"No way! We are absolutely NOT buying something that useless!"
Nami's fist came down with perfect accuracy, planting a massive bump on Luffy's head.
Beside them, Chopper completely ignored Luffy's misery, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Can I buy books? I want the most advanced medical books! I want to learn new techniques I don't know yet!"
A sharp clacking sound interrupted the discussion.
Sanji had somehow produced a massive abacus, his fingers dancing across it like a pianist, beads snapping rapidly.
"New reinforced iron pots, ceramic cooking pans… and the old tableware needs replacing…"
He exhaled a stream of smoke.
"The kitchen's been expanded, so we'll also need some giant mousetraps. Those 'big rats' sneaking meat are getting out of control."
He shot a glance at Luffy, who was still sprawled on the ground.
Zoro leaned casually against the railing.
He looked calm—but the hand resting on his sword tightened slightly.
At the mention of "splitting," a rare grin appeared on his face.
"Looks like I can finally drink my fill."
At the edge of the lively chaos, Ronan stood quietly by the mast, watching his crewmates.
"If we split it… everyone's getting a fortune."
Buy better gear? Or something ridiculous like Luffy?
Countless ideas flashed through his mind—only to fade as he looked at their carefree smiles.
In a crew like this, money was just fuel for freedom.
He smiled faintly.
"So much money… what should I even spend it on?"
"First of all—according to MY decision."
Nami placed her hands on her hips, chin raised proudly.
"Eighty percent of this treasure will go into my personal funds!"
"WHAT?!"
A unified roar exploded across the deck.
"Relax, idiots! I'm joking!"
Nami burst into laughter, then quickly turned serious.
"But I'm not entirely wrong."
"I'm a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user. You saw it last night—my electromagnetic cannon needs gold to reach full power."
"You can't just take everything like that!" Usopp protested.
"That's OUR treasure from Skypiea!"
"Idiot, this is called 'strategic reserve'!"
Nami rolled her eyes.
"It's for maintaining the Merry."
"Maintenance?" Ronan frowned slightly.
"The Merry has the power of the Munch-Munch Fruit now. As long as we feed it metal and wood, it repairs and evolves on its own. Why would we need extra funds?"
"Nami, where did your usual intelligence go?"
Nami stepped closer and pointed at his spear.
"Just because it can evolve doesn't mean it's perfect."
"If you feed it garbage, it'll evolve into garbage."
"Only the finest materials can push it toward perfection."
She tapped the golden railing, her eyes gleaming with intensity.
"If we want the Merry to become indestructible, we need better materials."
Her gaze slowly shifted to Ronan's spear.
"Otherwise… maybe we should let the Merry eat your weapon."
"I'm sure it would evolve very… aggressively."
"Absolutely not!"
Ronan instantly pulled his spear behind him, moving so fast it left an afterimage.
"This is everything I own! Half my life is in this weapon!"
"…You know," Usopp said softly, running his hand along the wood beneath the gold plating,
"The Merry has been with us since my hometown in the East Blue."
The atmosphere softened.
"It carried us across Reverse Mountain," Nami added quietly.
"It brought us through the storms of the Grand Line," Zoro said, his tone unusually calm.
"It even took us to the sky… to ring the Golden Bell," Sanji murmured.
"It's not just a ship anymore."
"It's something alive."
Ronan nodded.
"A ship that can evolve on its own… there's probably nothing else like it in this sea."
"But that's exactly the problem."
Nami's voice cut through the sentiment.
"It's getting bigger and stronger—but it doesn't have a direction."
"Absorbing gold only makes it tougher. It doesn't add real functionality."
"Enel's Ark could fly because it was designed by a genius."
"We have materials and evolution—but no one to guide it."
"So we need a shipwright!" Usopp shouted, slapping his thigh.
"Someone who can guide its evolution properly!"
"Totally agree!" Luffy's eyes suddenly gleamed with rare clarity.
"So I've decided!"
He pointed toward the endless sea.
"We're going to find a new crewmate!"
"A shipwright who can turn the Merry into the strongest pirate ship in the world!"
Everyone smiled.
"Not bad, Luffy," Ronan said with a chuckle.
"That idiot…" Sanji shook his head.
"He actually nailed the key point again," Zoro added, smirking.
As the crew cheered, Ronan fell into thought.
He knew exactly where they were heading next—
Water 7.
And there—
Was a man.
A self-proclaimed pervert.
A genius shipwright.
The holder of the blueprints to Pluton.
Franky.
"With him guiding the Merry's evolution… it's perfect."
Ronan's thoughts deepened.
"Franky's mechanical genius… combined with the Merry's devouring evolution…"
"And powered by Nami's lightning…"
"What will this ship become?"
A bold—almost insane—idea formed in his mind.
"If the Merry keeps evolving…"
"Could it become Pluton itself?"
He paused.
"No… that's too boring."
"It should become something beyond Pluton."
"A warship that dominates sea, land, and sky—"
"A true divine warship."
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