Blueno is lying on the ground, his fate unknown. When Feraligatr hit him, it sent him flying to the last carriage. In his comatose state, the CP9 did not immediately transfer Franky.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Franky broke free from the chains binding him. For a normal human structure, these chains were impossible to break, but Franky is a Modified Person, with his hands having undergone mechanical alteration.
Thanks to the modifications, Franky freed his hands and began battling Kalifa.
With the powerful fighters being led away by Feraligatr and Tiger, Kalifa and Nero, who hadn't fully learned Rokushiki, struggled to deal with Franky.
"Come on, you arrogant bastard, experience my super Explosion!"
Franky's butt has now swollen, looking like he's ready to go down with the enemy.
In the previous battle, the foul odor released by Nero nearly caused Franky's iron nose to fall off. Although the semi-finished fruit Spandam purchased had considerable side effects, the skunk's ability was preserved.
Franky finally found a chance to scare Kalifa and Nero into retreating temporarily by feigning a self-destruction.
But he didn't really explode. He didn't have the capability, but instead pulled out a notebook from the compartment in his belly.
"Gotcha! Franky... Super Flames!"
The aged paper burned into ashes from the flames, and a relaxed expression appeared on Franky's face.
"This is something passed down from generation to generation by the shipwrights of Water 7. It's never been a weapon design, but a token for the future.
It's intended to build something to resist when Ancient Weapons fall into the hands of people like you.
But rather than letting it fall into your hands, it's better to see it completely destroyed!"
"Damn it, our years of hard work..."
Franky's words were clear: the notebook was the blueprint they had been searching for. But now, everything is gone...
"Hahaha, get mad, but it's useless. Now then..."
Riiip!
The roof of the carriage was suddenly torn open as Feraligatr found his target. Under Tom's instructions, he grabbed Franky without hesitation and left, while a massive tsunami hit at that moment.
This was not Tiger's doing; it was the arrival of the Water Gods.
Paralyzed, the Sea Train teetered under the baptism of the Water Gods. Amidst the waves, no one cared about anything else, desperately seeking self-preservation, except the Fishman Race, who had already smoothly left with Feraligatr.
...
"Tom-san! It's so good, you're still alive!"
"Yokozuna!"
Near Water 7, the islands saw the frog, modified people, and fishmen huddled together, with Franky and Yokozuna having tears in their eyes.
The proudly eccentric Franky cried like a child.
"Alright Franky, stop crying. I secretly watched you and Iceberg these years, you've grown well. You are both good disciples of mine."
"Tom-san, where have you been all these years?"
"That doesn't matter, Franky. You need to change your lifestyle. You're probably on the World Government's list now.
Have Iceberg arrange a new identity for you, or go incognito and move to another island. If really necessary, contact them on this island, they will provide suitable work for you. Bringing more people is fine too."
"Wait, Tom-san, let me continue to follow you. My skills have improved now. After I return to Water 7 to handle some matters..."
"Franky, it's too dangerous, and this place is not suitable for you. Do as I say, and once things settle down, we'll meet again."
Tom chose not to take Franky. Being a fishman, he could easily move with Tiger and the others, making it inconvenient for Franky to follow.
Besides, Tom knew what he was doing and didn't want Franky to be completely involved, leaving him with just a business card as a fallback.
After bidding farewell to Franky, Tom slipped into the deep sea and left, while Franky quietly returned to Water 7. He still had his little brothers at Franky's House to arrange and had no intention of just walking away.
...
A day later, on Judicial Island.
Spandam was being scolded. Spandine on the other end of the Radio Snail was furious, using all kinds of insults except family ones.
"Useless! How can I have such a useless son! Rob Lucci and Kaku are dead?! Useless!"
The death toll wasn't just those two. Nero, the reserve member, also perished among the Water Gods. Of the CP9 executing tasks in Water 7, only Kalifa and Blueno survived.
But they couldn't explain clearly who attacked the Sea Train. Blueno didn't even see the opponent's appearance before being knocked out with a slap, and Kalifa only saw the "unknown Sea King Type."
Adding to this, another small team faced an accident during task execution.
Fukurou the Silent, Jabra, and Lion of Kumadori did not participate in the undercover operation in Water 7 but were involved in the assassination plan of a Revolutionary Army branch leader.
Initially, their task was to assassinate three people, but Fukurou, due to his big mouth, accidentally revealed the plan to others. To complete the plan, they ended up killing 23 people.
Despite the task's success, the resulting impact was poor. Coupled with the death of genius members, Spandam, as the highest officer, could not escape responsibility and had to seek his father's help to smooth things out.
"Dad...about the outcome..."
"Outcome? Your position is secured; the World Government is overwhelmed with other matters and doesn't have time for this trivial incident."
...
Holy Land, Mary Geoise, a series of urgent cries echo in the vast hall.
"Five Elders! Five Elders!"
"What's wrong?"
"The fleet that departed for the New World days ago has been defeated. Red Hair Shanks and Whitebeard Edward Newgate made direct contact!"
"What?"
It's inconsequential for the Sea Emperors to fight, but if they sit down to talk, that's something the World Government doesn't wish to see, especially since this has already happened once.
"First Kaidou and Red Hair, now Red Hair and Whitebeard, what are these guys up to?"
"Thinking about it, Kaidou hasn't done anything with significant impact recently either?"
"Defeating two East Sea divisions, taking down a Seven Warlords of the Sea member, isn't that impact big enough?"
"His daughter doesn't represent him; perhaps it's a rebellious phase?"
Mutual discussions among the Five Elders about the Four Emperors' meeting led to a strange conclusion.
"Isn't it possible that it wasn't Kaidou reaching out to Red Hair last time, but Red Hair actively contacting Kaidou?"