Chapter 269: Usopp: Do I Have to Go Too?
After Ralph dispelled everyone's curiosity, Robin found him again.
"Boss."
Ralph turned around, noticing Robin's expression was more serious than usual.
"Is something wrong?"
Robin walked over and stood beside him.
"CP9 contacted me."
Ralph's expression didn't change.
"When?"
"Yesterday, while you all were at Galley-La Company."
"They threatened me. If I don't cooperate with their plans, they'll launch a Buster Call against the Straw Hat Crew."
Ralph nodded.
"And then?"
Robin looked at him.
"You... aren't surprised?"
"Surprised about what?"
Ralph smiled, "I already knew they were on the island."
Robin froze.
"You knew?"
"Lucci, Kaku, Kalifa, Blueno."
Ralph listed the names one by one, "Four CP9 agents, hiding in Galley-La Company. Their target is the blueprints for Pluton. Now they've added you to the list."
Robin's breath caught for a moment, her beautiful eyes blinking.
"The blueprints for Pluton?"
"Yes, that Ancient Weapon!"
"CP9 plans to obtain those blueprints through dirty methods. Your role is probably to help them plant fake evidence."
Robin fell into thought.
She remembered the Poneglyph in Alabasta.
It indeed contained clues about Pluton, but she never expected blueprints were circulating in Water 7.
"What a coincidence."
"Yes, as if everything is fate!"
Hearing Ralph's sigh, Robin took a deep breath.
"What should I do then?"
"Wait! Wait for them to contact you again. See how they plan to act. Then we'll expose their scheme and capture all of CP9 in one sweep."
Robin looked at him.
"Are you confident?"
Ralph smiled.
"Robin, you've been with me this long. Have you ever seen me do something I wasn't confident about?"
Robin thought about it.
There really hadn't been.
She nodded.
"I understand."
Early the next morning, the Straw Hat Crew split into two groups.
Lufia, Zoro, Sanji, Ralph, and Usopp—five of them—headed to Franky House.
Nami, Chopper, and Robin—three of them—stayed on the Going Merry.
Before leaving, Nami held Lufia's hand, tears welling in her eyes.
"Come back soon!"
Chopper hugged Lufia's leg, eyes brimming with tears.
"I'm scared..."
Lufia patted their heads.
"What's there to fear? Zoro said those guys are easy to beat."
Zoro nodded beside her.
"True. Those dozen or so yesterday weren't enough to cut down."
Nami and Chopper fell silent, tears still in their eyes.
What they wanted to say was that they were scared staying on the ship!
What if someone attacked again?
Robin walked over and stood beside her.
Nami glanced at her, feeling slightly reassured.
Before boarding last, Ralph looked back at Robin.
Robin gave a slight nod.
Neither said anything, but both understood.
Franky House was at the other end of Water 7.
At that moment, Franky stood on a high platform, facing dozens of his subordinates below.
He wore a floral shirt and sunglasses, his blue pompadour standing tall.
Beside him stood a pair of twins with square-shaped haircuts—Kiwi and Mozu, his two lieutenants.
"Super!!"
"We must get our revenge!"
Franky shouted loudly, swinging his arm.
"Two consecutive defeats! Two! This isn't the style of Franky House!"
The subordinates below echoed in unison.
"The boss is right!"
"We gotta show those pirates what's what!!"
Franky nodded in satisfaction.
"If it comes down to it, I'll handle it myself. I'll meet that arrogant Straw Hat Crew!"
One of his underlings raised a hand.
"If the boss handles it personally, success is guaranteed!"
Franky grinned smugly.
"Of course. After all, I have my Centaur Form—Cyborg Franky!"
His legs began to transform.
His entire legs split, taking the shape of four legs—
But not like a normal centaur, with two hind legs growing from the rear.
Instead, two legs extended forward from the front.
It looked like a horse reversed, with its butt in front.
"CENTAUR FORM!"
It looked utterly bizarre!
But the underlings below went wild with cheers.
"So awesome!"
"The boss is too cool!"
"This is the power of a Cyborg!"
Just then, an underling came scrambling in, stumbling and rolling.
"Boss! Trouble!"
Franky reverted to human form and frowned.
"What's got you so panicked?"
"The St-Straw Hat Crew is here! Five of them!"
Franky's eyes widened.
"What?"
He paused for a moment, then laughed.
"I haven't even gone looking for them, and they come knocking on my door!"
He waved a hand.
"Boys, follow me out to meet them!"
Outside Franky House.
Two groups faced off.
The five Straw Hats stood on one side.
Franky stood in front of his house with dozens of underlings.
More and more people gathered on the surrounding streets.
The residents of Water 7 were tough and loved a spectacle.
Especially a showdown between locals and pirates.
Franky stepped out from the crowd, sizing up the Straw Hat Crew.
"So it's you who beat up my men?"
Ralph took a step forward.
"You're quite the one for twisting words!"
"First, your men robbed us."
"Second, your men attacked our ship."
"We taught you a lesson, nothing wrong with that, right?"
Franky laughed, pointing at the shipbreaking yard behind him.
"Here at Franky House, besides shipbreaking, we also work part-time as Pirate Hunters.
Attacking your pirate ship falls within our business scope!"
He then pointed at Ralph.
"As for robbing your money—"
"Isn't your pirate money also plundered from somewhere else?"
"So what if we robbed you? Are you planning to report us to the Navy?"
After hearing this, Lufia turned to look at Ralph.
"This guy kind of has a point."
The other four collectively facepalmed.
Usopp shouted.
"Lufia! You're our captain, how can you side with the other side!"
Ralph was also at a loss.
After all, if you're going to argue logically, why be a pirate?
"Because we're pirates."
"Normal logic doesn't work here; we need to use bandit logic."
"What's bandit logic?"
"It's fighting. Whoever wins gets to decide."
Lufia's eyes lit up.
"I like that!"
Franky also laughed.
"Suits me just fine!"
He took a step forward, hands on his hips.
"I'll represent Franky House and have a one-on-one duel with one of you!"
"If I win, hand over your money and treasure!"
Ralph nodded.
"If we win, we'll also give you money."
Franky was taken aback.
"What?"
"Treasure Tree Adam."
Ralph stated their goal clearly, "We know you have connections. If we win, you help us buy Treasure Tree Adam. We'll pay."
Franky's expression changed.
He stared at Ralph with an appreciative smile.
"It seems you guys came prepared."
"Quite well-informed, aren't you!"
Ralph said nothing.
Franky extended his hand.
"Deal!"
Their hands slapped together.
The surrounding crowd erupted in cheers.
The one-on-one duel was settled.
But there was an issue with who would fight.
Lufia was the first to raise her hand.
"Me! I'm the captain, I'll do it!"
Sanji stepped forward.
"Miss Lufia, there's no need for you to personally deal with this kind of trash."
"Allow your knight to handle it!"
Sanji took the lead, so how could Zoro fall behind?
"I've had some recent insights in swordsmanship, and my hands are itching."
"Those dozen or so yesterday weren't enough to slash—today I'll make up for it."
The two locked eyes, sparks flying between them.
"Stinky cook, what do you know about swordsmanship?"
"Green-haired idiot, what do you know about chivalry?"
"Want to fight?"
"Afraid of you?"
Lufia looked at one, then the other, and joined the argument.
The three of them couldn't settle it, so they finally decided to settle it with rock-paper-scissors!
Lufia even remembered to call Ralph and Usopp.
Ralph was somewhat surprised, leaning his head forward and pointing at himself.
"Me too?"
Usopp was even more surprised, pointing at himself with an expressionless face.
"Me too?"