In the first half of the Grand Line, Water Seven, an island renowned for its shipbuilding industry, no longer carried the air of decline it once had in the early days of the Great Pirate Era.
Thanks to the backing of Claudius, Marine's orders for warships had steadily increased year after year. A medium-sized Marine base had even been constructed on the island to protect its shipbuilding industry. This ensured that Water Seven remained stable, providing a constant supply of new warships for Marine, and as a result, the island had developed into a prosperous hub.
Due to the strong military presence, Water Seven still built ships for pirates, but the pirates didn't dare act recklessly on the island. Of course, Marine had no intention of completely driving the pirates away. Doing so would be an impossible task. A steady stream of pirates stopped here to replace their ships before continuing their voyages through the first half of the Grand Line and into the New World.
If Marine were to take overly aggressive action against the pirates here, it could easily escalate into a prolonged war, one that might last for years. Though Marine wasn't afraid of conflict and could certainly fight for years if needed, such a scenario would disrupt the production of warships in Water Seven, an outcome Marine could not afford.
Marine was currently in a phase of rapid development, with the demand for warships increasing every year. The losses in battles on the sea had also grown significantly, so ensuring Water Seven could maintain normal operations had become a top priority. Because of this, as long as the pirates didn't cause trouble, Marine turned a blind eye to their presence.
In addition to the shipbuilding industry, the introduction of the sea train had connected Water Seven to surrounding islands, creating a non-restricted transportation link in the first half of the Grand Line.
Normally, without a permanent Log Pose, sailors departing from Reverse Mountain would choose a route and have to stick to it, unable to change course midway. The Log Pose only recorded the magnetic direction of the next island on a specific route, meaning that unless one had a permanent Log Pose for a different island, they could only follow the path they had initially chosen.
But the sea train changed everything. Without needing a Log Pose, one could now travel between two routes. For example, the Spring Island and Water Seven were on two separate routes, but the sea train connected them.
This meant that, as long as a sailor was willing to abandon their ship, they could take the sea train to Water Seven, buy a new ship, and continue along a new route. This brought a new level of freedom to many people. It also allowed travelers from different routes to experience the cultures of other islands. As a result, Water Seven had become an important transit station and a key tourist destination.
Every year, before Water Seven's great tsunami—known as Aqua Laguna—countless tourists would arrive from other islands to witness the spectacle. What had once been a natural disaster had now become a signature tourist attraction, bringing in enormous wealth for the island's residents.
As Fish-Man Island continued to integrate with the world above, the Tom Shipbuilding Company in Water Seven also began to show its unique strengths. Who could have predicted that a race known for swimming across the oceans would also excel at shipbuilding? Perhaps it was a legacy from their ancestors who built the fabled Noah's Ark.
At this moment, in the meeting room of Tom Shipbuilding Company, Claudius sat at the head of the table, looking at the large projection screen at the front of the room. Tom was explaining professional knowledge to him, assisted by Iceburg.
As for Cutty Flam—better known as Franky, while his shipbuilding skills were commendable, his real talent lay in creating bizarre weapons, especially his work on large robots and other advanced technology.
Franky was currently struggling with a decision about his future. Crocodile had taken notice of his talents and extended an invitation for him to work in Alabasta as a technical advisor, focusing on artillery and heavy weaponry. If Crocodile could master new advancements in weaponry, his arms business would undoubtedly reach new heights.
However, Franky was hesitant. He had another option, Tom had secured him a spot in the Future Kingdom, where he could study and research cutting-edge technology. It was a difficult choice between pursuing his expertise in weapons development or his passion for shipbuilding. Of course, he could always choose to remain in Water Seven and continue building ships.
At this moment, Tom was discussing the feasibility of extending the sea train into the Calm Belt with Claudius.
Tom spoke at length, and while Claudius nodded from time to time, it wasn't clear if he fully understood the technical details.
"So, you're saying that the current sea train technology can't guarantee safe travel through the Calm Belt unless we make a breakthrough?" Claudius asked, touching his chin thoughtfully.
"Yes, Your Highness," Tom replied. "While the noise generated by the sea train can deter most Sea Kings, the Calm Belt is their home. It's far more dangerous, and the current technology can't handle it."
"What's the solution?" Claudius asked.
"If we increase the frequency and decibel level of the noise, it might be enough to repel the Sea Kings in the Calm Belt. However…" Tom trailed off, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Hahaha, treating the symptoms but not the root cause, right?" Claudius said with a smile.
"Yes," Tom nodded.
In the Grand Line, while Sea Kings were common, they typically wandered from place to place. If disturbed by noise, they could simply swim away.
The Calm Belt, however, was different. It was their nesting ground. Using loud noises there would be like blasting music outside someone's house all day, with a group of people doing dances in front of their door. Eventually, no one could tolerate it. The Sea Kings would undoubtedly become aggressive.
"That's the issue," Claudius said with a slight frown. "Relying on ships to import and export goods into the Calm Belt requires massive manpower and resources. If we could establish a sea train route, it would significantly reduce costs and maximize efficiency. We've already discovered iron ore islands in the Calm Belt, and we might find more in the future. Relying solely on ships is far too inefficient."
Tom was silent for a moment before saying, "There is one possible solution."
"What is it?" Claudius asked, his interest piqued.
"Marine's seastone-coating technology. It's already being used on warships. If it can be applied to sea trains, it might solve the problem. However, the technology is highly confidential," Tom explained.
Claudius fell silent, considering this. After a moment, he said, "Confidentiality is one thing, but it's new technology, and it's tied to Marine's interests. They'll definitely want to be involved in any discussions."
Tom nodded and smiled. "I don't have the authority to negotiate something like this. It'll have to fall to you, Your Highness."
"You're always giving me trouble," Claudius joked with a smile. "I'll handle it."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Tom said happily. Having a powerful backer like Claudius made many things easier, especially when it came to accessing resources like Marine's advanced technology.
"The construction of sea train routes on regular islands must continue," Claudius said. "This is a long-term project, something that will take generations to complete. Our ultimate goal is to connect the entire sea!"
Tom's eyes lit up at the vision of such a future. Smiling, he said, "When that day comes, Tom Shipbuilding will truly become legendary."
"Isn't it already?" Claudius replied with a grin.
***
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