Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Kokoro let out a sound of pure delight, clutching Bai Ye's wine jar as if it were a precious gem. "Ah~," she exclaimed, "Not only is the wine fragrant, but it also doesn't make me feel sick afterward, and my whole body feels comfortably warm. More importantly, this slight buzz is really great."
Hearing Kokoro's praise, Bai Ye responded with a warm smile. "If you like it, I can give you a few jars later."
Kokoro laughed heartily and agreed without any hesitation, "Hahahaha, thank you so much." She then offered her help, "In that case, let this old woman help you once."
She glanced over at the Golden Merry, anchored near the station, and said to the Straw Hats, "This is your ship. It has sailed all the way from the East Blue to here, and it still holds up so well, which shows that you've taken good care of it and hold deep feelings for it." Having once been the secretary of the Tom Shipbuilding Company, she felt confident in her ability to judge ships.
After taking a closer look at the Golden Merry, Kokoro couldn't help but admire its condition. However, she shook her head and added, "But it's not enough for this ship to take you into the second part of the Grand Line—the New World."
Usopp was the first to react, exclaiming, "What?!! Why do you say that? Isn't the Golden Merry good enough?"
Luffy also chimed in anxiously, "That's right, the Golden Merry is also an important member of our crew!"
Kokoro faced the group and explained, "I can tell. Building such a ship in the East Blue must have taken a lot of money and thought. You must love it dearly, as it has followed you this long without any major issues. However, this ship still cannot enter the New World."
When Kokoro shared her thoughts, she shook her head with a hint of regret. "After you entered the Grand Line, you must have noticed the unpredictable weather here," she began. "You can encounter all sorts of emergencies at any moment, which demands a lot from a ship."
She continued, her tone growing somber, "However, despite such harsh conditions, it still endured, but when compared to the New World, it's still too fragile. Many shipbuilders around the world have never experienced the weather of the Grand Line, so the ships they construct don't necessarily meet these rigorous needs."
Kokoro then explained the usual practice among pirates. "Therefore, pirates from all around the world usually change their ships once they reach the Grand Line. Even Roger, the Pirate King, was no exception." She emphasized the Pirate King because she could sense the deep bond the crew had with their ship.
"And those stubborn pirates who didn't switch ships," Kokoro added, "all, without exception, disappeared into that treacherous sea."
The air grew heavy, settling into silence as her words hung over them.
At the start of Kokoro's talk, when she mentioned the crew's deep affection for the Golden Merry, Merry, the ship's spirit, had nodded happily, delighting in the compliment. However, her joy was short-lived when Kokoro mentioned that the Golden Merry might not be able to make the journey to the New World. This revelation was a significant blow to Merry.
Deep down, Merry knew that if it weren't for Bai Ye's spiritual formation that had fortified the ship time and again, it would have fallen apart long ago. But she hadn't expected that even with these enhancements, the Golden Merry still wouldn't be suitable to continue with the crew.
Now that Merry had a physical form, even if the ship changed, she could continue to travel with the crew in some way. At the very least, Bai Ye could preserve the Golden Merry within his inner world. However, the thought of not continuing as their ship saddened her. After all, her very existence was intertwined with carrying her crew across the seas.
At that moment, Merry felt a pair of large, comforting hands gently rest on the top of her head. She looked up to see Bai Ye looking down at her with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I'm here," he whispered softly, seeing the distress on Merry's face.
Bai Ye then prepared to share some hopeful news with everyone. He had allowed Kokoro to finish speaking, thinking it would set the stage perfectly for him to propose a solution for upgrading the ship.
Unexpectedly, before he could speak up, Luffy's voice rang out energetically, "Bai Ye must have a solution!" Luffy was the first to voice what everyone was probably thinking.
Bai Ye was taken aback for a moment, then smiled wryly to himself. He thought ruefully, Wasn't I supposed to be the one to offer a ray of hope after a moment of despair, to be met with cheers and astonishment? Why does it feel like I orchestrated this, and even nudged Luffy into playing along? When did he become so perceptive?
Nevertheless, Bai Ye gathered himself and explained to everyone that he had been considering this issue for a while and had devised a way to upgrade the Golden Merry without replacing the ship. This news visibly lifted everyone's spirits.
Merry, feeling particularly grateful and relieved, clung tightly to Bai Ye's leg and wouldn't let go.
Kokoro, intrigued by Bai Ye's claim, remarked with growing fondness, "Oh? Do you have such ability? I like you more and more." Her comment, though meant as praise, made Bai Ye visibly uncomfortable as he imagined Kokoro in her mermaid form, which prompted a nervous sweat to break out on his forehead.
Noticing Bai Ye's awkward reaction, Kokoro laughed heartily, "Hahaha! Am I that scary?" This only made Bai Ye feel more embarrassed.
Thankfully, Kokoro soon shifted the conversation in a helpful direction. "Now that you have a solution, I can offer even more assistance," she declared, then turned to Nami and asked, "You're the navigator, right, little girl? Which direction are you heading next?"
"North," Nami replied succinctly.
Kokoro nodded approvingly. "That's even better. You're heading to Water 7."
She then shared more about their destination: "Water 7 is a city renowned for its shipbuilding industry. The craftsmanship of every shipbuilder there is world-class, truly a cut above what you'd find elsewhere."
"If you want to upgrade the ship, there's no better place to go," Kokoro added, emphasizing the opportunity.
Luffy responded with characteristic enthusiasm. "Wow! It sounds amazing!"
Kokoro laughed heartily. "Hahaha, don't think of me as just an old woman. I know the mayor of Water 7, and the owner of the most prestigious shipbuilding company on the island—Galley-La Company, Iceburg!"
Luffy's excitement doubled. "Wow! You are amazing, old lady!!"
With a chuckle, Kokoro responded, "Hahaha, you're quite the charmer, straw hat boy. In that case, the old lady will accompany you." Her offer to guide them further cemented her role as a valuable ally for the journey ahead.