Chapter 176: Regarding Going Merry
Due to Rodney's hunting, Luffy and his crew managed to avoid encountering any of the enemies they were supposed to meet. Their progress had accelerated by at least a month, considering it had taken them three months to travel from the East Blue to the Sabaody Archipelago.
Their speed was also slightly faster than in the original story, and they had arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago. Luffy's crew needed to find a place to repair the Going Merry, as they had encountered Navy pursuit on their journey. While the Going Merry's hull had been patched up, it still had flaws that required professional repair.
Rodney recommended the Iceburg Shipbuilding Company for their ship's maintenance, as they were capable of handling ship repairs.
Rodney stated, "I can help you arrange for a new ship because your current one won't withstand the challenges of the New World's weather. It's made of ordinary materials and wouldn't survive the terrifying storms there, let alone the unpredictable weather of the Grand Line."
"We won't abandon Going Merry!" Usopp firmly declared.
The Going Merry was sponsored by Kaya's family and had been designed by Kaya's butler. Abandoning it here would be a betrayal of their benefactors.
"I'm just giving you advice. With these materials, your ship is bound to meet its end at sea. The weather in the New World is much harsher than in the Grand Line. Whether you listen to me or not is up to you," Rodney said as he bought a bottle of soda from a roadside stall.
"After all, it's your life, not mine. I've given you my advice, and the rest is up to you."
Usopp clenched his fist, feeling defiant. "The Going Merry will definitely make it! I believe in her!"
"Is that so?" Rodney scratched his face, and suddenly, a burst of aura erupted from him, causing Usopp to fall to the ground in shock.
"This ship is as fragile as you are, unable to withstand the challenges of the New World. It's not child's play there. By the way, do you have the money for new materials?" Rodney asked.
With that said, he had made his point clear: the Going Merry's materials were too weak, and if they didn't want to meet a tragic end, they needed to replace them.
Turning to Luffy, Rodney asked, "Luffy, how much money do we have?"
"Last time, we got 30 million Berries, and we found a bit of treasure in Alabasta. That's all we have," Nami, who managed the crew's finances, replied.
"I'm not sure if it's enough for a complete overhaul to withstand the New World's weather," Rodney said.
"Come with me; I bought a ship here before, and I know the owner. Maybe he can give you a discount."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Rodney," Nami said, recognizing the severity of the New World's weather. Even in the Grand Line, the Going Merry's materials were showing their limitations. To survive in the New World, they would need a major overhaul or even a new ship. This decision could determine the fate of the entire Straw Hat Pirates crew.
The importance of a ship at sea was undeniable. A good ship could sail for a long time on the high seas, and one of the natural enemies of pirates was adverse weather. If the ship's hull couldn't withstand the conditions, their fate would be sealed.
"Hey, Luffy! We can't abandon the Going Merry!" Usopp grabbed Luffy's shoulder and said earnestly.
Luffy replied with a smile, "I didn't say we should abandon Going Merry. We're just going to the shipyard for repairs. Rodney wouldn't lie to us, and the New World is probably really dangerous. But we're going to sail the Merry Go until the very end!"
"Yeah, absolutely!"
Onboard the Going Merry, a small figure was happily smiling.
Having not experienced terrifying battles, the Going Merry was not as easily damaged. However, Eisbach and the others concluded, "The materials of the ship's hull are still too weak. We have two recommendations: one is to replace it entirely, and the other is to change all the materials in the ship's hull while keeping its overall structure."
The first suggestion of replacing the ship entirely was rejected by Luffy and Usopp. The Going Merry held a special place in their hearts, and they wanted to see their journey through with her.
"In that case, there's only one option," Iceburg said, "Replace all the materials of the Going Merry's hull. This is the only way to withstand the weather in the New World."
He turned to the Straw Hat crew and said, "This is your only choice. The materials used in the Going Merry are simply too weak."
Iceburg saw potential for improvement in the Going Merry's design, but he recognized that the craftsmanship used to build her was average at best. As one of the world's top shipwrights, Eisbach was not afraid to speak his mind.
"Like Mr. Rodney said, Luffy, Usopp, what do you think?" Nami sought their input. Luffy was the captain, and Usopp was the Going Merry's owner. In a sense, Usopp was the one who had received sponsorship from Kaya's family, making the construction of the Going Merry possible.
"But if we change all the materials, will the Going Merry still be the Going Merry?" Usopp asked pensively.
It was akin to the Ship of Theseus paradox: if all the wooden parts of a ship were replaced, would it still be considered the same ship? Would the Going Merry retain its identity if all its materials were replaced?
Rodney shook his head; he couldn't understand these emotions. After all, the joys and sorrows of humans were not universal.
He couldn't comprehend their attachment to a ship. The Black Pearl was his possession, and he would go to great lengths to protect his belongings.
It was all about protecting what was his and satisfying his possessiveness.
While Rodney contemplated his next move, he realized that he had underestimated Enel. He had forgotten how terrifying lightning could be. Although Enel couldn't use Haki, his Rumble-Rumble Fruit powers were exceptionally developed.
Rodney had been forced to activate his Mangekyou Sharingan, even though the boost it provided to his abilities was significant. However, he questioned whether it was worth the trade-off.
He couldn't help but think about acquiring Hashirama's cells. Even though integrating them into his body was a challenging task, it was possible. The Senju DNA could potentially balance the effects of Hashirama's cells and prevent them from consuming his body.
The power of Hashirama's Wood Release was impressive, and Rodney didn't want to miss out on it. While Hashirama's cells were difficult to merge with one's body and could lead to the cells consuming the host, there might be a way to maintain equilibrium.
Thinking of this, Rodney fell into deep contemplation. The feud between the Uchiha and Senju clans had lasted for centuries, with Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha's rivalry being at the center of it. The two clans' powers were inherently antagonistic, which made the integration of their abilities a challenging endeavor.
However, Rodney believed that his Mangekyou Sharingan might serve as a means of balance. By using his Mangekyou Sharingan in conjunction with Hashirama's cells, he could potentially maintain a harmonious equilibrium. This was a theory he was eager to put into practice.
On the other side, after convincing Usopp, they finally accepted the proposal of a complete overhaul, and Nami showcased her talent for bargaining, leaving Iceburg nearly green-faced by the end. In the end, they struck a deal close to cost price, forcing Rodney to admit that Nami's bargaining skills were truly terrifying.
Rodney decided to find a house to recuperate in. He was currently in the recovery phase, and Escargoon had advised him to allow his body to recover naturally. He was cautioned against condensing chakra until his body had sufficiently recuperated, as doing so would put additional strain on his body.
Therefore, Rodney had no choice but to opt for a period of rest.