"Why? Why am I being hunted… and tagged 'ONLY DEAD'?" Franky's voice trembled as he spoke, snot forming at his lip.
Rolan's face remained unreadable. Such a bounty meant only the greatest threats earned the "ONLY DEAD" status.
In his previous life, CP9 saw Franky burn the blueprints, and his first bounty was just 44 million berries. But this time was different. The World Government knew he held the Pluton blueprints, and as a shipwright, that made him danger incarnate.
He merited that bounty, Rolan thought, however brutal.
Franky blinked, swallowing hard. He turned to his subordinates. "Forget the bounty for now — let's rebuild the Franky Family headquarters."
One by one, his people shook their heads. "No," one said finally, voice low. "We can't stay with you."
Franky frowned. "What? You're abandoning me now?"
Another subordinate swallowed. "Big Brother… with that kind of bounty, we'll be implicated. They'll arrest us the moment they connect us to you."
"We don't want to live constantly looking over our shoulders."
Franky's heart pounded. "We are the Super Franky Family! A bounty doesn't scare us. I'm super now!"
But his once-loyal crew's expressions were solemn, their conviction gone.
One man stepped forward, voice soft but firm. "Big Brother, your strength… yes, it's greater than before. But even you couldn't beat those agents. We don't feel safe anymore."
Franky's hand shot to his glasses. "What?!" he shouted, sliding them up sharply. "You're saying you don't trust me?"
His subordinate shook his head. "We do, but… we care about the people of Water 7. If you stay here with that bounty, battles will happen. Bounty hunters, Marines — and when it all goes wrong, innocent people will get hurt. Big Brother, you'll become a villain in their eyes."
Franky's eyes went wide. He had never thought of himself as a villain.
A second subordinate bowed deeply. "Rolan-sama, please — take Big Brother Franky with you when you leave Water 7."
Rolan watched them his expression blank. "Why should I take him?"
The subordinate glanced at Franky, hand trembling. "You saved Mayor Iceburg and then saved Big Brother Franky. We trust you. You're an Emperor. You're strong. You can protect him."
Rolan tilted his head, considering. His crew lacked a truly talented shipwright — Franky could fix that. His ability could help innovate, build, and defend.
"Fine. I'll take Franky. But he's got to agree."
The subordinate's head drooped, rain beginning to fall over Water 7. "Yes… Big Brother Franky isn't sure yet. But for his safety, and for the island's safety, this is best."
Rolan nodded, "If he boards my ship, I make no empty promises — but I will protect him."
The subordinates bowed in unison. "We accept. Franky will leave with you."
Franky, who had been watching, finally realized what had happened. Betrayed. Amid the gray rain and murmuring crowd, he called out, voice cracking: "Wait! Don't… don't leave without me!"
After Franky and his men turned to walk back toward the Franky Family house, the crowd around Rolan swelled again.
"Rolan-sama, may I have your autograph?"
"Nami-san, do you have a boyfriend?"
"You're so handsome, Rolan-sama — please marry me!"
Nami, seeing the chaos, grabbed Rolan's arm tightly. She transformed into a fluffy white cloud and drifted off with him, pulling him out of reach.
Crocodile smiled wryly, then melted into a swirl of yellow sand and vanished.
Enel yawned, crackled, and turned into a streak of lightning as he disappeared.
Later that afternoon, on the Ion Tempest, anchored just off the Water 7 coast:
Rolan stood on deck, eyes narrowed. His Super Heart Net had picked up a signal — someone was lying still on the deck.
He said quietly, "Interesting. He kept his word… he's on my ship."