A sudden uproar erupted outside the entrance.
"Special Agents inside, come out right now!"
"Get out here!"
"I want justice for Iceburg-san!"
"Come out!"
Lucci, Kaku, and Kalifa turned sharply toward the voices. A mass of Water 7 citizens was charging toward the Franky Family's hideout. Some held kitchen knives, others brandished saws, and some were still in pajamas, faces full of fury.
Their expressions darkened. They had no idea how the citizens managed to locate them, but their covert mission was undoubtedly exposed.
Crocodile, watching calmly, smirked as the final piece of Rolan's plan slotted cleanly into place. With everything they needed accomplished, he dissolved into swirling sand and vanished from the Franky Family's hideout, taking Franky with him.
With their target gone, Lucci and the others had no reason to stay. Staying to massacre civilians would waste precious time, and any unexpected mishap would mean punishment even they could not bear.
Lucci nodded once to Kaku and Kalifa. In the next instant, he vanished with Soru.
Kaku followed, carrying the unconscious Blueno, disappearing in a few swift movements.
By the time the furious citizens stormed into the hideout, they found no Special Agents, only the battered bodies of Franky's men scattered across the floor.
"Doctor! Someone get a doctor!"
"Hurry! Bring medical supplies!"
"Forget the agents for now, save the injured!"
Fortunately, Kaku and the others had held back just enough to avoid seriously crippling anyone.
…
"Iceburg!" Before they even reached the mayor's office, Franky's anxious shout echoed down the hallway.
He burst inside and froze when he saw Iceburg sitting upright at his desk, alive and breathing. Only the dried blood on Iceburg's clothing hinted that he had been attacked earlier.
"Iceburg, how are you?" Franky rushed across the room, face tight with worry.
Iceburg looked up at the hole-riddled Franky and exhaled shakily. "Franky, you stubborn brat… you're still alive. Thank goodness."
His voice trembled as he spoke.
Seeing Iceburg's honest relief, Franky didn't even crack a joke. "You aren't hurt anymore, right?"
The warmth between the two was touching, until Enel, who had been lounging nearby with a bored look, groaned loudly.
"Are you two going to keep being sentimental? At least acknowledge the rest of us. We're literally standing right here."
Only then did Franky notice the unfamiliar faces in the office. He blinked at the group. "You guys… you're from Ion Tempest, right? Did you save Iceburg?"
Iceburg nodded. "If it weren't for Rolan, I would be dead already."
Franky's eyes widened in gratitude. "Thank you! Super thank you!" He lifted both hands dramatically above his head.
"Hiss… ah, ouch!"
His wounds protested at the sudden movement, making him grimace.
Rolan watched him quietly, expression unreadable. Franky's body was full of holes, yet he was still moving like nothing happened. Rolan didn't say anything, but the thought flickered in the back of his mind. The man was tougher than he looked.
He flicked a small black pill toward Franky. "Take this. It'll stop the bleeding."
His tone remained flat and indifferent. Whether Franky lived or not didn't truly matter to him, but well he needed Franky to remain functional.
Rolan then turned toward the exit. "It's late. We're heading back."
…
The next morning, a thin mist of rain veiled Water 7, covering the city with a muted gray. The Great Fountain, bright and dazzling the day before, now reflected the somber light of dawn.
Inside Iceburg's office, Rolan leaned casually against the desk, arms crossed, waiting. He had just explained his plan.
Iceburg and Franky stared at him with disbelief.
Franky recovered first. "Super! That's an incredible dream. I know you're strong, but pulling that off won't be easy."
Rolan shrugged. "I know dealing with the World Government is complicated. But difficulty doesn't matter. If it needs to be done, it will be done."
Iceburg looked at him long and hard. The young man standing before him barely looked eighteen, yet he was speaking of a matter that would shake the Grand Line itself.
After a while, Iceburg sighed. "I will support your plan, but I don't want to lose Water 7."
Rolan nodded. "Even if something forces relocation, we'll move the entire island. Water 7 is still the most famous shipbuilding base on the Grand Line. The World Government won't risk damaging it. But we should begin preparing for what's coming."
Iceburg rubbed his forehead, frustrated. Rolan spoke with a calm certainty that made refusal nearly impossible. The looming threat of the World Government weighed heavily on him, but Rolan's determination forced reality into motion.
Franky suddenly reached into the mini fridge inside his stomach and pulled out a thick bundle of papers. "Oh right, these should be the Pluton blueprints, yeah?"
Rolan flipped through them, brow furrowing. He understood none of it. If he had been a mechanical engineer in his past life on Earth, maybe he would have understood, but sadly, he was only familiar with writing software bugs.
Crocodile leaned in as well. He had spent years chasing Pluton, yet even he frowned. "I can't read any of this. But it feels… powerful."
Rolan returned the blueprints to Franky. "They should remain with you."
Franky blinked. "You don't want them?"
He and Iceburg had discussed it earlier. They both assumed the blueprints would be safest with Rolan.
Rolan turned away, unimpressed. "Nah, I don't want that thing anymore, Keeping it changes nothing."
Iceburg and Franky exchanged a silent look. Rolan had no greed in his eyes. Few people could resist that temptation.
Then Iceburg stood up. "By the way, I've prepared a banquet in the hall. You're all invited."
Rolan raised an eyebrow. "You sure you should be doing that? We're pirates. Won't this hurt your business?"
Iceburg patted the small mouse sleeping in his chest pocket. "It's a private banquet. No one will know. And even if the World Government finds out, we'll handle it together."
Rolan smirked faintly. "Bold move, Mayor."
The banquet lasted for hours, filled with food, laughter, and the clamor of grateful workers.
Finally, Franky personally escorted Rolan and Ion Tempest to the entrance of Dock 1.
A large crowd had already gathered.
Click
Click
Click
Camera shutters flashed nonstop.
"Were you the ones who saved the Mayor?"
"Thank you!"
"You're the heroes of Water 7!"
"You saved our city!"
Rolan felt uncomfortable. Crowded places irritated him, and noisy gratitude was even worse.
Crocodile chuckled quietly, remembering his plan to over throne Alabasta.
Nami clung to Rolan's arm, glaring at the women in the crowd who were eyeing him with open interest. She tightened her hold as though declaring ownership.
Just as the crew wondered how they would push through the crowd, another commotion rose.
A few of Franky's subordinates, wearing strange sunglasses and iron briefs, shoved their way forward.
"Franky-sama! Please take a look!"
One of them slapped a poster onto the ground.
It was a fresh wanted poster for Franky.
Franky
Only Dead
110,000,000 berries
Franky stared, jaw dropping as he lifted the paper with trembling hands. It felt impossibly heavy.
"What… what!!!"
---
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