## One Piece Chapter 423, pages 7-9: The Mermaid Legend - Chapter: 423 - Pages: 7-9 - Characters: Franky, Nico Robin, Spandam, Funkfreed, Tom ### Summary Page 7: Funkfreed swings down with "ELEPHANT CHOOOP!!!" and a huge "PAOO!!!" Robin stares in shock, "EH?" as the elephant blade bears down on her. Franky throws himself in front of it and catches the strike with his own body. The impact grinds against him while the Marines cry, "HE STOPPED IT!!" Spandam can only scream, "BASTARD!!!" Franky, bleeding and straining, is called "TRULY A HOPELESS GUY..." but the meaning is clear: even after the Buster Call, even after the bridge, Franky still chooses to stand between Robin and the weapon meant to cut her down. Page 8: Franky holds Funkfreed back and scolds the living sword like a misbehaving animal. "FUNKFREED!! YOU'RE AN ELEPHANT, BUT HE STILL STOPPED YOU!!" Spandam yells. Franky snaps, "TURN YOUR NOSE BACK TO NORMAL... ELEPHANT!! OTHERWISE, I'LL SHOOT YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR FOREHEAD!!!" Funkfreed obeys with a meek "PAO," and Franky tells him, "OKAY, THAT'S GOOD, YOU'RE A GOOD BOY." Then he turns to Robin. "NICO ROBIN. WILL THE STRAWHATS COME HERE?" Robin answers after a pause, "EVERYONE... FOR SURE!!" Franky grins because that is exactly the trust he wanted to hear. "I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU THAT I'VE PLACED MY BET ON THEM, SPANDA!!" Page 9: Franky's thoughts turn back to Tom. He remembers the words that once followed Tom's death: "PATIENCE, GUYS... TOM-SAN JUST SAVED YOUR LIVES. IF YOU HAVE THEM AS YOUR ENEMY, YOU'LL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH LIVES TO LIVE!!" Franky admits, "I NEVER THOUGHT THAT THIS DAY WOULD COME. IF ONLY I'D HAD THE POWER THAT DAY. I WANTED TO GET TOM-SAN BACK NO MATTER WHAT...!!" The old order rings again: "STOP THE SEA TRAINS!!!" Now Franky faces the Buster Call and the bridge with a different power. He says it is refreshing: despite knowing Enies Lobby's myth, the World Government's power, and the Straw Hats' reckless march ahead, they will not hesitate to make the entire world their enemy for one nakama. "IT'S SUCH A REFRESHING FEELING...!!!" Robin listens, and Franky's old wish to crush the injustice around Tom becomes his present decision to fight for Robin.