When Yami caught up with Carina and Nami, they were steering the sloop into Water 7's harbor.
At Nami's side sat a big, bulging burlap sack.
After stepping out in a deserted spot, Yami went to rendezvous with the two girls.
"Master, where's Robin right now?"
Carina had just bought a local map. She unfolded it and asked Yami.
"Waiting for me at the shipyard gate. I'll head straight there."
Looking at the maze of canals and streets, Nami scratched her head. "This city's layout is so complicated. Do I have to walk all the way?"
"No need. Come with me."
Using clairvoyance, Yami found a shop that rented Yagara Bulls, rented two of them, and rode with Carina and Nami straight to the Galley-La Company.
Before Mr. Iceburg rose to prominence, Water 7 had seven shipbuilding companies locked in vicious competition.
In the original timeline, Mr. Iceburg spent eight years merging those seven into the world's number one Galley-La Company, taking on all work from the World Government and the Marines.
Right now, Galley-La had only just emerged as the eighth major shipwright company.
It would take about five years to become the world's number one as in the original.
Though there were many shipyards, Yami chose Galley-La.
Compared to other firms, Yami trusted the top disciple of the world's greatest shipwright more.
"Sir, buying or repairing a ship?"
When the three entered Galley-La, a staffer greeted them at once.
With two maids at his side, Yami looked every bit the wealthy client.
"Where's your boss? I've got a big deal to discuss."
Yami went straight to the point, opening the bulging sack to reveal the gold inside.
"I… I understand. This way, honored guests!"
Seeing the gold, the staffer's voice stuttered, then turned even more respectful as he ushered them to the VIP lounge.
Along the way, Yami spotted Lucci and Kaku busy at work.
After a short wait in the lounge, a blue-violet-haired man in a suit entered with a blonde, bespectacled woman in a secretary outfit.
Carina and Nami eyed the secretary and silently nodded to themselves.
Same secretary role, but she wasn't as beautiful as Sister Robin.
"Welcome to Galley-La, honored guests."
Mr. Iceburg came up to Yami and warmly offered his hand. "I'm the boss of Galley-La. You can call me Iceburg."
At this time, Iceburg was not yet the head of the world's top shipwright firm; there were still seven rivals.
A client carrying a sack of gold like Yami was rare.
More importantly, even Kalifa, with her keen intel skills, couldn't dig up this man's identity.
A rich client with a mysterious background demanded caution.
"The disciple of Master Tom, the world's greatest shipwright. I've long admired your name."
Yami shook his hand and got right to it. "I'm Yami. Because of your reputation, I want you to personally lead the build of a sailing ship for me. Price is no object."
"A custom sailer? No problem."
Iceburg nodded, sat opposite, and asked, "Then, Mr. Yami, what class of ship do you want?"
"A large sailing ship, at least one hundred and fifty meters long."
Yami stated his terms. "I don't want multi-berth crew dorms below. I want that space turned into entertainment areas."
"No problem. I'll bring in a designer to work with you."
Iceburg had just told Kalifa to fetch a designer when Yami refused. "No need. I don't trust those designers. I trust Master Tom's disciple. Don't tell me you can't draw your own plans."
At that last line, Yami gave Iceburg a doubtful look.
"All right. Kalifa, bring a few drawing boards."
Iceburg smiled wryly.
"Understood, Mr. Iceburg."
Kalifa nodded. She'd only infiltrated recently and was still in the trust-building phase, not yet showing her later edge.
Soon, Kalifa returned with several boards.
"Mr. Yami, any other requirements?"
Iceburg took a board and pen and looked to Yami.
"I want three decks below. On the first, I want several sports courts. As for the size and layout, I want them designed like this…"
Yami grabbed a board himself and sketched the layouts for soccer and basketball courts, plus volleyball and tennis, then spelled out his requirements.
At the same time, Carina and Nami chimed in, adding their own requests and Robin's.
Nami put her drawing skills to work, mapping all their ideas.
The more Iceburg listened, the more surprised he became; the more he looked, the more stunned he was.
His hands, though, didn't slow, recording every requirement and shaping the ship's structure in his mind.
Kalifa, off to the side, analyzed Yami's identity.
A large sailer was typically a thousand-man ship.
Even with that many aboard, it wouldn't feel cramped.
But Yami didn't want crew dorms, turning vast interior space into sports and recreation.
Clearly, his crew wasn't large. He was likely a noble scion on a pleasure voyage, or a prince of some kingdom.
"Any requirements for materials?"
After sketching a rough structural plan, Iceburg asked.
"Use the best timbers available here for the hull. As for turf on the courts and all the interior fit-out, handle it all and use the finest materials on the market."
Yami reiterated with swagger. "Money is no issue."
If not for the sheer volume of timber a large ship required, and the build time, Yami would have used Treasure Tree Adam for the new ship.
"For a high-spec large sailer, the price usually starts at around one hundred million Beli. A top-spec large sailer won't exceed two hundred million."
Iceburg said slowly, "But if you want me to handle absolutely everything, you're paying all materials, plus my shipbuilding and interior work. That price could buy multiple big ships."
Back in the Sabaody arc, Sentomaru said a Pacifista cost as much as a battleship, with a one-hundred-million Beli build cost.
A battleship is a high-spec large sailer.
Hearing this, Yami asked, "Will two billion Beli be enough?"
Iceburg couldn't help swallowing. "No need for that much. An advance of around one billion at most."
Opening with the price of twenty battleships, spoken lightly, as if it hardly mattered.
Who was this man?
"Fine. How long to finish the design drawings?"
"I can finish the plans tonight. Tomorrow you can review them and see if anything needs changing."
Iceburg promised, "Once the plans are finalized, Galley-La will need at most one month to deliver the ship."
"Good. I'll review them tomorrow."
Yami hefted the sack of gold. "I'll go convert the gold to Beli. Once the plans are set, I'll pay part of the deposit up front. The balance on delivery."
"No problem. A pleasure doing business."
Iceburg shook hands with Yami and personally saw the three out.
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