Trader In The World Of Pirates!!!

Chapter 236: Chapter 236: Flesh is Weak, Mechanical Ascension



[Pokémon: Klink] 

- Type: Steel 

- Ability: Clear Body (Prevents the Pokémon's stats from being lowered by the effects of an opponent's moves or abilities.) 

- Level: 5 

- Price: 1500 Points 

[Pokémon: Magnemite] 

- Type: Electric/Steel 

- Ability: Sturdy (Prevents the Pokémon from being knocked out with one hit.) 

- Level: 5 

- Price: 1500 Points 

---

As Franky stared at the two Pokémon displayed on the virtual screen, a momentary sense of confusion overcame him.

Neither Klink nor Magnemite belonged to particularly powerful Pokémon species. Even in their final evolved forms, their weaknesses would be too obvious, and they rarely appeared in large-scale battles.

However...

Leo didn't recommend these Pokémon to turn Franky into an exceptional Pokémon Trainer.

In terms of physical combat potential, Franky, having lost most of his human body, could no longer push his physical limits to achieve feats like Luffy or Zoro. Even after bonding with a Pokémon and evolving, Franky wouldn't be able to harness the same raw potential through his body.

Instead, a different path awaited him.

Flesh is weak—mechanical ascension is the future!

In a world of pirates, driving a Gundam-style machine wouldn't be out of place! 

Klink and its evolved forms, Klang and Klinklang, could serve as powerful engines for building the foundation of a mechanical body that would be second to none.

Meanwhile, Magnemite's final evolution into Magnezone could provide Franky's "Gundam" with an immense power source and devastating electromagnetic attacks.

In Leo's opinion, aside from legendary Pokémon, there were no Pokémon better suited to Franky than these two.

Moreover, the Klink and Magnemite that Leo had selected were the most talented among their species. Coupled with Franky's inventive mind, this was a combination worth watching as it developed.

——

In just a few words, Leo explained to Franky the advantages of both Klink and Magnemite.

"Building a colossal war robot?" Franky's eyes lit up as he processed Leo's vision for him. He muttered to himself, completely immersed in the idea.

In the original timeline of One Piece, Franky created the General Franky mecha after obtaining technology from Vegapunk. But now, in this altered timeline, he was presented with a new opportunity—one he had never even considered before.

After only a brief moment of thought, Franky realized... 

This path was perfectly suited to his desires and circumstances!

With this realization, Franky nodded firmly toward Iceburg, his eyes filled with newfound determination.

Seeing Franky's resolute expression, Iceburg couldn't help but smile as he turned to Leo and said, "Sir Leo, please proceed with the transaction for these two Pokémon."

"And also," Iceburg added, "please grant Franky access to new bond evolutions, including MEGA Evolution, Z-Moves, and the power of Gigantamax."

Although this would leave Iceburg with very few points remaining, the possibility of helping Franky gain the strength to avenge their mentor, Tom, made the sacrifice worthwhile.

Franky, who shared Iceburg's resolve, did not refuse the offer. 

Under the eager gazes of both men, two Poké Balls appeared before Franky, containing the Pokémon. Alongside them were Pokémon wristbands embedded with MEGA Stones, Z-Crystals, Wishing Stars, and the power of the bonds that connect trainers and their Pokémon.

"This feels... super refreshing!!!" Franky exclaimed, basking in the surge of new power flowing through his body. Once again, he struck one of his trademark, shameless poses in Iceburg's office.

Unfortunately...

No one in the office could appreciate Franky's eccentric sense of fashion.

Feeling embarrassed, Iceburg coughed lightly and quickly turned to Leo. "Sir Leo, now that Franky has received his Pokémon, could you please send him back to where he was?"

"After all, if people were to see Franky leaving my office, it might raise some unnecessary questions."

"As you wish," Leo chuckled. With a simple wave, Franky was instantly transported back to the Franky House.

Leo, amused by Franky's antics, wasn't particularly interested in watching someone prance around in briefs anyway.

With Franky gone, Leo's attention turned back to Iceburg. After completing two transactions, Iceburg's points had dwindled from a sizable 60,000 to a modest 12,000, but he still had enough to purchase something valuable.

"Now, let's continue our business, Mr. Iceburg," Leo suggested with a smile. "Both you and your apprentice brother, Franky, now have your own Pokémon."

"In that case, I would recommend purchasing some Pokémon for your company—or even for the entire city."

"For my company?" Iceburg blinked, not entirely understanding Leo's suggestion.

Seeing Iceburg's confusion, Leo gestured toward the bustling shipyard outside the window and smiled. "Mr. Iceburg, haven't you been concerned about a shortage of manpower lately?"

"That's true..." Iceburg chuckled awkwardly, acknowledging Leo's observation.

Leo snapped his fingers. "For a shipbuilding company, a lack of manpower can be quite the headache."

"And as it so happens, I have some excellent Pokémon that might interest you."

With a loud snap, another virtual screen appeared before Iceburg.

On the light screen, the details of two Pokémon appeared.

[Pokémon: Timburr] 

- Type: Fighting 

- Abilities: Guts / Sheer Force / Iron Fist 

- Level: 1-10 

- Price: Average 100 Points 

[Pokémon: Machop] 

- Type: Fighting 

- Abilities: Guts / No Guard / Steadfast 

- Level: 1-10 

- Price: Average 100 Points 

---

"Timburr? Machop?" Iceburg furrowed his brow slightly as he glanced at the images of the two Pokémon on the screen.

Sensing his doubt, Leo quickly stepped in to clarify.

"Timburr is one of the common strongman species among Pokémon. It's incredibly powerful, with what seems like boundless strength. Not only that, it loves building, construction, and physical labor. No matter how tough the task, it won't tire or get bored from working!" 

"As Timburr evolves into Gurdurr and later Conkeldurr, it gains not just physical strength but also advanced construction skills and expertise. It's safe to say that this Pokémon was born for construction work!" 

Leo then gestured toward the image of Machop and continued, "And then there's Machop, another Pokémon with herculean strength. Its humanoid form, combined with its powerful, flexible body, makes it ideal for any labor-intensive task, especially shipbuilding. Whether it's heavy lifting or more delicate work, Machop can outperform any human."

"As long as they receive a bit of training, they'll be just as skilled as any shipbuilder in Water 7. With the help of these Pokémon, I believe your manpower problems will vanish in no time." 

Iceburg's eyes lit up with excitement and anticipation as he absorbed Leo's words.

"Is this... really true?" he muttered, more to himself than to Leo.

Deep down, Iceburg already knew Leo had no reason to deceive him. If he used his remaining points to purchase these Pokémon, the shipbuilding efficiency in Water 7 would skyrocket in the near future. 

At the moment, Iceburg's shipyard had only a handful of skilled shipbuilders. While other builders were competent, their abilities were somewhat lacking compared to Water 7's standards. After all, they were only human—without extraordinary strength or exceptional craftsmanship, their skills had limits.

But Pokémon were different.

Even if these particular Pokémon weren't known for intelligence, their physical prowess and natural talents far surpassed those of regular humans. With their inherent construction abilities, as Leo mentioned, these Pokémon would fill the gaps that ordinary workers couldn't. 

A myriad of thoughts raced through Iceburg's mind, his eyes gleaming with increasing determination.

"Thank you for the recommendation, Sir Leo," Iceburg said after a brief pause. "I've decided to use all my remaining points to purchase 90 Timburr and 30 Machop!"

Leo's introduction had made things clear. Timburr would serve as laborers, taking on less technical but equally crucial construction tasks. Due to their love for building and their inhuman physical capabilities, they'd be perfect for preparing materials and groundwork.

On the other hand, Machop, with its sharp learning ability and hands-on skills, would be more suitable for the specialized work of shipbuilding.

While shipbuilders like Machop might seem more critical at first glance, without laborers like Timburr handling the foundational work, even the most skilled builders would be at a disadvantage. 

That's why Iceburg devised this balanced purchase plan.

With these Pokémon added to the workforce, the shipbuilding capabilities of Water 7 were set to triple at the very least!

Leo smiled in approval at Iceburg's decision. "A wise choice."

With a flick of his wrist, Leo summoned 120 Poké Balls into Iceburg's office, each containing one of the newly purchased Pokémon.

For the next ten minutes, Leo provided detailed instructions on the care and feeding habits of Timburr and Machop. Iceburg, attentive and focused, soaked in all the information like an eager student, mentally noting every key point.

---

After a while, Leo coughed lightly and signaled that it was time for him to leave.

"Now that the transaction is complete, I must seek out my next trader. If you ever have questions or need further assistance, Mr. Iceburg, feel free to contact me through the Rotom customer service app on your phone."

As Leo prepared to leave, Iceburg straightened up and expressed his gratitude earnestly.

"Thank you, Sir Leo, for this incredible opportunity. I promise, I'll make sure to build up Water 7, and I'll certainly purchase more Pokémon from you in the future!"

Iceburg, being sharp and insightful, knew exactly what Leo was looking for in a business partner, and he made it clear that he understood the mutual benefit of their relationship.

As expected, Leo's lips curled into a pleased smile. With a final wave, he disappeared in a flash, leaving Iceburg alone with his new Pokémon.

---

"Sir Leo..." Iceburg whispered as he gazed at the Poké Balls in front of him.

Though eager to get the new Pokémon to work, his curiosity got the better of him. Instead of releasing the Timburr and Machop, Iceburg reached for one specific Poké Ball and released Alakazam.

In an instant, the room filled with an aura of mystery.

The wise-looking Alakazam floated before Iceburg, its expression calm and composed, like that of a seasoned elder.

A confident smile played on Iceburg's lips as he locked eyes with his Pokémon.

"Please, guide me, Alakazam."

With a subtle nod, Alakazam responded with a quiet "Hu~," and a wave of psychic energy surged through Iceburg's mind.

Suddenly, an ancient voice echoed in Iceburg's mind:

"Greetings, my Trainer."

"Lord Leo has informed me of the details. From now on, I will ensure your safety."

The sudden voice in his head startled Iceburg, leaving him momentarily stunned. He quickly gathered himself, his expression shifting to one of excitement.

"Everything is in your hands!" he said confidently.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the door to his office swung open, and a rhythmic knock echoed through the room.

Knock, knock, knock...

"Mr. Iceburg, I've passed along your instructions to the shipyard," came a sweet voice from outside. "Roble, the material merchant from Deya Island, is here for a visit. He's waiting in the reception room."

"Do you have time to meet with him?"

Recognizing the voice, Iceburg smiled knowingly—it was his beautiful secretary, dressed in her usual black stockings, returning from her tasks.

Without taking his eyes off Alakazam, Iceburg chuckled and said, "Come in!"

Although meeting with the material merchant was important, Iceburg was far more eager to show off his newly acquired Pokémon.

"Understood," the secretary replied before pushing the door open and stepping inside.

Iceburg was all set to introduce Alakazam to her, but suddenly—without warning—a yellow blur darted forward. A wave of psychic energy shot out from Alakazam, instantly wrapping around the secretary, immobilizing her in place.

Both Iceburg and the secretary froze, their faces reflecting shock and confusion.

"Alakazam, what...?" Iceburg began, but the ancient voice of the Pokémon once again sounded in his mind.

"This human harbors ill intentions toward you."

"What?!" Iceburg was taken aback. He stared at the frozen secretary, doubt flickering in his eyes.

Quickly closing the door behind him, Iceburg turned to Alakazam and asked, "Are you certain?"

Despite his disbelief, he couldn't dismiss Alakazam's claim entirely. After all, this secretary had been carefully selected from a pool of applicants following Khalifa's departure. On paper, she seemed flawless.

Once more, Alakazam's voice filled his mind. 

"My perception is infallible. I can hypnotize her and extract her true intentions."

Iceburg hesitated, a mixture of trust and uncertainty battling within him. But in the end, he chose to place his faith in Alakazam.

"Do it," he said, nodding slowly.

Instantly, Alakazam's eyes glowed with a mesmerizing pink light. The secretary's gaze clouded over, and she fell into a trance-like state.

---

Half an hour later, Iceburg sat in his chair, breathing slowly as the weight of the revelations sank in.

Only now did he fully comprehend the magnitude of what had been uncovered.

The World Government's CP intelligence unit had completely infiltrated his inner circle.

The trusted secretary standing before him had, in reality, been an agent from CP8, sent to replace CP9's Khalifa after her resignation. Every move he had made had been monitored—his entire operation under the relentless watch of the government.

It was a staggering amount of information to process.

Were it not for his recent experiences with dimensional trading, which had broadened his perspective, this revelation alone could have shattered the confidence he'd painstakingly built over the years.

But now...

A glimmer of determination flickered in Iceburg's eyes as he glanced at the unconscious secretary, her memory wiped clean by Alakazam.

A new plan began to take shape in his mind.

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Note: Three new stories have just been added to Webnovel.

theme of the story:

(One Piece)

(Danmachi)

(Zombie)

Check them out—you might find one to your liking!

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