Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Early this morning, Franky made his way back to the ship-breaking yard where he and his Franky Family work. As he entered, every member of his crew stopped and stared, their eyes wide with shock and excitement.
"What!" they exclaimed in unison.
"The Straw Hats gave Big Brother 200 million Bellys to buy Adam Wood?!" Captain Zambai couldn't hide his surprise as he eyed the two suitcases Franky was carrying.
Laughing heartily, Franky nodded and declared to his crew, "Whahahaha! Yes, indeed! Those Straw Hats are truly a SU.PER bunch!"
Hearing the confirmation, the crew, all dressed in their signature black suspenders, erupted into cheers. "With this cash, big brother can finally achieve his dream!"
Zambai, tears brimming in his eyes, added with a touch of melancholy, "We've pinched pennies for three years, dreaming of the day we could afford it. We even gambled at Goldfish Casino, hoping for a windfall."
"But every time," he continued, "we ended up broke!"
"All the bounty money just went into eating, drinking, and merry-making. Again, not a penny left to save!"
"But now, at last, we've made it!"
Franky listened, moved by the loyalty and hardships of his crew. Though this mission was part of an act, the emotions it stirred in him were real. Building ships was his passion, and the keel—the ship's backbone—was the most crucial component. He believed in using only the finest materials, and Adam wood was the best there was for keels, albeit incredibly expensive.
His crew had sacrificed much for this dream, and in that moment, Franky felt both pride and gratitude for their unwavering support.
Moved by his crew's loyalty and hard work over the years, Franky felt a surge of generosity. He opened one of the suitcases and pulled out a stack of Bellys. Facing his crew, he held the money out and said warmly, "You've all done a great job."
"Here's 5 million Bellys," he continued, his voice rich with gratitude. "It's not a lot, but consider it a small token of my appreciation."
With a flick of his wrist, Franky tossed the stack into the air. The bills fluttered down like leaves in the fall, drifting slowly over the heads of his crew members. Their faces lit up with joy and surprise as they reached up to catch the floating money.
"Everyone! Go and enjoy a good meal!" Franky declared, his voice booming across the yard.
The moment the words left his mouth, the place erupted into cheers. The Franky Family scrambled, hands reaching high, grabbing at the bills while shouting with jubilation. "Yahoo!!~" their voices echoed in unison.
Franky watched the scene unfold with a broad smile. However, his smile faded momentarily as a pang of sadness hit him, perhaps reflecting on the struggles they had endured together. But the mood was too infectious, and his smile quickly returned. With a sense of resolve, he turned and walked towards the door.
At the doorway, he paused, looking back at his family who continued to celebrate. Then, turning to Bai Ye who had been waiting, Franky said with a renewed smile, "Since I've decided to join you, it's only right I use a bit of this money."
Bai Ye responded with a nod, "No problem at all."
"For the Straw Hat Pirates, who now have the rainbow mist, money is just a number. When we get back from Enies Lobby, if you're still concerned, we can sort out more funds to take care of everyone." Bai Ye's assurance was calm and confident, underscoring the strong backing Franky was about to join.
In the original story, after discovering that their leader, Franky, had a bounty on his head, his younger brother raced to find Luffy. He pleaded for Luffy to welcome Franky aboard their ship. Their loyalty was evident—they deeply cared for their boss and seemed unconcerned about the complications his wanted status could bring to them.
Later, when CP9 captured Franky, the Franky Family didn't hesitate. They joined Luffy and charged into Enies Lobby to rescue him. Bai Ye admired their solidarity and loyalty. He was naturally inclined to support them when needed.
Upon hearing Bai Ye's reassuring words, Franky responded with a hearty laugh and a slap on Bai Ye's shoulder. "Wow ha ha ha ha! Thanks, Bai Ye," he said, beaming with gratitude.
"Alright, it's time for us to head out," Bai Ye announced, glancing around as if sensing the urgency in the air. "After all, it seems some folks are getting impatient."
-----
Shortly afterward, Kaku stared intently at the Den Den Mushi before him, the device echoing its distinctive ring: Perorero... Perorero...
With a focused expression, he reported, "Franky has reached the platform and left on the sea train. The deputy captain Priest Bai Ye of the Straw Hats did not board the train."
Listening to Kaku's update, Lucci responded with his own news. "Kalifa and Blueno have reported in as well. The rest of the Straw Hats are still at their ship or around the Galley-La Company. It's clear now—the Straw Hats have struck a deal with Franky. They finance him, and in return, Franky upgrades their ship."
Lucci continued, his voice firm yet swift, "At this moment, Franky is headed to the nearest island to purchase Adam wood that's up for auction."
Pausing briefly to collect his thoughts, Lucci then issued his orders, "Kaku, the time has come. We continue monitoring the Straw Hats here. You take the next train, intercept Franky. Kalifa and I will back you up. Once you have Franky, head straight to Enies Lobby. We'll rendezvous there."
"Understood," Kaku replied without hesitation. He then hung up the Den Den Mushi, casually scanning his surroundings before making his way toward the platform, blending in with the crowd.
Unbeknownst to Kaku, a seasoned agent of the World Government, two shadowy figures were observing him from a short distance, their presence undetected.
Beside Bai Ye, a surprised voice interrupted the calm: "Bai Ye, is your... paper figurine really going to work?"
Had Kaku been there, he would have been shocked. The figure beside Bai Ye was none other than Franky, who Kaku had just seen boarding the train. However, what Kaku didn't know was that after Franky vanished from his view, Bai Ye used a spiritual formation to teleport Franky back to his side, leaving a paper clone in his place on the train.
Franky, puzzled, observed the scenario. Bai Ye reassured him, "As long as they don't assault you directly, the figurine will hold up fine."
These paper figurines weren't new to Bai Ye's repertoire; they had been initially crafted for simpler tasks aboard the ship due to manpower shortages. Previously, these figurines were quite basic, crafted from necessity rather than skill, as Bai Ye's mastery over Daoist puppet techniques was limited to the most rudimentary forms.
However, over time, Bai Ye had refined his skills, leading to the advanced paper figurine that now replaced Franky. This upgraded version could mimic Franky's actions and even his speech patterns to some extent—a significant leap from the faceless, simple workers of before.
"It took a bit of time to get it right," Bai Ye explained, reflecting on the necessity of precise spiritual formations to ensure the figurine could convincingly replicate Franky's demeanor.
Bai Ye had also seized this opportunity to enhance the entire crew's security by embedding similar formations into figurines for each Straw Hat member. This strategic move provided them with potential decoys or substitutes, a tactical advantage that could prove pivotal in future confrontations.
Franky burst into laughter after hearing Bai Ye's explanation. "Wow ha ha ha ha! Bai Ye, you're really something else!" he exclaimed, clearly impressed.
Bai Ye, however, quickly turned the conversation to a more serious note. "You'll need to keep a low profile for now," he advised, his tone earnest. "Stay on the Golden Merry and avoid going out."
Franky, ever enthusiastic, readily agreed. "Hahaha, no problem! I'll use the time to familiarize myself with the Golden Merry and work on a flawless design!" he declared, his voice filled with excitement about the opportunity to enhance the ship.
Unbeknownst to Franky, Bai Ye held another solution in his hand—a hallucinatory talisman that could alter Franky's appearance to others. This would allow Franky to roam freely without recognition. However, Bai Ye chose not to disclose this option, partly out of a desire to keep Franky out of sight.
The truth was, Bai Ye found Franky's extravagant persona a bit much to handle up close—especially given Franky's penchant for tight shorts. Giving Franky some downtime on the Merry was as much for Bai Ye's own peace of mind as it was for strategic purposes. Bai Ye couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated, considering the perverted nature of Franky's character and its impact on the crew's dynamic.
Bai Ye couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous his situation was—stressed out by a fictional character turned real, a quirky shipbuilder in flashy clothes.
-----
As for the continuation of their plan, it went smoothly—or so it seemed. Bai Ye's paper figurine of Franky successfully landed on the island where the Adam Wood was auctioned. But the peace was short-lived; Kaku, following the CP9's orders, swiftly captured the figurine and boarded a sea train to Enies Lobby, thinking he had captured Franky himself.
Kaku and Lucci, leveraging their World Government authority, secured two separate trains for their transport, unaware that they were merely transporting a decoy.
Meanwhile, Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hats, keenly aware of CP9's movements, quietly began their countermove, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation at Enies Lobby.