Shinigami: The Unforgiven Chapter 53 - City of Water "Heading to the Flesh City!"
Luffy with one hand on his hip, pointing straight ahead.
"What exactly did you hear...?"
Nami can't complain.
" Luffy, leave the job of recruiting crew to me."
After hearing that City of Water 7 a giant shipyard, Sanji was the first to step forward and take on all the responsibilities.
I will definitely recruit a stunning beauty.
"Fool!"
Luffy immediately rejected the idea.
"A ship repairman, of course, needs to be five meters tall and have a five-meter waist..."
" Luffy, our ship simply can't hold that kind of creature!"
"It doesn't matter what kind of person they are," Zoro said, being the most pragmatic. "As long as they have skills, they'll still dare to join our crew."
"Come on, everyone, let's give out your allowance for parking here for a week!"
After Luffy retrieved a batch of gold from the snake's belly, Nami became much more generous.
"I'm rich! ~~~"
"Hey, look ahead."
Shiraishi pointed ahead, and a city situated on the sea appeared before everyone's eyes.
It was a city like a water garden, with a giant fountain in the center that sprayed seawater downwards, forming waterways that ran through the entire city, looking like a work of art from afar.
As the Going Merry slowly approached, this garden-like city revealed another side of itself.
The massive shipyards, towering chimneys, densely packed cranes, rows of factories, and the constant flow of workers all testify to the city's vitality.
"Wow, it's magnificent! It's practically an industrial city. No wonder things like the sea train are made here."
"This is the power of ordinary people," Shiraishi nodded in response to Usopp's remark.
"Unfortunately, in this world..." No matter how hard ordinary people try, they can never compare to monsters.
If Aokiji wanted, this magnificent Upper City could be turned into an ice sculpture in a second, and the same would be true for any other expert.
Hey, you guys.
The old man fishing on the shore pointed to the other side.
"It's inappropriate for pirates to appear at the main gate. You should go around to the back gate on that street."
"Thanks, sir!"
As the Going Merry cruised around the city, helpful citizens pointed out the Straw Hat Pirates's docking spots, much to Luffy and his crew's surprise.
Aren't the people in this city afraid of pirates?
"Because for shipyards, pirates are also customers, right?"
Sanji answered thoughtfully.
Unlike the Four Seas, the pirates on the Grand Line are much more diverse.
There are scoundrels who make a living by plundering, armed merchant groups that are half merchants and half bandits, henchmen raised by various forces, ambitious upstarts, and simple adventurers like Luffy.
"Perhaps there are some very skilled bodyguards here, so even if pirates cause trouble, we won't be afraid."
Shiraishi glanced at Robin in response to her speculation.
Indeed, this place not only has a group of shipwrights with a combined strength of around 40 million, but also the entire CP9 team acting as undercover agents.
For ordinary pirates to cause trouble here is like going to the toilet with a lantern – they're asking for death.
"Then, you may have some free time."
Nami, now dressed in a formal women's short-sleeved suit and tie, waved to the others, " Shiraishi, could you and Unohana help me exchange for gold?"
This was the first time she had ever received so much gold, and she was genuinely worried about potential problems.
"Okay." Shiraishi nodded in agreement.
Luffy and Usopp have already rushed outside.
Robin looked at the petite Chopper.
"If the ship's doctor wants to buy medical books, I can take you there."
"Hey, has Robin been here before?"
The sophisticated beauty smiled slightly in response to Chopper's question.
"No, but when it comes to finding your target in an unfamiliar city, I believe no one is better than me."
"Then I'll stay and watch the boat."
Zoro leaned against the deck and closed his eyes to rest, since Sanji was definitely going to buy groceries, so the task of watching the ship naturally fell to him.
Anyway, no one else dared to let Zoro go out alone.
City of Water 7, Central Street, Cash Exchange.
One hundred million Belly?
"Yes, these gold ornaments have a rich history and are of very high purity; they are worth this much."
"If you agree, I'll prepare immediately."
The appraiser looked excited. Nami snapped her fingers and said, "Now I only have three things to say."
"First, I forgot to tell you earlier, our captain is a notorious pirate with a bounty of one hundred million."
"Secondly, I do not accept the assessment just now."
"Third, you can call your strongest guards here first," Nami said, looking down at the sweating appraiser. "Don't say I didn't give you a chance. If you try to blackmail us again, I guarantee you won't see the sun tomorrow."
The two people behind her gave Nami plenty of courage.
"Three hundred million Belly, I never imagined it could fetch so much money."
Nami, carrying a suitcase, sighed.
"That's about enough," Shiraishi said, carrying two suitcases. "This is close to their psychological limit; there's no need to put any more pressure on them."
"So, what's next..."
"I'll take you to a good place."
Shiraishi a mysterious smile.
"Here it is?"
Nami, Shiraishi, and Retsu Unohana arrived here on Bull, a unique mode of transportation in City of Water 7, following the city's intricate network of waterways that resembled a spider web.
Nami looked at the strangely styled building in front of her, her expression somewhat puzzled.
"There's a very skilled boatman here; I can sense his strength."
Shiraishi can't exactly say that the Straw Hat Pirates's future shipwright is right here.
Knock knock knock.
"Excuse me."
After knocking on the door, Shiraishi pushed open the door of the building in front of him. What he saw was a group of armed personnel of all shapes and sizes, some tall and some short, some fat and some thin, some strangely shaped, some carrying knives and guns, and some wearing armor and carrying cannons.
" Shiraishi, these people are so different from the boatmen!"
The people in the house were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
"A boatman? You actually came all the way here looking for a boatman? We're bounty hunters!"
"Little girl, you've come to the wrong place. This is Franky Family's territory. We only dismantle ships, we don't build them."
"But if you brought money, we don't mind spending it for you. I smell pirates on you!"
"You all watch the box."
Shiraishi put down the two suitcases he was carrying and walked into the building filled with men with ill intentions, stretching his shoulders as he went.
"My greatest strength is communicating with people."
boom!
With a single step, the metal building trembled, the hard floor shattered, debris flew everywhere, and a powerful shockwave spread in all directions, shattering nearby glass windows.
Shiraishi raised his Riot Games and slammed it down.
boom!
He slammed his fist into the ground, distorting the air and sending visible shockwaves seeping into the floor. The entire hall trembled as if being violently struck like a drum.
Large sections of solid floorboards, carrying soil and rocks, were ripped away by the brute force of the explosion, as if dozens of heavy cannons were falling simultaneously.
What happened?
"Have we been shelled?"
Damn it!
The bounty hunters in the entire hall instantly rolled into a heap and fell to the ground, some of whom were far away and didn't even know what had happened.
Who is it?
A tall figure wearing a cloak and a mask strode forward to the edge of the deep pit that had appeared in the hall, looking at the Shiraishi that had punched out a huge crater.
"How dare you cause trouble for the Franky Family!"
"Hello, Mr. Franky."
Shiraishi withdrew his Riot Games, jumped back to Nami's side, picked up a briefcase, and leaped into the air to stand in front of the tall masked man, opening the briefcase directly in his hand.
In an instant, the bounty hunters, who had just been either angry or frightened, all brightened up.
That was a whole box full of Belly.
The allure of money was enough to silence them, but not the tall, masked man before them.
"What does this mean? An apology?"
"You could say that, but I'm here to discuss a business deal with Mr. Franky."
"Regarding the sale of the Treasure Tree Adam."
Shiraishi didn't want Usopp to be humiliated, and also felt that these minor squabbles were fine to be changed, as long as the ending was good.
" Shiraishi, why do you believe that guy?"
Although Nami had never seen Franky's true face beneath his cloak and mask, she could tell from the hairy legs and bare feet that were inadvertently revealed as he walked, as well as his subordinates in stockings and tight-fitting clothes.
"He looks like a pervert no matter how you look at it."
"Don't worry," Shiraishi waved his hand, "He is absolutely a man of his word."
Franky, or rather Carter Fram, was once a typical hot-blooded young man.
They had a tragic childhood, kind teachers, and a senior classmate who loved to bicker but actually cared deeply for each other.
He also possesses the loyalty, impulsiveness, trouble-making tendencies, and stubbornness of a passionate young man.
Until he was framed and killed his master, who was like a father to him, his senior brother entrusted him with the safekeeping of his master's belongings.
Under various pressures, one is forced to pretend to be someone they're not.
The result was that after pretending for so long, he actually became a psychopath.
"Don't worry, have a good look around."
Shiraishi smiled.
The three briefly experienced the charm of City of Water 7 before returning to the Going Merry, where the atmosphere was tense and confrontational.
Shiraishi was a little confused, since he and Nami were the ones responsible for exchanging gold and repairing the ship.
Why didn't Luffy and Usopp just go and act silly? Why did they start causing trouble again?
However, Shiraishi never imagined that Luffy and Usopp, who seemed so carefree on the surface, were actually the ones who cared the most about the Going Merry.
How could they not send someone to check on the Going Merry?
So you're going to abandon the Going Merry?
With bloodshot eyes Usopp gripped Luffy's collar, completely unlike his usual carefree self.
"You're not a shipwright, are you, Usopp?"
Luffy face was equally grim, let Usopp grab his collar and argue back.
"You heard what those professional boatmen said, so..."
"Shut up!!"
"Don't put on airs like a captain and presumptuously make some stupid decisions!"
Usopp roared angrily, "I misjudged you, Luffy!"
What happened?
When the group returned, Zoro quickly explained the reason.
"The professional seamen here just came to inspect it. The Going Merry... is no longer able to sail, and it can't even be repaired."
Nami exclaimed in shock, "How could this be? There had been no problem at all!"
Thump.
Luffy suddenly slammed Usopp to the ground, the Roar, "Don't go too far!"
Do you think you're the only one feeling bad? Everyone's going through the same thing!
"If you have any objections to my decision, then get off this ship!"
Bang!
With a flying kick, he interrupted Luffy's words in an instant, forcibly sending the two flying apart.
" Luffy, wake up!"
"You're the captain; there are some things you can't say casually."
"Sorry," Luffy said, getting up Luffy being kicked away by Sanji, "I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention just now..."
"That's your honest opinion, isn't it, Luffy?"
Usopp got up and dusted off his pants.
Luffy asked with a serious expression, "What did you say!?"
"Just abandon those companions who can't keep up and keep moving forward."
Usopp lowered his head. "Your dream is to become the Pirate King, standing at the top of the world, so of course you need to possess great power. But I'm different."
"I never imagined I'd be at that level, and I've been seriously thinking about it for a while now."
Usopp's serious gaze swept over the people on the deck: Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Shiraishi, Retsu Unohana, Nami, Chopper.
His lowered eyes revealed reluctance and unwillingness.
"My strength is no longer up to par with yours."
Back when they were still in Syrup Village, the Straw Hat Pirates of only a few people.
Back then, he naively thought that being a pirate meant exciting adventures and joyful days.
Then, once they set sail, one devastating enemy after another fell helplessly.
"I'm just an ordinary person, I can't keep up with you monsters anymore!"
At this moment, Usopp finally mustered the courage to speak his mind. He had always been insecure, wondering if he could really sail with this group forever.
This feeling of inferiority has now become very clear.
Like the Going Merry, he probably wouldn't be able to adapt to the more grueling voyages to come.
They'll probably be abandoned too...
" Usopp, what are you trying to say?"
Nami had a bad feeling and didn't know how to ease the situation.
Shiraishi sighed inwardly, understanding what he was about to say.
" Luffy, I can't continue sailing with you."
Usopp made the decision to leave the crew, bowing and saying, "I'm truly sorry for causing you so much trouble."
Luffy didn't speak, pursed his lips, and pressed his hand against his straw hat, with faint blue veins appearing on the back of his hand.
He finally understood what it meant to be heartbroken.
Usopp turned around, jumped off the Going Merry, pulled out his slingshot, and shouted, "You're the captain of this ship, Monkey D. Luffy!"
"Fight me! If I win, you'll have to give me the Going Merry!!"
Upon hearing this, Nami panicked and quickly said, " Usopp, you're kidding, haha, it's not funny at all. As for the Going Merry, we..."
" The Going Merry is no longer seaworthy."
Luffy didn't refuse the challenge. He jumped off the ship and said, "This time you're not afraid at all. No matter the outcome, this is the duel you asked for. Don't regret it if you lose."