Gin had been transferred to the Marine base near Water 7 a month ago.
Ever since his transfer, Gin would visit Tom's Workshop, located on the Scrap Island outside the city, whenever he had free time.
At first, due to Tom's conviction by the World Government for his involvement with the Pirate King, the people at Tom's Workshop were cold toward Gin.
However, Gin's respectful attitude and admiration for Tom's shipbuilding skills gradually warmed their hearts. Over time, the members of Tom's Workshop, who weren't particularly difficult to get along with, stopped showing him hostility.
While Tom himself, perhaps due to his age or other reasons, didn't grow especially close to Gin, the two younger members, Iceburg and Cutty Flam, quickly developed a good rapport with him.
Iceburg and Cutty Flam welcomed Gin into the workshop, where Kokoro, a mermaid who had come from Fish-Man Island out of admiration for Tom's shipbuilding skills and now served as the workshop's secretary, was preparing lunch.
"Three days from now, the judicial ship will arrive here. Is that why you're here? Are you responsible for their safety in Water 7?" Iceburg asked after glancing at Cutty Flam, who had gone off to play with a massive frog while still wearing his briefs.
Gin shook his head. "That's not my responsibility."
"You're not here to try and convince us to go to the East Blue again, are you?" Cutty Flam frowned.
"Why are you so unwilling to go to the East Blue?" Gin took the coffee Kokoro handed him, thanked her, and countered, "Since the launch of the Sea Train, the subsequent lines haven't received any support from the World Government or this city. But if you go to the Navia Kingdom in the East Blue, I can guarantee not only hereditary titles but also full support for your work—funds, materials, manpower, status. The current governor of the Navia Kingdom won't let you down."
Cutty Flam scoffed. "Who knows what the shipbuilding standards in the Navia Kingdom are like? Besides, we don't build ships for titles. We do it for something far more important."
A hearty laugh echoed from the doorway. A tall, rotund fish-man with bull-like horns on his head pushed open the door and entered. His face, round and full of smile lines at the corners of his eyes and mouth, was brimming with joy.
"Well said, Flam! Only men with unwavering beliefs can build truly remarkable ships. If you're building ships just for money and status, you'll eventually end up making half-hearted, shoddy work," Tom said, chuckling as he spoke.
Taking a seat, Tom greeted Gin. Though he still wore his habitual smile, his attitude toward Gin was noticeably more distant compared to Iceburg and Cutty Flam.
"Gin, I won't go to the East Blue. Not to mention the trial in three days, this city still needs people to unite and work together to overcome its difficulties," Tom said.
Gin sipped his bitter coffee and replied, "Mr. Tom, this city can't be saved by a single shipwright. No matter how extraordinary your skills are, you can't change the fact that the city has no local resources for shipbuilding and has to import materials at high prices. The Sea Train won't make the merchants of Saint Baobab and Saint Prout abandon their pursuit of profits. And in today's world, with pirates running rampant and trade routes disrupted, it's becoming increasingly difficult for Water 7 to secure orders. On top of that, the vicious competition among the seven shipyards for survival… Forgive me for being blunt, but your Sea Train hasn't fundamentally changed the broader situation. In the four years since the first line opened, the city's economy hasn't improved much."
Gin's words left Iceburg and Cutty Flam in silence. They had both participated in the construction of the Sea Train, holding high hopes that it would save the city. But the harsh reality that it hadn't brought about significant change weighed heavily on their hearts.
Only Tom remained unfazed, his smile unchanging as he responded, "Who says it hasn't changed the broader situation? Look at the people in this city—they're full of energy and hope now."
Tom turned to the disheartened Iceburg and Cutty Flam. "Is a ship built in a single day? To see a great tree grow, you often have to wait decades, even centuries. What we do doesn't yield immediate results. But as long as you plant a sapling, there will always be a harvest."
"We've done all we can. Now, we just need to stand tall and see what kind of towering tree will grow from the saplings we've planted."
Iceburg and Cutty Flam nodded enthusiastically, their spirits lifted.
Gin remained silent for a moment before speaking again. "Mr. Tom, I've looked into it. Your name doesn't even appear in the city's registry. The residents here ostracized you and forced you to open your workshop under a bridge. For a shipwright of your unparalleled skill, this is deeply unfair. This city didn't offer you any support when you created the Sea Train. Now that the train is operational, you've already done enough for this place. Why not agree to go to the East Blue? There, you'll receive the respect and recognition your skills deserve."
"This city still needs people to save it. How can I leave now?" Tom replied with a smile.
"But there are others in this city," Gin countered.
"If everyone thought like you and chose to leave, then this city would truly become a ghost town. This is my home—my friends, my memories, everything I cherish is here. How could I abandon it? You should understand this, Gin," Tom said, laughing softly. "Aren't you also working tirelessly to build up your own hometown? You're so young and already a Lieutenant Commander in the Marines, quite an accomplishment. Do you enjoy being rejected? If not for the sake of improving your homeland, your family, and your friends, why would you keep coming to this garbage-strewn place?"
Tom's expression grew more serious as he added, "I won't leave Water 7 at a time like this, just as you won't give up trying to convince me to go to the East Blue."
Tom's words carried a resolute finality that filled the room with silence.
After a long pause, Gin sighed. "If that's the case, I won't insist on you going to the East Blue. However, I hope you'll accept funding from my homeland. Don't worry—they don't have any unreasonable demands. They only hope you'll take in some students from my homeland to learn shipbuilding under you. Consider the funding as their tuition."
Tom's smile returned. "As long as they're passionate about shipbuilding, I'll welcome them with open arms. But as for the money, I'll have to decline."
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