After hearing Kaku's answer, Barry stepped forward and asked, "Is the keel broken too?"
Kaku nodded. "Yes. It's severely damaged."
"How is that possible?!" Nami shouted. "It's been sailing normally until now!"
"Even if you try to repair it," Kaku said, "the chances of reaching the next island are… zero."
Luffy stared in disbelief. "You're saying the Going Merry can't be repaired? What do you mean? Aren't you amazing shipwrights? If it's about money, we have as much as you need!"
"It has nothing to do with money," Kaku replied. "No amount of money can restore this ship to its original state. Honestly, it's impressive it even made it here."
"What do you mean?" Nami asked anxiously. "What's wrong with the Merry exactly?"
Sandy, off to the side, sighed. They literally just explained it.
Barry stepped in again. "Do you know what a keel is, you shameless girl?"
Nami glared. "Are you talking about the one at the bottom of the ship?!"
"Exactly," Barry said. "It's the support that runs from bow to stern—the most important piece of wood on the entire ship. It's severely damaged… and cannot be repaired."
"In other words," Kaku added, "your ship is now nothing more than a pile of wood waiting to die."
"Wait a second!" Nami snapped. "The way you're saying it is way too harsh!"
Sandy patted her shoulder. "Don't get so worked up. They're telling the truth. Reality is reality—we have to accept it."
"Sandy…" Luffy and Nami looked at him helplessly.
Sandy sighed. "The Going Merry was just a normal ship from the beginning. Think about what it's been through. We should've been prepared for this already."
Luffy clenched his fists. "Then build us a new ship! Build another Going Merry—exactly the same!"
Lucci shook his head. "Impossible. No one can build two identical ships. Are there two perfectly identical trees in the world?
Ship materials are almost all wood. The shape of the ship depends on the natural shape and curve of each piece. Even with the same blueprint, you cannot build an identical ship."
Nami trembled. "So… the Going Merry really can't sail anymore?"
"Yes," Kaku answered. "Either you wait for it to sink, or you dismantle it now."
After a moment of silence, Iceburg said, "Ships have lifespans. This is a good time to switch vessels. You have a lot of money—just buy a new ship."
"No." Luffy lowered his head. "I don't want a new ship. Our ship is the Going Merry! If we repair it again, it'll definitely sail!
It sailed perfectly fine today! Now you suddenly say it can't sail—who could believe that?! You say that because you don't understand how tough Merry is!"
Luffy's voice grew louder with every sentence.
Sandy wiped cold sweat. This level of denial… this guy is living in a dream.
Before Sandy could speak, Iceburg stepped forward with a calm but sharp expression. "You plan to ride it until it sinks? You're hopeless."
He pointed at Luffy. "Do you call yourself a Captain? I've said everything I need to say. Think about it properly."
At that moment, World Government agents came looking for Iceburg, and Barry hurriedly told the Straw Hats to hide.
But a few minutes later, Luffy lifted the box they were hiding with—and noticed something was wrong.
"Everyone… when I held the box earlier, it felt really light."
"Huh? Why?" Nami asked.
A moment later she laughed awkwardly. "Come on, stop joking. There's so much money in there. How could it feel light—"
Before the two could shout, Sandy said calmly, "Luffy. Nami. Calm down. The money was swapped."
"WHAT?!" both screamed in unison.
Nami grabbed Sandy by the collar. "Did you know?!"
"Yes."
"Why?! Where did the money go?!"
Sandy scratched his head. "Don't freak out. Someone named Franky took it to buy shipbuilding wood."
"You know this Franky?" Luffy asked.
"Nope," Sandy replied honestly.
Nami exploded. "That's OUR MONEY, YOU BASTARD! You knew and didn't stop him?! What the hell are you planning?!"
"Damn it, calm down!" Sandy snapped. "Let me finish!"
Wham!
Nami elbowed him. "Franky took our money?! Explain properly!"
Sandy sat down with a sigh. "According to the aura I sensed with Observation Haki, Franky said he'd use the money to buy the best wood in the world. Don't we need a new ship? Let him build it."
Nami pointed at him furiously. "Do you even understand what you're saying?! We don't even know him! Even if he builds a ship, why would it be ours?!"
Sandy smirked and patted her shoulder. "We're pirates. Does it matter? He used our money —after he finishes building it, we'll just pay him a bit of labor fees, at most."
Luffy slammed a fist into his palm. "Ohhh, I get it! But… I still want the Going Merry!"
Whack!
Sandy bonked him on the head. "It's time to say goodbye. Don't cling to it. Merry is suffering—because of us. Understand?"
Luffy and Nami froze as if struck by lightning.
Nami trembled. "You mean…!"
Sandy nodded. "Merry has developed a ship spirit. It's in pain."
Luffy asked skeptically, "How do you know? You're not tricking us into getting a new ship, right?"
"I can't talk to it," Sandy explained. "But with Observation Haki, I can feel its emotions. Sometimes, it comes out and repairs the ship itself. Otherwise… with Usopp's awful skills, how could he fix anything?"
Luffy's eyes widened.
Nami whispered, "So all those repairs before… Merry did them herself…"
Sandy exhaled. "Anyway, Usopp was beaten pretty badly. Let's go find him."
"What did you say?!" both yelled.
Luffy panicked. "What happened to Usopp?! Come to think of it—I haven't seen him at all!"
Sandy said, "He went to get the money back from the Franky Family and got beaten. Let's go."
Nami threw up her hands. "Sandy! What are you even trying to do?!"
Sandy replied casually as he walked, "Spiritual cultivation."
"…How mysterious."
"I swear, Sandy, you're too reckless!"
"Reckless? With pirates like us, we need training. Usopp still yells 'Captain Usopp' every day…"
Luffy frowned deeply.
He had decisions to make.
...
Author's Note:
The fanfic One Piece: My Flirtatious System Adventure is now fully completed.
The entire story has been uploaded on Patreon as a dedicated collection.
📚 Category: One Piece (Chapters 1–657)
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🔥 I also have additional **18+ fanfics** available for readers who enjoy exclusive mature stories. 😉
1. Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
2. Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
3. Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
4. The Naive Me Who Became Someone's Everyday Secret
5. High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
6. Versatile Mage: Awakening the Succubus System
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