Chapter 435: Journey to Water 7: The Sea Train and the Resolute Frog

“Hmm, we must be getting close to Water 7,” Robin replied as she stepped forward to explain to everyone. “There’s a world-famous sea train here in Water 7.”

“Beneath the waves lies a long railway connecting several nearby islands. The lighthouses are there to warn ships and prevent accidents from hitting the tracks below—otherwise, ships could run into serious trouble.”

“I see,” someone murmured.

“Wait, there’s really a sea train? Let me take a look!” Usopp perked up with interest.

When it came to anything handmade, Usopp was never one to back down. The idea that someone could build a train that ran across the open sea instantly grabbed his attention.

He turned the telescope toward the lighthouse, hoping to spot that long underwater rail snaking beneath the waves.

“Frog! Where’s my frog?”

Luffy dashed over to Nami’s side, ready to snatch her telescope.

It looked like he’d been craving grilled frog for more than just a day or two.

“The frog’s gone,”

Nami thought to herself—no way she’d tell Luffy the frog was just up ahead, or he’d definitely chase after it.

“No matter how much you resist, our destination is still that lighthouse.” Robin walked over step by step, cutting off Nami’s daydreams.

Nami didn’t want Luffy chasing after that frog, but she could see through the telescope that the frog was also making its way toward the lighthouse.

“I give up—you guys win.”

“Let’s head for the lighthouse.”

Just then Luffy scrambled up to the lookout and snatched Usopp’s telescope for a quick peek. “Haha, onward to the lighthouse!”

They kept moving for a bit, when suddenly a distant wailing sound reached their ears.

“Wait up—what’s that strange noise?” Usopp quickly aimed the telescope in the direction of the sound.

“Strange noise?” The group fell silent, listening carefully to the sound coming from afar.

“Woooooo!”

“Luffy, look! The frog’s popped up on the surface,” Chopper piped up—he was the only one still watching the frog.

They all saw the frog leap and splay out right on top of the water.

Luffy was the first to snap out of it. He stared at the distant frog sprawled on the waves and asked in confusion, “What’s going on? Why’s the frog just lying there on the surface?”

“Whatever! Now’s our chance—let’s catch up and go full speed!”

“Don’t go forward! Stop now!” Usopp’s shout turned urgent as he spotted a giant iron monster—a sea train—coming right toward them at full tilt. If they moved forward, the ship could have smashed right into it.

Gin, manning the helm, heard Usopp’s warning and instantly spun the wheel, turning the ship to glide parallel with the speeding train.

“There really is a sea train! That’s amazing.”

Whooosh!

The train was insanely fast—within moments, it blazed past Luffy and the others.

“Check out that frog!”

Even though the Going Merry had shifted course and wasn’t in the train’s path anymore, the frog blocking the way still hadn’t moved an inch. It just kept opening its mouth and croaking, almost as if it was challenging the train to a showdown.

“Hey, frog! What are you doing?”

“Move! That’s a sea train coming—not something you can stop!” Chopper yelled from the side.

Chopper realized instantly—seeing the frog stubbornly blocking the train, he knew the wounds on its body were all from trying to stop the sea trains.

“You idiot, get out of the way!”

While Chopper tried to talk sense into the frog, Luffy was far more direct. He shot out a fist and punched the frog off the tracks.

Boom!

The split second after the frog was knocked aside, the roaring train thundered past the Merry at incredible speed.

“There’s someone down there,” Usopp said, using the telescope to spot two figures near the lighthouse.

“Let’s go have a look, maybe we can ask them about that frog,” With a tip of his hat and a wave of his right hand, Luffy reclaimed his prime seat.

Soon they reached the lighthouse. Luffy and the crew hopped off, just in time to see two figures walking toward them.

Out came an old woman, a little girl, and a rabbit.

The old lady clutched a Transponder Snail, swaying as she shouted drunkenly at it. “Hey, what was I supposed to say again? Ugh, I forgot… hic…”

The smell of booze hung thick in the air—even with some distance, Luffy and the others could catch the scent.

“Seriously? Just a drunk old lady?” Usopp had been worried she’d call for backup—not this.

Nami stepped forward to explain their purpose, while Sanji set out some hangover appetizers in front of the woman.

“Mmm, tasty,” she murmured.

“So, that frog is yours?”

Once the food was served, conversation happened face-to-face.

“I’m Chimney, this is Gonbe, and she’s Granny Kokoro,”

“We’re the lighthouse keepers, mainly to stop ships from running into the Puffing Tom.”

“I’m Luffy, the man who’ll become King of the Pirates!”

It was a typical Luffy introduction—serious as always.

“King of the what now?”

Chimney stared, surprised. Not just anyone could claim to be Pirate King.

“Of course I will. I’m gonna be Pirate King, no doubt about it,”

Luffy sounded as confident as ever.

“Gahahaha, what a fun kid!” Granny Kokoro chuckled. It had been decades since she’d heard anyone say that.

“The frog is Yokozuna. Its favorite thing in the world is trying to outmuscle the train.”

Hearing about Yokozuna daring the sea train again and again despite all its failures made Luffy give up on the idea of eating him—for now.

“So, where are you all off to?”

Once she’d sobered up, Granny Kokoro switched back to work mode. She was, after all, the station ticket seller.

“We’re headed to Water 7. I heard the shipwrights there are the best in the world,” Nami said, clearly excited.

Their reason for coming here was to upgrade their ship. Everyone hoped for more space on board—maybe even a special room just for their gold.

Hearing Nami out, Granny Kokoro took a swig and said, “You’re right, little lady. Water 7 built its name on shipbuilding. Their skills really are world-class. Most of the ships built there are even commissioned by the World Government—very impressive.”

Not long after, with a letter of introduction and a rough Water 7 map from Granny Kokoro, Luffy and his crew set out once more—promising to share a drink if they met again in Water 7.

“Leave finding a shipwright to me! I’ll find the absolute best,” Sanji declared, making his intentions crystal clear.

Luffy picked his nose. “Idiot!”

“If you’re hiring, better pick a real giant—seven or eight meters tall would do.”

“It’d be smart to add another crewmate. If anything breaks, none of us know how to fix a ship,” Usopp chimed in, both hands and feet thrown up in agreement.