"So this is Water 7? What an impressive city!"
"This island actually reminds me of life on Fish-Man Island... how strange."
Walking through the city where waterways and roads intertwined, the less-traveled members of Michael's group kept exclaiming in awe—whether it was Jack, Yamato, Sandersonia, or Marigold.
Apart from their hometowns, they'd barely been anywhere else.
This trip was truly eye-opening for them.
"Honestly, I still don't understand why you came to Water 7," Garp said, walking alongside Michael, his voice full of doubt.
"It's not like you need a new ship, and even if you did, you could always ask Vegapunk to upgrade your Seraphim Ship... There's really no need for Water 7's shipwrights, is there?"
Garp made a fair point.
After all, Water 7 primarily served civilians, pirates, and the World Government.
The reason the Marines weren't among their main clients was simply a matter of technological limitations.
Asking traditional wooden shipwrights to provide technical support for steel warships? That would be absurd.
Moreover, the Marines' dominance at sea relied entirely on their advanced ships and artillery—technology that absolutely couldn't be leaked to Water 7's shipbuilders.
"Though the Marines and Water 7 have never had major collaborations, don't forget—what is Water 7 most dependent on right now?"
"The thing they rely on the most... isn't it their shipwrights and shipbuilding technology?"
"Old man, seems you haven't been keeping up with current affairs these past few years." Michael smiled and continued.
"For Water 7 now, what they rely on most is undoubtedly the sea train designed by the shipwright Tom."
"Sea... train?"
Garp furrowed his brows, thinking for a moment before vaguely recalling something about it.
Back then, Tom was sentenced to death by the World Government for using the Adam Wood to build a pirate ship for the Pirate King Gol D. Roger—the famous Oro Jackson.
However, the presiding judge at the time was a fair yet humane man.
After Tom explained the concept and design of the sea train, the judge, despite pressure from the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, changed the verdict.
Tom was allowed to atone for his crime by completing the first sea train—his sentence would be absolved upon its successful launch.
"Ah, I remember now! That old fishman's business! So now that the first train is done, his sentence should be cleared, right?"
"But that's the problem... The first sea train was completed two years ago, yet no new trial has been held to declare Tom innocent." Michael shook his head, his expression turning cold.
"The matter has been dragged on endlessly. Even when I sent T-Bone and Shu to pressure Enies Lobby in my name, we got no clear answer... That means there's something bigger behind this."
"You're saying the situation has escalated to the point where someone's strong-arming Enies Lobby?"
"You've already guessed it, so stop playing dumb with me... Trust me old man, your IQ isn't cut out for riddles."
A faint smile played on Michael's lips, but it sent a chill down Garp's spine.
He'd seen that smile many times before...
It meant someone was about to have a very bad day.
"Honestly, the World Government's move isn't clever—it's more like a desperate last resort... But it's understandable. After all, we're talking about the design schematics of the Ancient Weapon they've been obsessing over."
"Ancient Weapon... schematics? You mean Pluton?!" Garp gasped. "I'd only heard rumors that the Pluton Design Schematics were secretly passed down in Water 7... Are you saying it's actually true?"
"Not just true—they are in Tom's hands." Michael stated firmly.
"Otherwise, how could just building a ship warrant an immediate death sentence? They were trying to pressure Tom into handing over the Pluton schematics to save his life... But the World Government didn't expect Tom to have the 'sea train' as another bargaining chip."
"Now that it's dragged on this long, they can't let this last chance slip."
"Haven't you noticed CP's covert operations at sea have dwindled these past two years? Most of them have been sent to Water 7 to gather intelligence."
As Michael spoke, Garp immediately began scanning their surroundings.
At first, he hadn't paid much attention, but upon closer inspection, he immediately spotted three CP organization spies among the dozen or so passersby nearby.
Though their acting was natural, they couldn't conceal those subconscious movements.
The CP organization exclusively used the Six Powers as their standard combat techniques, and as the person who had refined the current Marine Six Powers, Garp found it incredibly easy to identify whether someone had trained in them.
"Three CP spies among just a dozen people... that ratio is truly alarming."
"After all, the World Government has issued strict orders—finding the Pluton Design Schematics has become the top priority..."
Michael ignored the CP spies and continued walking.
His current stroll through Water 7 was more about getting a sense of the city's overall situation.
Because... for many years to come, this place would be the Marines' biggest collaborator, bar none.
"Dad! Where are we going?" Marigold sidled up behind Michael, subtly nudging Garp aside with her shoulder.
Caught off guard, Garp suddenly felt an immense force on his arm!
But being Garp, he reacted instantly, effortlessly neutralizing the pressure.
Visually, it just looked like Garp had been pushed aside by Marigold, then momentarily paused in place.
"Young lady, your strength keeps growing... you really made the right choice eating the Riki Riki Fruit back then," Garp said with a mischievous grin. "Speaking of which, starting today, you and Sandersonia will become my disciples! Whether it's mastering the Six Powers or your Devil Fruit abilities, you two are perfect candidates to inherit my legacy."
"Wha—!?" Marigold stiffened, recalling the horrors of her elder sister's training under Garp.
She immediately turned teary-eyed toward Michael.
"Dad, I don't want to be the weird grandpa's disciple!"
"Ahem, Marigold, be good. This is for your own benefit."
Though Michael doted on his children... he wouldn't stand in the way of their growth.
Meanwhile, Sandersonia stood to the side, pointing at herself with a deadpan expression.
"What about me? Does no one speak up for me?"
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