-Broadcast-
Even with his mechanical nature and modified moral parameters, Franky found himself genuinely disturbed by what he was witnessing. Humans truly were capable of plumbing depths of depravity that even his cynical programming hadn't fully accounted for.
The Show wasn't merely adult entertainment—it was a grotesque marketplace masquerading as performance art. Under the guise of artistic expression, the Donquixote Family displayed their most valuable "collections," with the implicit understanding that everything and everyone on stage could be purchased for the right price. It was exploitation wrapped in the rhetoric of freedom, challenging the very concept of human dignity.
"Well, I thought I'd seen everything," Franky muttered to his escorts, his mechanical voice carrying a note of dark humor. "Turns out there are still masters of perversion I can learn from."
The admission process was as ostentatious as everything else about the establishment. The minimum entry fee of 100 million Berries was paid in cash, with Franky literally opening a compartment in his chest to retrieve the stacks of currency. The three-eyed cashier counted each note with practiced efficiency before presenting them with their admission materials.
"Welcome to tonight's exclusive performance, honored guest," the cashier said with a deep bow. "Should you require anything during the show, our staff stands ready to assist you. Your satisfaction is our absolute priority."
Along with the golden admission letter—a lavish souvenir in itself—they received ornate masks designed to protect the identities of the wealthy and powerful patrons. The La Casa de la Pasión understood that discretion was essential when catering to Dressrosa's elite and their distinguished visitors.
His hostess companions helped secure his mask before donning their own. "Franky-san, I'm so excited!" whispered one of them. "I've only heard stories about these shows from the other girls."
"Today is truly special for us," added her companion, though Franky's sensors detected the mixture of anticipation and apprehension in their voices.
The venue itself resembled a grand opera house, complete with multiple tiers of seating arranged to provide optimal viewing angles. Franky's basic admission only granted access to the rear sections, but the elevated position actually offered a decent vantage point for observing both the stage and the other patrons.
Once seated, Franky turned his attention to more pressing matters—specifically, the presence of Trafalgar Law in the front rows. His quantum processors filtered out ambient noise to focus on the conversation between the Shichibukai and his distinctive first mate.
"Captain, why did we have to come to a place like this?" Bepo's voice carried clearly despite his mask, the white bear's discomfort obvious even from a distance. "There are so many humans here. Couldn't we have found somewhere with bears?"
Law sat with characteristic composure, his crying-face mask doing little to hide the tension in his posture. His famous nodachi, Kikoku, rested against his chair, and notably, no La Casa de la Pasión staff had approached their table—likely dismissed by the notoriously antisocial Warlord.
"There are no female bears working at the La Casa de la Pasión, Bepo," Law replied, his voice carrying an edge that suggested deeper frustrations. "Once I finish my business here, I'll help you find proper companionship. But tonight, we have other priorities."
Franky filed away the interaction for later analysis. The Heart Pirates' captain was clearly here for reasons beyond entertainment, and his barely contained animosity suggested personal stakes in whatever scheme had brought him to Dressrosa.
The lights dimmed as the evening's program began, signaling the end of late arrivals and the start of the main attraction. What happened next sent genuine shock through Franky's systems—something that rarely occurred given his comprehensive databases.
The host who took the stage was someone he recognized, though the transformation was so complete that his facial recognition protocols had nearly failed to identify her.
"Good evening, distinguished guests," purred the green-haired mermaid as she glided across the stage with practiced sensuality. Her voice had gained a sultry quality that would have been unimaginable 5 years ago. "I'm Camie, and I'll be your guide through tonight's exclusive presentation. Trust me when I say that what we're unveiling tonight will exceed your wildest expectations."
She blew a kiss to the audience, her movements displaying a confidence and worldly knowledge that struck Franky like a physical blow. This was the same mermaid who had once been captured repeatedly by sea kings due to her innocent nature, the cheerful café worker who had befriended the Straw Hat Pirates during their time on Sabaody.
"No way," Franky whispered, his voice processing unit struggling to maintain normal vocal patterns. "Camie... what the hell happened to you?"
Around the world, Sky Screen viewers who remembered the innocent young mermaid from the Straw Hats' previous adventures sat in stunned silence. The transformation from naive café worker to sophisticated hostess of an adult establishment represented a fall from grace that few could have imagined.
Camie continued her introduction with practiced ease, occasionally directing flirtatious commentary toward the front-row patrons. Her personality had undergone a complete metamorphosis—where once she had been endearingly clumsy and trusting, she now displayed the calculating charm of someone who had learned to survive in an unforgiving world.
Franky's advanced memory systems replayed their previous encounters with perfect clarity. The contrast was staggering. 5 years ago, Camie had been the embodiment of innocent optimism, easily deceived but eternally hopeful. Her biggest worry had been making takoyaki properly and avoiding the various sea creatures that seemed determined to eat her.
Now she commanded the stage with the confidence of someone who had seen too much and learned to weaponize her own beauty. The question that burned in Franky's processors was simple: what series of events had transformed the sweet mermaid café worker into the sultry hostess of Dressrosa's most notorious establishment?
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