"So, is this a form of discrimination?" Nicholas asked Levanoth after a brief moment of contemplation.
"Discrimination? You could say that. After all, long ago, fishmen were slaves to the merfolk. Although relations between the two races have eased, intermarriage is still not allowed. If a mermaid and a fishman were to marry, their offspring would almost always be fishmen. To ensure the survival of their race and prevent bloodline contamination, the merfolk royal family established laws prohibiting mermaids from mating with fishmen. Of course, not many people know about these things," Levanoth replied with a smile, acknowledging a passing acquaintance before turning back to Nicholas.
"Is this because of the absence of All Blue? After all, if merfolk corresponds to white, fishmen to black, and the offspring can only be fishmen, it matches, The separation of four seas energy causes this disbalance" Nicholas pondered, trying to understand the complexities.
"We've arrived, Nicholas. BanBan, our guests are here; hurry up and prepare the food," Levanoth called out loudly by the calm waterside.
"What's the rush? You come here every time to eat for free and yet act so righteous. I just can't understand how a big shot like you, President of Galley-La, can eat for free," a middle-aged man holding a bottle of alcohol grumbled, standing up unsteadily from the boat.
"Hey, is this drunken guy really a cook?" Nicholas asked, puzzled by the scene.
"Calm down, Nicholas; please rest assured, BanBan is one of the best chefs in the Water Capital," Levanoth reassured quickly.
"Of course, it's a given. You don't need to tell me. Let me see what ingredients we have today," BanBan said, beginning to cook in the kitchen of the small boat.
Nicholas and Levanoth waited on deck for the meal to be prepared. Soon, the dishes were ready, starting with seafood fried rice.
Nicholas scooped up a spoonful and tasted it, appreciating the delicious flavor. He quickly finished the dish, impressed.
"This is delicious. I didn't expect it," Nicholas complimented the middle-aged man with a mouthful.
As they ate, Nicholas noticed a large ocean picture hanging in the cabin. "Is that the All Blue you chefs dream of?" he asked, intrigued.
The middle-aged man chuckled. "That's just a regular picture. There's no such thing as the All Blue. Finding that legendary area would require immense strength. That's why many powerful pirate crews can recruit famous chefs. But in recent years, fewer chefs want to go to sea. After all, All Blue has never been seen. Perhaps it's just a myth."
Nicholas listened with interest, absorbing the man's words.
Before leaving, Nicholas remarked, "Actually, I have a guess about your chefs' sacred All Blue."
The man, somewhat sobered by Nicholas's words, and even Levanoth, looked at Nicholas in disbelief. After all, Nicholas's words were shocking. All Blue was a sought-after destination for countless chefs on the sea.
"Where is it!?" the man asked eagerly.
"It's on the Red line. After all, according to your chefs' legend, the All Blue is the convergence of the four seas. It's said to have all the fish, animals, and vegetables from the four seas and is considered the ultimate destination for chefs. But for the World Nobles enjoying all the world's resources, gathering ingredients from the Four Seas and even the Grand Line is easy. Why can't All Blue be a certain inland sea on the Red line?" Nicholas explained confidently.
The man and Levanoth were stunned. Nicholas's idea was too far-fetched, but if true, it would turn the chefs' world upside down.
"It's impossible. Ali couldn't have died at sea for such a ridiculous thing," the man muttered, shaken.
As Nicholas left, Levanoth comforted his friend. The impact of Nicholas's words was profound.
…
Although the Water Capital was beautiful, Nicholas had spent enough time accompanying Stussy here. Besides, even Nicholas found it exhausting to accompany a girl shopping, so he began to collect interesting items under the pretext of inspection.
One afternoon, Levanoth sent someone to inform Nicholas that the ship's design was complete.
Nicholas rushed to Tom's workshop. Upon arrival, he was immediately drawn to a ship design hanging on the wall.
The ship was not much different from their previous sketches, with minor adjustments to the cabin layout. The bottom deck remained the same, with the addition of a cold storage room and wine cellar in the storage area. The second floor design remained unchanged, but space for weapons was added to the bow and deck.
The hull was entirely encased in Sea-Prism Stone, and there was even a cell for Devil Fruit users under the ship. According to Tom's data, once built, the ship would have triple the endurance and speed of a regular vessel.
Tom, the pride of the Water Capital and the builder of Oro Jackson, truly was terrifying.