Let's rewind an hour.
At the sea train station, Kaku and Blueno had already boarded the train!
Looking out the window worriedly,
Outside, Marine and government officials stood on both sides of the train doors!
Soon, a furious Kalifa was the first to arrive at the station, standing in her seat.
"Officer Lucci? Officer Lucci, what's wrong with you?" There was a commotion outside the train!
The three looked over, only to see the strongest member of CP9 kneeling on one knee, three deep, bone-visible sword marks emanating a chilling aura, blood continuously dripping onto the pristine white ground!
"Lucci...!?
...Meanwhile, at Iceberg's mansion,
The Straw Hat began to gather!
"So, you failed to stop those people and let them take the person away. What were you doing, Curly Eyebrow?!" Zoro squinted at Sanji.
"Tch, as if you're so great. Didn't Lucci still escape?" Sanji said with disdain!
"Um, if possible, I request that you save Franky. If you are willing, whether successful or not, our Galley-La Company will repair and build ships for you free of charge!" Iceberg bowed before the Straw Hat, his attitude extremely sincere!
"But... Enies Lobby is the World Government's facade. If we go there...!" Robin hesitated slightly!
Buruburu... Iceberg's den den mushi rang, "Moshi moshi, this is Iceberg!... What, the Sea Gods are going to land in Water Seven early! Quick, sound the alarm immediately, open the shipyard factory gates!"
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh, the alarm sounded!
"The Sea Gods will land in Water Seven in about half an hour. The shipyard gates are open. Residents, please proceed in an orderly fashion!"
"Ah, why are the Sea Gods early?"
"Damn it, my bedsheets aren't dry yet?"
"Let's go! To the shipyard!"
Although surprised, everyone still proceeded to the shipbuilding island in an orderly manner!
"Oh no, Chopper and Usopp are still on the ship!" Nami reacted, shouting at the bickering Zoro and Sanji!
The Straw Hat rushed towards going merry!
...The waves on the beach had become extremely large and violent! going merry was tossed about by the wind at the cape!
"Usopp, did you hear? The Sea Gods are coming. By then, half of Water Seven will be submerged!" Chopper said to the bandaged Usopp, "We must leave immediately!"
"Leave?" Usopp looked at the extreme weather outside the ship, waves crashing one after another, "What about Merry if we leave? We must take her with us!"
"But...!" Chopper looked at going merry, which was clearly much larger than Usopp! Then Chopper's eyes suddenly widened.
He saw Usopp braving the wind and rain, jumping off the ship, and placing his hands under going merry. His face was flushed, as if he wanted to lift going merry!
"Usopp, stop, you can't exert yourself anymore!" Chopper jumped off the ship, stopping Usopp's crazy behavior.
"Chopper, Merry has been with us for so long. We finally have a chance to repair her. I... I absolutely cannot give up!" Usopp roared, raindrops streaking down his cheeks, making it impossible to tell if it was rain or tears!
"Chopper, I'll help you, rumble ball!" Chopper bit down on a rumble ball, transforming into a strong man, and together with Usopp, they dragged Merry.
Then, Merry moved. She was moved an almost imperceptible distance!
'Could it be, I have to eat a second one? If I eat a second rumble ball, I won't be able to control my form. Eating a third one might even make me lose my mind! But... I can only take a gamble!' Chopper took out a rumble ball and put it to his mouth!
"Enough!" Two figures appeared in the rain.
"Everyone has things they can't do. Leave what you can't do to... Mosshead!" Sanji didn't light a cigarette this time, but instead grabbed Usopp with one hand and Chopper with the other!
"What are you doing? Let me go, I can't lose Merry!" Usopp struggled fiercely.
"Calm down, Merry doesn't belong only to you. She's an important comrade of ours," Sanji glanced at Zoro, "No problem, Mosshead!"
"Of course!" Zoro placed both hands on Merry, then exerted force, lifting the entire ship onto his shoulders, "She's really heavy! But... I'll just consider it training!"
"Let's go!" Carrying one person and one animal, Sanji lightly tapped the air with his toes and ran into the sky!
"Ugh!" Zoro stomped heavily, cracking the ground.
"Bang!" A cannon-like sound echoed from the ground as Zoro created a sonic boom, carrying Merry, and leaped into the interior of Water Seven!
The houses within Water Seven became Zoro's springboards. With each leap, he got closer and closer to the shipbuilding island!
Sanji reached his destination and put down the hangers-on!
"At this rate, Merry will be safe very soon!" Usopp looked excitedly at the hopping Zoro.
Sanji calmly looked at Water Seven.
The original water in Water Seven was receding at an extremely fast pace.
"The more the tide recedes, the bigger the wave that comes back!" Kokoro held a bottle of sake, watching the receding tide.
The formerly watery city had dried up, even extending tens of miles outwards!
Soon, a line on the horizon, and a massive wave swept over Water Seven!
"That idiot, he might not make it in time!" Sanji watched the towering wave get closer and closer to Zoro!
Similarly, Zoro also felt the giant wave behind him, and with a fierce leap, he sprang towards the shipyard. Everyone's gaze was fixed on this moment!
One person carrying a ship, spanning the entire Water Seven! What a terrifying monster!
"Not enough!"
The towering wave behind them was already comparable to the height of the shipbuilding island!
"Seriously!" Sanji pushed off the ground with his left foot, jumping high into the air, spinning rapidly, one turn, two turns...
Gusts of hurricane winds swirled around Sanji, and hot air currents gushed out.
The wind blew Sanji's golden hair, and the flames on his feet burned wildly with the wind's boost!
He stared directly at the giant wave covering Zoro and going merry,
"Diable Jambe!"
He fiercely kicked the giant wave with his right foot, and a huge explosion of flames erupted.
The wave... was blasted open, creating a massive hole with a radius of tens of meters.
The wave rushed past Sanji and Zoro, but caused no damage!
Zoro arrived at the shipbuilding island and gently set down going merry!
Under everyone's monstrous gaze, he boarded the ship, leaned against the railing, and fell asleep.
Sanji landed, letting out a heavy sigh!
"going merry... is safe! It's true, it's true!" Usopp kept touching going merry all over!
"Nico Robin, these companions of yours...!" Iceberg couldn't help but exclaim.
"Yes! They are the best people in the world!" There was light in Robin's eyes.
"Uh~, I hope you can agree to my request!" Iceberg requested again!
"For this kind of thing, we need our Captain's answer. We can't make a decision blindly!" Nami was also helpless. Enies Lobby was dangerous, and they had no reason to go.
Soon, everyone gathered together!
"Call him on the den den mushi!"
...Time returned to the present.
"I heard he's good at repairing ships. I want to recruit him as a shipwright, hehe!"
The den den mushi hung up.
"What did he say?" — Nami
"Since it's the Captain's order, there's nothing we can do." — Zoro
"If the World Government gets Pluton, we'll be very passive." — Sanji
"Are we getting a new nakama soon?" — Chopper
"Let's go, head to Enies Lobby. Luffy will meet up with us!" Nami said with a smile.
"We can't ride going merry. She can't take any more damage!" Usopp looked at the turbulent waters of Water Seven, filled with endless worry!
Everyone disembarked, but Iceberg was nowhere to be seen!
"Where did Mr. Iceberg go?" Sanji looked at the directing Barry nearby.
"I don't know, he disappeared from the beginning!" Barry was also a bit puzzled.
"Are you looking for Iceberg? Follow me!" Kokoro suddenly appeared, then walked in one direction!
Everyone quickly followed!
"Oh, right, please help us repair going merry!" Usopp suddenly turned back again!
"Don't worry!"
...Everyone arrived in front of a dilapidated train.
"Its name is rocket man. It's Tom's masterpiece, but it was abandoned because it couldn't accommodate too many passengers. It was the predecessor and failure of the sea train." Kokoro's tone was full of emotion!
At the same time, Iceberg walked out with a briefcase, and seeing the Straw Hat, he suddenly froze!
"Your appearance here means...!" Iceberg seemed to guess something, slowly opening his mouth, "I'm sorry, they've already left, not long ago!"
"Nani!"
(Water Seven Arc End)