Still pale from blood loss after CP9's attack, Iceburg's eyes had regained their usual composure and sharpness.
His gaze swept over the Straw Hats. When it landed on Merry in Luffy's arms, a flicker of undisguised awe crossed his face.
"A ship spirit indeed."
Paulie thrust his arm out, his voice booming: "Boys! Time to welcome our city's heroes!"
The crowd cheered, surging toward the Straw Hats like a tidal wave.
Their faces shone with genuine smiles. The way they looked at Luffy and his crew was filled with admiration and goodwill.
Pirates, they said? Did they need to be told who was a pirate and who wasn't?
You say the Straw Hats are wanted criminals? Ask the hammers in their hands.
The truth about CP9's attack on Iceburg, and the Straw Hats' exploits at Enies Lobby, had spread through Water 7 via the Franky Family and surviving shipwrights. Though the World Government labeled them heinous criminals, here, they were heroes to be thanked.
"Gulp, gulp, gulp... You're all alive!" Kokoro downed a huge swig of sake and laughed heartily.
"So glad you made it back safely!"
Paulie rushed up to Luffy, visibly moved.
Luffy grinned, carefree as ever: "So glad you guys didn't die either!"
Whack!
Nami smacked Luffy on the head, raising a big bump instantly.
Luffy clutched his head, yelping in pain.
"Don't say stuff like that! It's so unlucky!" she scolded, cheeks puffed with irritation.
Vivi smiled wryly, quickly apologizing to Iceburg as he approached: "Sorry, Mr. Iceburg. Our captain is... like that."
Iceburg waved it off, a faint smile on his face. "It's fine. I'm just glad you all made it back safely."
His gaze shifted to Franky nearby. "Franky's safe too. Thank you for that."
"Right!"
Paulie chimed in, still shaken. "If you hadn't drawn away most of the Marines, we might not have made it back. The Buster Call was terrifying."
The shipwrights behind him nodded, lingering fear on their faces.
Iceburg gave a slight nod. "This isn't the place to talk. Let me take you somewhere to rest."
The Straw Hats were, after all, major fugitives in the World Government's eyes.
"Thank you so much."
Nami, still pinching Luffy's side, immediately switched to her shrewd smile. "Could you prepare some food? Lots of meat, if possible. Enough for maybe a hundred people."
"A hundred?!"
Paulie looked baffled. "Are your appetites that big? Can you even eat that much?"
As far as he knew, only giants ate that much.
"Don't worry. They eat a lot."
Nami tugged at Luffy's cheek. "He'll finish it all."
Didn't she know how much Luffy could eat?
"Understood."
Iceburg didn't seem surprised. He summoned a nearby bull to turn around and patted Paulie's shoulder. "Food's on you. Make it happen."
"Leave it to me!"
Paulie puffed out his chest and shouted to the shipwrights behind him: "Let's show them what Galley-La Company's made of!"
"Ooooooh!" The shipwrights roared in unison.
And so, the crowd swept the Straw Hats toward Water 7's central district.
Iceburg arranged for everyone to stay at Galley-La Company headquarters in Dock No. 1—the mansion where he lived and worked. Though damaged by Aqua Laguna, the main structure was intact, and inside it remained spacious and comfortable.
The banquet was soon underway in the great hall.
Shipwrights brought in long tables. Paulie directed the endless stream of food—mountains of meat above all.
"Help yourselves!"
"Don't mind if we do!"
Luffy couldn't wait any longer.
With a cheer, he lunged at the table, hands becoming blurs as he Devoured food like a whirlwind.
His speed was astonishing.
The Galley-La shipwrights finally understood.
No wonder they'd asked for a hundred servings.
Zoro and the others, starving as well, joined the fray.
Nika, meanwhile, snuck over to the sake barrels and poured herself a large cup, sipping happily.
The banquet was lively and warm.
It went on until evening.
And many eyes—Iceburg's, Franky's, and many veteran shipwrights who knew the truth—kept drifting toward Luffy.
More precisely, to Merry, perched on Luffy's shoulder, nibbling at pieces of meat.
Their faces held something like reverence—the emotion of pilgrims reaching a holy site.
"A real ship spirit..."
"The legendary spirit of ships..."
"In my lifetime, to actually see one..."
"Tom-san was telling the truth..."
Murmurs passed among the shipwrights. Their looks at Merry were filled with awe and tenderness.
For artisans who had dedicated their lives to shipbuilding, to see—to touch—a spirit born from love and longing for a ship? It was like a dream come true. The highest honor.
Nami and Robin sat together, eating and discussing the new ship in low voices.
"Merry's always worried about how small she is."
"Right now the three of us share the girls' quarters. And Merry comes by sometimes. It's pretty cramped. I hear the boys' side is even worse."
"So the most important thing is enough rooms. Big enough. And I'd love space for my tangerine grove."
"A bigger bathroom would be good. Robin, you need your own library. Usopp needs a workshop. Chopper needs an infirmary. Sanji needs his kitchen and storage..."
Merry was drawn into the conversation.
It was true—she was small. It bothered her.
Even if Luffy had comforted her before... that being small was cute too.
But Merry envied Nami and the others.
The original Merry had been designed for a small crew. With more nakama joining, space was stretched thin.
A ship's purpose was to carry people from island to island.
Merry knew that if she wanted to keep sailing with Luffy, she had to change.
Pat pat pat!
Just as the banquet reached its peak, Zambai from the Franky Family burst in, gasping for breath. He waved a stack of fresh papers, his face panicked.
"Straw Hat Boss! Franky Boss! Bad news! Your new wanted posters are out!"
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!