Waiting for Luffy to dismantle Franky House, the group returned to the going merry to discuss Robin's situation...
Luffy looked at Usopp, wanting to speak but hesitating...
"Usopp... I'm sorry we decided this while you were gone, but we've decided to get a new ship...
The Merry can no longer continue sailing... so..."
"Wait a moment... I have something to tell Usopp." Orochimaru looked at the pained Usopp, interrupted Luffy, and dragged Usopp out by his hair...
After a moment of thought, he came back. "...Nami... Sanji... Chopper... you all come too.
Zoro, you watch Luffy."
Usopp was a bit dazed. "Wait... Orochimaru, my hair... my injury just healed... my soul is still aching... be gentle! And Merry!"
Orochimaru directly led the group to his laboratory, then laid out his plan.
After listening, everyone's eyes widened, revealing expressions of disbelief.
Nami asked with some hesitation, "Can something like this really be achieved?"
In her heart, she still didn't quite believe this crazy idea.
Orochimaru nodded. "Yes, but it requires the Merry's cooperation, and Merry is clearly avoiding us... so the time isn't right yet..."
Usopp, on the other hand, was so excited he was shedding tears, choking out, "So that's how it is! Merry has a new life? So Merry wasn't abandoned after all! thank you... Orochimaru!"
After a while, Usopp wiped away his tears and couldn't help but ask Orochimaru, "Then are we really not going to tell Luffy about this?"
Although he understood that Luffy's decision was correct before, he found it truly difficult to accept the going merry's departure.
He felt that Luffy, who abandoned Merry, would similarly abandon a useless him.
But now the situation was different; the Merry had new hope, and Orochimaru had uncharacteristically enlightened him, making him start to worry about Luffy.
Losing the going merry was also a very painful thing for Luffy, and as Captain, he had to bear that responsibility.
(≖ _ ≖) Orochimaru was expressionless. "Don't tell him... First, his IQ won't understand, he'll only cause trouble.
Secondly, didn't Merry become like this because he kept bumping around on the going merry?
You wouldn't want the next Companion to take over Merry to become like this, would you?
...Merry is special.
What if the next ship is just an ordinary ship?
So he needs to learn a lesson."
Everyone covered their faces and simultaneously thought of a problem... "He's definitely being petty... They knew it... How could Orochimaru have no reaction after being yelled at by Luffy?"
"What about Mosshead, and what about Robin-chan?" Sanji lit a match and ignited the cigarette in his mouth.
Orochimaru leaned against a glass petri dish.
"Zoro probably knows some things.
He's not curious about these; he just needs to know Merry is fine.
For Robin, I sent a snake clone to her.
Also, the one I gave Chopper earlier, it followed Robin when she left, to send messages in emergencies.
After all, my memories only return when my clones disappear, so I need an extra layer of assurance."
Nami looked a bit disappointed. "Does Robin really not want to be with us anymore...?"
Orochimaru patted Nami's head. "Of course not.
I'm guessing she was basically threatened by someone, like being hunted by an Admiral or something...
If Robin really left voluntarily, why would she say goodbye to Sanji and Chopper?
She must be afraid something would happen to us, after all, people who like snakes... anything they do can be forgiven."
Nami's mouth twitched.
What kind of theory is that?
Aren't you the scientific Orochimaru?
"Anyway, the rest is up to Luffy.
Isn't he the Captain?...
Doesn't he like to act recklessly?...
I'm just a 'vice' Captain." (∩ △ ∩)
"He's definitely angry... and very angry!"
Such thoughts simultaneously popped into everyone's minds.
Orochimaru would never have guessed that his letting Luffy act recklessly... resulted in meeting someone who was "longing for and eager to fight" him and Luffy.
The group returned to the cabin.
Usopp forced a smile at Luffy. "Luffy... they've already explained about Merry.
Since Merry can no longer sail, let her rest well here.
However... before Merry rests, can we fix her up, at least let her leave cleanly, and when the new ship is ready, let Merry see it, so she can be at ease?"
As Usopp spoke, he started wiping away tears again... Although he knew Merry would continue to live, he wouldn't see her for a long time, and he still couldn't bear to part.
Luffy heard Usopp's words, and the two hugged, crying bitterly.
"thank you... Usopp... I was really afraid you wouldn't be able to accept it, Merry... waaaah waaaah waaaah."
Nami walked over and forcefully separated the two.
"Stop crying... We'll talk about the new ship later.
What we need to consider now is Robin!!!
And we just got news that Mayor Iceberg was assassinated, and Robin did it... Now we're wanted criminals."
Luffy reacted, pressing his straw hat. "I don't believe Robin would leave like this.
I want to ask her myself... Let's go find Iceberg."
Meanwhile, at Iceberg's place, all the shipwright foremen guarded Iceberg's door, wary of the straw hat.
Other shipwrights also formed three layers inside and three layers outside the main entrance.
After a series of attacks by unknown individuals on the Galley-La headquarters, Luffy getting lost... Zoro getting lost... the group finally bypassed numerous shipwrights, forcibly blasted open Iceberg's room, and reunited.
Luffy looked at Robin, somewhat happy. "Robin!!
You really are here... Come back with us."
Meanwhile, Paulie, one of the shipwright foremen who was with Luffy, looked in disbelief at the injured Iceberg in the room and the familiar faces, filled with betrayed anger.
"What happened!!!
Kaku! Kalifa!! And Lucci!
Why are you dressed like this?" Paulie looked at his friends, unwilling to accept this reality.
Lucci spoke, but this time it wasn't his pigeon.
For the first time in years, Paulie heard Lucci's real voice.
"Paulie... actually, we are spies sent by the government.
You'll forgive us if we apologize, right?
After all, we are Companions who toiled day and night 'building' ships together.
If you can't accept it right away, I can prove it to you by stepping on Iceberg's face."
Luffy was stunned, speechless.
Paulie clenched his fists. "Damn it... you can talk!
Are you messing with me?!"
Orochimaru looked at the two, glancing left and right... still couldn't resist complaining... "So Lucci, is Iceberg that ship?
Are you that concerned about Paulie?
You'd step on the target's face for Paulie?
Paulie... you're not concerned about Iceberg lying on the ground, but that he didn't use his real voice with you?"
Just afraid of the sudden silence in the air.
Nami quickly covered Orochimaru's mouth and dragged him away. "Gomen, gomen, our snake accidentally got out... you all continue... continue..."
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