Franky's Resolve
Water 7: Abandoned Shipyard
Broken wood littered the ground, and sandstorms blew in our faces.
The ruins were so quiet that it was as if nothing had ever happened.
Franky and Franky Family leaned against a pile of shipwrecked debris, staring blankly at the Battlefield before them.
The CP9 elite agents who once struck fear into their hearts and who had utterly defeated them just minutes before were now all lying dead!
Fukurou, Kumadori, Kalifa, Blueno... one by one they were either unconscious or lying on the ground groaning.
Even the strongest Lucci and Kaku, were exhausted, bleeding profusely and barely breathing.
"Just who are these navy brats?!"
Franky's mechanical right arm trembled, his throat was dry as sand, and he muttered to himself.
"Whose subordinates are they?"
At that moment, Zoro flicked the blood off his sword, slowly walked to the center of the battle, and glanced at the unconscious Lucci: "Law, should we cut them down?"
Standing atop the ruins, Luo looked up at him, his expression unchanged, and simply shook his head. "No rush."
He slowly walked to Lucci's side, raised his hand and unfolded the pale blue ROOM. The space Flash like a mirror, enveloping the entire area.
He took out a Special Den Den Mushi from his pocket and gently pressed the call button.
The Den Den Mushi opened its eyes and clicked its mouth to start a call.
"Brubru--Kachcha."
Connection successful.
Within the silent barrier of the ROOM, no one except Lucci could hear the following conversation.
To outsiders, only Luo stood in front of Lucci, bending down to gently pat him awake.
Lucci suddenly awoke, instinctively reacting, his fist imbued with Armament Haki, poised to strike at Law—
But the next second, his movements froze, and his whole body stiffened.
The voice coming from the Den Den Mushi made his pupils shrink and his face turn pale instantly!
"That voice...?!"
Anger, vigilance, fear, struggle—emotions surged across his face like a tide!
The Franky Family and Kuina and the others outside were dumbfounded. They watched as the CP9's top agent's expression changed drastically, and finally—slowly lowered his head.
"... I see."
His voice was hoarse and complex.
Then, Luo nodded, put away the Den Den Mushi, deactivated the ROOM mute, and restored the ambient sound.
He said calmly, "Mission changed."
"You can leave now."
A deathly silence fell over the surroundings.
Lucci silently stood up, without looking at anyone, walked to the injured Blueno, woke him up, and whispered a few words.
Blueno's eyes widened in shock, but he ultimately nodded solemnly and forced himself to open the "spatial gate."
The two helped their fallen companions up one by one, quietly passed through the door, and left in the moonlight.
"Whoosh."
The portal closed.
The whole process was silent, yet it kept everyone on edge.
The Franky Family looked at each other, speechless for a long time.
"Hey! Wait... they just left like that?!"
The Square-Head Sisters gasped in surprise, their eyes wide with astonishment.
"That expression just now... it was like Lucci was being 'ordered'!"
"Who... could possibly have made them all retreat?!"
However, Law didn't explain anything. He simply turned around, unfolded his ROOM, and instantly appeared in front of Franky.
He calmly took out Den Den Mushi, answered the call again, and handed it to Franky.
"Franky, someone wants to talk to you."
"Crunch."
The Den Den Mushi opened its mouth.
Franky's expression changed, his body tensed abruptly, and he instinctively took a step back, his eyes fixed on the insect as if it might suddenly bite him.
But when the first word came through the Den Den Mushi—
"..."
His eyes suddenly widened!
He was stunned, as if struck by lightning.
As the Den Den Mushi's voice came through, his eyes widened, his pupils contracted sharply, and his emotions shifted from shock to doubt, and then to awe, his face changing in an instant!
"You guys really... can you do it? You really can... that thing is..."
He abruptly covered his mouth, looked around, lowered his voice, and gritted his teeth, trembling as he said, "Fine! I agree!!"
The call ended.
Luo put away the Den Den Mushi, and the ROOM was slowly deactivated.
Franky clenched his fists tightly, raised his arms high, and his eyes gleamed.
"SUPER--! That's great!!"
He was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes, leaving the Franky Family speechless.
In the distance, Zoro, Kuina, Ain, Binz stood outside the circle, their faces filled with confusion.
Zoro's brow twitched. "Hey, Law, what were you up to just now?"
Kuina frowned at him. "What kind of riddle are you two playing?"
Binz and Ain exchanged a glance, their faces also filled with helplessness.
"It's happening again..." Ain sighed.
"Vice Admiral Roy's orders are always shrouded in mystery," Binz said with a wry smile.
Luo shrugged, a slight smile playing on his lips, "Brother Roy said, I won't tell you~"
The moonlight shone on the smile on his lips, and also on the quietly turning pages of the book of destiny.
As Law's ROOM space quietly dissipated, a blue light receded like a tide, and Zoro, Kuina, Ain, Binz, and the others who were standing on the wrecked ship vanished instantly, as if they had never been there.
All that remained were remnants of wind, traces of battle, and the Franky Family, their minds filled with questions.
"Whoosh--"
As silence returned, the Square-Head Sisters, along with several of their men, hurriedly surrounded them, their eyes filled with worry and suspicion.
"Boss... are they really trustworthy?"
"Those navy brats are all terrifying, just who are they?"
Franky was taken aback at first, then a familiar smile curved his lips, revealing a confident and exaggerated grin. His right arm mechanically transformed with a series of clicks, then he suddenly raised it high—
"Of course it's believable! SUPER~!"
The surrounding thugs. "Is the boss out of his mind?!"
Franky struck his signature pose, then lowered his voice and whispered to the group:
"After all, he is..."
Upon hearing this whisper, everyone froze at first, then their expressions changed drastically, their pupils contracted, and they exclaimed in unison, "Really?!"
"My God... no wonder CP9 got taken down!"
After an incredulous silence, the entire Abandoned Shipyard erupted in a long-suppressed roar of ecstatic joy!
The anxiety, heaviness, and oppression that had just permeated the air vanished completely at that moment.
Laughter, shouts, and even tearful cheers rang out one after another, as if this dilapidated place had finally been given a new lease on life.
Franky stood at the edge of the dock, his gaze piercing through the ruins to the city illuminated by the night.
The Water 7, with its shimmering waters and dazzling Flame, is like a dream.
He slowly lowered his head, his gaze unwavering. "Teacher Tom... I will definitely protect your Water 7."
"Whether with my fists or my steel."
A gentle night breeze blew, carrying the familiar scent of seawater mixed with engine oil, brushing softly past his ear.
It was as if the departed master, atop the distant waves, silently responded:
"Um."