Chapter 120: Rocketman Launch – Iceburg's Resolve & CP9's Countermeasures
After the doctor humbly asked Chopper many long-standing questions, Iceburg finally slowly woke from his coma. Seeing this, the doctor realized they had important matters to discuss and politely excused himself.
Bari was the first to push to the bedside. Seeing Iceburg awake, his face lit up with joy: "Iceburg-san! You're finally awake!"
"What happened to me…" Iceburg first looked around in confusion, then suddenly seemed to remember something. His emotions surged: "Lucci! Where did Lucci and the others go?!"
"Lucci, Kaku, and those bastards… they all disappeared," Bari said bitterly, clenching his fist as he began recounting what happened.
He had come today to report work to Iceburg. With Aqua Laguna arriving early, there were many urgent matters to handle. But the moment he entered the room, he saw Blueno shooting Iceburg point-blank while Lucci, Kaku, and Kalifa stood coldly by.
He tried to rush forward to stop them, but Kaku easily subdued him. He could only watch helplessly as the group vanished like ghosts into thin air.
"I see…" Iceburg let out a long sigh, exhaustion and heaviness written across his face. "I never expected the World Government to be hiding this deeply."
"That kid Franky has already been exposed and taken away. You knew about this, right, Iceburg?" Granny Kokoro said, delivering another piece of bad news.
"Franky too…" Iceburg's tone was filled with worry.
"That's why this old lady brought them to you." Granny Kokoro pointed at Luffy's group. "These idiots want to go rescue their people, but all the sea trains have already left Water 7. They won't run again until after Aqua Laguna passes."
"You mean… using that?" Iceburg's gaze swept over Luffy and the others, his tone uncertain.
"What? Uncle, do you have a way to let us go save Vivi and Robin?" Luffy asked eagerly, eyes shining with hope.
"From what you're saying, you plan to storm Enies Lobby to rescue them? Straw Hat kid—Monkey D. Luffy." Iceburg studied Luffy carefully—this was his second time meeting the 100-million-Berry pirate captain.
"That's right! We have to get there right now to save them! Granny said you could help us!" Luffy's voice was unwavering, without the slightest hesitation.
"I do have a way to get you to Enies Lobby," Iceburg said gravely, slowly sitting up with Bari's support. "But think carefully—Enies Lobby is one of the World Government's three major strongholds. Your actions would be equivalent to declaring war on the entire World Government!"
"I don't care about any of that!" Luffy shouted loudly, eyes sharp as blades beneath his straw hat. "If I can't even protect my own nakama, what kind of captain am I? What kind of Pirate King?! Robin and the others are waiting for us to save them!"
"Exactly. We're pirates, aren't we?" Sol said with a relaxed smile. "Going against the World Government is only natural, isn't it?"
"I understand…" Iceburg stood up with Bari's help. "Then please follow me, everyone."
As they left the room, Iceburg briefly spoke with the citizens who had come to check on him, urging them to head to the mountain-top shelter as quickly as possible to escape the tsunami. He also instructed Bari to lead the shipwrights in assisting with the evacuation.
Then he led Sol's group to the rear of a secluded garbage processing plant and opened an inconspicuous warehouse door. When the lights came on, a uniquely shaped sea train with a shark-like streamlined head appeared before them.
"Rocketman—the runaway train that was never put into service!" Iceburg introduced.
"So cool!" Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper's eyes instantly sparkled; they praised the awesome-looking train in unison.
"But I must warn you first," Iceburg said seriously. "This train is a failure. No matter how you adjust it, its speed cannot be controlled. It's a runaway train that only stops when the fuel runs out."
"I see… no wonder it's called the runaway train," Nami murmured.
"Then prepare yourselves," Iceburg said as he walked toward the train. "I'll check the condition first, refill the coal and fresh water, and make sure it can start properly."
At that moment, Sanji and Usopp finally arrived pulling two large carts full of food. Sanji had realized it was almost mealtime, borrowed some money from Nami in advance, and dragged Usopp to shop. "Everyone just eat something quick for now—there's no time to cook properly," Sanji said while handing out food.
Luffy and Sol immediately gathered around and began devouring everything. Zoro casually grabbed a bottle of booze and a large piece of roast meat and leaned against the wall to eat.
Nami took a piece of roast meat and looked at Granny Kokoro, Chimney, and the rabbit called Gonbe happily eating. She couldn't help asking: "Granny, why are you still here? Didn't you say the tsunami is coming soon? Isn't it dangerous not to evacuate?"
"Hic," Granny Kokoro took a big swig of rum and countered: "If I leave, which one of you knows how to operate this 'Rocketman'?" Seeing Nami's surprised expression, she grinned. "So let this old lady take you on this trip."
Meanwhile, Franky's situation was utterly miserable.
"You bastards! Let this big bro go! I'll fight you all!" Franky was tied up like a mummy with thick iron chains and thrown into a dim corner of a train car. Beside him was Karoo, also tightly bound and letting out weak "quack quack" sounds.
A group of low-level CP agents surrounded Franky, mercilessly punching and kicking him. "Damn it, acting so tough! Look at you now! Still struggling even tied up—when we reach Enies Lobby, you're dead!" one agent cursed while kicking, then turned to his companion: "By the way, who has the smelliest feet? If he keeps yelling, we'll take off our socks and stuff them in his mouth!"
At those words, Franky—who had been struggling desperately—immediately froze and went silent as a chicken. He could endure a beating, but having stinky socks shoved in his mouth… that would be torture worse than death!
"Heh, finally quiet. Let's go." The agent who made the suggestion nodded in satisfaction, patted his hands, and led the group out, slamming the car door shut behind them.
In the car ahead of Franky's, the atmosphere was completely different. Kaku sat comfortably in a seat. Hearing the commotion in the back finally stop, he spoke: "Finally quiet back there. Lucci, how's your hand?"
Lucci slowly clenched his right hand. The broken bones from Sol's punch had mostly healed thanks to the powerful recovery of his Zoan Devil Fruit. "Mm, no major issue," he said in a low voice, though his face remained gloomy. "I just didn't expect I couldn't even take one hit from him."
This defeat left Lucci deeply humiliated, but he remained calm and self-aware. "Just in case," he continued, "I'll notify Director Spandam and ask him to send a strong fighter to Enies Lobby to take charge."
Kaku and the others nodded in agreement. If not for Blueno's Door-Door Fruit allowing instant air-door escape, Lucci might have truly been finished by Sol. This sudden powerful enemy forced CP9—previously confident of victory—to reassess the situation.
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