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"Is there a problem with the ship, Mr. Tom?"
A question interrupted Tom's shock, and the mist that enveloped the entire modification factory gradually dissipated.
The mysterious ship spirit vanished along with it.
Regaining his composure, Tom turned around to see Kokoro, who was walking over while drinking.
"Not at all, or rather, this is one of the best ships I've ever seen."
Tom looked up at the Endless Dream, unable to suppress his admiration.
Even for someone like him, the world's greatest shipwright, it had been decades since he last saw a ship spirit. That was when he crafted the legendary Oro Jackson for the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.
"I never thought someone as strict as you would give such a high praise to a ship..."
Kokoro's pupils constricted.
Having known Tom for so many years, she had never heard such unreserved admiration from him.
"It seems you already have a perfect modification plan in mind."
"Absolutely. I've clearly heard the ship's desires. There's no need for further inspections," Tom laughed.
Kokoro hesitated, then, out of concern for Tom's safety, she handed him the newspapers and wanted posters she had collected.
"I recognized that talking pet from this morning and decided to pay closer attention."
"They are the crew involved in the recent shocking incident of killing a Celestial Dragon, the infamous Sea Restaurant crew led by Zyhark!"
Because the Sabaody Archipelago incident involved a mermaid slave, Kokoro had a deep impression of it.
She had come to Water 7 out of admiration for Tom and settled here, naturally caring deeply about his safety.
Tom was already marked for death for building a ship for the Pirate King. Getting involved with Zyhark's crew would only worsen his situation.
Though Zyhark's crew were heroes to her for attacking the Celestial Dragons, she still didn't want Tom to take such a risk.
This was the world ruled by the World Government.
Justice and evil were defined by them, and ordinary people had no choice but to comply, without any chance of resistance!
Tom was momentarily stunned upon learning Zyhark's identity. Remembering the ship spirit he had seen earlier, he couldn't help but laugh heartily.
"I see, challengers of the highest authority. No wonder they have such a perfect ship!"
"It's an honor to modify a ship for such people!"
He didn't even glance at the newspaper in Kokoro's hand.
"But, Mr. Tom, I meant that modifying their ship, if discovered by the World Government, will put you in an even more precarious position!"
Kokoro's voice was serious and filled with concern.
Tom dismissed her worries with a wave of his hand. "It's fine. What's another crime at this point?"
"Rather than saying they need my help, it's more accurate to say I need a ship full of miracles like this!"
Seeing Tom's unwavering, bright smile, Kokoro gripped the newspapers tightly, hesitating to speak.
"You're as stubborn as ever. I can't control what happens next."
Sighing deeply, Kokoro, knowing Tom's resolve, said no more.
"Whether I'm captured or killed, I have no regrets. A real man faces the ship he modifies head-on!"
Tom spoke with fearless confidence.
The World Government needed the sea train and wouldn't halt the project over this. And once the sea train was completed?
By then, his lifelong dream would be realized. What was there to fear from mere death?
Kokoro silently took a swig of her wine, her lips curling into a slight smile.
This stubbornness was precisely why she admired the world's greatest shipwright!
…
The next morning, the modification work on the Endless Dream officially began.
Led by Meowth and Tom, with Iceburg and Flam assisting, numerous professional shipwrights arrived at the modification factory.
Aqua initially put on her work clothes and helmet, eager to showcase her skills, but she soon gave up after barely half a day's work.
—Ship modifications, especially those to withstand the harsh conditions of the New World, involved too much specialized knowledge for the simple-minded goddess to comprehend.
In the end, Aqua shamefully abandoned her involvement in the work and joined her companions in exploring Water 7.
King, rarely leaving the ship, took the opportunity to visit the town's convenience stores with the help of a transportation device called a Bull.
Perhaps due to overtraining, he felt he was losing hair faster than usual and wanted to buy some hair conditioner and maybe find some new video games. (Holy!, is Saitama 2.0 coming!?)
Brook, in contrast, wandered aimlessly around town, reminiscing about the old landmarks that still stood amidst the modern changes.
As for Zyhark, Aqua, and Kanna, they primarily shopped for new supplies for the ship while enjoying the local food and attractions.
Zyhark could handle the tasks alone, but he couldn't leave Aqua or Kanna unsupervised.
Not only did Aqua tend to cause trouble, but even the well-behaved Kanna was at risk of being kidnapped due to her cuteness.
This era was far from peaceful, with slave traders lurking on every island!
Meanwhile, Admiral candidate Kizaru, due to his duties, also stayed temporarily at the Navy branch in Water 7, occasionally visiting Tom's workshop with his team.
Whether by coincidence or mutual understanding, Zyhark and Kizaru, who both met Tom daily, never crossed paths again.
In this peaceful routine, time flew by. Just as the modification of the Endless Dream was nearing completion, a sudden heavy rainstorm enveloped the entire town.
All the townspeople felt a sense of fear and helplessness. Those living in lower areas began packing up and moving to higher ground.
This was the precursor to the devastating tidal wave disaster that had plagued Water 7 for years—Aqua Laguna!
The Navy and meteorological departments confirmed the signs and issued a town-wide emergency evacuation notice!
"Guests, you should head to the evacuation center. Aqua Laguna is extremely dangerous, and in the face of this disaster, survival is the only option!"
The innkeeper, a kind old man, reminded Zyhark's group to evacuate before he left.
"Huh? When did I become a disaster? You old fool, are you trying to scam us out of our rent?"
Aqua immediately expressed her displeasure.
As a goddess who loved her followers and abided by the rules, she couldn't believe she'd be blamed for flooding a city!
"Ah, yes, Miss Aqua, you're absolutely right."
After dealing with Aqua for some time, the innkeeper had come to understand her mental state.
When he first heard she was a water goddess, he had suggested Zyhark seek the best doctor in town.
Now, he was certain she was beyond help and offered her sympathy.
With that, and before Aqua could argue, the old man bid farewell to Zyhark and left with his belongings for the evacuation center.
Aqua Laguna, huh? It sounds terrifying...
King crossed his arms, looking worried.
Seeing Aqua fuming and ranting at the old man's retreating figure, his concern faded.
He trusted Aqua, at least in matters related to water.
"Rain, rain, it's raining!"
Kanna, wearing a raincoat and boots, happily splashed in the puddles on the street.
Brook, holding an umbrella, approached her, "Kanna-chan, even with a raincoat, getting too wet can make you catch a cold. Although I'm just a skeleton and can't catch a cold, yohohoho~"
"Okay, Mr. Skeleton!" Kanna stopped and nodded seriously.
As an ancient dragon, she had no concept of catching a cold from the rain, but she appreciated the advice.
"Let's go check on Meowth. If all goes well, the modifications on the Endless Dream should be nearing completion."
Zyhark remained calm, looking at the dark sky.
Perhaps King's luck had influenced the timing. With Aqua Laguna approaching, Aqua could garner significant faith from the residents of Water 7 before they set sail.
Successfully averting the massive tidal wave would make the water goddess Aqua a new legend, replacing Aqua Laguna!
Exposing their identities might draw attention, but with their current strength, they had no fear of even facing Kizaru. They could simply sail away.
In reality, it was uncertain if Kizaru would even act against them, given his lazy nature and "unclear justice" ideology.
The deserted streets of Water 7, overshadowed by Aqua Laguna, were eerily silent.
Abandoned trash and belongings littered the roads.
Navigating through the rain, they arrived at Tom's modification factory, which bustled with activity—shipwrights were finishing the final touches on the ship.
Meowth and Tom stood together, gazing at the Infinite Dream, mostly covered in tarps.
During their time together, Tom had been impressed by Meowth's advanced technology, even claiming the sea train could be completed three years ahead of schedule!
As a result, Tom's respect and enthusiasm for Zyhark's crew grew, even considering waiving the two-billion Beri fee!
"Mr. Zyhark, you're here," Tom greeted warmly.
"The innkeeper left, so we had nowhere else to go but here," Zyhark joked.
"You're too kind. It's an honor to modify a ship for a crew like yours," Tom said sincerely.
"Hehe, Zyhark, just wait. The modified Endless Dream will be the finest ship in the world!"
Meowth spread his paws, grinning mysteriously.
"Really? Let me see~"
Aqua, intrigued, bounced over to lift the tarps.
But Meowth, anticipating this, quickly stopped her.
"Hey! Blue hair, I'm more worried about whether you can handle Aqua Laguna."
Wearing goggles and holding a wrench, Flam jumped down from the ship, confronting the group.
Despite the factory's protective measures, Aqua Laguna's immense tidal waves would still pose a significant threat.
Zyhark assured Tom they could handle it, but Flam, unaware of their background, remained skeptical.
As someone who grew up in Water 7, he knew the terror of Aqua Laguna and didn't want to see the ship damaged!
"Who are you calling blue hair? I'm a water goddess! A goddess of water!"
Aqua bristled at the nickname.
"Damn it, even if you praise me, I won't change my mind!"
Receiving "praise," Flam awkwardly scratched his head with his wrench, giving himself a bump.
"Ouch, ouch!" Flam crouched, holding his head.
True to his quirky nature, Flam's antics persisted.
Tom and Iceburg turned away, unable to watch the scene.
Despite the light-hearted atmosphere, time marched on.
By afternoon, the sky was dark, and piercing sirens echoed through Water 7.
Far off, dark clouds gathered, and hundreds of meters high waves churned, bringing despair as they rolled towards Water 7.
Aqua Laguna—Aqua Laguna had arrived!
(End of Chapter)