Franky Family

"Is this Water 7?" Luffy stared at the city before him in amazement. "It's so spectacular!"

"It's practically an industrial city!" Usopp said in shock. "No wonder the Sea Train passes through here."

"It says Blue Station up there. This should be the Sea Train station, right?" Nami looked at the enormous station before them.

"Hey! You're pirates, right? Pirates shouldn't just march in through the front. Go around to the street in the back!" a middle-aged man who was fishing shouted at Luffy's group.

"Got it! Thanks, mister!" Luffy waved excitedly, and the Going Merry soon sailed away.

"This really is a city built on water." Nami was equally astonished by Water 7's grandeur.

"Wouldn't a city built in the water get washed away?" Even Zoro was stunned at that moment.

"It won't. Water 7 should have foundations built on the seabed," Robin explained.

"It's true! There are pillars underneath all the houses!" Usopp stared in amazement at the supports beneath the buildings.

"This truly is the kind of breathtaking scenery you could only find in a fantasy." Li Ziming was likewise stunned by Water 7's beauty and magnificence. His original world had Suzhou-Hangzhou and Venice, but neither could compare to this water city built entirely upon the sea.

"What is it?" Robin noticed that Li Ziming seemed to have remembered something.

"Nothing. I was just thinking of some things from my hometown." Li Ziming shook his head.

"Hey!" an old man in a house shouted. "You can't dock a pirate ship here! Are you here to rob us?"

"No, we're here to repair our ship!" Luffy replied.

"Rob us? Normal people wouldn't say that so casually." Usopp broke out in a cold sweat.

"Is that so? There's a bay up ahead where you can dock!" The old man pointed Luffy and the others in the right direction.

"The people on this island don't seem very afraid of pirates," Nami said curiously.

"To them, pirates are probably just customers," Zoro said after thinking for a moment.

"Maybe they have very capable bodyguards," Robin offered.

"Or maybe they're strong themselves." Li Ziming shrugged. "All right, let's decide who'll stay here with the Going Merry and who'll go look for clues."

"I'll stay." Zoro had already become the permanent guard. "Go ahead. Don't worry about it."

Robin looked toward Li Ziming, but to her surprise, he shook his head.

"Sorry, but I probably can't go with you this time." Li Ziming picked up part of the gold. "I'm going to find someone who can help us build the biggest, best ship possible. That guy... how should I put it? He's kind of a pervert."

"Then I'll go with Tony Tony. Tony Tony can help carry my things." Robin did not mind at all.

"Oh, right. I have something for you." Li Ziming took out a bracelet and put it on Robin's wrist. "Whatever you do, don't take it off casually."

"Is this a gift because you can't go shopping with me?" Robin looked at Li Ziming with amusement. "I'll accept it as a token of your feelings."

"Then I'm going to find the strongest shipwright!" Luffy shouted, brimming with fighting spirit.

"Idiot, didn't Granny Kokoro give us a letter of introduction to find someone named Iceburg? Right, Ming, can't we go to Iceburg? It might be cheaper." Nami looked at Li Ziming.

"The person I'm looking for is practically Iceburg's brother," Li Ziming explained. "They were both disciples of the best shipwright, but the other one is a little more perverted personality-wise, which is why I'm going to him. Or do you want to switch?"

"No, no need. You should go." Nami gave up decisively. Anyone Li Ziming called a pervert had to be extraordinary, and she did not want too much contact with that sort of person.

"Then I'll head out first. Oh, and Iceburg is also this city's mayor, so you can get him to treat you to a meal." After tossing out that final temptation, Li Ziming dragged the gold away.

"The mayor!" Nami's eyes turned into Beli symbols. "Let's go!"

Then Nami, Luffy, and Usopp vanished just like that.

"Even after entering this city, I still have to admit that it's really beautiful." Li Ziming looked around. People rode all kinds of strange boats; some carried cargo, while others wore masks as if they were attending a festival.

"By now, CP9 should have approached Robin as well." Li Ziming pondered for a moment. "But there seems to be some conflict involving the ship, Usopp, and the Franky Family. I should hurry."

Li Ziming casually stopped someone. "Excuse me, could you tell me where the Franky Family is?"

The person Li Ziming had stopped wore a mask and a long robe. It was impossible to make out even the slightest feature from their appearance.

"The Franky Family?" The masked person hesitated. "They're ship dismantlers, and they even have ties to the underworld."

"The underworld?" Li Ziming shrugged indifferently. "As a pirate, being afraid of the underworld isn't a very good habit."

"A pirate?" The masked person seemed to recognize Li Ziming all at once. "Bomb Man? Li Ziming?"

"That nickname really has no taste." Li Ziming shrugged helplessly. "So, can you tell me where the Franky Family is now?"

After recognizing Li Ziming, the masked person seemed to become an entirely different person. Li Ziming could even faintly sense danger from them, though he did not think much of it, merely assuming they were afraid of pirates.

"Don't worry, don't worry. I'm only looking for that guy to build something, not to rob anyone or anything." Li Ziming smiled, trying to reassure them.

"Is that so?" The masked person's tone turned somewhat cold, but they still pointed Li Ziming in the right direction. "Have a safe journey."

"Thanks. I hope nothing goes wrong on this trip, too." Li Ziming waved, then turned and left.

"A man traveling with Nico Robin... It seems he's interested in Pluton as well. When the time comes, we must take him too." The masked person shook their head and headed into the city.

"This is the Franky Family?" Li Ziming looked at the huge sign before him, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Should I say this really suits that pervert's style?"

He pushed open the door and entered. Everything before him was pitch-black. "Don't tell me you haven't paid the electric bill," Li Ziming teased. "A big job has come knocking."

"A big job? Are you joking?" the Franky Family members said with grins.

"A joke?" Li Ziming opened the bag in his hand, and gold spilled out like a flowing stream.

"Gold!" Every member of the Franky Family was shocked. "With this gold, Franky's dream..."

"Should we rob him?" Someone had already drawn a weapon and pointed it at Li Ziming.

"Oh? Are you planning to tarnish Tom's Shipyard's name?" Li Ziming showed no intention of fighting.

"Everybody, stop!" A commanding voice suddenly rang out. All the underlings froze at once. When the lights came on, a masked man whose upper and lower body were completely disproportionate sat at the highest point. "Kid, what exactly do you want?"

"A ship? Or perhaps to fulfill your dream, pervert?" Li Ziming chuckled. "This gold is enough for you to buy a piece of Adam Wood, and it should be enough for shipbuilding after that. Oh, and these are electric motors. See if you can build some small speedboats sooner."

"Pervert? You really have good taste!" Franky looked extremely pleased. "I'm a SUPER pervert!"

"All right, I'll be leaving now. By the way, something might happen in Water 7 soon. You'd better be careful." Li Ziming gave a slight warning, then turned to leave.

"Hey, I haven't agreed yet!" Franky roared.

"If you're willing to let Tom's Shipyard's name be ruined in your hands, I don't care." Li Ziming shook his head and left.

"Kiwi! Make preparations. Exchange this gold for Beli. Take ten percent for everyone's expenses, and use the rest to buy a piece of Adam Wood. I'm going to Iceburg's office." Franky said seriously.

"But boss, why do we have to do all this?" Kiwi asked in confusion. "We don't have to do things this guy's way at all!"

"I have my own reasons for this." Franky walked out in silence.