Chapter 24: Goodbye…

Chapter 24: Goodbye...

As the three of them entered the city, Chopper was in his reindeer form while looking around excitedly.

Currently, they’ve reached the Market District.

“The crystal clear water and sidewalk are all so nice…”

Chopper then saw a shop with a lot of masks.

“Wow! What’s that, Robin!? So many faces!?”

“...That’s a mask shop…”

...Did Chopper think those were real faces hung on the walls!?

“Didn’t you see a lot of people wearing such masks pass us by?”

“Ah? They were wearing masks!? No wonder they looked so weird…”

Lucas smiled helplessly. This Chopper really thought those were real faces…

Robin continued to explain.

“One of the stops of the sea train is the Sun Faruto island. There is a costume party taking place there.”

“Eh? How did you know?”

“Everyone on the street was talking about it.”

“You notice those things too!?”

Robin fell silent for a moment before answering.

“...It’s a force of habit. I’ve been doing that since I was a child…”

“You’re so awesome, Robin!”

Chopper was just like a child, he didn’t understand what Robin said truly means and simply thought it was cool.

Robin was caught off guard as well and hurriedly distracted Chopper as she didn’t know what to say.

“Doctor-san, look. There’s a bookstore.”

“Really!? Can I go see!?”

“...Of course. Go ahead.”

Robin giggled as she saw how excited Chopper was.

At this moment, a masked man passed by Robin and muttered.

“CP9”

Hearing this word, Robin froze up and was suddenly covered in sweat.

Right behind her, Lucas also knew of this and stopped the masked man from walking.

“Hold it.”

“...”

Lucas and the masked man glared at each other while Robin was still frozen in place.

Meanwhile, Chopper still had no clue what was happening and was simply excited about the bookstore.

“Robin! Lucas! I’ll go in first okay?”

“...Go ahead Chopper. Don’t run too far.”

Since Robin couldn’t answer in her state, Lucas answered instead without removing his gaze on the masked man.

With Chopper gone, Lucas’s grip on the masked man tightened.

“It’s okay, Lucas...let him go.”

Robin felt that things might escalate so she stopped Lucas.

Lucas looked at her for a second before removing his hand.

The masked man looked at Lucas silently before leaving.

Robin paused beside Lucas.

“...Go back to the crew, they need you more than me…”

“...That’s where you’re wrong.”

“...”

Robin no longer said anything and left, leaving Lucas behind.

Lucas clenched his fist hard as he hesitated whether he should follow or not.

After this, Robin would be going with the CP9 and shoot Iceberg, the mayor of Water 7 and also one of the two disciples of Tom, thinking that he had the blueprints of the ancient weapon, Pluto.

Due to this, the Strawhats were framed as everyone believed they were the ones behind the attack.

Going against the CP9 at this moment with his current identity would be...problematic. Attacking them would suggest that I refused the deal to become a Shichibukai...but he also can’t just ignore them!

It seems I need to contact Aokiji and see if I can bargain about Robin instead.

Once Lucas thought of this, he sighed and went away.

If possible, he wanted to buy a small den den mushi and hand it to Nami but that the marines have a way to intercept messages, so that’s a no go.

Anyway, it doesn't matter as he had already told Nami and the rest about his plan.

Lucas looked around to see if he can find a vivre card but didn’t find any.

When reading the story of One Piece, Lucas has always been curious about the origins of the vivre cards.

It was said that a vivre card is made from a person’s fingernail, afterwards, it is made into paper which can be torn and handed to someone so they will know your direction at all times...but how the hell does a fingernail turn into a paper!?

How exactly does one get their own personalized vivre card?

Thinking about this, Lucas can only rub his temples and stopped thinking about it.

In any case, he can’t find any, so no use was wasting time here.

What he should do now...is to say goodbye…

Hm? Oh yeah, at this time, Usopp would get beaten and their money would be stolen right?

...Well, I guess I’ll beat Franky up a bit...

Lucas changed direction and headed to the location of the Frankies Family headquarters.

A corner in Water 7, Northeast beach. Scrap Factory.

Lucas looked at the weird house with a huge crescent moon on its roof and the name at the front door.

[Franky House]

Yep, this is the place…

Since Lucas decided to destroy this place like in the original story, he decided to...take a picture of it one last time.

...What? Anyway, Franky will still join the Strawhats, so he can show this to him when he gets back or something...maybe…

“Well then, guess I’ll go knock first.”

At this moment, inside the Frank House.

“Wow! 500 million!? 500 million!?”

“What do you think, bro!?”

“It’s amazing! You guys did very well!”

Franky laughed as he still wore a weird mask.

“With this much money...we can buy the thing that we always wanted…!”

However, before they could even celebrate, there was a sudden loud explosion at the front door, followed by a relaxed voice!

*BOOM!*

“Knock knock.”

Appearing at the front door, Lucas didn’t bother opening his wings and simply controlled a huge water pillar and had it directed at the door.

“Damn it! Whose that!?”

“Who dares to attack the Frankies!?”

“Hmm, I’ll say this nicely first. Hand over the money. Else, I’ll have to schedule Aqua Laguna earlier for you guys.”

Aqua Laguna is basically a huge tsunami that will sink this island once every year so they should be familiar with it.

However, Franky obviously didn’t believe he could do such a thing.

“Hmph! You think we’re afraid of you!? We wouldn't hand over the 500 million!”

...500 million? It wasn’t 200 million?

Lucas raised a brow at that. Guess they got more gold than the original. And that huge golden pillar is still not even included as it was too heavy to transport to the exchange.

Seeing Franky about to attack, Lucas sighed.

If you want to blame someone, blame Oda for drawing your headquarters right beside the sea.

“Leviathan.”

*BOOM*

At first, a think water pillar rose up from the sea behind the house, then, the tip of the pillar started to deform, turning into a dragon’s head!

This wasn’t just a simple shaping of water...inside this water dragon, multiple torrents were spinning inside!

*ROAAARRR!*

The noise from the water made it seem as if a dragon was roaring as it...devours the house!

In no time at all, everyone apart from Lucas, now holding the briefcase of their money, was on the ground, unconscious.

Lucas didn’t kill any of them and powered down the torrents at the last minute. This should be enough to teach them a lesson for beating Usopp.

Lucas sat on the broken crescent moon and saw four figures appearing at the distance.

Chopper, Zoro, Luffy, and Sanji…

“Ah! Lucas! You already defeated them!?”

Luffy saw Lucas and laughed while waving his hands.

Zoro smiled as well and removed his hands from his swords.

Sanji pulled out a new cigarette and lit it up.

Chopper sighed before laughing as well.

“Amazing! Lucas! You took them out all by yourself!”

However, Lucas was still expressionless.

He tossed the briefcases to Luffy and the others before finally speaking.

“I’ve decided, Luffy.”

“Hm?”

“I...quit.”

!!!

Hearing Lucas’ words, everyone’s faces changed.

Only Zoro and Sanji were a bit calmer as they were prepared for this situation.

Chopper and Luffy, on the other hand, were completely unprepared!

Luffy was silent as he was looking at Lucas, seemingly trying to figure out why he made that decision.

Chopper asked while shaking.

“What...what do you mean...you quit? Lucas…? Weren’t we...friends!?”

“...I’m leaving the crew, Chopper.”

“Why!? W-why do you need to leave!? Is it something I did!? Just tell us! Don’t leave, Lucas!”

Lucas didn’t change his expression, but inside, he still feels his heart being torn seeing Chopper cry like that…

“The World Government had scouted me to fill in Crocodile’s spot as a new Shichibukai...I know you wouldn't agree to it, so I’m leaving.”

“Schichi...bukai!?”

At this moment, Luffy spoke up!

“Lucas!”

“...”

Lucas looked at Luffy while still expressionless while Luffy glared at him.

“Is this what you really want!?”

“...”

“TELL ME! TELL ME YOU REALLY WANT TO LEAVE!!!”

“...I don’t know what you’re expecting me to say...but if you want to hear it again, I’ll say it again, Luffy.”

Lucas opened his wings and flew in front of Luffy.

“I...Quit.”

“Gh-...!”

Luffy gritted his teeth hard.

Lucas looked at him a bit more, before walking off.

But Luffy isn’t the type to simply give up!

“Wait!”

Lucas stopped.

“I’m the captain of this crew! I decide if you leave or not!”

“...You think you can stop me?”

“Fight me! If I win, you’re not leaving, Lucas! I CHALLENGE YOU TO A DUEL!!!”

Lucas’ eyes widened!

He didn’t think...that the fight between Luffy and Usopp in the original story...had actually happened to him and Luffy!

It wasn’t only him that was surprised!

Zoro and Sanji panicked as well, this wasn’t supposed to happen!

“Oi! Luffy! Stop it!”

“Luffy! There’s no need to fight!”

“Shut up! This is my decision!”

Lucas gripped his fist so hard that it was about to bleed and his expression also hardened.

After a while, he turned around and looked at Luffy in the eyes.

“Luffy...you look determined but...I hope you don’t regret your decision later! This is what you want!”

“Enough talk! Come! I’ll beat some sense into you!”

Luffy began with a dash as his hands stretched backwards!

“Gomu gomu no...Bazooka!”

*Splash!*

Lucas looked at him with the same expression. His body was made of water, naturally, this kind of attack didn’t affect him one bit!

Luffy gritted his teeth!

“Gomu gomu no Gatling!”

Numerous fists hit Lucas but the result was the same!

Still, Luffy didn’t give up! His leg stretched upwards!

“Gomu gomu no Stamp!!!”

*Boom*

Dust exploded everywhere and covered the two of them.

By the time the dust settled, Luffy was heavily breathing while Lucas was still standing with the same expression.

Lucas clenched his fist as it turned into water.

Water Fist!

This was the same as Ace’s Fire Fist, only, Lucas uses water instead.

Luffy was thrown all the way to the debris of the Frank House.

When Lucas saw that he was about to stand up, he flew towards him and sent another water fist to him!

Boost Water Fist!

*Boom!*

This time, Luffy flew past the debris and...landed on the sea!

“Luffy!”

Zoro and the others panicked and quickly ran to save Luffy but stopped when they saw a water bubble lift Luffy up and land him on the ground in front of Lucas.

Seeing Luffy gasp for breath with difficulty, Lucas wavered and kneeled down.

“Stupid...THERE’S NO WAY, THAT YOU'D WIN!!!”

“...”

Lucas laughed bitterly as he thought how their roles had reversed from Luffy’s fight with Usopp in the original story…

After a while, he stood up and turned around.

“...Remember this, Luffy...if you can’t master the power to deal with logia users...you will never be the Pirate King!”

Lucas picked up the straw hat that fell off from their fight and looked at it for a moment before tossing it back to Luffy.

“Goodbye...Luffy. Thank you for picking me up…”

Chopper dashed towards Luffy immediately to treat him.

When Lucas walked past Zoro and Sanji, he paused.

“...Take care of them…”

“...Is it worth it? All this…?”

“...It doesn’t matter if it’s worth it or not…there’s something you should know as well.”

“Hm?”

“Someone took Robin. They’re from the government so I can’t interfere...be careful. These guys are strong...but I believe you all can defeat them.”

“...Got it.”

As he said this, Lucas no longer delayed and walked away...without turning back.

Imbreak

So here we are...finally the departure. I must say...this part hurts me more than you guys! I have changed a lot in the original now that I'm having a hard time figuring out how to insert Lucas into the story without changing the overall sequence of arcs XD

Anyway, I'll figure something out. I'm also gonna reread the whole Ennies Lobby arc as well before writing the next chap...

With that...see ya in the next chap!