. After Master was taken into custody, they transported him to Enies Lobby by sea train. All his theoretical knowledge was seized and taken there too."
"That's why I've been saying, it's not feasible for us," Franky explained, looking around at the group. "Enies Lobby is a fortress that has never been breached."
Zoro's interest was piqued by the challenge. "Never breached? That sounds intriguing. Where is this place?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.
Robin responded, her voice calm and informative: "Enies Lobby is a government stronghold on an island in the first half of the Grand Line. It houses the World Government's courthouse. But, in this twisted world, being taken to Enies Lobby is akin to being condemned already. Over its 800-year history, not a single person has ever been acquitted there. Typically, prisoners are led through an ostensibly empty courthouse to the Gate of Justice. Passing through this gate is a one-way journey; those who do rarely return. It symbolizes the so-called absolute justice of the World Government."
Sanji, lighting a cigarette and exhaling a plume of smoke, commented, "Sounds like it's even more daunting than Marineford."
Franky gave a nod, acknowledging the scale of the challenge. "Yes, to some extent," he agreed, "Marineford might be the Navy's stronghold, but Enies Lobby is another beast entirely."
"It's directly linked to the heart of the World Government," he continued, "and it's heavily fortified. Around 10,000 personnel, including Navy and World Government officials, are stationed there permanently. And once someone passes through the Gate of Justice, there are only two places they end up: Marineford or the notorious underwater prison, Impel Down, filled with torture chambers and execution grounds."
Chopper shuddered at the description. "Neither of those places sounds inviting," he said nervously.
Nami, catching Zoro's gaze and the looks from the others, ventured cautiously, "If we really need to go there to retrieve the information Franky mentioned..."
"Should we actually attempt it?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "This isn't something we can just decide on a whim."
Robin, smiling knowingly at Nami, responded, "Exactly."
Zoro, hearing the determination in Robin's voice, grinned and added, "We should let Luffy decide this one."
At that moment, as if on cue, the door to the meeting room aboard the Golden Merry swung open with a squeak.
A familiar voice filled the room as Luffy barged in with his usual energy: "Everyone! Our next stop is Enies Lobby!!" His announcement didn't surprise Nami much; she sighed, "I should've known better than to expect anything different."
With Luffy's declaration, the decision to head to Enies Lobby was made—typical of the Straw Hats' impulsive yet brave decision-making. They planned to hash out the specifics the following day, giving everyone a night to prepare mentally for the daunting task ahead.
The next morning, amidst the discussions, Franky decided to demonstrate some of his own power, yelling, "Strong Right!!" as he launched a fist connected by a chain from his arm—a signature move of his cyborg abilities. This mimicry of Luffy's Gomu Gomu no Pistol impressed everyone, especially Luffy who watched from the bow, shouting back, "Wow! It's amazing!!"
Franky basked in the admiration, booming with laughter, "Wah ha ha ha! That's how I fight as a cyborg!" He struck his iconic pose, drawing cheers and exclamations from the crew.
The spectacle drew Merry, Chopper, and Usopp to the front to watch, turning the demonstration into a loud and enthusiastic showcase. However, it wasn't long before Nami had to step in to calm down the escalating chaos.
Interestingly, during the commotion, Merry and Chopper had been scooped up by Bai Ye and Zoro respectively, leaving Luffy, Usopp, and Franky to bear the brunt of the excitement—and in Franky's case, the misfortune of Nami's lightning strikes. Being a cyborg made him particularly susceptible to her electric attacks, a fact he protested loudly, only to be zapped into submission.
Later, Bai Ye approached Franky, probing about his decision to join them permanently: "Haven't you figured it out yet?"
Franky responded with his usual flamboyance, "Wahhahaha, I can help you upgrade your ships, but as for joining... I'm the head of the Franky Family. I've got a bunch of knuckleheads relying on me."
Bai Ye nodded, understanding the dilemma, "You still have time to decide."