As the Ark reached Water 7 by afternoon.
As the massive Ark anchored, it drew curious and amazed stares from everyone at the dock. Its design was unlike anything seen in the Blue Sea, as it had been meticulously constructed on Skypiea by Enel with the intention of ruling the Grand Line.
"Wow, this is Water 7?" Kaya exclaimed, captivated by the beauty of the city.
"Yes, it's incredible!" Conis added with a laugh. "It's just as beautiful as Skypiea!"
"I told you, there are amazing sights on the Grand Line," Kaya said, taking Conis's hand. "I'm so glad you joined us!"
"Kaya, wanna go explore together?" Conis suggested.
"Of course! Oh, and let's bring Nami, Vivi… everyone!" Kaya said, looking at Ron with an excited smile.
Ron felt a chill at the idea of a shopping spree. "Oh no…"
He looked around, thinking of a way to excuse himself. But at that moment, Nami and Vivi flanked him, each linking an arm through his and giving him a sweet smile.
"You're happy to join us, aren't you, Ron?" Nami teased.
"Y-Yes…" Ron replied with a weak smile, realizing there was no escape.
"Oh, and that giant gold pillar!" Nami suddenly said, snapping her fingers. "Ron, didn't you say you'd exchange it for money here? You're strong, so it's your job to carry it. We're delicate girls, remember?"
"How could I let you do such a heavy job?" Ron replied righteously, shifting the massive pillar onto his shoulder with ease.
He looked at the enormous golden column, which towered over him. The calculations ran quickly through his mind—it would be worth over two billion Beri. With that kind of money, they wouldn't need to worry about expenses all the way to the New World.
"Let's go!" Ron, making sure not to damage the Ark, led the girls off the dock and toward the busy streets of Water 7, pillar in tow.
The city's architecture made heavy use of waterways, but Ron couldn't navigate those while carrying the massive gold. So, they moved slowly along the cobblestone streets, drawing a lot of attention.
The pillar was too eye-catching. The sight of a giant golden column over Ron's shoulder was hard to ignore. People stared with wide eyes, while others whispered greedily, jaws dropping as they realized what it was.
"Is that… gold?"
"That much gold?!"
"How many millions… no, billions, is that worth?"
Ron noticed some men eying the pillar with greed and smirked. They'd better not try anything funny.
The girls sensed this attention too, glancing around at the watching crowd.
"Ron… could this be dangerous?" Kaya asked nervously.
"With all this gold, someone's bound to make a move," Nami said, scanning the area. "We need to get to the bank quickly!"
"Yes!" agreed the other girls, looking up at the huge golden pillar, amazed.
"There's too much to use here," Ron said casually. "Once we turn it into cash, we'll have everything we need."
"Ron is the best!" Kaya and Apis laughed happily.
Ron grinned, pleased to see the joy he could bring to his crew.
"Nami, can you find the nearest bank?" Ron asked, looking at the many greedy eyes following them. "This thing's heavy, and I'd rather not keep attracting attention."
"On it!" Nami quickly asked a street vendor, then returned with directions. "We're not too far. Follow me!"
They continued onward. As they approached the bank, the number of people gathering around increased, the crowd clearly captivated by the golden pillar.
"We're here!" the girls sighed in relief.
"Alright, Nami, tell the staff to set up a storage area. This thing's not fitting through the banks door," Ron said, adjusting the massive pillar on his shoulder.
"Hee-hee, you wait here. Kaya, let's go," Nami said with a smile as she and Kaya entered the bank, while the other girls stayed outside with Ron.
As Ron waited, he noticed some men in the crowd watching him intently, whispering amongst themselves with suspicious expressions. They exchanged a quick look, each nodding to the other, and Ron could guess what they had in mind.