With the plans for Marino's first business underway and out of his hands, he wasn't left with much to do. A week had passed since the meeting with the lord. Most days consisted of working with his father at the docks or training his body.
In hopes of finding his main protagonist's overpowered powers, he had gone through many training regiments. Standing outside in his small backyard he tried calling out his status window, skills, system and op magic powers of Fire, Earth, water, wind, light and dark. But alas all of them failed and only made him look goofy as he yelled them out loud. With a heavy heart, he had fought on, not yet giving up. Next, he sat down crosslegged and started to meditate. He thought. Oh I know, maybe I am a cultivator.
With great focus, he sat there for hours and hours not letting anything disturb him, not his parents or Marys's little lambs, nothing. Then finally he felt it, the need to take a shit. With a defeated expression he got up and went to take a shit on the oceanside cliff next to their house.
After taking his shit he looked down from the cliff into the rocky shoreline, thinking of many dark thoughts as he felt cheated. Where were his overpowered powers, he thought to himself. Then he remembered a scene from a show he once watched. In that show, there was no magic but there were unnatural martial skills and strong fighters. The main character in the story obtained a fighting edge over all his opponents after experiencing a near-death experience. He had unlocked his true potential by jumping off a cliff headfirst and in that moment unlocked his hidden potential.
Thinking of this Marino gulped as he looked for a rock-free spot and prepared to jump. Giving his head a few hard slaps he thought. Fuck Yeah. Come on Marino, you ain't no bitch. You can do this. That power is yours, I just have to take it. With those thoughts, he ran and leaped off the cliff. As he fell he felt fear, excitement and adrenaline coursing through his veins. Yes, Yes. I can feel it. And then with a hard splash, he fell into the water.
That day by luck or a miracle he had only managed to break his left arm. Luckily he knew how to swim and had managed to get back to shore. After that, his distressed parents took him to the local Priest to get healed. In this world, they would place the bone back into place to the best of their abilities and then place a wooden arm splint to support the arm. Marino had simply explained that he accidentally slipped and fell. After that he had decided to wait and see, maybe he would find his powers at a later time.
As part of his normal life, he also had to attend church at least once a week. Where the priest would always check on his arm's healing process.
During his free time, he had started developing plans for a new ship design for his overseas ambitions.
In Marino's room was a simple wooden table and chair, where he sat. With ink and paper, he drew and schemed, as he thought.
In this world, there had never been any great exploration. Because the civilized world had enemies on all sides. In the north and east, there were barbarians and monsters. Down south there were bloodthirsty green warbands and the legions of old. Even in the heartlands of Europe the mountains and underground caves would from time to time spawn monstrous hordes of creatures.
Thus leaving only one uncertain direction for exploration.
The vast western deep sea.
For these reasons, no king or noble has been willing to set up any more funds than the bare minimum for exploration. The Western doctrine is and has always been focused on land warfare. which has left ship development in the dark ages. The main ship of this world is the galley which is a type of ship that relies mostly on oars for propulsion and is used for warfare, trade, and piracy mostly in the seas surrounding the European heartlands.
Marino was no shipbuilder but with his father's teachings and foggy blueprints from his past life. Marino could at least design one ship the Santa Maria. which in his past Columbus used in order to get to the new world and he would do the same.
The Santa Maria was a carrack class ship with a displacement of 150 metric tons. With a hull length of 19 meters (62 ft) and keel length 12.6 meters (41 ft)
The beam length Of estimated. 5.5 meters (18 ft)
Draught of an estimated st. 3.2 meters (10 ft)
With a crew of 40.
Armament consisting of
4 × 90 mm bombards, 50 mm culebrinas.
Marino hoped that unlike Kolumbus he could sail to the New World with a large navy and immediately, right from the start set up a permanent settlement. Maybe after setting up this settlement he could become its ruler and earn himself a noble title. After earning a noble title and becoming filthy rich he could get himself a harem. Marino Colombo had an evil grin as he thought of these things. But as always no good thing comes without sacrifice and lots of hard work. Why couldn't he have been born a noble and had it all right from the start? Why Jesus why?
" Marino breakfast is ready! " Mary yelled from downstairs.
" Just a minute Mom! " Though at first, it felt somewhat weird to say such words. Marino had quickly adapted to this. His new parents were both good people whom Marino respected. He didn't have any regrets about having to leave his previous life for this one. If he had not died in that life, then and came here. He would probably right now be fighting in the greatest war the world had ever seen, with a Nuclear holocaust right around the corner. While on the one hand, it worried him that his family might most likely be devastated and saddened by his death. Though on the other hand, he hoped that his family would not have to suffer for long and be isekaid just like him.
With these thoughts in mind, Marino got up from his chair with paper in hand and got dressed into a green tunic and black pants. After which he pushed open his door and went downstairs. There he could see his father and mother patiently waiting for him. On the dinner table, he could see many kinds of sandwiches that his mother had made. Recently with some encouragement from Marino, Mary had started testing out new sandwich combos in preparation for the opening of their new sandwich-selling business.
Marino had decided after some completion that he would teach his mother in the ways of managing a business. He had much more important things to do, like the conquest of the new world and bodybuilding.
Sitting down in his chair Marino handed the ship schematic to his father and said with a confident smile. " Here father are the new schematics for the carrack class ship. Though building it will be expensive I think we can do it thanks to our future business. "
Looking at the schematics Jesus frowned and said. " The ship design is well made but I can not see why you would make it. While the ship can definitely travel further than a galley, it will never beat a galley in war. According to you, this ship would hold 40 people, while a galley could hold up to 300. And just how expensive is this going to be? "
Hearing Jesus criticize his ship Marino's face turned ugly as he started to speak with an insulting tone of voice. " Ha while it is true that the crew numbers are smaller and the cost is higher it is still a superior ship. It will be a much taller ship than any other giving the crew a significant advantage. "
" And how is that? How could 40 men defeat 300 men? " Jesus asked.
" Well since the ship is higher it means that the men on the galleys would have to climb up to the ship, while the Carraks men could shoot down on the galley. I mean come on father it's common knowledge that the high ground always wins. " Marino said arrogantly.
" Ha and what would a child know about naval warfare? " Jesus said mockingly.
Hearing this Marino clenched his fists and gritted his teeth while he glared at his father with a furious expression. Why can't this medieval caveman understand this ship's superiority over the old galley's. Marino thought while Jesus had his arms crossed as he smirked while watching his foolish young son.
Seeing this Mary got worried fearing that a fight would break out as she said with a worried tone. " Now now please calm down. Remember Sighards teaching's, no man should hurt another man unless he be a heretical bad man. Instead of arguing why don't you Marino explain yourself more clearly and you Jesus should be more open-minded. Now please have a calm civilized discussion. "
Hearing this Marino sighed heavily as he said with a annoyed but calm tone. " Fine but Father you have to understand this is not primarily a warship. This ship will be used for long sea voyages and it can also be used for trade overseas. "
Still with his hands crossed Jesus spoke as if lecturing a child and said.
" And where would these traders go to? The ships we have now can reach every civilized nation even now. And where would you go explore? Down shout there's the great Arabian caliphate and beyond that there are endless deserts and jungles infested by the greenskins. In the North and East, there are numerous bloodthirsty barbarian tribes, demons and hordes of vile monsters. The only direction is west where there's only an endless ocean. "
" Ha ha haa. That's a lie! " Marino laughed as he continued to speak.
" Remember father the merchant tales. The tales of great Eastern Empires of IND, whitch is the land of Mighty cities and temples which pierce the clouds and of course lots of spices and Ivory. And then there is the Great Ming which is said to be the most technologically advanced civilization in the world they are said to have even conquered the sky. If we could reach these people by sea endless riches and glory would be ours. " Marino said with an exaggerated tone.
" While the idea is good but where is the proof? " Jesus asked with a raised eyebrow.
Indeed Marino didn't believe this but this was the same story that was told by Kolumbus in his time. So Marino figured why not do the same also as it had a lot more merit than just saying, I came here from the future.
" Proof? Father Just because it hasn't been done, doesn't mean it can't be done. In life, there is no uncertainty there's adventure like a great man once said. Sure in doing this there will be struggle there will be danger but father you must understand that without struggle there can be no progress. " Marino said pleadingly.
Jesus let out a sigh as his expression softened as he said. " But my son why? Why take such a big risk? What? Just for money and prestige? "
" Your father is right Marino. Sure we are no nobles but here we have a comfortable life with everything we need. What more do you want? " Mary said.
" Mother Father I understand your concern. But I believe as a man in my privileged position, that it is my duty not only to my family but to my nation and all of humanity to strive to be the best that I can be. I also believe that I was brought here for something greater than just becoming another shipbuilder. " After all, he was brought to this world from another. He was born to the name Colombo and he was the only transmigrater here as far as he knew. While he was no religious man in the past, this was definitely proof of something greater existing out there. To him, this was proof of some greater design only meant for him.
Hearing such complex thoughts and words from a 12-year-old child surprised the parents.
With a smile Jesus said. " Ha ha haa who would have guessed that my child had already become such an ambitious young man! If this is what you truly want to do then I will not stop you. If you truly desire riches and prestige and I am assuming a nobleman's title then you must be ambitious for a man's worth is no greater than his ambition. "
Mary just nodded in satisfaction as she said. " Indeed, if you truly want this then we Will not stop you. Instead, we will help you in any way we can. " Isn't that right husband? Mary turned to Jesus.
Jesus nodded and said. " Yes of course. Absolutely anything you need my son. "
Hearing this Marino got excited. Yes with my parent's approval, I am one step closer to my dream. The name Colombo will be known throughout the ages. Then Marino said excitedly. " Really you will help me build this ship's? "
" Yes Since that is what you wish for. Although the cost of these ships will be high I think it can be done. " Jesus said with a smile.
Hearing this Marino went into thought for a few seconds as he pondered on the cost issue as he said with caution. ' Well, father according to my calculations the ship will cost about 3000 gold coins and take at least 18 months to build.
3000 gold in modern terms would be 3 million Dollars.
Hearing this both parents were stunned with mouths open as they looked at him. A galley would cost around half or less than what Marino's ship would.
After a while, the parents composed themselves and started to think. Their family had about 100 gold coins in their savings. Either their sandwiches would have to sell like crazy or they would have to get investors on board which was unlikely.
Mary was the first to speak as she said. " The cost is high but we will do anything for our son. Isn't that right Jesus? "
" Yes. " Jesus answered awkwardly as he scratched the back of his head. Jesus made about 160 gold yearly depending of course on the orders. He didn't own the shipyard he just worked there. Everything was owned by the Lord. From here on out Jesus would need to really start saving his money.
After this lengthy discussion was over, Mary decided that it was time to eat. So Mary ordered them to do their prayers before eating. They all put their right hand into a fist and brought it to the middle. While simulationsly they brought their left open palm to meet the right fist in the middle. Like a Chinese warrior greeting they bowed to their food and said together. " May Sighard bless our food and cleanse it of all evil and so be it. "
With that said they started to eat with gusto.
After eating Marino followed his father to work where he watched and studied the medieval ways of shipbuilding.
In the evening as the sun started to set Marino finally got to doing his bodybuilding workout. Or that is what he wished to be doing. Sadly he just didn't have the equipment. All he had was a wooden pull-up bar, two wooden buckets which were filled one-third of the way and two long logs placed close together. These two logs were used for dips and the practice of the famous L sit. Yes, this was no bodybuilder workout but a calisthenics workout.
Like this Marino would spend most days minus the morning argument. Here he would strive to train for at least half an hour before going for a run and stretching. While Marino was no warrior in his past life he did like to visit the gym and train to be big, so he could pick up chicks and flex like a real Chad.