Water 7 was three days' sailing away.
Following the Eternal Pose, the Flame Emperor sailed steadily through the Grand Line's strange currents. Brook soon fit into the crew. His violin always brought joy at night, and his swordsmanship was indeed good-more than enough to teach the crew the basics, at least.
On the morning of the third day, a shout came from the lookout:
"Land! There's an island ahead!"
"No... it's not an island, it's a city! A city built on the sea!"
Everyone rushed to the bow.
An incredible city on the water lay before them. The entire city stood atop the sea, divided into districts by countless waterways, with elevated bridges connecting its buildings and a sea train racing along its tracks. At its center, seven enormous waterfalls cascaded from above into the ocean-that was where the name "Water 7" came from.
"How magnificent..." Tashigi marveled.
"Yohohoho, I came here fifty years ago. It wasn't nearly this prosperous back then," Brook said.
"Dock first," Lin Yan ordered. "Isuka, find a secluded dock. This is a covert operation. Don't cause a commotion."
"Understood!"
The Flame Emperor entered Water 7's outer waterways and moored at a small, abandoned dock. This had once been the site of Tom's Workers. It had fallen into disuse after Tom's death, making it just right for hiding.
Everyone disembarked, and Lin Yan assigned their tasks:
"Ace, take Chopper and Brook to buy supplies. Keep yourselves disguised. Don't reveal your identities."
"Tashigi, ask around near the Marine Base and see whether CP9 has arrived."
"Isuka, take a few people to the black market and buy some information. Focus on the 'Pluton Blueprints' and 'Tom's Disciple.'"
"I'll look around the city myself."
"Be careful, then," Ace said.
"Don't worry."
Lin Yan changed into an ordinary traveler's outfit, put on a hood, and entered the streets of Water 7.
The city was more prosperous than he had imagined. People filled the streets, shops offered a dazzling array of goods, and boats traveled along the waterways. But a closer look revealed some discordant details-
Many buildings bore signs of repairs, homeless people lingered on street corners, and some residents wore worried expressions.
It looks like Water 7's financial problems have already begun, Lin Yan thought.
In the original story, Water 7 had to spend enormous sums maintaining the city every year because of rising sea levels. Although Mayor Iceburg was exceptionally capable, even he struggled to make ends meet.
As he walked, Lin Yan reached the central square. A crowd had gathered beside a fountain there, seemingly watching something.
He went over for a look and froze.
In the middle of the square, a boy wearing a straw hat was fighting a group of people-no, it wasn't a fight. He was being beaten up.
Straw Hat Luffy.
Beside him were three others: the green-haired swordsman Zoro, the long-nosed sniper Usopp, and the navigator Nami, with her short orange hair.
The Straw Hat Pirates had actually appeared in Water 7 three years early?!
Wait, no. Luffy should only be seventeen now and shouldn't have set sail yet. Zoro and Usopp were young too, and Nami looked only about fifteen.
What were they doing?
Lin Yan squeezed into the crowd and listened to the spectators:
"Those brats again!"
"The one wearing the straw hat knocked over the Franky Family's shipwrights yesterday!"
"That green-haired swordsman is fierce too. He took down ten men on his own!"
"But apparently they couldn't pay for their food, and the restaurant owner's chasing them down and beating them..."
So they had skipped out on a restaurant bill and were being chased for payment.
Lin Yan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It seemed Luffy had set sail early, but why? In the original story, he hadn't set sail until he was seventeen...
He studied Luffy closely. Though young, he had already developed his Gum-Gum Fruit abilities quite well. He could use both Gear First and Gear Second, but hadn't mastered Gear Third yet. Zoro could already use Three-Sword Style, Usopp was very skilled with his slingshot, and Nami... well, she was stealing wallets.
"That kid Luffy hasn't changed," Lin Yan said with a smile.
He decided not to reveal who he was just yet and watch the show first.
In the square, the fight-or rather, the one-sided beating-continued for ten minutes. Luffy's group was outnumbered, after all. There were more than thirty shipwrights, and the four gradually lost ground.
"Gum-Gum... Pistol!" Luffy punched a shipwright away, only to be tackled by three others immediately.
"Three Sword Style: Oni Giri!" Zoro cut down two, but took a blow from a club to his back.
Usopp had run out of ammunition, and Nami's Clima-Tact hadn't been invented yet.
Just as the four were about to be captured, Lin Yan finally acted.
He picked up four pebbles and flicked them with his fingers.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh-!
The four pebbles struck the backs of four shipwrights' necks with perfect accuracy. He controlled his strength precisely, knocking them unconscious without killing them.
"Who?!" The shipwrights' leader turned.
Lin Yan stepped out of the crowd. "They're just a few kids. There's no need to kill them, is there?"
"And who are you? Mind your own business!"
"Just passing by." Lin Yan walked over to Luffy and pulled him up. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine! Thanks!" Luffy grinned, then froze a moment later. "You... look so much like Ace..."
Of course he thought they looked alike. Lin Yan and Ace were twins.
"You know Ace?" Lin Yan asked deliberately.
"He's my big brother!" Luffy's eyes lit up. "You know him? Where is he?"
"He's right here in this city."
"Really?! Take me to see him!"
Lin Yan looked at the shipwrights. "Leave these people to me. You go on ahead."
"But-"
"Don't worry."
The shipwrights' leader flew into a rage. "Don't underestimate us! Get him!"
More than thirty shipwrights charged.
Lin Yan sighed, raised his right foot, and gently stamped down.
Hum-!
He released one percent of his Conqueror's Haki.
Thud, thud, thud...
All thirty-odd shipwrights rolled their eyes back and collapsed, unconscious.
The square instantly fell silent.
Luffy and the other three stared wide-eyed. "Wh-what happened?!"
"A little trick," Lin Yan said. "Come on. I'll take you to see Ace."
He led the four back to the abandoned dock.
On the way, Nami quietly asked Zoro, "This man... he's so strong. Did you feel that pressure just now?"
"Yes." Zoro tightened his grip on his sword hilts. "More terrifying than Hawk-Eye."
Usopp trembled. "A-are we going to be sold off...?"
Inside the dock, Ace had just returned from shopping and was checking the supplies. Hearing footsteps, he looked up.
"Brother, you're back-Luffy?!"
"Ace!!!" Luffy shot toward him like a cannonball and knocked him to the ground. "It really is you! I missed you so much!"
The two brothers rolled around on the ground, and the scene briefly descended into chaos.
Chopper watched curiously. "They're so close."
Brook said, "Yohohoho, it's good to be young."
Tashigi looked thoughtful. "So this is Straw Hat Luffy? He looks... not very reliable."
Once they had settled down, Ace hauled Luffy up. "Why did you set sail early, you little punk? Weren't there still three years to go?"
"I couldn't wait!" Luffy declared without a hint of apology. "I heard you and Sabo had both set sail, so I wanted to set sail too!"
"Sabo?" Ace froze. "You know Sabo's still alive?"
"Yeah! Sabo wrote me a letter! He said he was with the Revolutionary Army and told me to train hard!"
So that was it. Sabo had recovered his memories early and contacted Luffy, causing Luffy to set sail ahead of time.
"Then what brought you to Water 7?" Lin Yan asked.
"To make money!" Luffy said. "We want to buy a good ship! The Going Merry's too small!"
The Going Merry? It seemed they had still met Kaya and received that little ship.
"Make money?" Nami sighed. "We took a job escorting a merchant ship, but it sank in a disaster at sea, and we lost our payment too..."
Zoro added, "And we ate at a restaurant without paying."
Usopp said, "And got chased and beaten by shipwrights..."
It was truly typical Straw Hat Pirates-style bad luck.
Lin Yan smiled. "Since we've run into each other, I'll give you a hand. Ace."
"Here!"
"Take them to bathe and change, then have a meal."
"Understood!"
Half an hour later, a feast had been laid out in the dock.
Luffy ate with grease all over his mouth. "Delicious! Ace, the food on your ship is amazing!"
"Of course! The cook my brother found came from the Baratie!"
Once everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Lin Yan got to the point:
"Luffy, do you want to get stronger?"
"Yes!"
"Then I'll give you a test." Lin Yan stood. "Beat me, and I'll teach you how to get stronger."
"Really?!" Luffy jumped up. "Come on! Let's fight!"
Everyone stepped back, clearing a space.
Luffy took his stance. "Gum-Gum-"
"Wait," Lin Yan said. "Use your strongest move. Don't hold back."
"Okay! Gear Second!"
Luffy's skin reddened, and steam rose from his body as he entered Gear Second. He probably hadn't mastered this state long ago and was still unpracticed.
"Gum-Gum-Jet Pistol!"
His fist broke the sound barrier and hurtled toward Lin Yan's face.
Lin Yan neither dodged nor moved aside. He raised one finger.
Clang-!
The fist struck his fingertip with the sound of clashing metal. The recoil sent Luffy flying into a wall.
"What?!" Zoro was shocked. "With just one finger..."
"So hard!" Luffy shook his hand. "Then how about this? Gum-Gum-Jet Rocket!"
Both fists shot out together, doubling the power.
This time, Lin Yan caught them with his palm, then gave a gentle push.
Luffy flew backward again.
"Not enough." Lin Yan shook his head. "Your rubber has many more possibilities."
"Like what?"
"Like... this."
Lin Yan's arm suddenly stretched, but it wasn't rubber stretching-it was flame extending! His scarlet-gold Flame Arm instantly reached ten meters, its five fingers spreading as it grabbed for Luffy.
"Flames can stretch too?!"
"Everything can extend, as long as you understand the essence of 'elasticity.'"
The flaming hand grabbed Luffy and lifted him into the air.
"The Gum-Gum Fruit's true ability isn't 'turning your body into rubber,' but 'bestowing rubber properties,'" Lin Yan said. "You can turn the air into rubber, turn the ground into rubber, and even turn an enemy's body into rubber."
Luffy's eyes shone. "You can do that too?!"
"Of course. But that requires advanced Haki to work with it." Lin Yan set him down. "So I'll teach you the basics of Haki now."
He spent an hour explaining the basics of Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and Conqueror's Haki to Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp.
The four listened, utterly enthralled.
"So there's a power like this too..." Zoro tightened his grip on his swords. "I want to learn Armament Haki!"
"Observation Haki sounds perfect for a sniper!" Usopp said excitedly.
Nami looked thoughtful. "Haki... can it control the weather?"
Luffy's response was the simplest. "I want to learn all of it!"
Lin Yan took out another booklet-the Gum-Gum Fruit Development Directions he had written during the voyage.
"This is for you. Follow it as you train, and within three years, you can reach the level of the Shichibukai."
"The Shichibukai?!" Luffy's eyes widened. "I can get that strong?!"
"You can get even stronger." Lin Yan ruffled his hair. "Because you're the man who's going to become the Pirate King."
Those words set Luffy's blood boiling.
"Oh, right," Ace suddenly said. "Luffy, let me introduce someone."
He pulled Chopper over. "This is Chopper, our ship's doctor. He's a doctor too, so you can come to him if you get hurt."
"A reindeer?! He can talk!" Luffy was both surprised and delighted.
"I'm a raccoon dog!" Chopper retorted out of habit.
Brook came over too. "Yohohoho, I'm Brook, a musician. Would you like to hear a song?"
"A skeleton?!" Luffy grew even more excited. "So cool!"
Lin Yan smiled as he watched his younger brothers roughhousing.
The three brothers were finally together. Though their time was brief, it was enough.
"Ace, get ready," Lin Yan said. "We move tonight. We're going to get the Pluton Blueprints."
"Understood."
Late that night, at the mayor's residence in Water 7.
Iceburg sat in his office, studying the fragment of a blueprint in his hands, his brows tightly furrowed.
His teacher Tom had entrusted the Pluton Blueprints to him and told him to keep them safe. But over the past few days, he had sensed someone watching him, possibly people from the World Government.
"Teacher Tom... what should I do...?"
A tapping came from outside the window.
Iceburg warily drew his gun. "Who's there?"
"Don't be nervous." Lin Yan pushed open the window and jumped inside. "I'm not an enemy."
"Who are you?!"
"Monkey D. Yan. I'm here to make a deal with you."
"D?" Iceburg's gaze sharpened. "You and Roger..."
"He's my father." Lin Yan laid his cards on the table. "I know you have the Pluton Blueprints. But I don't want the originals, just a copy."
"Why should I trust you?"
"Because of this." Lin Yan displayed his pendant. "Recognize it?"
Iceburg froze at the sight of the pendant. "The Sun Saintess's... could you be...?"
"Evelyn D. Solar's son."
Iceburg lowered his gun and let out a long sigh. "Before Teacher Tom died, he said that if a descendant of the Sun Saintess ever came looking for me, I should give him the blueprints."
He took an iron box from the safe. Inside was a thick stack of drawings.
"These are the Pluton Blueprints. But I must warn you, building Pluton requires three things: first, deciphering Ancient Script; second, timber from Treasure Tree Adam; third, Water 7's shipbuilding techniques."
"I have Robin. She can decipher Ancient Script," Lin Yan said. "I'll find the timber from Treasure Tree Adam. As for shipbuilding techniques..."
He looked out the window in a certain direction.
"Franky's over there, isn't he? Tom's other student."
"You even know that..." Iceburg smiled wryly. "All right, I'll have Franky help you. But you must promise me you won't use Pluton for evil."
"I promise." Lin Yan put away the blueprints. "Also, be careful these next few days. CP9 is already here. They're after the blueprints too."
"CP9?!" Iceburg's expression changed drastically.
"I'll deal with them." Lin Yan turned around. "After tomorrow, there won't be any CP9 left in Water 7."
He jumped out the window and vanished into the night.
Iceburg slumped in his chair, murmuring to himself:
"An age of change... is it finally coming?"
At the same time, in an inn somewhere in Water 7.
Five CP9 members were holding a meeting.
Rob Lucci (leopard form), Kaku (giraffe), Jabra (wolf), Blueno (Door-Door Fruit), and Kalifa (Bubble-Bubble Fruit).
"The target has been confirmed to have entered Water 7," Lucci said coldly. "We move tonight. Seize the Sun Tablet and eliminate Monkey D. Yan."
"What about Fire Fist Ace?" Kaku asked.
"Eliminate him too."
"What about Straw Hat Luffy? He's here too."
"He's uninvolved. If he gets in the way, kill him."
Just then, the inn's door was pushed open.
Lin Yan stood in the doorway, holding the Pluton Blueprints.
"Save yourselves the trouble," he said. "I've come in person."
Every member of CP9 stood and took a combat stance.
"The Pluton Blueprints... so you do have them." Lucci's gaze was icy. "Hand them over, and I'll leave your corpse intact."
"That's my line." Lin Yan tucked the blueprints into his clothes. "Come at me all at once. I'm short on time."
Before you continue