"By the way," Kong added, glancing toward the distance, "someone shut the Gate of Justice. You all should probably brace yourselves… the waves heading this way aren't going to be gentle."
Everyone turned toward the massive steel gates as a distant rumble echoed across the sea, as the gates of justice, two large gates which stood in the sea, which were currently closing.
"By the way, where are we? And how the hell did they get such massive gates out here in the middle of the ocean?" Kong asked, genuinely intrigued as he stared at the towering structure.
"This is Enies Lobby!" Nami shouted, already running across the deck in a panic, scanning the waves and currents. They were surrounded on all sides by Marine ships, and with the sea churning violently, there was real danger—they could crash if she didn't find the right escape path in time.
Enies Lobby is filled with strange oddities—phenomena rarely seen on any other island across the seas. For one, it's never night here. Even during violent storms, sunlight inexplicably bathes the island in a constant glow. Behind it, countless whirlpools churn endlessly, dangerous and chaotic—except when the massive Gates of Justice open. Those gates, used to transfer criminals, shift the tides when parted, calming the whirlpools just enough to allow passage.
But the strangest part of all is what lies beneath. A massive waterfall pours endlessly from the bottom of the island—yet it leads to nowhere. Just a black, yawning void. With only a single land bridge connecting it to the sea, Enies Lobby isn't so much built on the ocean as it is suspended above a bottomless abyss.
Enies Lobby, also known as the Judicial Island, is a government-controlled stronghold located in Paradise. The massive gate stationed there serves as a critical connection point—leading directly to both Marineford and Impel Down. Because of its importance, the island is heavily fortified, with around 10,000 agents stationed at all times—a mix of Marines and World Government operatives.
A large courthouse stands at the island's center, streamlining the transfer of high-level criminals. From Enies Lobby, they can be sent either to the Marine Headquarters or straight into the depths of Impel Down.
As the crew gathered themselves on deck, Kong glanced over the ship, frowning slightly at its battered state.
"By the way, where are you guys heading?" he asked, brows raised. The ship looked like it shouldn't be moving at all—yet somehow, impossibly, it was.
"Water 7," Luffy said simply.
"That's perfect," Kong replied with a smile. "I'll be meeting my crew there too—I need to upgrade my ship."
Zoro and the others exchanged brief glances, then sighed quietly in relief. None of them was in any shape for another battle.
Kong gave Robin a subtle nod of acknowledgment before turning to walk the deck. His steps were slow, thoughtful, as he moved across the battered surface of the Going Merry.
He could feel it—the damage ran deep. The ship was falling apart. Yet somehow… it was enduring.
"I don't know if it's possible for you to be saved," Kong said softly, his voice carrying a rare gentleness.
"It's okay," Merry replied with quiet joy. "I had a great time with my friends… and I'm happy I got to share one final adventure with everyone."
Kong let out a slow sigh, touched by the ship's acceptance.
"Yes… because of you, they didn't need me," he said with a smile. "You were the best ship anyone could've asked for."
He couldn't see a smile, but he didn't need to. He could feel it. Merry was at peace with what came next.
"Who are you talking to?" Nami asked, giving Kong a puzzled look. The rest of the crew mirrored her confusion.
Kong sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It looks like your ship… developed a soul or something. It rode the waves, traveled miles on its own—just to save you all."
Franky's eyes widened. Kong's words had just confirmed what he had suspected all along. The Going Merry hadn't just been a ship. It had been alive.
"Merry!" the masked man burst into tears, his shoulders trembling as he dropped to his knees.
Kong gave him a strange look. The guy looked exactly like Usopp… same build, same voice—but he was wearing a mask. That didn't make sense.
Why would Usopp wear a mask? So… this wasn't Usopp, right? "Who are you?" Kong asked, frowning as suspicion crept in.
"I-I'm Us… I mean, I'm Sniper King," the masked man stammered through his tears.. Kong's eyes widened in disbelief.
"With such a name as grand as Sniper King, you must be the best sniper in the world… Want to join my crew?" Kong asked with his pupils reshaping into stars.
Nami and the others went speechless, exchanging looks of disbelief before shooting Kong a weird glare. But after a pause, they slowly nodded to themselves. Yes… Kong really was Luffy's brother.
"What?" Luffy protested weakly, wanting to speak up against it, but the memory of Usopp came flooding back. And just like that, all the energy drained from him.
"Let's talk about such things later," Robin said calmly.
Kong visibly pouted, arms crossed and lips drawn in a childish frown. He clearly wasn't happy about it, as they were trying to keep two snipers all for themselves.
"You guys should hurry—an admiral is nearby," Kong said calmly, his eyes fixed on the burning remains of Enies Lobby in the distance.
"W-what?" everyone gasped, jumping at his words. They hadn't forgotten the brief clash between Kong and an admiral. Sure, Kong had won… but if Akainu hadn't met him head-on—if things had played out differently—there was a real chance Kong could've lost that day.
"Yup. He's the ice guy," Kong said, turning toward the direction where he sensed the admiral's presence. He didn't fear the man. After all, he was strong enough to go head-to-head with Big Mom—even when she was pushing herself beyond her limits. Compared to that, what was an admiral to an Emperor?
Still, the thought lingered. Big Mom's power should easily place her among the strongest beings in the world. So why wasn't she seen that way? It made Kong wonder—was the World Government hiding something? Were there monsters even stronger within its ranks?
Or was Big Mom already the strongest… and the world just didn't know, because she'd never truly gone all out?
Kong, with a subtle glance toward Robin had caught her reaction upon hearing which admiral was nearby. They knew each other—he could tell. That alone raised questions. The World Government had been doing everything in their power to eliminate her… so what kind of history did they share?
Still, Kong didn't ask. Instead, he sat down beside the Merry, casually resuming his quiet conversation with the ship.
"Do you know your brother just burned down the World Government's flag?" Franky asked, walking over, eyeing how absurdly relaxed Kong seemed about the entire situation.
"Really? Good job, Luffy!" Kong said with a grin, throwing a thumbs-up toward his brother. Luffy grinned back, proud and unbothered. Everyone else just stared, speechless at the absurd dynamic between the two siblings.
"Oh! I forgot to tell you last time—I met Ace," Luffy said suddenly. Kong's eyebrow lifted in surprise.
"He was in Alabasta waiting for us. He joined the Whitebeard Pirates," Luffy said, his tone casual—but the words hit hard.
Kong's eyes widened in shock. Ace? Of all people? He had joined the crew of one of Gold Roger's biggest rivals? Instead of chasing the One Piece himself?
"Did he get forced?" Kong asked, genuinely confused by the idea.
But Luffy shook his head without hesitation. "No. He's proud to be one of them. He's their Second Division Commander now."
Kong sat back, trying to process it.
"I guess I'll go knocking at the Whitebeard Pirates' door and see for myself," Kong said casually, making a mental note to do exactly that when the time came.
"By the way… where's Usopp?" Kong asked, glancing around the ship.
Instantly, Chopper's head shot up as he began scanning the area in a panic. Even Luffy looked around, confusion settling in. He was sure he had seen Usopp—he'd even heard his voice… or something like it.
So, with Luffy on his shoulders, Chopper began searching the ship for Usopp, calling out as he moved. Meanwhile, Sniper King started acting strangely—nervous, twitchy.
When Kong pointed this out, Sniper King quickly claimed that he and Usopp were friends, and that he had helped Usopp escape earlier—told him to go on ahead.
This stunned Kong. His Observation Haki hadn't picked up any of that. It was unsettling—and impressive. Sniper King had completely slipped under his radar. Kong had never met someone capable of fooling his Haki so thoroughly. It read him as weak… but that couldn't be further from the truth. What a man.
"I think I should return to my crew…" Kong said softly, his tone calm. The words left Luffy and the others stunned, caught off guard by how sudden it felt.
But Kong had his reasons. He could tell this was a deeply emotional moment for the Straw Hats—one not meant for outsiders. As much as he had fought beside them, laughed with them, he wasn't a member of their crew. Not truly. And this farewell wasn't his to share.
"I'll be at Water 7. Meet me there," Kong said, turning to the Going Merry.
"And you… Merry. It was a pleasure getting to know you. And again… my deepest apologies." He gently rubbed the ship's surface, voice soft with respect.
"It was my pleasure meeting you. I wish you the best in your future adventures across the endless blue sea," Merry said warmly.
Kong gave a solemn nod, a sad smile tugging at his lips. Before Nami or the others could speak, he disappeared, rocketing into the sky toward the Maxim.
Or so he thought. A moment later, he zipped back across the sky, sheepishly realizing he'd gone the wrong way. Then, with a deep breath and more focus, he launched himself again—this time in the correct direction, finally heading toward the Maxim.
"…So, their ship was alive?" Enel asked quietly, standing atop the Maxim, his eyes distant and thoughtful.
"Yes… and they hadn't even had the ship for more than a month," Kong's clone said softly, almost in disbelief.
The Going Merry had been with the Straw Hats since February 12. Now, it was March 20th. Barely over a month—and yet, the ship had lived, fought, and died for them.
"After we finish making changes to the Maxim, we won't touch it again. The final design will be locked in," the clone said, arms crossed in thought. "We need to get it right…"
He trailed off, a lost look settling on his face. "But where am I going to find the best shipwright?"
"My lord, let me become the shipwright!" Beru said instantly, stepping forward without hesitation.
Kong stared at him for a moment. Then his clone's body deformed, melting into the air as the main body, just arriving, took its place and finished the merge.
"For now," Kong replied, nodding. "But let's focus on bringing the Maxim to life."
He turned to the rest of the crew. "The Maxim isn't just a ship—it's a crew member. It knows itself best, which makes it the best shipwright. Still, we all need to learn how to care for her."
Everyone nodded in agreement, understanding the bond forming between them and the ship.
"Enel, Beru, and I will work alongside the shipwright to upgrade the Maxim. Everyone else can do whatever they want," Kong said firmly.
Zed and the others nodded, accepting the orders without question. With that settled, Kong turned inward, extending his senses, trying to feel if the Maxim had a voice, like the Going Merry had.
But there was nothing. And that was okay. Because he planned to build that voice, create the best ship this world had ever seen.
"…It's snowing," Beru said softly, tilting his head toward the sky. Everyone followed his gaze as snowflakes began drifting down around them.
While the others played and laughed beneath the falling snow, Enel and Kong remained silent. Their Observation Haki picked up something the others couldn't. A funeral for a ship. Kong could sense it faintly. Enel saw it clearly.
Kong let out a quiet sigh as snow continued to fall around them, then turned his attention fully to the task ahead—bringing the Maxim to life.
With steady hands and growing focus, he worked alongside Enel, Beru, and the others. Piece by piece, they began crafting the perfect ship. Kong had big dreams—literally.
He wanted a giant to one day join his crew. So, the ship needed to be massive, strong enough to support the weight of a giant, and spacious enough to carry one in comfort.
That meant more than just wide decks. It needed a dedicated room for a giant, storage for food and water—enough to feed one of their kind on long voyages.
To achieve that, Kong returned to Beru's island, scouring the land for the healthiest trees health standing after the devastation. He absorbed them into his body, carefully selecting each one.
With their strength, he planned to rebuild the Maxim—bigger, stronger, and capable of housing up to five giants at once.
Of course, Kong didn't plan to build the ship entirely on his own. He intended to hire a skilled shipwright—but not to do the heavy lifting. No, he, Enel, and Beru would be doing 90% of the work. The expert's role was simple: teach Kong everything. And with his 100x cheat? He'd master it faster than anyone.
Once he understood it all, he'd pass the knowledge down to the others. Still, Kong insisted on doing the majority of the building himself—to maximize the effect of his cheat.
That way, the ship he created wouldn't just be powerful—it would be 100 times more advanced than anything else out there.
Kong's dreams for this ship were massive. He'd heard rumors about objects eating Devil Fruits. So why not his?
He had no idea how to make it happen yet, but he already had a type in mind—something tied to lightning, weather, space, or maybe storage. Anything that would make the Maxim truly one of a kind.