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"What happened, Rowen?" Vivi asked, looking towards him.
"Nothing much. Cutty Flam—now known as Franky—was captured by CP9," Rowen replied.
His words made Iceburg's pupils constrict sharply.
"There are more CP9 members in Water 7??" Iceburg exclaimed, his voice cracking.
Franky possessed the Pluton blueprints. His master, Tom, had sacrificed his life to prevent the World Government from obtaining those plans. He, too, had inherited Tom's will, determined to keep that terrifying weapon out of the World Government's hands.
But now—was it all for nothing?!
"Blueno. User of the Door-Door Fruit. A rather useful Devil Fruit ability," Rowen commented with a faint smile, looking at the unconscious Kaku and Kalifa.
The Door-Door Fruit, while not directly enhancing combat power, its spatial manipulation abilities were quite useful to Rowen. Blueno had been undercover as a bartender in Water 7. CP9's setup to obtain Pluton's blueprints was indeed meticulous: Kalifa as Iceburg's secretary, monitoring his every move.
Kaku and Lucci as Galley-La foremen, controlling information within the shipyard; Blueno, as a bartender frequented by various informants, gathered intel from outside Galley-La—
Franky, being a cyborg, needed cola as fuel and often visited Blueno's bar. Without cola, Franky's combat power plummeted. To capture Franky quickly—did they replace his cola with special juice, then seize him when he was weakened?
Rowen's Rumble-Rumble Fruit-enhanced Observation Haki scanned the situation, a curious smile playing on his lips.
Blueno, who in the original story, despite having the Door-Door Fruit, foolishly relied on Tekkai and was subsequently taken down by Luffy—
—This time, instead of senselessly confronting Franky, he used strategy.
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'Perhaps the pressure I brought forced even an idiot to evolve a bit? Interesting.' But to dare complete their mission knowing he, Rowen, was here—gutsy.
Rowen's eyes flashed crimson-black.
"Blueno! He's CP9 too??" Iceburg broke out in a cold sweat.
Paulie and the other foremen also stared in disbelief. That unassuming bartender, Blueno—was also CP9??
"A bit clever... but do you understand the consequences of such actions? Playing these little tricks in front of me??" Rowen asked, walking over to Kaku and retrieving a Transponder Snail from him.
Blueno had acted prematurely, before confirming Franky's identity, precisely because Kaku used this snail to report their exposure.
"D-Damn it!" Kaku and Kalifa looked utterly defeated and unwilling.
This man's abilities were too SCARY!
Nothing could be hidden from him... All their schemes and plans—were like the laughable struggles of ants in his eyes!
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"Mr. Rowen. Pluton's blueprints absolutely cannot fall into the World Government's hands!" Iceburg pleaded anxiously, looking at Rowen.
If this Emperor took action, even if Blueno captured Franky, they couldn't escape Water 7! This was his only hope now!
Iceburg's eyes filled with desperate worry.
Though on the surface, his relationship with Franky seemed strained due to their differing views, in reality, Iceburg cherished Franky, his junior apprentice, like important family—
Tom's death had already cost him one precious family member; Iceburg didn't want to experience that pain again.
"CP9's headquarters... is Enies Lobby, correct? Well then—Enies Lobby can be erased from this world," Rowen declared, a tyrannical crimson-black light flaring in his eyes.
Enies Lobby was where Buster Calls were authorized—Robin's severe psychological trauma from the Ohara Incident could roughly be divided into two parts:
Aokiji and the Buster Call.
The Aokiji trauma was completely erased the moment Aokiji fell to Rowen.
But the Buster Call... the thing that destroyed Ohara and caused Robin her greatest psychological scars—hadn't been dealt with yet.
Though Robin was much more confident now thanks to Rowen, no longer fearing Marine Admirals, even looking at CP9 with a critical eye—the Buster Call still held immense sway over her.
Psychological trauma, like the 'Desire' needed for Devil Fruit Awakening, wasn't something that could be simply wished away—
One had to experience it firsthand to truly overcome it. Only by experiencing another Buster Call could Robin completely eradicate the shadow of Ohara.
Whether for Robin's sake, or to display his 'imperial majesty'—Enies Lobby had to be wiped from these seas!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The moment Rowen's words fell—the sky above suddenly darkened. Countless air currents began to roil violently. Innumerable coiling serpents of lightning writhed within the black clouds!
"Changing the climate with a single thought... Is this an Emperor??" Iceburg, under the terrifying pressure, collapsed weakly to the ground, staring in horror at the dramatically altered, terrifying weather.
"As for saving Franky—give me a reason," Rowen stated, looking at Iceburg.
"A reason..." Iceburg fell silent upon hearing this.
He wasn't surprised this man knew he wanted Franky saved; everything that just happened proved no secrets could be kept from this man.
This man was an Ultimate Human!
But what could he offer to move an Emperor? His shipyard? Don't be ridiculous! Those mundane things were beneath this man's notice!
Wait... This man came here for ship repairs! Iceburg's head snapped up.
"A shipwright!" Iceburg yelled.
"Franky is the best shipwright in the world! IF WE WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN DEFINITELY BUILD THE WORLD'S BEST SHIP!" Iceburg declared, looking at Rowen, clenching his fists.
"Ha... HAHAHAHA!"
Iceburg watched as the man before him threw his head back and laughed with absolute power...
As he laughed, the very clouds in the sky trembled. The writhing lightning seemed to prostrate itself...
"A good reason!" Rowen smiled.
"Well then, for Merry's sake, we have to go to Enies Lobby and bring Franky back—" Rowen stated, looking towards Luffy.
"Shishishi! The world's best shipwright? Let's save him and make him our shipwright, Rowen!" Luffy replied, equally enthusiastic.
"A-Are we really going to flatten Enies Lobby?" Usopp's legs trembled. Enies Lobby was one of the World Government's three great strongholds.
Enies Lobby, Impel Down, Marine HQ—constituting the World Government's 'Absolute Justice'.
Anyone taken to Enies Lobby would be judged guilty, then passed through the Gates of Justice to be imprisoned in the great undersea prison, Impel Down, for detention or execution—
For 800 years, it had never delivered a 'not guilty' verdict, thus symbolizing the World Government's absolute justice.
Rowen said they were going—Usopp would naturally follow. But Usopp, whose cowardice was ingrained in his genes, couldn't stop his legs from shaking.
"Usopp, are you scared?" Chopper, also feeling uneasy, sidled up to Usopp.
"WH-WHO'S SCARED?! I am the comrade of the Fifth Emperor! Usopp the Brave! The world calls me the Fifth Emperor's reliable right-hand man!" Usopp roared.
"SUGEEEEEEEEE! As expected of the man with the 35 million Beri bounty!" Some shipwrights nearby gasped in admiration.
This exclamation instantly boosted Usopp's spirits, and he began boasting loudly about his upcoming heroic exploits on Enies Lobby.
"Excellent, Usopp. You'll lead the charge attacking Enies Lobby," Rowen stated, clapping Usopp on the shoulder, his expression one of profound approval.
"GACK!"
Usopp instantly froze, countless beads of cold sweat forming on his brow.
Looking at Rowen's expression, which didn't seem like joking at all, Usopp felt his insides churn...
"I-I need to make some preparations!" Facing Rowen, Usopp wouldn't act cowardly.
Rowen was the first man to acknowledge him as brave.
To back down now, under Rowen's expectant gaze. Usopp wouldn't be able to forgive himself! Of course—preparations were essential! At least upgrade his weapon!
"Of course, no problem," Rowen replied, smiling as he saw Usopp's Anthem of Courage Trait begin to activate. Under the effect of this Special Trait, Usopp's potential was quite astonishing.
"Shishishi! Usopp leading the charge? Sounds exciting!" Luffy grinned.
"SUGEEEEEEE! Usopp! You've become so brave!" Chopper's eyes sparkled like stars.
"L-Leave it to me! It's just Enies Lobby!" What else could Usopp say? He could only pound his chest and make the promise, tears streaming down his face.
"Well then," Rowen extended his right hand.
FWOOSH!
A wisp of smoke appeared in his palm.
WHOOSH!
Under the stunned gazes of Iceburg and the others—the wisp of smoke rapidly expanded, becoming incredibly vast.
The smoke then dissipated, revealing a flying ship, hovering within the thunderclouds above... The Munch-Munch Fruit ability, combined with the Smoke-Smoke Fruit—its storage function released.
The Ark Maxim!
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"Are we taking this to attack Enies Lobby?" Luffy asked, having assumed they'd take the Merry.
"To get to Enies Lobby from here, you'd normally need to take the Sea Train. But we have the Ark Maxim—we can arrive directly from the sky. As for the Merry—she'll stay here for maintenance, awaiting our return," Rowen explained with a smile.
Though in the original story, the Going Merry, guided by her Klabautermann, saved Luffy and the others from Enies Lobby at the last moment—that was Merry's swan song—
She only reached Enies Lobby by pushing herself with the last vestiges of her sailing spirit. Rowen certainly wouldn't let Merry do such a thing now.
With the Ark Maxim, they could launch a surprise attack on Enies Lobby from the sky—and if anything went wrong, they could also retreat via the sky!
Enies Lobby was very close to Marine HQ—Rowen naturally had to make all necessary preparations. However, according to the plot, Shanks and Whitebeard had already made contact by now—
Marine HQ wouldn't have spare forces to deal with Enies Lobby. Rowen knew Shanks and Whitebeard's meeting was due to Ace and Blackbeard, but Marine HQ and the World Government didn't. With him already causing chaos across the seas, upsetting the balance, two Emperors making direct contact would completely tie up Marine HQ and World Government forces.
"LET'S GO—" Rowen said, grabbing Nami and Robin, placing Chopper on his shoulder, then activated his Smoke-Smoke Fruit, carrying the two women and Chopper up onto the Ark Maxim.
FWOOSH!
Vivi transformed into a miniature sandstorm, appearing on the Ark Maxim's deck. As a Sandstorm Human of the Sand-Sand Fruit, Vivi could now hold her own. Her small hands were clenched tightly.
This was her first official debut!
The beginning of her journey to become Rowen's strength. Vivi's expression was one of serious determination.
"Shishi! Let's go!" Luffy grabbed Usopp with one hand, then his other arm instantly stretched, grabbing onto the Ark Maxim high above.
"Hey! Luffy! Don't tell me you're thinking—!" That familiar feeling made Usopp break out in cold sweat.
"Shishishi! DEPARTURE!" Luffy activated his rubber ability, launching himself and Usopp violently towards the Ark Maxim.
WHUMP!
Their heads slammed heavily onto the Ark's deck.
"Shishishi! Safe landing!" Luffy bounced up, full of energy.
"LIKE HELL IT WAS! ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!" Usopp, a giant lump on his head, transformed into his sharp-toothed angry state, repeatedly punching Luffy on the head, forcing apologies from him (which Luffy would absolutely not learn from).
"Rowen, thank you," Chopper said cutely, hugging Rowen's leg.
If Rowen hadn't brought him up, he would have suffered the same fate as Usopp.
"W-Wait! Please wait!" Just as Rowen and the others were about to depart, the Franky Family suddenly appeared.
"We heard everything! Big Bro Franky was captured! Let us go too!" Zambai yelled, looking up at the Ark Maxim in the sky.
"Oh?? You were scared by my lightning, yet you still dare to follow me?" Rowen asked, looking at Zambai and the others with amusement.
Rowen's 'Divine Judgment' had landed in front of them, using the explosion and lightning's paralyzing effect only to give them a small punishment. Rowen didn't dislike loyal fellows.
"YOU WERE THE ONES TRYING TO STEAL FROM OUR SHIP!" Nami instantly understood, glaring at Zambai and his men.
"Th-That was us being possessed by greed! WE'RE INCREDIBLY SORRY!"
Zambai and the others immediately dropped to their knees, performing a deep dogeza bow.
"But Big Bro Franky was captured. We have to save him! Even if it costs us our lives!" Zambai yelled.
"Very well." Rowen smiled.
"Shishishi! Then grab on tight!" Luffy stretched his arm down towards Zambai and the others.
Overjoyed, Zambai and his men grabbed Luffy's outstretched arm, then screamed as Luffy yanked them unceremoniously up onto the Ark Maxim's deck.
WHOOSH!
Rowen transformed into a bolt of lightning, appearing on the Ark Maxim's control throne.
BOOM!
Terrifying lightning surged, converted by the Ark Maxim into motive power, setting the massive flying ship in motion.
"Zoro! Sanji! Let's go!" Under Rowen's enhanced senses, he quickly located Zoro and Sanji, who were currently arguing.
For these two to run into each other while wandering randomly in a city as large as Water 7—especially with Zoro being a master of getting lost—could only mean they were fated rivals...
WHOOSH!
Luffy's two rubber arms shot out, grabbing Zoro and Sanji's shoulders while they were still bewildered.
"N-No way..." Zoro and Sanji's eyes twitched.
The next moment! Accompanied by their enraged screams, Zoro and Sanji were violently yanked high into the sky.
"I'LL CUT YOU SOMEDAY!! BASTARD!"
"I'LL KICK YOU TO DEATH!! BASTARD!"
Zoro and Sanji roared furiously.
The Ark Maxim—streaked towards Enies Lobby!
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