However, Iceberg told him the real and cruel truth: the going merry was beyond saving.
He had only managed simple repairs before, and that was the extent of it because the going merry was truly irreparable, with even its most crucial keel broken.
What's more, they were about to leave again, having arrived here after experiencing the Aqua Laguna.
So, his suggestion was to let the going merry sleep forever here, in this sea, as it no longer had the ability to sail.
Upon hearing this, Luffy's eyes became hollow. Was this ship truly beyond saving?
Suddenly, he felt someone pat his shoulder.
He turned his head and saw Usopp holding the soul extraction lamp.
Luffy looked at the soul extraction lamp in Usopp's hand, once again lost in thought, and finally couldn't help but ask,
"Do we really have to do this?"
"Luffy, let's build another going merry exactly like it. Everyone remembers its appearance, and I even have the blueprints for the going merry in my room."
Usopp said with a gentle expression, clearly having already come to terms with it.
Coupled with Kaya's approval, he had previously been worried about letting Kaya down and had developed deep feelings for the going merry.
But now, the going merry's most important ship spirit could be preserved; as long as they built another one exactly the same and injected the original ship spirit into it, the feeling for them would be essentially the same as before.
The rest of the Straw Hat Pirates gathered around, including even non-Straw Hat Pirates members who knew about this matter.
They all nodded, indicating their acceptance of this method.
Besides, when they received this soul extraction lamp from the Pink Hat Pirates, hadn't they already made up their minds?
"Luffy, you saved me and let me experience such an exciting battle and get my revenge.
I, Franky, am also a man of loyalty.
How about this: give me the blueprints later, and I've already memorized them.
I'll build one for you for free."
Franky patted his chest and said confidently.
Wasn't it just building a small ship exactly like this?
It was a piece of cake for him.
And for such a moving event, how could he not step forward?
Otherwise, how could he face Teacher Tom, as well as his identity as a Shipwright and his dream?
"Since everyone agrees, then I'll do it." Luffy finally showed a hint of a smile, nodding wearily.
Usopp remembered Luna's previous instructions on how to use it, immediately opened the lid, and aimed the bottle head at the ship.
The soul extraction lamp began to work, and a faint white light, as if representing the power of a soul, appeared above it.
"Boom———"
Like the sound of a boulder hitting water, a special wave was generated, spreading all around, pushing back all the Straw Hat Pirates by one or two meters, leaving them all incredibly surprised.
This thing was indeed extraordinary.
"What is that?" Even Iceberg, from the other side, looked surprised at this scene, as he too was pushed back by one or two meters.
Although he didn't yet understand the function of the soul extraction lamp, he could feel that this thing was unusual.
But what happened next astonished him and everyone present, with the Straw Hat Pirates naturally being the most delighted and shocked.
On the deck of the going merry, a figure suddenly floated out, completely visible to their naked eyes.
That's right, they all saw it: a small spirit wearing a yellow raincoat and holding a small wooden hammer.
But at this moment, the soul extraction lamp continued to function, directly sucking the ship spirit, Merry, into the lamp's glass cover.
The lid immediately closed automatically.
"Hahahahaha, great, it worked!" Usopp was overjoyed.
"It's actually real, this is so magical." The others also looked shocked, amazed by the miraculous nature of the soul extraction lamp.
"It can really contain a soul! Heavens, is this technology or magic?" The one feeling the most internal collapse was Franky.
He hadn't believed it initially, but seeing this scene, he almost suffered a mental breakdown.
He was a materialist and also a Scientist.
"Hey, hey, Straw Hat? What exactly is this thing?" Iceberg, as his senior brother, was not much better off, as both of them were quite similar.
Iceberg also trembled at this moment, pointing at Luffy as he spoke.
Of course, the Shipwrights from Galley-La Company who came with Iceberg were also the same; they were equally stunned.
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 70 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!
