"I guess the design is nice, it's very creative. Though I'm not much of a cat person," Paulie replied as he glanced at the ship.
"Iceburg! Sorry we're late, what's the situation?" A sudden, joyful, voice sounded as two people neared the ships.
The one leading the way of the two men was a man with a towering and slender frame that was deceptively muscular, with lean and compact muscles covering every part of his body.
His arched eyebrows lent a touch of regality to his appearance, while a meticulously groomed, close-shaved goatee framed his strong jawline. His shoulder-length, ebony hair was styled in graceful waves, adding an air of refinement to his overall appearance.
In an unexpected twist, a quiet pet pigeon found its perch on his right shoulder. Additionally, a tattoo of a crossed-out square adorned each of his chiseled upper arms.
His attire was a tasteful blend of professional and practical. Atop his head, a large black top hat with a sepia band crowned him, further accentuating his impressive height. He donned a pair of rugged brown trousers, held up by caramel suspenders that draped over a crisp white tank top. His footwear of choice consisted of sturdy, black, shoes.
Then, there was the young man behind him, who was the one that spoke.
The young man had a somewhat weird appearance, with his unique eyes immediately capturing attention. He had large, black eyes framed by only a trio of eyelashes. Dominating his face, a comically elongated nose extended out, its rectangular shape resembling the shape of a brick.
Perched atop the man's head was a white cap with 'Galley' written on it haphazardly, as if etched by a pen in a moment of whimsy. His high-collared orange shirt was complemented by contrasting blue sleeves.
This unusual getup was completed with a pair of well-worn blue jeans and spotless white shoes.
But something was amiss with this duo. They claimed to be shipwrights, laboring tirelessly in a grueling environment. You'd expect them to have a certain ruggedness, but these two were different.
Their movements mimicked those of a shipwright, yet with subtle grace and ease that they tried to keep concealed. But Ryu's keen eyes didn't miss a beat.
Curiosity piqued, Ryu studied the pair using Rikai, resulting in a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he turned his attention to Iceburg too.
"Ryu, I want you to meet Kake and Lu, some of our best shipwrights. They're gonna work their magic on this ship," Iceburg said, introducing the two with a grin.
"Whoa, Garp's the big boss this time? At least we know someone's gonna cough up the dough! I had enough of the pirates that want to run without paying every time," Kake chuckled, but Ryu's facepalm caught his eye.
"Everything cool?" Kake asked, eyebrow raised in curiosity.
"Yeah, I'm good," Ryu replied, struggling to hold back laughter at their ridiculous code names.
"Alrighty then," Kake shrugged, while Lu shot him a suspicious glance.
"So, Iceburg, what's the game plan?" Kake asked, bouncing with excitement.
"Paulie already checked out the ship, so all we need is to grab supplies. But Garp won't stop nagging about Ryu's ship. Apparently, it's banged up too. Go take a look," Iceburg instructed.
"No prob," Kake replied, and he and Lu hopped onto Ryu's ship to examine it and the Shinobi lounging about.
"So, what's the situation? Anything worth mentioning?" Iceburg asked after a couple of minutes, eager for an update.
"Nada. Just a bit of railing damage – A two-day fix, tops," Kake yelled back, causing Garp to laugh.
"Just so you know, that ship's been through way more than mine," Garp declared, making Iceburg give him a skeptical look.
"How's that even possible? Your ship's built like a tank! The only ship that could take more of a beating was the Oro Jackson, and even that wasn't by much," Iceburg said.
"Check out that wood, will ya?" Garp suggested with a cheeky grin.
Following his lead, Kake and Lu scrutinized the wood, with Iceburg and Paulie joining in, curiosity piqued.
"Wha- What on earth is this timber?" Paulie whispered, eyes wide as he examined Ygdrasil's wood.
"Impressive, huh?" Yoruichi teased, delighting in the stunned expressions on Iceburg and Paulie's faces.
"Impressive doesn't even begin to cover it... Who built this thing?" Iceburg asked, astonished.
"The kid did. He's already a shipbuilding whiz. Can't wait to see what happens when he gets his hands on Pluton," Garp cackled wickedly as the room froze.
"...Garp, what do you mean?" Iceburg inquired, a serious glint in his eyes.
"Oops, that was supposed to be a secret... Oh well, no use crying over spilled milk. The kid found Pluton's location on a Poneglyph in Alabasta. Now he's got Sengoku tangled up in a wild goose chase to see who finds it first," Garp admitted, sheepishly scratching his head.
"Is that true? You know where Pluton is?" Paulie asked cautiously.
"Yup, so what? Not like I'm racing to grab the thing," Ryu shrugged, sending a mental command to one of his Shinobi, who vanished in a flash.
"Imagine combining Pluton with this kind of wood... You'd create a monster," Kake said in an eerily calm voice, his eyes gleaming dangerously at Ryu.
"Hey, keep giving me the stink eye and I'll tattle to Spandam," Ryu teased with a wink, causing Lu and Kake to freeze.
"Spandam?" Garp inquired nonchalantly.
"Just a buddy of ours," Ryu shrugged.
"Riiight," Garp snorted sarcastically.
"Can we move on? I'm dying of boredom here," Yoruichi sighed, hanging upside down from Iron Whiskers' railing, her legs wrapped around the ship, and a bored expression plastered on her face.
"Yeah, I think we're done here, right?" Ryu agreed as Iceburg sighed reluctantly.
"Garp, you and your crew should find lodgings. Your ship will take about a month. Ryu, we don't have any of the wood you used, but we'll do our best with what's available. Should be done in a day," Iceburg informed them.
"No biggie. Here's some wood," Ryu offered, conjuring a couple of tons of wooden beams made from Ygdrasil's lumber.
"Guess that'll do," Paulie chuckled at Iceburg's dumbfounded expression.
"Alright, you guys can take care of it, right? Yoruichi and I want to explore the city," Ryu asked jokingly.
Ryu and Yoruichi bid their farewell to Iceburg and the shipwrights before making their way out of the shipyard. As they navigated the busy construction area, Ryu's eyes scanned the surrounding craftsmen with an expert's eye.
"You know, I said this before, but the people here really aren't half bad. A push in the right direction and some real gems can come out of this place. I'd have given a few lessons if I wasn't on vacation right now," Ryu remarked to Yoruichi.
"Huh. With how intense the look on your face was, I thought you were going to kill a couple of them," Yoruichi smirked teasingly.
Ryu raised an eyebrow. "They're good, but they're not that good. Don't go thinking I'm eyeing every half-assed thing here. I have standards, you know."
---
After walking for some time, Ryu and Yoruichi reached a desolate, rocky coast outside the city. The coastline featured jagged and coarse rocks, with sharp edges and corners smoothed over by the relentless waves.
A peculiar house stood just a few meters from where the sea met the shore.
The structure was an odd yet mesmerizing sight, with its exterior showcasing a chaotic fusion of rusted metal and haphazardly painted wooden planks. A massive steel door marked the entrance, topped by a sign bearing bold, golden letters that proudly proclaimed, "FRANKY HOUSE."
The most striking feature of this eccentric abode was the pair of enormous robotic arms extending from its right side. Each arm was fitted with a menacing claw, creating the impression that the house itself was poised to snatch anything that ventured too close.
A large, wooden crescent moon painted a bright yellow adorned the roof of the Franky House.
"Well, that's an interesting design," Yoruichi remarked, examining the house with a fascinated smile.
"I can't deny that it has personality. Alright, let's go have a talk with the owners," Ryu chuckled, as Yoruichi flashed an eager grin.
As Ryu and Yoruichi were about to enter the house, Ryu's Shinobi emerged, holding a battered man.
As the Shinobi approached, the extent of the damage inflicted on the massive man became increasingly clear. His vivid blue hair was stained with blood. His large forearms, adorned with blue star tattoos, were heavily bruised, as were his biceps.
The man's well-defined chest heaved with each labored breath. His unbuttoned red Hawaiian shirt fluttered in the wind, revealing the extent of the injuries on his body. His blue Speedo did little to conceal the rest of his wounds.
His long, stern eyebrows were furrowed in pain, and his angular chin, featuring three-pointed crevices, trembled with each breath. His equally angular, iron prosthetic nose, adorned with rivets and jagged edges, had sustained a few blows, leaving it slightly twisted.
As the Shinobi tossed the injured man at Ryu's feet, the scene inside the spacious structure mirrored the man's broken body. Unconscious members of the man's organization, identified by the prominent blue star they wore, were strewn among overturned chairs and tables.
"God damn, why'd you beat him like that?" Ryu asked the Shinobi, raising an eyebrow.
"They attacked me. I considered killing them all, but I figured you wouldn't approve," the Shinobi replied with a shrug.
"You made a good choice. I had planned on talking to him, but that doesn't seem like an option now. Oh well..." Ryu shrugged, using Rikai to examine Franky and locating his target within a hidden compartment in the man's chest.
Upon opening it, Ryu discovered an aged, weathered flipbook labeled 'Pluton' in plain blue letters on the front page. Skimming through the flipbook's contents, a smile spread across Ryu's face.
"I take it you got what you wanted?" Yoruichi asked, judging by the smile Ryu wore.
"You bet. Just wait until Iceburg and Garp see the monstrosity that Iron Whiskers is about to become," Ryu smirked.