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Rojen rubbed his forehead. There was no way he'd believe that guy was thoughtful enough to have planned ahead for him.
No one in the world knew that man better than Rojen did.
He even knew how foul his feet stank, how many days his socks had gone unwashed until they turned stiff and crusted. If he knew that much, then naturally he wouldn't take Tom's words at face value.
Still, if there was indeed Treasure Tree Adam left over, that was certainly a stroke of luck.
"Then I'll leave it in your hands, Tom San. We'll be staying here for two days. If any problems come up, just let me know."
Rojen bowed his thanks.
"There's no need to be so formal," Tom replied with a warm smile. "To see you all sail upon a ship of mine, to watch you fight across the seas, striving and struggling for your dreams, that is the greatest joy I could ask for. That is the very reason I chose to become a shipwright in the first place."
His voice grew nostalgic, tinged with sentiment.
"But… I don't know how far I can take this ship with my own hands."
He paused, letting out a quiet sigh.
"Still, don't worry. I'll make all the preparations in advance. Even if I'm gone, my apprentices will see it through to the very end."
"Thank you, Tom San. Truly."
Once again, Rojen bowed deeply.
To be treated with such genuine goodwill was something new to him. Tom had never even met Rojen before this day, yet he was willing to extend himself so wholeheartedly, all for Roger's sake. A man who honored old bonds like this was one Rojen couldn't help but admire from the bottom of his heart.
But Rojen also knew the cruel truth: Tom would spend the next decade under the World Government's watchful eye. And once he completed the sea train, they would discard him like broken tools, executed without mercy.
No… I won't let that happen. Someday, I'll make sure Tom lives. This is a man worthy of respect.
Carving the vow deep into his heart, Rojen spoke with Tom a little longer before excusing himself.
The old master was clearly weary. Rest was what he needed most.
As Rojen stepped outside, Iceburg approached quickly.
"What business did you have with our teacher?"
"We asked Tom San to build us a ship," Rojen replied with a faint sigh.
"Iceburg!"
Before Iceburg could speak further, Tom's voice called from inside the workshop, summoning him back.
Rojen gave the young apprentice a reassuring smile, then turned and left with his crew.
Only once they were clear of the shipyard did his men dare to speak up.
"Captain… what is this Pluton? Something that can destroy an entire island? Does such a terrifying weapon really exist in this world?" Jason asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
Crocodile exhaled a stream of smoke, his gaze sharpening.
"It does exist, Jason. I've heard whispers of it before."
"Whispers?" Jason pressed, stunned.
"They say that in the distant past, there were several great Ancient Weapons. Their power was unmatched, each capable of obliterating an island with a single strike."
Jason's jaw dropped. "Seriously? And you know this how, Crocodile?"
"I only heard it by chance," Crocodile admitted, shaking his head. "But the details… the captain knows more than I do."
Rojen stepped in, his tone calm but heavy.
"Pluton is one of those Ancient Weapons. But it's not the only one. Each was different, but all of them had the power to shake the world."
In the tales of the world, the Ancient Weapons were shrouded in mystery, spoken of only in hushed tones. In truth, very few had ever been clearly revealed. Only two were certain, Pluton and Poseidon.
And Pluton… its blueprints were in Tom's hands.
If such methods were used to craft a ship, the result would be nothing short of monstrous.
Tom's unparalleled shipbuilding genius, combined with the ancient designs of Pluton, together, they would give birth to a vessel of staggering might.
Rojen's pulse quickened. He couldn't wait to see just how powerful his new ship would be.
"So what you're saying, Captain," Crocodile breathed, almost disbelieving, "Is that our new ship will wield the power of Pluton?"
His voice trembled. He had never imagined that one day he would brush against such a legend.
It was overwhelming. Unreal.
Rojen shook his head lightly.
"No. Its firepower won't match Pluton exactly. But we don't need to rely on sheer destructive might. Don't forget, you are all destined to become powerhouses known across the world."
His words lit a spark in every crewmate's eyes.
He was right. No weapon, no matter how legendary, could ever compare to the strength they would forge for themselves.
Pluton's power was terrifying, but compared to becoming true powerhouses themselves, everyone clearly preferred the latter.
"Alright, you're dismissed for now," Rojen announced. "Go wander around the city. Buy whatever you need."
The moment his words fell, the crew's eyes lit up. Cheers erupted almost instantly, and before Rojen could even react, all he saw were their backs disappearing into the streets.
"Crocodile, why haven't you gone with them?" Rojen asked curiously, glancing at the man who still stood beside him.
"I don't need to buy anything," Crocodile replied flatly.
Nodding, Rojen made his way to a nearby newsstand, bought a few newspapers, and began poring through them carefully.
Drifting at sea for long stretches of time, especially when his voyages followed no fixed course, had left him with little chance to keep up with the world's affairs. Now was his opportunity to catch up.
"Marine Admiral Zephyr was stationed at Sabaody Archipelago the other day, suspected to be in connection with the Golden Lion incident!"
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku has declared: all criminal acts committed by pirates will be met with the Marines' merciless annihilation. The fire of piracy will be extinguished!"
"In the first half of the Grand Line, the pirate 'Supernovas' are gradually emerging. Though the final names are yet to be confirmed, two are certain, 'Tyrant' Bartholomew Kuma and Donquixote Doflamingo. Both men are undeniably powerful, ranking among the very top."
"Doflamingo… that bastard actually made the list," Crocodile muttered darkly, his expression sinking as his eyes skimmed the page.
"Mm. His strength is nothing to underestimate," Rojen agreed, nodding as he continued to turn the pages.
More names filled the paper, fresh pirates rising to prominence.
"The Red Hair Pirates, captained by the red-haired Shanks. Bounty: 50 million. Reports suggest he has already entered the Grand Line."
Rojen's eyes flickered with light, a smile spreading across his face.
"So, he's already set sail? I can't wait to see how far he'll go."
This was an age before the Four Emperors had risen to dominate the seas. The world was aflame with conflict, pirates surging in every direction. The New World was nothing but chaos, a battlefield where competition was utterly brutal.
"Gecko Moria engages in his first clash with Kaido! Both sides suffer heavy losses."
Rojen froze for a moment at the line.
"Moria's still holding on? That's right, at this point in time, he still had the strength to challenge Kaido."
In the original history, Moria had long since fallen into disgrace, his power stagnating to the point where he was no more than a shadow of his former self. Compared to Kaido, who had already earned his place among the Yonko, the gap was immeasurable.
"In the Drum Kingdom, a great swordsman has appeared, traveling far and wide, seeking worthy opponents, undefeated thus far! Rumor speaks of his piercing hawk-like eyes and an overwhelming presence. Some whisper… he may one day claim the title of the world's greatest swordsman."
"Hawkeye… Mihawk."
Rojen's eyes narrowed, a sharp gleam flashing in them.
(End Of This Chapter)