The late afternoon air clung heavy with the briny scent of Water 7's as the distant chatter of the civilians, merchants, marines, and shipwrights echoed faintly through the harbor. The Going Merry sat moored in the quiet stillness, its battered hull almost seemed to sag under the weight of the day's news yet to be spoken aloud.
Footsteps were the first thing to approach the dock, belonging to none other than the three members who had gone to the Galley-La. Nami was the first to step onto the gangplank, her jaw tight and eyes downcast. Usopp followed, moving slower, still clutching the strap of his bag like it was the only thing that was holding him upright. Last came Luffy, whose usual spring to his step was gone, instead his gaze was shadowed beneath the brim of the strawhat. The faint breeze that trailed in with him felt different, carrying an odd, static edge as if the air itself had caught his mood.
The rest of the crew were already gathered on the deck. Zoro was standing with his arms crossed, leaning against the mast silently. Sanji had his hands shoved deep into his pockets, cigarette burning low between his lips, while his eyes continuously scanned the horizon. Chopper was sitting on a coil of rope, his small shoulders hunched. While Robin rested in a chair near the rail, her fingers curled around a steaming mug of tea, even if her eyes were unseeing.
"..We need to talk," Luffy spoke first, breaking the solemn silence, his voice quiet but carried, which was enough to make most of the eyes turn toward him. "I think.. everyone's got something they need to say," he stated, feeling the emotions from his crew–scared-worried-frightened-anguish-anger-melancholy.
A flicker of unease crossed Nami's face, but Chopper spoke before anyone else could. His voice was wavering, his words tumbling out faster than usual. "When… when Robin and I were in the city-" he glanced at her, but Robin's gaze stayed fixed on the liquid in her cup, still unseeing "-she said there's s-s-someone here she can't be around. Someone who made her feel u-unsafe. R-Really unsafe."
Robin's hands weren't trembling much, but they trembled enough for everyone to see.
Chopper swallowed hard. "They… they followed us. Two of them. I don't know who they were, but.. they were fast. They kept getting closer, no matter how many turns we took," his voice hitched, the memory flashing in his mind. "But then we met Sanji, and got back here. But when we climbed onto the Merry… they were just… gone. Like they'd never been there at all."
His voice was so small. The memory of it, the cold knot of fear in his chest, the sense of being hunted, it reminded him of when he was seen as a monster, so it clung to him, as he hugged his little arms around himself. "I didn't… I didn't like it. I-I don't–"
Usopp was the first one to sit beside him, crouching down to wrap Chopper up in his arms, holding him. "Hey, hey.. it's okay. You're okay. You did well."
But Chopper's breath came in sharp, unsteady bursts, as his small frame trembled until the first tears slipped free. Usopp tightened his hold, pulling the little reindeer close against him.
Luffy's gaze softened as he watched them. He stepped closer, his tone warm but certain, as his hand patted Chopper's little head. "You did a good job, Chopper," he said softly. "You kept your eyes open. You protected Robin. Watched her back. That's what matters. And I am so proud of you, Chopper."
Chopper sniffled, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hoof. "I… I tried."
"And you did," Luffy replied without hesitation, letting a small smile on his face as his hand ruffled Chopper's furry hair.
The little reindeer gave a small nod, wiping down the last of his tears. Usopp kept a hand on his shoulder, a silent anchor still there for him.
Robin, meanwhile, hadn't moved. Her gaze was fixed on the trembling and shaking liquid of her warm tea, which she still hadn't drunk. Her expression was unreadable, distant, as if her thoughts were somewhere far away or years in the past. Nami crossed the deck and sank into the arm of the chair beside her. Without a word, she reached out and rested her hand gently on Robin's shoulder. Her touch was light, but it carried the weight of quiet reassurance.
Sanji exhaled a thin ribbon of smoke and spoke without taking his eyes off Robin. "I'm worried about her." His voice was low but not soft. It was the kind of voice that came from someone ready to start a fight if it came to it.
Luffy's eyes flicked to Robin, then back to Sanji, and he gave a slow, almost sad nod. He knew. Robin had been the first one to come in contact with them. The first to feel the shadow that CP9 had cast over the island. And if she shaken this badly… then whatever she felt was real and dangerous.
"I'll keep her safe from them. No matter what," Luffy stated, his words woven into a promise, which he wouldn't ever break.
Robin's eyes suddenly snapped wide, as if her trance had been broken. "You do-don't understand! The CP9 are powerful, stronger than you know. We can't win. I should have left with them when I had the chance. They might still be outside. They will take me and all of you. They will be waiting to capture me and every one of us. Watching. Just–" she stopped herself, her voice choking, but the fear lingered in the tremble of her hands and the glistening eyes of her.
Luffy moved without hurry, stepping to her side, and lowering himself onto the arm opposite to Nami. He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees, his voice calm but unyielding. "Robin, please focus."
Her eyes darted to his, and for a moment, it was like nothing mattered.
"You're not alone anymore," he said. "You've got us. You can lean on us. And just this once… be selfish, Robin. Please."
Robin's lips pressed into a thin line. For a long moment, she didn't speak, her eyes looking into the red eyes of her captain. She wanted to believe in him, believe that he will save her and not let any harm come to any of them. But she wasn't naive as the young god before her was still not too well. She couldn't be naive when he was so young, so prone to danger. But she wanted to believe. She wanted to believe that they would be all safe, even if they were against the CP9.
"Cipher Pol Number Nine," she stated, her voice calm in sound but taut in weight. "CP9. A secret assassination unit that answers directly to the World Government. They have special authority… the power to kill without question or leaving a trail," her fingers tightened around the mug, the faint tremor returning. "They are efficient, brutal and they were at Ohara…"
A hush fell heavier than before as every one of them listened to her carefully, knowing what had been said about Ohara, about her. Even the ever present lap of the water against the hull seemed to fade.
Robin's gaze went distant again, though her words stayed steady. "They destroyed everything and everyone. My mother… she was one of their targets," she swallowed hard, the smallest crack slipping into her voice. "I know they will come for me. I had always known. And now, because I chose to stay instead of leaving when I had the chance… you are all in danger."
She looked away, shame shadowing her face. Because now she was going to be the reason of their downfall too, like every other crew she had joined. Everyone was right, she is the demon who eats them whole, destroys them–
"We were going to face them eventually," Luffy interrupted Robin's train of thoughts, as he leaned back slightly, resting one arm casually along the bench.
Robin's head turned, eyes narrowing in confusion, followed by the other pirates on the deck too. They were all confused and some even scared to know it.
"We're pirates," Luffy continued, almost as if it were the simplest thing in the world. "We will always be against the World Government, no matter what we do. And after I rejected their Warlord proposal and what happened at G-8, we're already high on the Government's 'trouble' list. CP9 was bound to show up sooner or later," his mouth curled in that small, stubborn grin that meant he'd already made up his mind. "So we face them together. Like a crew."
Sanji flicked his cigarette. "You think we'd let you deal with this alone? Not happening, Robin-chan."
"Y-Yeah!" Usopp added quickly, still keeping a reassuring hand on Chopper's back. "If they're looking for trouble, they've got the wrong ship to target."
Zoro gave a simple, solid nod. "It's not selfish if we all agree, Robin."
Nami 's hand squeezed Robin's shoulder a little more firmly. "And even if it is selfish, I'd still back you."
Chopper sniffled again, his ears twitching. "Me too."
Robin's eyes flicked from face to face, reading each of them like she was searching for doubt. But there was none. There was only conviction. Slowly, the tight line of her mouth eased, and the faintest curve of something that might be the beginning of a smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"We are all in this together."
.
The Franky House was impossible to overlook, even in a port city where ships came in every color of the rainbow and the streets rang with the clang of hammers. Perched at the edge of the shore, it looked less like a home and more like a dare to the laws of architecture. Twin chimneys spiraled from a roof shaped like a tilted bottle, and a crescent moon of polished metal jutted high above it, catching the sun in a blinding gleam.
On either side, long mechanical arms stuck out from the walls, ending in tools, as if the whole place might reach out and fix or grab something passing by. And over the front door, the name "FRANKY HOUSE" blazed in oversized yellow letters, daring you to step inside.
From within came the clang of metal on metal and bursts of laughter so loud they could be heard from the docks. It wasn't just a building. It was a machine, a workshop, and a party all stitched together and it wore that chaos like a badge.
The music was still going on inside, but it wasn't loud enough to hide the sound of shouting.
Franky was standing in the center of the main floor, towering over the semicircle of his underlings. His mechanical forearms gleamed in the flickering light as he paced back and forth, his sunglasses pushed up onto his forehead, his square chin jutting forward with every word.
"Oi, oi, oi! What's this I hear about two separate missions getting flushed down the drain?!" his voice boomed over the music, cutting through the beat like a cannon blast.
The gang members who were responsible for the failures shifted uncomfortably in front of them. They were a mismatched bunch, some with spiked hair and leather jackets, other with half buttoned shirts and flashy jewellery. But all of them were wearing ridiculous clothes which would be enough to scare away any adult even if it was used correctly.
The group split in two, on the left the crew who'd tried and failed to steal the Strawhat's money and on the right, those who'd gone after the infamous Pirate Hunter. Both the groups looked like they'd rather be anywhere else.
Franky jabbed a thumb toward the left group first. "You lot had one job. A pile of beri just sittin' there, practically beggin' for you to scoop it up. And what happens? The Strawhat crew walks off with it like it's nothin'!"
One of the bolder members, whose hair was spiked in a way that looked like he'd lost a fight with a glue bottle, stepped forward defensively. "We… we weren't expectin' that kid to be the captain, Boss! He looked like a kid! We thought he wouldn't even notice us, let alone–"
Franky's head turned slowly toward him, and the rest of the man's words died on his tongue. "Didn't expect what?!" Franky said, his voice low but carrying enough weight to make the room tense. "That they'd fight back?" His laugh was humourless. "They're pirates! Big-name pirates! What'd you think they'd do, hand you the money in neat little stacks?"
The spiky-haired thug swallowed hard and stepped back into the group, eyes down. While Franky turned to the right hand group, who were snickering at the left hand group.
His voice dripped lower, which somehow made the snickering stop. "And you jokers. You went after the Pirate Hunter. The Pirate hunter. One guy! Y'know, the guy who's made a career outta takin' down people stronger than him? And you thought a coup of nets and cheap blades were gonna cut it?"
The right-hand group shuffled their feet, not meeting his eyes.
Franky stopped pacing, looking over the lot of them like a disappointed teacher staring down a class of underperformers. "You make me look bad," he said finally, his voice quieter but dripping with contempt. "And I don't like looking bad." And even worse, he doesn't like being in debt. Curse the damn 3P's and their stupid contracts.. Why do they have to be soul-binding in the first place? Fuck, how is he going to pay the money back in time if these underperformers don't bring even a single berry back! Even beggars make more money than they do!
Without warning, he cracked his knuckles and stepped forward. What followed wasn't a brutal beatdown–Franky didn't need to cripple his own men–but it was enough to drive the point home. A cuff to the side of the head here, a light but stinging backhand there. He shoved one man hard enough to send him sprawling into a couch, smacked another's shoulder with the flat of his palm, the metallic clang ringing in the tense air.
"Oi! Get up, you wimps!" he barked when a few of them stayed crouched. "You think this city runs itself? You think the Franky Family stays on top because we're nice?!"
One particularly scrawny member rubbed the side of his head where Franky had clipped him. "Boss, we just… they're not like the usual marks, y'know?"
Franky's eyes narrowed, his towering frame leaning down until he was nose-to-nose with the man. "No kidding. These aren't drunken tourists. These are the Strawhat Pirates. And if you haven't noticed, they've got a bounty list that makes the Government nervous enough to hunt them down. Not to mention their unknown connection with the infamous 3C's!"
The man swallowed hard, nodding.
Franky straightened again, dusting off his hands like he'd just finished working on a piece of machinery. "We can't treat them like any other job. That crew's got a bite and if you poke something with teeth, you better be ready for it to bite back."
The room was silent except for the low hum of the DJ lights and the muffled thump of the bass. Even the guys leaning against the bar in the back looked uneasy.
Franky tilted his head, scanning the faces before him. "So here's what's gonna happen." He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder toward the workshop section of the house, a space littered with crates, strange weapon prototypes, and barrels of supplies. "We're pulling out the big guns."
That got a reaction. Some gasps, some nervous glances between gang members.
"But, Boss.. even with the big guns.. they've got that Strawhat guy.." one of the younger guys stated.
Franky ignored it. "We are the Franky Family, ladies and gents, and right now, you have got orders! This ain't a request. Tonight, we make sure the Strawhats remember exactly whose city they're in."
.
The crew sat scattered around the table in the galley, with mugs of warm liquid in their hands.
Luffy was sitting at the head, with his elbows on the table, and chin resting in his hands. The usual restless energy that drove him to bounce around the room was gone. "The Galley-La guys said.." his voice trailed for a moment before he finished, "Merry can't be repaired. And she can't be made into something else, either.. Not if.."
The words seemed to sink in again, as if each of them had to hear it more than once to believe it.
"We are not doing that!" Usopp was the next one to say, looking at Luffy firmly. "We can't.. can't let them remodel Merry by tearing parts of her. She doesn't deserve it!"
Luffy nodded. He hated the idea himself.
"Maybe they're wrong? Maybe they can help Merry without t-tearing her..?" Chopper, sitting beside Usopp, stated.
"Yeah! We could.. I dunno… patch her differently? Reinforce her?" Sanji stated, crossing his arms and blowing out a quiet sigh. "We can't just give her up without trying something."
Nami's voice was softer, but carried the same weight. "I don't want to dismantle her either. Merry's ours. She's been with us through everything."
Luffy said nothing for a moment, looking down at the table. He knew the truth. He'd seen it in Kaku's eyes. But watching his crew's faces, he didn't have the heart to push harder. "Even if we try… Merry can't keep going like this."
The thought landed like a stone in the room. They all felt it, that bitter taste of knowing something you loved couldn't last forever.
But Usopp didn't want it. He slapped a hand to the table. "What about the P.P.P.?"
"What?" Chopper asked, curiously.
"The Proper and Pirate Proof Company!" Usopp announced, puffing his chest. "They are supposed to be the best for delicate work! They can help Merry without hurting her!"
Chopper's eyes lit up. "That sounds perfect!"
Sanji nodded. "I've heard of them. If they can treat her right, I'm in."
Nami considered it for a moment, then nodded as well. "If it means Merry gets to be preserved in some way…" she said, not liking the idea of getting in contact with the odd duo they have met earlier, but if they can.. then she was all in.
Zoro and Robin didn't say a word. Neither spoke up, but both knew the truth. That the P.P.P. wasn't some harmless company. Their real purpose had always been tied to the destruction of the 3C's. And if they learned who Luffy really was…
Luffy's frown deepened. "No. I don't like it."
"Why not?" Usopp asked, confused.
Luffy flopped back in his chair, his arms crossed like a sulking kid. "Let's just go to the Franky Family instead."
That earned an immediate reaction.
"No way!" Nami snapped.
"Absolutely not," Usopp added quickly. "They already tried to steal our money twice. What makes you think they won't take it again and leave us stranded?"
Sanji tilted his head. "They're thieves, Luffy. They're not gonna help out of kindness."
Luffy puffed his cheeks out, wanting to argue further. But Zoro finally broke his silence, leaning back with his arms behind his head. "Some clowns from the Franky Family already tried to come aboard earlier. Said they were here to 'capture' us." He smirked faintly. "They weren't exactly the sharpest swords in the rack."
Usopp groaned. "Great. So not only are they thieves, they're idiots."
Chopper tilted his head, wanting to believe in Luffy as well as everyone. "Maybe… we just keep looking?"
Nami rubbed her temple. "We don't have much time. Merry can't make it longer. If we don't decide soon, the choice will be made for us."
.
"I am warning you, the Government will not take kindly to this continued evasion!" Corgi's voice was sharp and nasal. Behind him, several uniformed marines waited, their expressions caught between boredom and irritation, as if this had happened many times up till now.
Iceberg didn't move from where he stood, the cool sea breeze ruffling his pale blue hair. "Then tell the Government to stop sending you to nag me about it, Corgi. I am busy running a shipyard."
"You're busy avoiding the issue," Corgi shot back, clearly losing his patience. "This thing you're hiding, it's dangerous. It belongs in the hands of the World Government. You can't protect it forever."
Iceberg's eyes narrowed, though his voice stayed even. "Funny thing about people telling me what I 'can't' do. I've made a career out of proving them wrong."
Corgi opened his mouth for another retort, but the tension in the air was broken by Kalifa's polite, crisp voice. "Iceberg-san is tired. I believe this conversation is over."
The secretary's tone was mild, but the steely edge beneath it left no room for argument. She adjusted her glasses and gestured toward the stairs. "This way, please."
Corgi glared, clearly weighing the cost of pushing further, then turned sharply on his heel. "This isn't over, Iceberg! The Government won't forgive you!" He stomped down the steps, his men falling in behind him.
Only when they were gone did Kalifa glance back at her employer. "They've been pestering you more often lately. Is it still about that… matter?"
Iceberg turned toward the wide view of the city, watching the setting sun glint off the rooftops and canals. "The World Government's been after it for years. They think if they squeeze me hard enough, I'll give it up."
Kalifa tilted her head. "And will you ever tell me what it is?"
A small smile tugged at the corner of Iceberg's mouth, but there was no humor in it. "No."
Her lips pressed into a faint pout, but she didn't push.
"I'm going to rest," Iceberg said finally, stepping away from the dock and making his way toward his private quarters.
The quiet of his room was a stark contrast to the noise of the docks. He closed the door behind him, leaning against it for a moment before crossing to his desk. The top was tidy except for four sheets of paper–a freshly printed wanted poster of Nico Robin, and the 3C's–Cole, Cyane and Cyra.
His gaze lingered on the first bounty poster as a long breath escaped him, equal parts frustration and worry. "So… one of you is here."
.
The streets of Water 7 were as lively as ever, but to the Strawhat crew every alley felt narrower, every shadow felt a little darker. The late afternoon sun cast long streaks of gold and crimson across the cobblestones, glinting off the canals and reflecting in the glass windows of passing shops.
Robin was walking in the middle of their loose formation, her head slightly bowed beneath the brim of her hat. Luffy was pacing beside her, his observation Haki expanded to make sure that nobody with wrong intentions approached them. Zoro was walking in the outer flank, his hand resting casually on his sword hilt. Nami and Usopp flanked Robin's other side, while Sanji and Chopper kept watch from the rear.
They didn't talk much. Even as the city's usual chaos of merchants shouting their merch, and carpenters hammering, couldn't mask the quiet tension in their steps.
It wasn't hard to find the place they were looking for, due to the bright painted boards hung from posts at almost every major street corner, all pointing the same way. To the P.P.P. Shipyard.
At first, Luffy complained about the detour, still not wanting to go to the P.P.P's for help. He wondered what Ace and Sabo would say, how they would tease him about this. "We could just–"
"Don't start," Nami cut him off before he could say Franky Family again.
The route wound them along a wide canal, where the noise of the city seemed to quiet just enough for the sound of the water lapping against the docks to carry.
When they finally arrived, the crew stopped in unison. But the P.P.P. Shipyard was not what they expected. There were no hammering crews. No piles of half-built ships. The air smelled faintly of oil and varnish, but the yard itself was eerily calm.
Along the docks, rows of finished ships sat gleaming in the sunlight, their sails neatly furled, hulls polished to mirror brightness. Every vessel looked ready to sail at a moment's notice, lined up like soldiers awaiting inspection.
Beyond the docks stood a single small shop. With whitewashed walls, a single door, and no windows large enough to peek through. A short stone wall encircled the property, clean and unassuming except for the narrow horizontal strip of glass running straight through its center, perfectly level, like the watch slit in a fortress.
Usopp leaned in toward the wall, squinting. "That's… creepy. It feels like someone's watching from in there."
"They are," Zoro muttered, scanning the ships again. "This place is too tidy. Too perfect for a shipyard."
Nami crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "We came here for Merry's sake. Just remember why we're here."
Robin's gaze lingered on the glass strip for a moment longer than the others, her eyes narrowing faintly, but she said nothing.
Luffy tilted his head, looking past the wall at the perfect rows of ships. "I don't like it." he stated, already not liking the people who were indeed watching them with malicious intent.
Sanji lit a cigarette, the smoke curling lazily in the quiet air. "Doesn't matter if we like it. If they can help Merry without hurting her, we deal with them. Simple as that."
Chopper stepped closer to Nami, ears flicking nervously. "It's too quiet here…"
It wasn't even a moment later that the crew was greeted by the unmistakable figure of Merch, a man whose enthusiasm seemed just a little too rehearsed, and whose eyes darted constantly as if weighing every word and movement. Unknown to the strawhats, the faculty of the P.P.P. shipyard was watching him closely from nearby shadows, their quiet vigilance contrasting sharply with Merch's loud, overly cheerful demeanor. Merch had already crossed paths with Nami, Usopp and Luffy earlier, but now, faced with the whole crew, he was eager to keep the facade intact.
"Ah! Back so soon, are ye? What brings you fine folks to our humble dock after your visit to Galley-La, hmm?" Merch's voice rang with practiced warmth, but there was a flicker in his eyes betraying a sharper intent beneath the surface.
Usopp stepped forward, wiping sweat from his brow but keeping his tone steady. "The keel of our ship's taken a nasty hit. It's in bad shape. We need repairs. Serious ones."
For a heartbeat, Merch froze, his smile faltering for just a split second before he reassembled it with meticulous care, flashing his best customer service grin. "Ah, the keel, ye say? That's a mighty troublesome matter, indeed. You see, the P.P.P.–" he made sure to pronounce the initials with a slow, meaningful pause, "–has the finest craftsmen when it comes to fixing ships with grievous wounds like these. But... I must be honest, fixing a keel? That's no small feat. Usually, a keel this damaged is considered beyond salvation. We're talking about deep, structural magic here. Not every dock can handle such a burden."
He leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially as though sharing a secret only the worthy could know. "It'll cost ye a pretty sum, I won't lie. But if anyone can breathe new life into her bones, it's P.P.P. The finest, the best... and worth every berry we ask."
Luffy frowned, not liking how the man was giving false hopes to him and his crew. There was no way that Merry could be repaired without some miracle.. But he kept quiet, noting Usopp and Nami exchange glances with him.
The tension was rising, conflict and confusion, at Merch's words.
Still Merch continued, "Bring your ship to this dock, and we'll see what can be done. Or, if you're brave enough, you could bring her in yourselves." His smile widened, though he carefully omitted any mention that such a service would come with an extra fee.
Without waiting for a response, Merch bowed slightly and excused himself, leaving the Strawhats in confusion and false hope. He moved quickly toward a nearby office, where his boss sat. He was a grizzled man with a sharp gaze and an air of authority.
As Merch crossed the threshold, his voice dropped low, no longer the salesman's tune but a conspirator's whisper. "I'm gonna leave the post, boss. Gonna 'help' these pirates myself. You know the drill. Chant'll have to take my place for now."
From behind the desk, the boss's eyes gleamed sharply, his voice low and deliberate. "Drain 'em dry, Merch. Don't actually fix a thing. We've no interest in running errands for the scum of the seas any longer. Let 'em bleed their treasure dry before they leave this dock."
While, a tired, drawn-out groan echoed faintly from a nearby door, followed by slow, heavy footsteps dragging across the floor. "Ugh, gotta do something now? Can't they just fix their own blasted ship for once?" came Chant's unmistakably lazy voice, thick with annoyance.
.
Nearly an hour had passed since Merch first set foot on the Merry, his steps slow and deliberate as he prowled every inch of the ship. His eyes scanned every plank, every nail, as if searching for the faintest hint of weakness to exploit. While the crew waited anxiously, exchanging wary glances, their patience stretching thin as the sun started reaching for the horizon.
Finally, Merch straightened up, a smile playing on his lips, though it failed to reach his calculating, wicked eyes.
"Well, well.. The ship's in decent shape, I'll give ye that. But the keel…" he tapped a finger against the wood near the hull, lowering his voice with a knowing smirk. "It's worse than I feared. More damage lurks beneath the surface, ye see."
He circled the ship, pointing out cracks here, a suspicious discoloration there. "Look here," he pointed. "This wood near the railings? It's rotten to the core, and will easily snap clean off in rough waters. These small things, they'll bring the whole vessel down faster than you'd think."
Nami's eyes narrowed sharply. "That wood's fine. Usopp had fixed it just yesterday."
Merch gave a lazy shrug, spinning the tale like a master storyteller. "Ah, but that's just the thing about ships, they hide their true wounds. And this beauty,"—he gestured grandly at the Merry—"she's more fragile than she looks. Fixing her won't be cheap, mark my words."
Zoro folded his arms, his voice low and clipped. "Sounds like you're making a mountain out of a molehill." Not even Kaku, one of the CP9's about whom Luffy had told them, had told him such things.
Merch's smile never wavered, but inside, his mind raced with darker plans. He or his boss had no intention of replacing the keel properly. They would work just enough to keep the ship afloat for a few more days, long enough to drain the pirates dry. And in the middle of it all, if the sea claimed them first, then it was just the fate of the horrible pirates who were just acting nice.
Luffy's gaze flicked sharply to Merch, a flicker of cold understanding passing through his eyes. He knew the man's words were a veil, a false promise dressed up to inspire hope and hide the truth. He wanted to tell the crew that the bastard was lying, tricking them in, but he could feel the hope rising in their chests.. Way too high than it should be.
Merch glanced at his wrist as if checking a watch that wasn't there. "Ah, would you look at that? I've been out here too long already. Lots to do, folks. But don't worry, I've got the whole blueprint of this lovely ship etched in my mind now. Of course, to help you guys!"
With that, Merch gave a mocking bow and dashed off, leaving behind a swirl of doubt and unease.
Nami exchanged a sharp look with Luffy. "Something's off about him. He's just trying to squeeze more money out of us. One thief can always recognise another."
Zoro's hand instinctively moved toward his sword hilt. "I don't trust him as far as I can throw him."
"I think he was lying," Luffy stated for the first time, looking at everyone, but mainly Usopp, who had a scowl on his face.
"Where's the proof?" Usopp questioned, throwing his hands. "If they say they can repair Merry, then why can't we trust them on it? Don't you want Merry to sail once again, Luffy?"
"I do Usopp. I really do. But I am not going to believe that!" Luffy stated softly, not wanting to trigger a fight between them once again.
Nami's gaze lingered on Luffy, her voice low but firm. "We can't afford to be blind to what's right in front of us. Merch's words don't sit well. He's twisting the truth to fill his pockets."
Zoro's eyes narrowed as he kept his hand hovering near his sword. "If this goes south, we'll be the ones paying the price. Not just in berries, but with lives."
Usopp's scowl deepened, frustration bubbling over. "You're all acting like Merch's some kind of villain straight out of a storybook! Maybe he's just being cautious, trying to cover his bases. We don't know everything about ships like he does."
Luffy met Usopp's glare with steady calm. "I'm not blind, Usopp. I see the cracks beneath his smile. I can feel his soul lying."
Sanji, leaning against the rail with a cigarette between his fingers, exhaled slowly. "I trust your instincts, Captain. The way you see through people… it's more than just gut feeling. Merch's hiding something, and I don't like it one bit."
Chopper, small and nervous, shifted from foot to foot. "But if he's lying, why does he act so confident? I don't understand…"
Robin gave a small, knowing smile. "Confidence can be a mask, Chopper. Sometimes the loudest voice is the one trying hardest to cover up the truth."
Nami crossed her arms, eyes sharp. "Then we keep our guard up. Watch every word, every move. We can't afford to be fooled by charm or threats."
Zoro nodded once, serious. "Let's not forget, the sea is unforgiving. If Merch's trying to play us, we need to be ready."
Luffy's eyes lifted from the crew and drifted toward the vast expanse of the sea, where the faint sunlight danced on the rolling waves like scattered shards of gold and pink. The salty breeze carrying his mother's whispers, a quiet reminder that she was there for him.
But Luffy couldn't help but wonder deep in his chest, if there was anything they could do right now to turn the tide before P.P.P.'s schemes took root.
"We'll protect Merry," Luffy said, his voice barely more than a promise to the sea and the ship he loved. "Together."