The Marine Science Museum was vast, its exhibits oversized to accommodate giants. While it showcased the various phenomena of the Grand Line, not all mysteries had been solved. Despite the museum's size, the number of exhibits was surprisingly limited.
"Ah, this one!"
As Enel guided them through the museum, Nami spotted a familiar phenomenon. The Knock Up Stream.
"Hmm. Interested in this one, are you?"
"We rode that to get here! I thought we were going to die! But I told everyone not to give up! 'I will navigate this sea!' I declared!"
"Honestly…"
Nami ignored Usopp's tall tale and pinched his cheek as Enel stared at them while stroking his chin.
"You rode that… from the blue sea? You're quite the gamblers. I bet you enjoy Waver races too."
"I wanted to try, but…"
The Straw Hats' current funds wouldn't even cover the entry fee, let alone a wager. After paying Conis, they'd be broke. Gambling was out of the question. Though, with Luffy's uncanny luck, they might have actually won.
"Everything has a reason. The Knock Up Stream, and every other phenomenon."
The Grand Line's weather was notoriously unpredictable, but the New World amplified that chaos tenfold. Ever-changing weather patterns. Seas that sloped like hills, pulled by islands floating in the sky. Islands of perpetual lightning storms, islands of endless blizzards. A navigator's knowledge was crucial for survival.
While Nami studied the exhibit's description, Enel led the others to a display tucked away in a corner.
"This device generates artificial waves. For example, if we place this model ship here…"
He placed a small ship in a rectangular pool, securing it with wires attached to the sides. He then turned a crank at one end of the pool, creating a current that made the ship appear to move.
The Straw Hats, while impressed, were puzzled. What was the point?
"It measures the ship's resistance and the effect of its shape on its speed. Hydrodynamics, as it's called… though, you probably wouldn't understand."
Question marks seemed to hover over the Straw Hats' heads. Enel, anticipating their confusion, replaced the model ship with a narrower, more streamlined vessel. He activated the current again, and the water flowed around the new ship far more smoothly.
This, the Straw Hats understood. "Whoa!" they exclaimed.
"A ship shaped like this moves faster. I calculate these forces and shapes daily."
"I see… so, a thinner ship is faster?"
"Of course. Theoretically, the thinner the ship, the less resistance it encounters."
However, a thinner ship meant less living space, and increased the risk of capsizing. Everything had its limits. While a verbal explanation would have been lost on them, the visual demonstration made it clear. Even Sanji was impressed.
"My research also includes propulsion systems for ships. Since Dial shells function indefinitely, that's my primary focus."
"Propulsion? You mean, a ship that moves without sails?"
"Precisely. You saw them in the harbor. Ships without sails."
Now that he mentioned it, Ohm's speedboat hadn't had sails. It must have been powered by Dial shells.
"That's convenient."
"Not quite. While Dial shells function indefinitely, they require energy."
Breath Dials didn't generate endless wind, and Heat Dials didn't emit infinite heat. They required recharging. Enel's research focused on maximizing their efficiency. He was essentially in charge of all ship-related research.
"If only we could use a Devil Fruit user as a power source…"
Depending on the ability, a Devil Fruit that generated energy or propulsion could solve their energy problems. A Devil Fruit user, constantly generating power, could propel a ship at incredible speeds. While there were numerous obstacles, if it could be achieved, it would shrink the world even further.
"Electricity is the ideal energy source. Versatile, efficient, adaptable. Using fire is… archaic."
His words seemed directed at someone in particular. The Straw Hats, uninterested in the technical details, were more amused by the crank that generated the artificial waves. Enel, cleared his throat and turned to them.
"Are you even listening? Oh, never mind. I didn't expect you to."
"We get that you're doing smart stuff, old man, but don't you have anything… fun?"
"This isn't an amusement park. If you want to play, go somewhere else."
"Dr. Enel, please…"
"That navigator of yours is quite enthusiastic. I'd like to have her on my research team."
"You're not getting Nami! She's our navigator!"
Luffy's protective growl made Enel shrug. He hadn't been serious, but Luffy's reaction was stronger than he had anticipated. The exhibits, while interesting to Nami and Zepo, had already bored the others.
While Nami and Zepo continued their tour with Enel, the others, seeking a break, sat in the lobby, sipping the tea Conis had prepared.
"Nami seems to be enjoying this place."
"It's probably the navigator in her. I understand the fascination with these things."
"Is that so?"
"You get excited when there's an adventure, right? It's the same thing."
"I see…"
Robin, also drawn to history and ancient artifacts, understood Nami's interest. Luffy, whose passion for adventure was similar, nodded in agreement. As they chatted, Nami, Zepo, and Enel returned, their faces beaming.
"This place is amazing! I never thought I'd learn so much!"
"I've sailed the New World, and I still learned a few things…"
"It's good to be curious. Perhaps you'd like to apply that enthusiasm to our research team?"
"Stop trying to steal my crew!"
Enel chuckled at Luffy's outburst. Having seen everything, they decided to move on. As they left the museum, Conis stopped Luffy.
"Excuse me, Luffy."
"What is it, Conis? Stomach ache?"
"What a rude question! Have some tact…!"
"No, it's not that. My father has finished examining your broken Waver. We can pick it up now."
"Oh, right! I forgot!"
Distracted by the museum's exhibits, they had forgotten about Pagaya. They decided to return to the ship.
"See ya, old man!"
Fascinated by the ship designs, Usopp seemed to have taken a liking to Enel. He and Chopper waved goodbye as Enel, stifling a yawn, returned to the museum. Time for a nap, he thought.
***
Pagaya was waiting for them at the harbor. They retrieved the broken Waver from the Going Merry, and Pagaya, surprised by its age, examined it carefully.
"I can't say for certain without dismantling it, but I'll do my best. Give me a few days."
"Aye, thanks!"
They watched as Pagaya wheeled the Waver away on a cart. The sun was beginning to set. Conis, noticing the time, said, "We should find you accommodations." Nami's face fell. They didn't have enough money for a hotel.
"Sorry, Conis, but after paying you, we're practically broke. We'll be sleeping on the ship. You can go now."
"Well… I suppose that can't be helped."
Money was a priority, especially for pirates with no income. Nami thanked Conis for her services, paid her, and they parted ways at the docks. They would retrieve the Waver later. The Straw Hats returned to their ship for a meeting.
"So, what now? We still have some time before sunset."
"Let's go to Upper Yard!"
"Upper Yard, huh? It can't be helped. He wouldn't listen anyway."
Nami sighed, but she knew better than to argue with Luffy's decision. Following Luffy's suggestion, they set course for Angel Island, the island of perpetual storms. While Nami had a bad feeling about this, the prospect of experiencing a never-ending storm intrigued her, as a navigator.
As they approached Angel Island, its true nature became clear.
"Whoa… what is this? What's going on?"
"It's freezing!? We're not that far from the other island, why is it so cold!?"
Dark clouds swirled above the island, lightning was flashing, snow was falling. Each thunderclap sent shivers down their spines. It was a terrifying sight.
"Luffy, we can't go any closer! The ship will get struck by lightning!"
"Amazing… I've never seen anything like it!"
Nami's warnings didn't deter Luffy's excitement. Though, even he wasn't keen on getting struck by lightning. There was nowhere to land, so they observed the island from a safe distance, using Usopp's binoculars. Only the remnants of a lost civilization remained, ravaged by lightning, buried under snow. It was a desolate wasteland, uninhabitable.
"We're going to Upper Yard, right!? That island's dangerous enough! We can't stay near this death trap!"
"…Alright."
Luffy, while reckless, valued his crew's safety. He reluctantly agreed to abandon their approach, and they set course for the other island. It was larger than Ohara, crisscrossed by Milky Road cloud rivers, its edges guarded by dense forests.
As they navigated the eastern coastline, they spotted something peculiar on the northern shore.
"Wait… is that…?!"
"No way… it can't be…"
What they saw…
"How is this possible…? Why is this here…? It's the same house!"
"No, it's different! This is… the other half!"
"I thought that house was strange… it had a second floor, but no stairs. And why build a house on the edge of a cliff…? That wasn't a coastline… it was a fissure…!"
It was half a house, perched precariously on the cliff edge, the other half presumably belonging to Mont Blanc Cricket back on Jaya.
"You didn't know about this, Robin?"
"When I was here before, Upper Yard was off-limits due to the… tribal conflict. And this island was here long before Ohara was moved."
This island had also originated from the blue sea. How it had reached the sky was a mystery, but…
"This island… it's half of a larger island… Shandora, the city of gold, thought to have sunk 400 years ago… it didn't sink… it flew…"