Inside the wreckage of the Sea Train Rocket Man, the atmosphere was somewhat stagnant.
The Franky Family underlings, faces bruised and swollen but eyes burning with intensity, stared at the Straw Hat crew.
They had originally thought that after rescuing Robin, these audacious pirates would do what most pirates did—quit while they were ahead and quickly fled this place of trouble.
They had already mentally prepared themselves—even if it was just their own group, they would risk their lives charging into Enies Lobby to rescue their boss Franky.
But what did they just hear?
"Let's go, Robin! Let's tear that damn Enies Lobby apart!"
Luffy stood at the edge of the train car, his voice not loud but clear carrying to everyone around. He looked at the Franky Family. "Didn't those guys capture your boss? We might as well rescue him while we're at it."
"Eh?!!"
Every single Franky Family member's jaw collectively hit the floor. Their eyes bugged out.
"You're still going to Enies Lobby?!"
Zambai, the Franky Family representative, voice trembled—whether from fear or excitement, it was hard to tell.
Nami clutched her forehead. Though she'd anticipated this, hearing it again still made her blood pressure spike: "I knew it! Once that idiot captain decides something, not even eight Sea Kings could drag him back!"
Eight?
That was underestimating Luffy.
Zoro grinned fiercely as he gripped Wado Ichimonji: "Fine by me. Perfect chance to stretch my legs."
Sanji exhaled a smoke ring: "Making Robin-sama suffer like that... we can't let that slide without properly repaying them."
Usopp, despite his legs trembling, barely held strong: "O-of course! I'm a brave warrior of the sea!"
Chopper hid behind Usopp but still nodded along: "Yeah! We're gonna beat up everyone who bullied Robin!"
Seeing the Straw Hats utterly fearless—even eager—Zambai roughly wiped the blood and sweat from his face. This rough man's eyes instantly reddened. His voice choked with emotion: "You... you... sob... you're really something else!"
WAHHH!
His crying seemed to flip a switch. Dozens of burly Franky Family men embraced and wept like children.
"Sob... Boss, if you cry, I'm gonna cry too..."
"So touching, Straw Hat bros!"
Luffy tilted his head, a bit bewildered by their crying: "Why are you crying? We're just doing what we want to do."
But when he heard the Franky Family were all shipwrights, his eyes lit up.
Shipwrights were great. They needed shipwrights.
"Luffy, I support your decision. But we need to clarify our objective. If we're declaring war on the World Government, what exactly are we going to do? If we linger too long at Enies Lobby, Marine Headquarters reinforcements will arrive through the Gate of Justice. We could end up surrounded."
Vivi stepped forward. Though her heart was also surging, her princess's reason kept her calm.
"What's the plan?"
Right—what counted as declaring war?
With Luffy's personality, just beat up all the enemies and be done with it.
But.
Just like pirates kept appearing endlessly, so did the Marines.
If they got surrounded by Marines, an endless stream of enemies would put her nakama in danger.
In Luffy's mind, declaring war didn't mean fighting to the death.
He glanced at the Plan's timer.
"Time's almost up anyway. We'll declare war and then leave."
Just then, Paulie, whose injuries had been roughly treated by Chopper, weakly spoke up while leaning against the carriage wall: "The... the World Government flag... on the tallest building in Enies Lobby... flies the World Government flag. That flag symbolizes their authority there. If that flag were destroyed..."
He didn't finish, but the implication was clear.
Oh?
Even simpler.
Luffy's eyes instantly lit up.
He grinned his signature grin and turned to the still-sniffling Franky Family: "Hey, you guys go rescue your boss. We'll handle the enemies at Enies Lobby!"
Franky Family: "???"
"Yes, Straw Hat bro!"
The Franky Family chorused in unison, morale skyrocketing.
"Vivi's status is special. She'd better not participate directly. Directly attacking World Government facilities would have too much impact."
Nami was thinking ahead. She looked at Vivi. "Leave the fighting at Enies Lobby to us."
"I won't stand aside!"
Vivi declared. "I can use my Fūfū no Mi to help from the Going Merry."
"I can't directly engage in combat, but I'll use my wind to protect you all. As long as you're at Enies Lobby, wherever the wind reaches—that's my eyes and ears!"
Regarding Logia Devil Fruit development, Vivi had recently made rapid progress training with Luffy.
She hadn't developed many offensive techniques. But during Skypiea, she'd heard the Skypieans mention Mantra—the ability to sense everywhere. As a Logia, wind was also everywhere.
Why not focus on that aspect?
Now, through her Fūfū no Mi's peculiarity, Vivi's sentience rivaled Enel's.
"Me too, me too."
Nika raised her hand. "My identity is too sensitive, right? I'll stay behind on the Going Merry with Vivi and Merry."
"That works."
Luffy adjusted his straw hat. "Then it's decided."
Target: Enies Lobby!
Meanwhile, in the first car that had separated from the rear and was heading toward Enies Lobby proper—
Franky had been refitted with heavy Seastone shackles and tossed in a corner like a pile of mud. But his face showed no discouragement. Instead, he wore a mocking sneer as he watched the oppressive atmosphere among the CP9 members. Inside, he was secretly happy.
He'd witnessed how Luffy had overwhelmingly defeated CP9.
These black-suited freaks had kicked an iron plate, hadn't they? Served them right!
Rob Lucci sat on the sofa. His injuries didn't seem to affect him much. He held a Den Den Mushi.
Buruburu.
Buruburu.
The Den Den Mushi connected, simulates a face with funny goatee and arrogant expression.
"Moshi moshi, Lucci? How's the mission going?"
"You've got Nico Robin and Pluton's blueprints, right?"
"I've already cracked open the champagne! Waiting for you to come back and celebrate! Hahaha! With such a big credit, our Spandams are getting promoted and raises any day now!"
Spandam's smug voice came through the Den Den Mushi. He seemed to have already started celebrating prematurely—in the background, glasses clinked.
Directly cracking open the champagne.
Lucci's expression was blank. His voice icy as he interrupted Spandam's fantasies: "Mission failed. Nico Robin was rescued by Straw Hat Luffy."
***
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