Usopp protested loudly, his eyes wider than brass bells: "How can this be considered private money?! This is too much!!"
Nami couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, a playful smirk on her face: "Hahaha, just kidding!"
...Damn it, your jokes are too much!" Usopp stomped his foot in anger, grumbling indignantly: "But then again, even if you really wanted to keep it, there's no way we'd just stand by and let you get away with it!"
Zoro leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Yeah, did you think we'd let you get your hands on it so easily?"
Nami smiled softly, her delicate face looking especially radiant in the glow of the gold.
She blinked, revealing her adorable, money-loving expression: "It's not private money, it's savings for ship repairs!"
At this, the entire kitchen fell silent.
Zoro couldn't help but raise an eyebrow: "A whole ship full of gold... that's probably more than enough to build the biggest ship in the world, isn't it?"
Luffy suddenly stood up straight, his eyes sparkling with surprise, and asked excitedly: "Ship repairs? Are you fixing the going merry?!"
Nami nodded, saying seriously: "Yes, it's the going merry—the one that carried us here!"
...
After a brief silence, Usopp suddenly broke into a warm smile.
His lips curved gently, his eyes full of nostalgic memories.
"Thinking back... it's been carrying us on our voyage all the way from my village in the East Blue to here."
His voice carried a hint of nostalgia and emotion, as if those beautiful times instantly flooded his heart.
Nami nodded slightly, her voice gentle yet firm: "Yes, it has accompanied us through countless storms... carrying all our memories."
...
The atmosphere gradually softened, and everyone's thoughts seemed to drift back to the beginning of their journey.
Those green and passionate days of adventure, the nights spent on the going merry, the journey filled with laughter and tears.
Zoro slowly closed his eyes, a nostalgic smile on his lips, and slowly said: "...We also crossed Reverse Mountain and entered the Grand Line with it."
Sanji lit a cigarette, gently exhaled a puff of smoke, and sighed: "Then, we even went to Sky Island."
Chopper hugged his cup, his eyes full of reliance: "The going merry... has always been trying its best."
Luffy gently raised his head, a wide grin revealing his white teeth: "Thinking back... the going merry has really worked hard!"
Nami smiled slightly, but her tone suddenly became a bit complex: "Although it has done an excellent job so far... it's already in tatters, isn't it?"
For a moment, everyone's hearts sank.
Yes... even though they tried to repair it every time.
No matter how much they patched it up, the going merry's wounds could never fully heal.
On the cruel Grand Line, it was already covered in scars, and even sailing had begun to become difficult.
Usopp clenched his fists, took a deep breath, his gaze firm: "That's a good idea, the going merry... a major overhaul!"
Nami nodded lightly, saying seriously: "It's time to make it brand new."
Golden light shone in the kitchen, but in everyone's eyes.
That brilliance was no longer just wealth, but hope carrying countless memories.
The sea breeze outside gently caressed the going merry, also rejoicing for its impending Rebirth.
"But the current going merry can no longer withstand the intensity of our training, can it?"
In the kitchen, the previously cheerful atmosphere suddenly froze.
It was as if an invisible hand had gripped it tightly, and the air grew tense.
Zoro leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his eyes calm and profound, and slowly spoke.
His words were like a heavy stone, casting huge ripples on the calm water.
He glanced outside the cabin, at the ship they had once sailed through storms together.
The going merry was their companion, and their home.
But now... it was too fragile.
Zoro's mind flashed through several training scenes:
When he swung his sword on the deck, he almost cracked the deck with a slight carelessness;
When Sanji trained his kicks, even with deliberate restraint, the entire ship still shook uncontrollably;
Not to mention Luffy's exaggerated monstrous strength, each training session would make the going merry's structure creak unsettlingly.
And Lin Ning, as the most mysterious and powerful member on board, his strength was even more unfathomable.
The combat power of the few was growing rapidly, but the going merry... remained that fragile little boat.
Zoro sighed softly, his gaze heavy: "If we want to continue getting stronger on this Grand Line, a going merry like this will become our obstacle."
"Zoro!!"
Usopp suddenly stood up, his face flushed, fists clenched, eyes full of anger.
He glared fiercely at Zoro, his tone angry and bewildered: "What do you mean by that?! Are you going to abandon the going merry?!
Just because you have gold, you want to abandon the companion who fought alongside us?!"
The air instantly solidified, and everyone else was stunned.
Zoro did not flinch from Usopp's gaze, but calmly explained: "That's not what I meant."
His gaze was steady, his tone firm: "I'm just saying that the current going merry has already slowed down our training progress.
If it continues like this, we will sooner or later encounter stronger enemies.
And without enough strength, we won't even have a chance to survive."
"This situation is unacceptable."
Usopp's breathing was somewhat rapid, his fingers trembling slightly: "...Slowed down? The going merry is our companion! You actually see it as a burden?!"
Sanji held his cigarette, gently exhaling a puff of smoke.
Looking at the arguing pair, he finally spoke: "Hey, Usopp, Zoro is right."
Usopp was startled, and suddenly looked at Sanji.
His face was red with anger: "Even you say that?!"
Sanji slowly said: "The going merry has indeed reached its limit. On the Grand Line, we will encounter increasingly stronger enemies... if we don't have a sturdier ship, even sailing will be a problem."
"And to conquer the Grand Line, strength is essential."
He looked down at his feet, recalling the kick he delivered with Diable Jambe.
It had left a scorched crack on the deck.
"If we're going to change ships sooner or later..."
...
Usopp's body trembled slightly, his eyes filled with disbelief and anger.
He looked at Zoro and Sanji in front of him, as if he didn't recognize them.
The going merry had carried them all the way from the East Blue until now.
It carried not only their adventures, but also their bonds.
How could they... how could they just say change and change?
Usopp bit his lip, his voice choked: "So, you... have already decided to abandon the going merry?"