"It's nothing major," Franky replied with a dismissive wave of his massive hand. "I was just planning to open an arms company specializing in producing weapons for the Marines. But now that I have the opportunity to et Dr. Vegapunk, the company can wait."
Though Franky spoke casually about it, Luffy nodded thoughtfully, ntally noting this information. Franky's weapons expertise would be invaluable, even if his skills didn't yet match Vegapunk's revolutionary genius.
Vegapunk, despite his brilliance, no longer worked under governnt mandate and had redirected his focus toward his own eccentric research projects, rarely involving himself in military developnts anymore. Franky could potentially fill that void.
Plus, Luffy mused, Franky's cola-powered technology was genuinely innovative—a form of "black technology" that might even impress Vegapunk himself. There was absolutely no way Luffy would let such talent slip through his fingers.
"You know what," Luffy said, leaning forward with an encouraging grin, "that's actually perfect! After you et with the doctor, why not establish your arms company in Wano?"
Franky's eyebrows raised in surprise as Luffy continued.
"While we can't offer the sa full-service infrastructure as Water 7 and Galley-La, Wano's blacksmiths are already world-renowned for their exceptional blades and armants." Luffy gestured animatedly as he spoke. "Weapons dealers flock there monthly to purchase Wano steel. I guarantee many of your potential custors are already among those rchants."
Luffy watched as the wheels turned in Franky's head.
After carefully considering Luffy's suggestion, Franky nodded slowly, then with increasing enthusiasm. It made perfect sense. Relocating to Wano would not only give him regular access to Vegapunk, but would also position his business at the heart of an established weapons market.
It was the definition of killing two Sea Kings with one cannon. The more Franky thought about it, the more excited he beca—to the point where he looked ready to swim to Wano that very mont.
In the end, it was Iceberg who restrained him with a firm hand on his tal shoulder, bringing the agitated shipwright back to reality. Though Franky cald his body, his mouth continued running at full steam.
He launched into an enthusiastic monologue about how his admiration for Vegapunk had developed over the years, detailing the scientist's groundbreaking achievents that had revolutionized the world since Franky was just a child.
He was the very image of a devoted fan, complete with starry eyes and exaggerated gestures.
Luffy and Iceberg listened to his impassioned speech with vastly different mindsets, each lost in their own thoughts.
Luffy was primarily strategizing about how to best integrate Franky into Wano and ensure he remained there permanently. Another skilled ally in his territory would only strengthen his position.
Iceberg, anwhile, couldn't help but feel a pang of lancholy. Since their master Tom's death, he and Franky had spent precious little ti together. Despite living in the sa city, the shadow of Pluton's blueprints had forced them to maintain distance, pretending not to know each other to protect the ancient weapon's secrets.
It was only after the blueprints were destroyed and Franky had spent months in hiding that the foster brothers finally reconnected. Iceberg had harbored hopes that they might build sothing aningful together in Water 7, continuing Tom's legacy.
But now, after a brief conversation with Luffy, Franky was already preparing to leave Water 7 behind to chase his idol across the Grand Line. How could Iceberg not feel a twinge of disappointnt?
Still, they were grown n with their own dreams to follow. Iceberg quickly pushed aside his disappointnt and, with a light-hearted chuckle, interrupted Franky's endless chatter to boast about his own considerable achievents.
Franky, predictably, couldn't let such boasting stand unchallenged and imdiately launched into a counter-argunt about his own superior skills. Before long, they had pulled Luffy into their friendly rivalry, and the three grown n devolved into good-natured trash-talking and self-deprecating jokes, filling the room with raucous laughter.
The evening stretched on comfortably, fueled by booze, banter, and brotherhood.
By the end of the night, Iceberg was completely drunk, slurring his words and struggling to stay upright. Luffy, with his monstrous constitution, remained relatively coherent despite matching Iceberg drink for drink. Only Franky, who had stuck exclusively to his beloved cola, remained entirely sober.
Luffy asked him to help the thoroughly intoxicated Iceberg back to his quarters, while he himself staggered off to find Ain and Nami.
In the days that followed, Luffy didn't lose sight of his primary objective and dedicated considerable ti to learning about the new battleship designs. Using the Stormbreaker as a reference point, the plans for the new vessels were progressing smoothly with no major issues.
Iceberg had even made several clever optimizations to the design, effectively reducing the production costs for Luffy's fleet. Appreciating these efforts, Luffy responded with characteristic generosity, placing an order that left even the veteran shipwright stunned:
Large aircraft: Capacity of 700 people, priced at 1 billion berries each—3 ordered.
dium aircraft: Capacity of 320 people, priced at 450 million berries each—15 ordered.
Small aircraft: Capacity of 100 people, priced at 100 million berries each—50 ordered.
The total order ca to 78 vessels with a staggering value of 15.75 billion berries.
When Iceberg first received this unprecedented order, he was elated—though not primarily because of the 15.75 billion berry contract. For a businessman of his caliber, who regularly secured massive governnt and Marine contracts, the amount itself wasn't extraordinary.
What excited him was Luffy's assurance that this was rely the first batch, with many more orders to follow. Furthermore, this order wasn't placed by the Marines but by Luffy himself under the na of the Olive Company.
Most significantly, Luffy had indicated that if this initial fleet perford well, he would use his influence to convince the Marines to retrofit their entire fleet, replacing all their conventional warships with these new spacecraft designs.
That was what had Iceberg so ecstatic he nearly dropped to his knees to call Luffy "Father." The Marines maintained a global presence across all the Blues and the Grand Line. Their fleet numbered in the thousands—possibly tens of thousands of vessels.
If Galley-La secured a contract to refit the entire Marine fleet, Iceberg would happily call Luffy whatever he wanted—father, grandfather, or even Sea King Emperor!
Of course, these advantages ca with specific conditions. Most importantly, Luffy required Iceberg to maintain absolute secrecy regarding the spacecraft blueprints and strictly prohibited any technology leaks to other organizations, private or otherwise.
Iceberg readily agreed without hesitation. The consistent orders from the World Governnt and Marines alone would sustain his company for decades to co. There was no reason to risk such a lucrative partnership for short-term gains from other clients—especially if it ant disappointing a powerful ally like Luffy.
The deal was struck, and both n were satisfied with the arrangent.
Iceberg returned to his workshop with renewed energy, while Luffy smiled to himself, another piece of his grand strategy falling neatly into place.
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