Takumi and Enel's ship quickly made its way to the middle level of the great fountain, entering the central waterway of Water 7.
Just like when they first entered Water 7, the residents here were captivated by the sight of a flying ship, their eyes gleaming with envy and curiosity.
"Yahahaha! This is my masterpiece! You Blue Sea dwellers could never build something like this. Even if you did, you'd never get it to fly!" Enel boasted with a laugh.
The surrounding people exchanged glances, their expressions varied.
"Blue Sea dwellers? Is he talking about us?"
"Who does this guy think he is? Sure, a flying ship is impressive, but the shipwrights of Water 7 are top-notch too!"
"Exactly. What's he so smug about? He's just an outsider."
Enel: "..."
"Hmph! They dare mock me!" Enel narrowed his eyes, clearly contemplating frying everyone with a bolt of lightning.
Takumi sighed in exasperation.
Enel had no self-control whatsoever. In a city full of water like Water 7, electrocuting someone could cause serious problems.
Seeing Enel already beginning to charge up electricity, Takumi leapt forward, landing a solid punch on him. "Calm down!"
Enel nearly stumbled, a large bump forming on his head.
"But they started it!" Enel protested. "I'm a god of thunder! Who dares defy me?"
Takumi shot him a cold look. "This isn't Skypiea. Keep a low profile."
Enel felt wronged but kept quiet.
Just as the ship was about to reach Dock One, a figure wrapped in blue flames, with wings of the same fiery hue, flashed through the air and landed right on their ship.
It was none other than Marco the Phoenix, first division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, and someone Takumi had crossed paths with before.
Marco crouched on the ship's railing, grinning as he stared at Takumi, who was less than a meter away. "Yo, kid. Have we met somewhere before?"
Takumi: "..."
He doesn't remember me?
Perfect.
Takumi pulled the brim of his hat lower and replied indifferently, "No, we haven't."
"Hm?" Marco rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment before a realization hit him. "Oh! I remember now. That attitude of yours... You're Takumi, aren't you? We've met before, haven't we?"
Takumi: "..."
"Nope. Don't remember."
Marco seemed disappointed. "Really? It's only been three or four years, and you've already forgotten me? I'm Marco, from the Whitebeard Pirates. Ring any bells?"
Takumi: "..."
What does he want?
Enel glanced between Takumi and Marco before coldly laughing, "Heh. Captain Takumi, is this guy an enemy?"
Marco chuckled. "I knew it was you, Takumi. But I never expected you'd have a crew now. I thought you were a solo traveler."
Takumi remained expressionless.
Enel, however, seemed eager. He shot Takumi a glance before volunteering, "Let me handle this guy!"
With that, Enel summoned arcs of lightning between his hands, electricity crackling dangerously.
"Whoa, calm down, Takumi. Your crew member seems a bit... intense," Marco said, unfazed.
Enel didn't wait and hurled two powerful 5-million-volt lightning bolts at Marco.
"A Devil Fruit user?" Marco flapped his blue-flame wings, dodging with ease.
Enel's bolts of lightning flew past Marco, heading straight for the water below the ship.
Realizing the danger, Marco acted quickly. Instead of counterattacking, he dove after the lightning bolts, intercepting them just before they could hit the water.
Marco could have deflected the attack with his own abilities, but with so many civilians nearby, the shockwaves from any counterattack would have harmed them. And if Enel's lightning had hit the water, it would have electrocuted everyone in the vicinity.
That's why Marco, seeing no other option, chose to absorb the blow himself.
Enel sneered at the sight. "How foolish. You dodged, only to take the hit anyway."
Marco, injured from the lightning, managed to fly back onto the ship.
Enel prepared to finish him off with another strike, while Marco was ready to teach the overconfident newcomer a lesson.
But before they could continue, Takumi appeared behind Enel and swiftly punched him again, adding another lump to the growing collection on his head.
"We're on the same ship, right? So why are you only hitting me?" Enel protested.
Takumi deadpanned, "He saved you."
"Saved me? I was just about to win!" Enel retorted, not convinced.
Marco sighed, "I hadn't even started taking this seriously. Do you have any idea how close you were to causing a disaster? If your lightning had hit the water, the civilians would have been caught in it, and you and Takumi would have had the Marines on your back in no time. Stop causing trouble, Thunder God."
"Uh..." Enel knew Takumi hated unnecessary trouble, but he hadn't realized just how bad things could have gotten. Back on other islands, Takumi had let him do as he pleased with his powers, but it seemed different here...
Marco glanced at Takumi. "Where did you pick up such an airheaded crew member?"
Before Takumi could respond, Enel's body crackled with electricity as he growled, "I'm a god of thunder! Watch your mouth!"
Marco shook his head. "So easily provoked... you've got a long way to go." He waved dismissively.
Though Marco was only a few years older than Enel, his composure made it seem like the gap was much wider.
"But Takumi's right," Marco continued. "I did save you, in a way. As I was flying over, I spotted a Marine warship approaching. I don't know who's aboard, but if you'd caused any more trouble here, they would've been on you in a heartbeat."
"Marines?" Enel froze, suddenly recalling the time he'd been knocked out by a Marine vice-admiral shortly after descending from Skypiea. A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead as the memory stirred a latent fear of the Marines.
"But aren't pirates and Marines sworn enemies?" Enel asked, clearly puzzled by Marco's presence. "Why are you still here?"
Marco burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Run from the Marines? Why would I do that? I'm not afraid of them."