Chapter 118: CP9's Ambush – Franky Captured & Sol vs. Lucci
Unaware of the incident on the Merry, Luffy's group arrived noisily at the Franky Family's hideout.
Usopp stared at the sign reading "Franky Dismantling Shop" above the door and couldn't help complaining: "Hiring a ship-dismantling yard to build our ship… this is a first in my life."
"Yeah—and we're the ones who came knocking," Sanji added around his cigarette, deeply agreeing.
"No worries! Franky's definitely fine!" Luffy, completely carefree, pushed the door open wide.
The moment the door opened, deafening music and rowdy cheers poured out. Franky stood on a central platform, passionately dancing with the Square Sisters and his crew, his signature mechanical arms waving in the air. "Owww! This big bro is in Super condition today! Everyone—jump!"
The entire place was a full-blown party scene; the long table on one side overflowed with drinks and food. The lively atmosphere instantly infected Luffy's group—they forgot their purpose in seconds, cheering as they dove into the crowd and started bouncing to the music.
Franky spotted Sol and Nami from the stage. He loudly told his brothers to keep the party going, then leaped down and beckoned Nami and Sol toward the back room to discuss business. Nami sighed helplessly, grabbed Sol—who was focused on gnawing roast meat—and followed Franky inside.
She glanced back and saw Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper had already taken over the stage as the dance leaders; Sanji was swooning and dancing with the Square Sisters; Zoro was off to the side pouring drinks for himself. Nami pressed her forehead and sighed deeply: "These idiots… have they completely forgotten why we came here?"
In the back room, Franky sat sprawled in a large work chair like a king. Behind him, the tool wall was covered with every kind of shipbuilding instrument. He got straight to the point: "Sol bro, do you have any specific ideas or requests for the new ship?"
The directness caught Sol slightly off guard. He quickly pulled out the carefully organized list of demands Nami had prepared and handed it over. "Alright, let me take a good look." Franky accepted the paper filled with requests, pushed up his sunglasses, and read intently.
"Super simple!" Franky shouted excitedly after finishing, but then rubbed his chin and added: "Good thing you guys ended up giving 300 million Berries. If we were still on the original 200 million budget, things like individual crew cabins, training room, infirmary… would have to be seriously scaled back."
Seeing Sol's puzzled look, Franky stood up and walked to a black-market map of Water 7 on the wall, explaining in detail: "Three pieces of Adam Wood appeared on the black market this time—rare as hell. I deliberately went for the top-grade one worth 300 million." He pointed at a marked spot on the map. "This piece isn't just the best quality—it's almost twice the size of the 200-million one. Plenty to build a fully equipped dream ship."
Sol immediately understood—this meant the upcoming "Sunny" would be much more spacious and comfortable than originally planned. It was necessary; the list clearly demanded individual crew cabins, training room, infirmary, library, and many other functional areas.
After laying out all the requirements, Franky enthusiastically patted Sol's shoulder: "You guys go enjoy the party outside first. I need some time to integrate all these awesome ideas into the design sketches."
Sol and Nami exchanged a glance and left together. The room was left with only Franky, intently scribbling over the large spread-out blueprint on the table, his drawing pen dancing rapidly across the paper.
But just as he was fully immersed in design, inspiration flowing freely, a cold voice suddenly echoed in the room: "Mind coming with us for a bit, Franky—or should I call you by your real name: Cutty Flam?"
Lucci twisted his neck with a crisp crack, stepping calmly out of an invisible air door Blueno had silently opened. The white pigeon on his shoulder stared at Franky with sharp eyes.
Franky—deep in revising his drawings—snapped his head up. His brows furrowed tightly under his sunglasses: "Aren't you that Galley-La shipwright, Lucci? How do you know that name?"
He stared warily at the intruder, unconsciously tightening his grip on the pen. A strong sense of unease surged in his chest—why was a name he had deliberately buried for years suddenly being spoken again?
"The World Government finds out anything it wants to know," Lucci said slowly, advancing step by step. His shoes clicked rhythmically on the wooden floor, sounding unnaturally loud in the quiet room. "We've been lurking in Water 7 for so many years—all for today."
"World Government! You're with the government?!" Franky shot to his feet in shock. "Does Iceburg know who you are? What the hell is he doing?!"
"You'll understand everything once we arrest you." Lucci's gaze sharpened. In an instant he activated "Shave"; his figure blurred like a phantom and appeared right in front of Franky!
Before Franky could even react, a heavy blow landed in his gut. He dry-heaved once; his massive body flew backward uncontrollably, smashing through the workbench and chairs behind him. Design drafts scattered like snowflakes.
"Damn it… don't underestimate me!" Franky roared as he pushed himself up, swinging his steel fist toward Lucci—but Lucci twisted lightly, evading the heavy strike by a hair's breadth.
"Finger Pistol – Barrage."
Lucci's voice was icy cold. His fingertips struck at superhuman speed in a continuous rain of bullet-like stabs.
Under this ferocious onslaught, Franky didn't even have time to scream before his eyes rolled back and he collapsed unconscious.
As Lucci kicked the unconscious Franky into the invisible air door, Sol—sensing the disturbance inside—burst through the door. The scene before him instantly told him everything: Franky had been attacked, and standing there was Rob Lucci, leader of CP9.
Without a moment's hesitation, Sol charged like lightning. His right fist instantly coated in pitch-black Armament Haki, whistling through the air straight toward Lucci's face!
Feeling the ferocious power, Lucci's eyes showed no fear—only blazing battle intent. He had long wanted to test the strength of someone trained by "Navy Hero" Garp. He met the punch head-on without retreating!
The moment their fists collided, surprise flashed in Sol's eyes—"Has this dumb leopard been a shipwright too long? Did his brain rot? He actually dares clash with me head-on?"
Sure enough, in the next instant after their fists met, a sickening crack of breaking bone rang out clearly! Lucci's fist deformed instantly under the crushing Armament Haki; the excruciating pain of shattered finger bones made his pupils contract sharply.
Bang—
Lucci flew backward like a broken kite, smashing heavily into the brick wall behind him. The wall cracked in a spiderweb pattern. He coughed up fresh blood; his right arm hung limply, blood dripping steadily down.
Just as Sol prepared to press the attack, another invisible air door silently opened. Blueno flashed out, grabbed the injured Lucci, and the two vanished into the door in the next instant—leaving only faint ripples in the air and an empty room in front of Sol.
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