Outside the shipyard of Maple Village, a small figure was jumping up and down, trying to climb over the wall to sneak into the facility.
"Usopp!" A red-haired teenager holding a rice ball in one hand strolled over lazily, speaking with his mouth half-full. "If you keep sneaking into the shipyard and causing trouble, the masters there will break your legs. I heard some big shots are coming to visit soon, so it's chaos inside right now. Don't bring trouble on yourself."
Usopp patted the dust off his hands and reluctantly stopped his attempts.
Originally, William had suggested bringing Yasopp's family to Kalmar City for better care and to ensure that Usopp could receive a proper education. However, Yasopp was a man of immense pride. Even though he was now an important officer under William, a sharpshooter whose name was feared across the East Blue, with every gunshot sounding like the toll of a death knell for his enemies, Yasopp didn't want his son to receive preferential treatment because of his own status. He believed that such advantages would prevent Usopp from growing into a strong, independent man capable of achieving great things.
Nevertheless, considering that Yasopp's original hometown, Syrup Village, was too remote and that his wife, Banchina, had been in poor health in recent years, Yasopp agreed to move his wife and son to the increasingly prosperous Maple Village, where they could live and access better medical care.
Influenced by Yasopp's low-profile nature and Banchina's teachings, Usopp hadn't developed the bad habits of a spoiled child. However, his longing for the life of a pirate and his boundless curiosity often led him to the shipyard in Maple Village, where he would sneak in to marvel at the new types of ships being built.
As the backbone industry of the village, the shipyard, surrounded by high walls, was like a forbidden, mysterious sanctuary to a nine-year-old boy with an active imagination. Every workshop within seemed to be filled with wondrous technology.
"Eric," Usopp's eyes darted mischievously. "Someone's coming to visit? Does that mean the shipyard has invented something new?"
The red-haired teenager named Eric didn't reply. Despite his youthful face, which made him look no older than sixteen or seventeen, his physique was as burly as a bodybuilder's, a result of years of hard labor at the shipyard. With one hand holding a rice ball, he effortlessly picked up Usopp with the other, dragging the flailing, long-nosed boy away from the shipyard's perimeter.
"Let me go! I'm going to be a great pirate who will make a name for himself across the East Blue, and this is how you treat me?" Usopp shouted, flailing his arms and legs.
Eric chuckled. "By the time you grow up, who knows if there'll even be pirates left in the East Blue."
"I'll join the Morgan Pirates!" Usopp retorted defiantly.
"Then I wish you all the best. If you really become an officer in the Morgan Pirates, I hope you'll sail aboard one of the new warships I oversaw the construction of," Eric replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
But Usopp, ever quick-witted, caught onto the hint in Eric's words and excitedly pressed, "A new warship? You're working on a new design?"
Eric's expression shifted to a faint bitter smile.
…
"Is this the new ship?"
Two days later, inside the shipyard of Maple Village, William stood with his brows furrowed as he gazed out at the sea. A strange-looking ship was sailing across the water.
The ship's peculiar design lay in its paddle wheels, which were mounted on both sides. Part of the wheels were submerged in the water, while the rest protruded above the surface. As the ship sailed, with its sails furled, these paddle wheels churned the water, propelling the vessel forward.
The shipyard's manager and the village chief, Omar, wiped the sweat from their brows. Glancing at William's inscrutable expression, the two exchanged a nervous look before Omar stepped forward and explained, "My lord, this is the result of the collective efforts of the shipwrights in the yard—a new type of ship called a paddle steamer. It can sail even in windless areas, powered by an onboard steam engine that drives the external paddle wheels. However…"
William's gaze shifted to Omar. "However, what?"
"However, this design makes the ship less maneuverable," Omar admitted, lowering his head as if afraid to meet William's eyes. "In rough seas, the exposed paddle wheels make navigation unstable."
Omar knew he couldn't hide the truth or use flowery language to deceive William. Any attempt to conceal flaws would eventually be discovered when the ship was used, and the consequences would be far worse. Unlike the prince in the palace who might say "let them eat cake" when told the poor had no bread, William had risen from the bottom and understood these matters all too well.
Omar continued quietly, "The paddle blades are also prone to damage, and docking at harbors is inconvenient as they may collide with other ships. Additionally, if aquatic vegetation or debris entangles the paddle wheels or their axles, the paddles may stop functioning altogether."
"What about the propeller-driven ships I mentioned earlier?" William asked, his frown deepening.
William had some vague memories of paddle steamers from his previous life, though they had long been replaced by propeller-driven ships. He had little interest in this outdated design.
The balding shipyard manager stepped forward and explained, "We're still researching it. This is our first attempt at using steam power for ships, and the technology is still very immature. Even the steam engine on this paddle steamer frequently malfunctions, with low efficiency. Sometimes we even have to rely on manpower to keep it running. Applying this technology to propellers will require further experimentation."
William turned back to look at the paddle steamer on the sea. As Omar and the manager had described, the ship was indeed unstable. In the time it took for their conversation, the vessel had already come to a halt, its paddle wheels no longer turning—clearly a mechanical failure.
"In two years, you've developed the clipper ship and now this paddle steamer. Your progress isn't exactly slow," William said, glancing at the two embarrassed men. "But I still hope you can pick up the pace."
"I've never denied you money, manpower, or resources. Even Dampier's weapon testing lab doesn't have the kind of budget you enjoy," William continued, his tone calm yet firm. "If the collective efforts of the shipwrights in this yard aren't enough, then let's broaden our horizons. In a few days, I'll publish an announcement in the newspapers, offering rewards for ideas and talent. Anyone who can improve the stability and efficiency of the current steam engine will receive a minimum reward of ten million Beli. If someone can deliver a mature, usable steam engine design, I'll offer a reward of five hundred million Beli."
When William turned back, he noticed that Omar and the shipyard manager's eyes were red with emotion. Addressing the manager, William said, "You can inform the shipwrights in the yard about this. In a few days, I'll publish the announcement in newspapers across the East Blue. I'll also establish a dedicated project team to oversee the selection process."
"One more thing," William added, stopping the manager, who was still reeling from the shock of the five-hundred-million Beli reward. "I plan to select a few young talents from the yard and send them to Water 7 in the Grand Line to study advanced shipbuilding techniques. Prepare a list of recommendations and detailed profiles of the young shipwrights in the yard for my review."
"The Grand Line?" The manager hesitated. While Water 7 held a revered place in the hearts of shipwrights, the Grand Line's infamous dangers were hard to ignore.
"Voluntary participation only," William said with a slight smile. "I won't force anyone who's unwilling to go."
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