On the other side of Water 7, a Marine warship floated on the sea as Garp and his men resupplied.
"GARPPP, YOU BASTARD!!"
Sengoku roared through the Den Den Mushi.
"You and Aokiji both went to Water 7—so why the hell didn't you capture the Straw Hat Pirates?!"
Sengoku was furious.
To him, it felt like the two of them were deliberately playing him for a fool.
Garp calmly wiped the saliva off his face and replied,
"Sengoku, you know me. I just… didn't manage to catch them, that's all—"
"BULLSHIT!" Sengoku cut him off.
"Do you think I don't know you by now?!"
"I really didn't catch them. What's the problem?" Garp said righteously.
"That's my grandson!"
Sengoku: "..."
"You bastard—if you don't deal with them today, your vacation for this entire year is canceled!"
Click—ga!
The Den Den Mushi hung up.
Garp scowled unhappily.
So what if he was Fleet Admiral—why was he acting so high and mighty?
"Tch, that bastard actually dared to yell at me," Garp grumbled.
"When I get back, I'm taking all his rice crackers."
Bogard: "..."
As if you haven't already taken plenty.
"What are you all staring at?" Garp waved his hand.
"Hurry up and finish resupplying. After that—we go catch them!"
"Yes, sir!"
Still grumbling, Garp walked aside to grab something to eat—only to spot Aokiji lying lazily on a deck chair.
His temper flared instantly.
"Kuzan, you brat! Why are you here?!"
"Because of you, I got chewed out by Sengoku!"
Aokiji: "..."
Was that really his fault?
But seeing Garp's murderous expression, Aokiji wisely chose not to argue.
"I'm talking to you!"
"Ah~" Aokiji yawned.
"Going back alone is troublesome. Riding a Marine ship is easier."
Garp snorted but didn't continue pressing him.
After all, since Kuzan arrived in Water 7, he hadn't made a move against his grandson.
That favor… Garp acknowledged it.
"Vice Admiral Garp!" a Marine reported.
"Latest intel: the Straw Hat Pirates are heading toward the ship graveyard. Their new ship should be there."
"So they're setting sail?" Garp grinned.
"Speed up resupply—we'll go grab them!"
"Yes, sir!"
Lying nearby, Aokiji pulled his eye mask down.
Is that really how it's going to be… he thought helplessly.
If he truly intended to act, he could've gone straight there already.
Ah well.
Family matters—let the old man handle his own headache.
…Man, I'm sleepy again.
Meanwhile, at the abandoned shipyard—
The Straw Hats were running back and forth across their brand-new ship, faces full of joy.
"So this is the ship Franky built for us?!"
Luffy laughed loudly. "I love it!!"
"No wonder he said it'd be a huge surprise," Nami said in awe.
"This is way beyond what I imagined."
"Jin, take out the furniture," she added.
Jin nodded, releasing everything from his scrolls.
He summoned clones to help with the work, while he himself walked over to Merry.
"Merry, how is it? Can your ability still work?"
Everyone gathered around curiously.
"I'll try," Merry said seriously.
She closed her eyes and placed her small hand against the ship's hull, as if sensing something.
No one disturbed her.
After a moment, Merry opened her eyes—bright with excitement.
"It works!"
"Really?!"
"Yes!" Merry nodded vigorously.
"I can feel this ship's existence. I can attach my power to it."
"If I want to… I can completely control this ship."
Just like she once did with the Going Merry.
"Then doesn't that mean you could seize control of enemy pirate ships?" Jin said thoughtfully.
If that was possible, this little one would be terrifying.
Sneak aboard silently—then hijack the ship itself.
"That…" Merry hesitated.
"I'm not sure."
"Why not?"
"Because this ship didn't resist me."
"Didn't resist?" Zoro frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Yes. No resistance at all."
Seeing their confusion, Merry explained seriously:
"Every ship has its own consciousness. Only ship spirits—or extremely special people—can sense it."
She paused slightly—she still didn't fully understand this world herself.
"A ship… has consciousness?" Luffy blinked.
"Then how do you think ships feel the crew's care?" Merry asked back.
"Without consciousness, that wouldn't be possible."
Everyone instantly understood.
That was also why ship spirits could be born in the first place.
"So this ship didn't reject you…" Jin stroked his chin.
"Because it's brand new?"
Merry nodded.
"I think so."
Not only did it not reject her—the vague, newborn consciousness actually seemed to like her.
Whether other ships would accept her control… she didn't know.
"Maybe a ship's consciousness inherits its crew's personality," Robin suggested.
"Personality…"
Everyone glanced at Merry—then at Chopper.
…Somehow, that made disturbing sense.
"Hey, Iceburg!" Luffy shouted from the rail.
"Where's Franky? We want to thank him properly!"
"He doesn't plan to meet you again," Iceburg replied.
Luffy froze.
"Straw Hat… you're planning to invite Franky aboard, right?"
"Yeah!" Luffy grinned.
"I already decided—he's my crewmate!"
Iceburg smiled warmly—like an older brother seeing his sibling finally find a place to belong.
"Franky already realized your intention."
"Then he doesn't want to?"
"No." Iceburg shook his head.
"It's because he can't bring himself to refuse you face-to-face."
"He wants to go—but he chained himself to this island out of obligation."
Years of responsibility… all to protect Water 7.
"If you truly want to take him with you," Iceburg said firmly,
"then you must use any means necessary."
"That's the only way to free him."
"Franky Family said the same thing," Jin said as he stepped beside Luffy.
"You sure about this?"
"Yes. If you want him—this is the only way."
"Any means necessary…" Jin grinned slowly.
"Luffy—leave Franky to me."
"Yeah!"
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