Returning to the warehouse under the bridge, which served as the Franky Family's headquarters, Franky greeted Caterina with a surprised look.
"Awooo! Long time no see, Caterina! If you were coming this way, you should've said something, don't be a stranger!!"
"I've been busy with various things too, you know? If Straw Hat hadn't brought me work, I wouldn't have even had time to show my face here."
In fact, if Iceburg hadn't canceled today's plans, she would have been dragged all over the place.
Franky himself was often away from home on rescue jobs, so they hadn't seen each other much recently.
Stepping into the warehouse under the bridge, which had become the Franky Family's workshop, Caterina looked around the familiar place and remarked, "This place hasn't changed, has it?"
"It's a craftsman's workshop. If I didn't use it cleanly after inheriting it, it'd be bad luck. I haven't skipped cleaning either—Mozu and Kiwi, that is."
"So you leave that to others..."
"Just kidding. I do my part too."
Well, since he was often away for rescue-related work, he did leave the cleaning to those who remained quite often.
But that aside.
Caterina, tools in hand, shifted her gaze to the ship floating in the warehouse's waterway.
"That's their ship, huh. I see..."
Seeing the terrible state of the Merry, Caterina surmised that they hadn't had a shipwright on board.
The mast was on the verge of breaking, the rudder was broken, and to top it off, the keel was damaged. Indeed, she could understand why Franky had given up.
After a thorough inspection, she disembarked and approached Luffy and his crew, who were waiting.
Usopp, who had been hanging his head as if in prayer, looked pale, and perhaps out of consideration for him, Luffy and the others were also speaking little.
"Hey. I've had a good look."
"...How was it?" Usopp asked.
"To put it bluntly, Franky's assessment is correct. There are many damaged areas, but the fatal one is indeed the damage to the keel."
This was something that even the most skilled shipwright couldn't do anything about.
Even if they patched up the surface and set sail, the foundation was so shaky that it would likely be torn apart by the crashing waves.
"......So, that's it..."
No one in Luffy's crew could bring themselves to speak to Usopp, who had squeezed out the words.
What happened from here on was for them to decide. It wasn't for Franky or Caterina to interfere.
Franky gestured to Nami, who looked troubled, and asked in a low voice.
"What are you guys gonna do about lodging?"
"Lodging? We were planning to sleep on the Merry for tonight, but..."
"Well, you don't have anything important on board, so sleeping here is fine, but I think you'll end up getting a room anyway."
Whether they built a new ship or bought a used one, they couldn't just leave the unseaworthy Merry as it was.
Since it could no longer sail, it would likely be dismantled as a derelict ship, and since they would be staying in Water 7 for a while, securing lodging was essential.
It was awkward to say it directly in this atmosphere, but it was better to have them prepare in advance rather than deal with trouble later. Fortunately, they seemed to have money, and if they stayed at a reasonably good inn, they shouldn't have to worry about their belongings being stolen.
Nami, vaguely understanding what Franky was getting at, nodded.
"I'll look for one tomorrow."
"Aqua Laguna is approaching this time of year. If you want to be completely safe, it's better to get a room on the main island rather than in the back town."
"Got it. Thanks, Franky."
"Don't mention it."
Franky said that the "high tide"—Aqua Laguna—which they had heard about several times on their way to Water 7, was approaching.
It came every year, and the locals roughly knew the extent of the damage, but it was Nami and her crew's first time. Although there was a condition that even pirates could stay if they could find a place, staying at a reasonably good inn on the main island would likely avoid trouble.
"Anyway, you guys should talk it over thoroughly. There are tons of pirate crews that break up because the crew members can't agree. I'll pray you guys don't end up like that."
"Yeah... Anyway, we really need to talk it over properly with everyone," Nami agreed.
"Try not to touch the things in the warehouse too much. There's nothing valuable, but it'll be a pain if they get broken," Franky warned.
"Understood."
"Alright. Then, Caterina, let's go drinking!!" Franky declared.
"Huh? It's still broad daylight, you know?"
"Don't be stupid! Does broad daylight matter when you're warming up old friendships! Come on, let's go!"
Caterina, reluctantly agreeing that it couldn't be helped, followed, with the girl guard walking behind her. Franky, too, took Mozu and Kiwi and left the warehouse, heading off somewhere.
Nami figured they had left out of consideration and gestured to Luffy with her eyes.
They should talk things over on the ship, if possible.
***
Even if they called it a discussion, they couldn't make a decision without all their crewmates present.
After waiting for a while, Sanji and Chopper, along with Zepo and Pedro, returned. However, Robin, who should have gone out with Chopper and Pedro, was nowhere to be seen.
"She's gone?" Luffy asked.
"Yeah... I'm sorry. I got absorbed in a book..." Chopper apologized.
"Well, Chopper can't be helped, but for Pedro to lose sight of her..." thought Zoro.
"If she seriously tries to hide, it's difficult even for me to track her. After all, she's been trained in various things by a skilled assassin," Pedro explained.
Junshi had taught Robin various things, so she was quite skilled in that regard.
However, no one had any idea why Robin would disappear.
They could only be perplexed that she had suddenly disappeared without saying anything to Pedro and Chopper, who should have been nearby... but if something had happened, it was questionable why she hadn't asked Pedro for help.
Among the Straw Hat crew, Pedro was probably the strongest. The fact that she hadn't relied on him suggested there was a significant reason.
"Can't be helped if she's not coming back. Luffy, get on with it. We can't keep putting this off," Zoro said.
"Yeah."
Whether he agreed with Zoro's opinion or not, Luffy, while still concerned about Robin's absence, broached the subject.
"It's about the Merry."
Sanji figured that they would have another skilled shipwright in Water 7 look at the ship. That had been their original purpose, and if Nami had been there, not just Luffy, they would have seen it through properly.
But, looking at Usopp's dejected face, the outcome was clear without asking.
"The Merry... can't sail anymore."
"...!"
"No way... Is she really... really done for? The Merry──" Chopper stammered.
"Yeah... I had a shipwright lady look at her, but she said it's no good," Luffy confirmed.
Chopper looked at Usopp pleadingly, but Usopp kept his head down, avoiding eye contact.
No matter how much he looked around, no one would meet Chopper's eyes.
And so, understanding that it was truly hopeless, tears welled up and spilled.
"No way... We've come this far... Wasn't she going to be fixed...?"
Even though Franky had told him beforehand, Chopper had probably been hoping, perhaps, that if they came to this island, she would surely be fixed.
But that was impossible.
In the heavy atmosphere where everyone was silent, Luffy nevertheless opened his mouth.
"We're saying goodbye to the Merry here."
Those who knew who had given them the Merry unconsciously turned their gazes towards Usopp.
Even those who didn't know the circumstances of who had given her to them, but knew who cherished the ship more than anyone, also naturally turned their gazes in that direction.
"Usopp, are you okay with that?" Luffy asked.
"...No, I'm not okay with it."
He still wasn't convinced. The Merry was a strong ship. She had sailed to Skypiea, ten thousand meters above, and had carried everyone from the East Blue to this point.
He didn't doubt her strength, and he was grateful.
But.
Whether she could continue to do so indefinitely was another matter.
"I'm not okay with it. But... I thought about it. If I insist, and we keep sailing on the Merry... and before we reach the next island, she keeps breaking down like last time! And if she sinks with everyone on board... I... I wouldn't be able to die in peace!!"
She was a beloved ship. He wanted to take care of her.
She was a precious ship given to him by a precious person from his hometown island. He also had a feeling that she would surely be alright.
And yet—the sight of the ship reaching her limit and nearly breaking apart just the other day flashed through his mind.
The ship was important, but his crewmates were important too. If he selfishly kept the ship as it was, and if it led to the death of his precious crewmates—Usopp would surely regret it so much he couldn't die in peace, and he wouldn't be able to face the Merry, whom he had pushed too hard, or Kaya, who had given him the Merry.
That alone, he couldn't do. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself.
"So, I don't want to accept it, but! ...Let's say goodbye to the Merry here...!!"
Usopp said, his face a mess of tears and snot.
Luffy and the others, who had only been worried about Usopp, showed expressions of relief.
"Then... Robin isn't here, but let's think about what to do next."
They had funds. What kind of ship should they get? What kind of ship would be fitting to inherit the Merry's will?
They decided to discuss that.
***
At a certain tavern.
Franky and Caterina were warming up old friendships with drinks in hand late into the night.
"You haven't shown your face around here much lately. You that busy?" Franky asked.
"Well, yeah. I have a lot of work coming my way personally, but there's also talk of me and Iceburg-kun buddying up to promote exchange between engineers from here and the New World."
"Hoh. Well, ain't that a good thing?"
"The technical department of Twilight, I'm nominally the head, so I'm busy. I'm more of a hands-on type, but if the top brass is too rigid, communication breaks down, and we almost had a major failure, you know?"
"Iceburg's juggling being mayor and company president, but he looks pretty busy himself. I've got it easy in that regard," Franky laughed, taking a swig of his drink.
Caterina pouted slightly but sighed and also took a gulp of her drink.
Franky wasn't suited to be a leader who gave out various instructions. He might be popular on site, but his accounting was basically nonexistent, and he was quick to pick fights, so he couldn't be entrusted with it.
If only there were a few more people who could be entrusted with things, she thought, but such talent didn't just fall from the sky.
"Hey you guys, you drinking!?" Mozu called out.
"We're drinking!" Kiwi replied.
"Local sake is the best after all!"
"I'm having juice instead of sake, though..." a young girl guard mumbled.
"Don't worry about it, kiddo. Even if you're not old enough to come to a tavern, it can't be helped if you're Caterina's guard," Franky said.
The girl wasn't avoiding alcohol because of her age, but to avoid getting drunk while on guard duty. However, if Franky was satisfied, she decided not to interject.
The girl, sipping her juice, seemed to evoke a protective instinct, as Mozu and Kiwi fussed over her, ordering various things.
The girl herself didn't seem to mind. She enjoyed the atmosphere of the tavern—but her gaze remained warily fixed on the tavern owner.
"Bruno! More sake! Keep it comin'!!" Franky roared.
"Hehe, comin' right up."
"It's fine to order, but do you even have money?" Caterina asked.
"Don't be stupid!! You think I'd have money leftover from last night!! Put it on my tab, on my tab!!!"
"Your tab, you say..."
Caterina, looking exasperated, took out her wallet from her pocket and checked its contents.
She rarely used it, so she didn't really know how much was in it.
"Yeah, looks okay. Can't be helped, I'll treat you this time."
"What!? Don't be ridiculous!! If I let you treat me, as your older brother figure, my manliness would be ruined!!"
"I don't think an older brother figure who doesn't have money is respectable at all, though..."
Still, since he always settled his debts properly when he got work and had money, Bruno probably allowed him a tab. He was certainly a man of honor and wouldn't skip out on his debts.
Caterina rarely used these kinds of establishments, so she had intended to pay properly, but... since Franky absolutely wouldn't hear of it, she decided to give in and let him treat her.
It wasn't Caterina's concern since Franky would be the one in trouble anyway.
Well, if he came crying to her about not having money, she figured she could at least help him find work. As she was thinking this, the girl guard had come right beside her.
"What's wrong? Oh, a refill on your juice?"
"No, it's not that. It seems to be an emergency."
Caterina's eyes widened at the girl's words, delivered without any change in expression. "What happened?" she asked in a low voice.
The girl glanced towards Bruno, confirmed he had gone to the back to get more sake, and then answered. Franky was drinking and making a racket, so he hadn't noticed their exchange even without them trying to be discreet.
"──It seems Iceburg-dono has been attacked. They want you to return immediately and check his condition."
"I'll go back right away. Maybe drinking was a mistake... Franky! Something came up, so I'm heading back. Thanks for today!"
"Huh? What a restless woman. Let's drink again sometime!"
"Yeah, invite me again then."
Maintaining a cheerful facade, Caterina led the girl out of the tavern.
Riding a Yagara Bull from here might be too late. It was a bit tough after eating and drinking, but having the girl carry her on her back was the fastest way.
She quickly gathered her belongings, tied them securely so they wouldn't fall, and got on the girl's back.
"Alright, please."
"Understood."
Running with a lightness that belied she was carrying a person, she then leaped across rooftops and even through the sky, rushing towards Galley-La Company headquarters where Iceburg lived.