Koko, her face flushed with drink, raised a bottle to her lips and took another long gulp. "What I'm about to say is just the rambling of an old drunk," she slurred. "You can take it to heart, or you can pretend you never heard it."
She glanced at Franky, her voice dropping to a low, somber tone. "The man who was once called the world's greatest shipwright was a fish-man named Tom. More than twenty years ago, he personally built the Pirate King Roger's ship, the Oro Jackson. After Roger was executed, Tom was charged with a crime for helping the Pirate King."
"To avoid his sentence, Tom explained the plans for his sea train to the court. The judge was so impressed that he changed Tom's sentence, allowing him to build the train.
Fourteen years later, the sea train was finally completed, and Tom should have been pardoned. But then, Tom's idiotic apprentice fell for a trap and was framed. Tom used his credit for the sea train to clear his apprentice's name, and in return, he was arrested for the original crime of building Roger's ship. He was then sent to Enies Lobby for execution."
Koko took another swig, her eyes welling up with tears as she recalled the past. "That day, his idiotic apprentice stood in front of the sea train, trying to stop it and save his master, but of course, he was struck down."
Everyone at the table, including the Straw Hat Crew, listened silently, their food and drinks forgotten.
"But... why?" Tashigi said, her voice full of confusion. "Mr. Tom was just building a ship. What's the crime in that?" Her eyes widened as she suddenly realized who had handed down the judgment. It was the World Government, the same organization that commanded the Marines.
Koko laughed, tears streaming down her face. "Hahaha! Yes, that's what I said! It's just a ship, so what's the crime? The truth is, building a ship isn't a crime. But building a ship for Roger? That's a huge crime!"
A heavy silence fell over the group. They all understood. Guilt or innocence didn't matter to the World Government. What mattered was that they needed Roger's death to send a clear message to the world. Anyone connected to him, no matter how distantly, deserved to die.
Luffy didn't say anything. As a pirate himself, he knew that the World Government and the Marines considered him a criminal. Even if they had done nothing wrong, anyone who raised a pirate flag or was associated with pirates was considered evil in the eyes of the World Government. Right or wrong, it was all evil.
Koko suddenly changed the subject. "So, I know you Straw Hats are looking for a shipwright. Tom had two apprentices: Iceburg and Franky, that perverted underwear guy. Iceburg is the mayor of Water 7, and he'll never be a pirate.
That's why I'm here to recommend Franky to you. That fool likes you guys, but he's too shy to come here himself. I'm just an old lady, so I had to take the initiative and talk to you. Of course, if you don't like it, just chalk it up to a drunk old woman's ramblings!"
Everyone was surprised. They had no idea that Koko's story had a hidden purpose. The fact that Franky was an apprentice of the world's greatest shipwright made him an excellent candidate. They all looked at Luffy, waiting for his decision.
Suddenly, Yokozuna, the large frog, let out a deep croak. He was still bandaged from his previous injuries, but he had managed to make it to the party.
Chopper stared at the frog. "You're the frog who was blocking the sea train! You're saying Franky is that famous guy who tried to stop the train to save his master? So you were learning from him when you were doing the same thing?"
The others were shocked. Koko's story suddenly made sense. The idiotic apprentice she had been talking about was Franky.
Luffy pushed his straw hat down, a wide grin showing his teeth. "The perverted underwear guy? I saw him before when I was beating up my auntie. He's a good guy. I didn't expect him to be the student of the world's best shipwright. He's perfect for the crew! I'll go invite him right now!"
Luffy stood up to leave, but Zoro, who had been quietly drinking, spoke up. "Wait, Luffy!"
"Zoro?"
"You shouldn't go. You should wait for him to come to us."
"Why?"
"If Franky truly wants to join the Straw Hats, he should come and ask himself. If he can't even do that, he's not good enough for our crew. I'm sorry to Mrs. Koko, but we want the famous Franky, not the one who needs his elders to recommend him."
Luffy paused, surprised, and then slowly sat back down. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Koko, but I think Zoro's right!"
Koko burst out laughing. "Hahahaha! You're right! This old lady was getting confused! I still believe that Franky is a famous man, and I know he'll come here himself!"
Carl looked at Zoro in surprise. He hadn't expected Zoro to suddenly speak up and say something so profound. It really made him seem like a good candidate for the first mate.
However, Carl felt that Zoro's words had a deeper meaning. Before, Luffy had a small crew, and it was okay for him to personally invite each member. But now that Luffy was becoming one of the Five Emperors, personally inviting every new crew member might damage the captain's authority.
The crew was no longer the same as it was before, and the process of joining had to change. If it was someone like Jimbe or Hawkeye, it would be fine for Luffy to personally invite them. But Franky was still relatively unknown, despite being the apprentice of a famous shipwright. If Luffy invited him, it might make the other crew members uncomfortable and could make Franky feel he was more important than he was.
So what Zoro was saying was that Luffy shouldn't go. Franky had to come to them. If he was truly a famous man who wanted to join the Straw Hat Crew, he would come and prove it himself. If not, it just wasn't meant to be.
Carl wasn't sure if he had misinterpreted Zoro's words, and he didn't bother to ask. Still, he was impressed by Zoro's newfound maturity, believing he could indeed become the second-in-command of the crew just like in the original story. Carl knew his own role on the ship was as a teacher, not a first mate.
The party went on until late into the night. Most of the crew were now asleep, snoring loudly. The strange thing was that Luffy and the others were talking in their sleep and seemed to be communicating in their dreams.
Carl, who hadn't gotten drunk, was sitting in the crow's nest, enjoying the night breeze. Suddenly, Law's voice came from the Den Den Mushi. "Carl, can you give me Doflamingo's cadres?"
"Sure, why not? Luffy already agreed to it," Carl replied nonchalantly.
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse