Sanji frowned in confusion.
"A chunk of metal running on the sea? What kind of nonsense is that?!"
As the massive black steel beast, spewing smoke, charged forward with overwhelming force, Luffy and Zoro had already stepped to the edge of the deck.
"Zoro, are you going to cut it?" Luffy tilted his head, a faint trace of dark-gold lightning already crackling in his right hand.
"Idiot! There are people on that thing—how could I do something like that?!" Zoro snapped, his face darkening as the muscles in his right arm bulged.
Now that he had reached mid-level Diamond Indestructibility, his control over power had reached perfection.
He slowly drew Wado Ichimonji.
The blade gleamed under the sunlight—yet instead of killing intent, it radiated a heavy, mountain-like pressure.
"Cut!"
Zoro didn't strike the train.
Instead, he slashed toward the sea beside the Merry.
A nearly tangible pressure slash shot forward—not to split the water, but to create a precisely controlled explosion on the surface.
BOOM!!
A powerful recoil surged back through the waves.
The Golden Merry slid sideways dozens of meters, as light and graceful as a golden swallow gliding across ice—just barely avoiding the train's steel prow that could smash through icebergs.
RUMBLE—!!!
The sea train roared past, brushing the edge of the Merry.
The wind pressure alone whipped everyone's clothes violently.
Luffy stared at the spinning steel wheels, his eyes shining like an excited child's.
"That's so cool! It's actually running on the sea!"
"And it's smoking too…"
Chopper's eyes widened in amazement.
Nami had already calmed down, carefully observing the ripples beneath the surface.
"If something shaped like that can move, there must be support under the sea… could it be… rails?"
Ronan watched the departing sea train, knowing they were close to Water 7.
"Hey! Look over there!"
Usopp pointed ahead.
"There's a house on the sea!"
The Golden Merry approached a solitary lighthouse standing amid the waves.
"Granny! Granny! Pirates are here! Real pirates!"
A lively little girl with twin ponytails bounced out onto the walkway like a rabbit.
Moments later, a large figure appeared—
A burly old woman, carrying a bottle, wearing a floral shirt, and built like a tank.
She looked at Ronan's group with drunken eyes.
"I'm Kokoro… uh… what was I going to say… ah, I forgot…"
"So she's just a drunk old lady…" Usopp muttered helplessly.
To ease the mood, Sanji brought out fresh, steaming potato Paille.
The rich aroma instantly captivated the little girl Chimney and the strange cat named Gonbe.
Even the drunken Granny Kokoro grabbed a piece and stuffed it into her mouth.
"Whoa! This kid's cooking is amazing!"
She let out a belch and looked at them more carefully.
"You don't look like those useless train bandits."
On the open ground near the lighthouse, everyone sat around Chimney.
"This is the sea train—Puffing Tom! It's the pride of these waters!"
She pointed into the clear sea.
"The tracks are just beneath the surface. It runs along them using steam power—a true steel miracle!"
Granny Kokoro took another swig of alcohol, a trace of nostalgia and solemnity flashing in her eyes.
She studied Ronan's group before speaking slowly.
"So, where are you all headed? If you take the sea train, you can go to places like the Spring Queen City—St. Poplar…"
"The Gourmet City—Pucci, or the Carnival Town—San Faldo! All great places! There's even a special train for government officials."
"Gourmet City—Pucci?"
The moment Luffy heard that, his entire body trembled, his eyes blazing with excitement.
"That sounds like it has tons of meat! I've decided—next stop, Gourmet City! Feast! Banquet!"
BAM!
A crisp impact echoed.
Nami's fist landed squarely on the back of Luffy's head.
"Don't act like an idiot at a time like this!"
She stood with hands on her hips, clearly annoyed.
"We're following the Log Pose!"
Turning back, she smiled sweetly at Kokoro.
"Granny, we have our own ship, so we won't take the sea train. But our Log Pose is pointing east—what's there?"
Kokoro lifted her bottle and took a long swig, liquor spilling from the corner of her mouth.
"East, huh…"
She let out a long belch.
"Then you're heading to the greatest miracle on the seas—Water 7."
"That train you saw just now came from the 'Blue Station' on that island."
"It's a place blessed by the sea god."
"Water 7?"
Robin, standing at the back, gently touched her chin, her eyes thoughtful.
"The legendary city with the most advanced shipbuilding industry in the world."
"Not just advanced."
Kokoro's drunken voice grew heavier.
"It's truly the best in the world."
"All those luxurious warships used by the World Government elites? Built there."
"It represents humanity's ultimate conquest of the sea."
"The best shipbuilding in the world?!"
Luffy's eyes lit up.
"Then there must be amazing shipwrights there!"
"More than that."
"It gathers the greatest shipwrights from all over the world."
"That's awesome! Ronan! Zoro!"
Luffy pumped his fists excitedly.
"That's it! We're going there—we'll find the best shipwright in the world for the Merry!"
"If you're going there, wait a moment."
Kokoro staggered back into the old lighthouse.
Soon, she returned with a few crumpled sheets of paper.
"This is a simple map… and a letter of recommendation from me."
She handed them to Luffy.
"When you reach Water 7, go find a man named Iceburg."
"Granny Kokoro… you're such a good person!"
Luffy and Usopp burst into tears, bowing repeatedly with clasped hands.
"We'll be heading to Water 7 soon too. If we meet again, I'll treat you to the strongest liquor!"
"Yeah!! We'll definitely meet again!!"
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