The laboratory had grown quiet.
At the same time, he had also proven himself to be a steadfast and reliable partner.
"Alas… it seems she was right. We truly cannot change your mind."
The ministers who had been pleading moments earlier suddenly dropped their sorrowful expressions.
Swish!
They rushed out of the room.
"Huh?"
Franky stared with wide, bewildered eyes. Just moments ago they had looked desperate, yet now they vanished in an instant.
"Ow! You guys switch sides way too fast!"
Boom!
The massive iron door slammed shut. The moment it closed, the entire environment of the room began to change.
Click!
Click!
Reinforced steel bars suddenly appeared over the doors and windows.
Creak, creak, creak...
The grinding of mechanical gears echoed through the room. Thick steel plates, nearly ten centimeters thick, slid over almost every wall in the laboratory.
"Ow!"
Franky scanned the room that had instantly transformed into a cage and shouted in confusion.
"Oh no, are you trying to keep this pervert here by force? Are you planning to imprison me?"
Creak...
"Beep..."
A small opening appeared in the steel wall. A projection Den Den Mushi slowly slid out, opened its eyes, and began projecting onto the steel surface.
"Click, click..."
The screen flickered several times before fully lighting up.
"Sorry, King..."
A young, beautiful female minister appeared on the screen. Her expression looked sorrowful as she gazed at Franky.
"You forced us into this. We never wanted things to reach this point. But if we want you to remain in our country, we have no choice but to activate the former tyrant's laboratory defense system to imprison you. Perhaps with time, you will change your mind."
"You cannot change my mind!"
Franky planted his fists on his hips and shouted at the screen.
"Ow! I advise you to release me immediately, otherwise I will get angry! You should know by now that I'm very powerful!"
"Of course, King. We know your combat power is extraordinary."
The female minister smiled gently.
Then her expression shifted into a sly, cunning grin.
"However, your cola energy has been running low since two days ago, hasn't it? Today should be your limit. You haven't had time to replace it yet, correct?"
Her eyes drifted toward Franky's chest as she laughed softly.
"Hehehe...
Even someone as powerful as you would struggle to break through steel like this without the support of cola energy."
Her smile grew even sweeter.
"We are very much looking forward to the moment your cola energy is depleted. At that time, we will replace it with a warm herbal tea that will soften your heart and allow you to accept your role as our King."
"Hehehe. Then we will have an incredibly powerful ruler."
A strange expression of obsessive affection appeared on the minister's face as she gazed at Franky with greedy excitement.
For a long time she had been observing every move the powerful man made. In order to obtain him as her King and eventually become his Queen, she had carefully monitored his habits.
She knew exactly when his cola reserves would run out.
Two days ago, she had deliberately sent rare metals to distract him while he worked. Her goal was simple, keep him so focused on his inventions that he would forget to refill his cola.
Everything had been planned.
Today was the final day before his energy supply would be exhausted, which was why she gathered the ministers to carry out their plan.
"Ow! So that was your plan!"
Franky froze for a moment before shouting in frustration.
"Oh no... my energy is almost gone..."
Only now did he understand why they had chosen today to imprison him.
She was right.
His cola reserves were nearly depleted.
He had originally planned to replace the cola after finishing the newest weapon he had been developing, but he had been completely fooled by the girl he had once believed to be innocent.
"Hehehe, King Franky."
The minister gazed at him with charming eyes.
"Just grant this humble woman's wish and become our King. Everything in this country will belong to you... including me."
"Beep... beep..."
Franky activated power saving mode.
His pompadour slowly folded down as he began conserving energy. His mechanical eyes stared blankly at the screen.
His voice became cold and mechanical.
"Preparing action protocol. Escape before energy depletion."
"Hmph!"
The female minister frowned.
"Do not waste your effort, King. I have already calculated the exact amount of cola energy you have remaining. It is not enough to break through this secret chamber."
She pushed up a pair of gold rimmed glasses and glanced at a nearby desk filled with calculation drafts.
"Did you think I was merely playing around when I accompanied you to test the mechanical beast before?"
She tapped the blueprints confidently.
"I calculated the energy consumption of your combat power, your physical movements, and your laboratory activity. After precise analysis, I determined that your remaining cola energy is only enough to break through one iron wall."
She raised her chin proudly.
"After that, your cola supply will be completely depleted, leaving you weak and powerless."
For nearly two months she had been preparing for this moment.
With a proud smile, she puffed out her chest and spoke sweetly.
"At that time, I will personally replace your cola with the herbal tea I specially prepared. It contains strength comparable to cola, but it will make you far more obedient to my words."
Franky, still in power saving mode, completely ignored her scheme.
Instead, he began his escape.
"Beep... beep... initiating operation."
His arms suddenly transformed.
Two jagged electric saws extended from his hands. The ability came from the Weapon Fruit that Shirogai Yamikuro had once granted him.
Buzz... buzz...
Electric sparks flashed as the saws began grinding against the iron door.
"Hmph. You truly are clever, choosing the door."
The minister pouted slightly but continued speaking smugly.
"However, you probably do not know this. That iron door was created by the former tyrant using an extremely rare alloy. Its hardness is four times greater than the metal used for the walls."
"Buzz..."
Franky ignored her entirely.
The electric saws continued cutting through the steel bars without hesitation.
"Very well then."
The minister sighed softly.
"I will simply wait until your energy runs out. After that, we can speak from the heart."
Her voice softened as she whispered to herself.
She eagerly imagined the moment when Franky would finally become obedient to her.
No...
What she truly imagined was the moment when they would belong to each other.
___
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