That afternoon, Eli Winters parted ways with his companions. Fiona and the others set out to find an inn and gather news about the shipyards in Barutiti Town, while Eli made his way alone to the local Naval branch office.
The guards at the entrance seemed to have been informed of his arrival. Without question, they escorted him directly to Colonel Falkforth's office. Inside, Falkforth was hunched over his desk, his pen scratching across a stack of papers. Beside him stood a young Navy officer, clearly waiting for orders.
"Have a seat," Falkforth said without looking up. "Let me finish this report first."
Eli obeyed, settling into a chair. He waited in silence for seven or eight minutes, listening to the faint creak of the building and the murmur of voices outside. At last, Falkforth set down his pen and handed the file to the young officer, who saluted and departed. Only then did the colonel turn his full attention on Eli.
"Young Winters," Falkforth said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You've landed me with quite the problem."
Eli immediately guessed what he meant. "You mean the civilians freed from the Black Bear Pirates' ship?"
"Exactly." Falkforth's expression softened with something close to weariness.
Eli grinned lightly. "Well, someone has to do the heavy lifting, right? Isn't that what the Navy of justice is for?"
Falkforth gave him a long look, ignoring the teasing tone. "I've also heard your full name is Eli Winters. That surname isn't common. Where do you hail from?"
Eli kept his face calm. He certainly couldn't say he was a traveler from another world, reborn into his childhood body. That explanation would sound like madness. So he stuck to the only cover story that made sense one that sailors often used when their past was too difficult or too impossible to explain.
"I don't really know," Eli admitted with practiced nonchalance. "I woke up years ago on some nameless island. No memories, no family. I survived there for about five years. Then recently, I set out to sea with my companion the panda, Big Pan. That was when the Black Bear Pirates shelled our little boat. Everything after that, well, you've seen for yourself."
It wasn't a strange story on the open seas. Amnesia, lost lineage, survival on remote islands such tales weren't rare among wanderers. Falkforth, to Eli's relief, didn't press further.
Instead, the colonel leaned back and said, "Let's discuss the bounty. Kuma the Black Bear carried a price of forty-three million berries. Among the captured pirates, several were wanted men as well, worth another eighteen-point-three million. In total, that comes to sixty-one-point-three million berries."
He pushed a neatly wrapped bundle of bills across the desk, along with a folded document. "Here is the reward money. The document is a receipt your signature is required."
Eli accepted both, but to Falkforth's surprise, he took only forty-three million berries, the amount tied directly to Kuma's bounty.
"The rest," Eli explained, "consider it payment for the Navy's trouble in returning those civilians home. They deserve it more than I do."
Falkforth studied him, then broke into hearty laughter. "You are an interesting young man indeed. Eli Winters, how would you like to join the Navy? With your talent, I could recommend you to the headquarters. In time, you could rise as far as admiral."
Eli shook his head with a smile. "Thank you, Colonel, but I'm only eleven. I don't want to bind myself to orders or uniforms. What I want right now is to see the world its seas, its islands, its people. My answer is no, at least for now."
Falkforth sighed, though not without respect. "A shame. Still, the Navy's doors will remain open. Should you ever change your mind, you will be welcomed."
Eli rose. "I appreciate that. But my friends are waiting, so I'll take my leave."
The colonel nodded, watching the boy depart. Once the door closed, Falkforth lit a cigarette and stared at the smoke curling toward the ceiling. After a long silence, he muttered, "Let's hope you never find yourself standing against the Navy."
He had already forwarded Eli's details to his superiors. This boy, he thought, was not someone the Navy could afford to ignore.
Outside, Eli made his way back to the captured pirate ship where he'd agreed to meet his companions. They weren't back yet, so he leaned against the railing, lost in thought.
By now, he knew his strength was enough to place him among the powerful figures of this era. Fiona had told him that the year was Sea Circle Calendar 1506. At this point in history, Red-Haired Shanks had yet to claim his throne as Emperor of the Sea. The future Navy monsters, destined to become admirals, were still only vice admirals. Against them, Eli was confident he could fight on even footing. But that was not enough. To live free, without chains, he needed more power.
His body, enhanced by the mysterious system, had already reached its current limits for someone his age. That was why his Armament Haki remained at the intermediate level. The only paths forward now lay in his Devil Fruit and his swordsmanship.
Sword training alone no longer helped. He needed a duel, a clash of equals, to push himself toward the rank of a true Great Swordsman. As for his Devil Fruit, he had been experimenting with compressing space into small objects creating storage items that could hold vast quantities within. If he could master such a feat, he felt certain he would be on the threshold of awakening.
He summoned his status panel in his mind:
Host: Eli Winters
Stamina: Vice Admiral
Speed: Vice Admiral
Spirit: Admiral
Devil Fruit: Modified Spatial Fruit (88% developed, not awakened)
Haki: Observation (Advanced), Armament (Intermediate), Conqueror's (Intermediate)
Swordsmanship: Swordsman Level (near breakthrough)
Sword Techniques: Draw Slash, Heavy Strike, Flying Slash, Phantom Blade, Piercing Point
Current Rank: Candidate for Rear Admiral
Companion: Kung Fu Panda Big Pan
Haki: Observation (Intermediate), Armament (Intermediate), Conqueror's (unawakened)
Skills: Eight Desolation Staff Techniques
Rank: Rear Admiral candidate
Looking at the panel, Eli frowned. Only his Devil Fruit progress had shifted from 82% to 88%. Everything else was stagnant. Then he smacked his forehead.
"Ah! I forgot the daily sign-in!"
"System! System, where's my sign-in?" he shouted inwardly.
The system's dry voice answered, "Did you actually sign in?"
"Isn't it automatic? Like clocking in?"
"Do you not punch in at work?"
"I've never worked a day in my life," Eli replied shamelessly.
The system fell silent. Of course this boy had been born into privilege in his previous life.
"Just think it. Say 'Sign in.' That's enough."
"Easy enough. Sign in!" Eli declared.
Ding! Congratulations, host. Barutiti Town sign-in successful. Rewards: Prosperity Points +464. One Stretch-Stretch Fruit (no side effects). One revolver with unlimited ammunition.
Eli's eyes lit up. Not bad. The revolver could suit Felina, giving her more bite in combat. As for the Stretch-Stretch Fruit, he immediately imagined Big Pan's black staff transformed into something like the legendary Monkey King's golden cudgel growing, shrinking, striking with unstoppable force. If only Vegapunk, or perhaps Judge Vinsmoke, could refine such technology.
Just then, Fiona and the others returned, their laughter carrying across the deck.
"Boss! Boss!" Big Pan bellowed before he even appeared. "Barutiti Town is amazing! The food! The music! Did you know their sheep can kick out rhythms with their hooves? Hah! Too fun!"
Eli chuckled, warmth softening his features. Big Pan wasn't just a companion he was family. One of only two who truly belonged to him in this world, the other being his ever-snarky system.
"Did you find news about a shipyard?" Eli asked.
"Yes," Dote replied quickly. "On the southern coast Shuru Shipyards. Supposedly the finest in the West Blue. Nobles commission ships there. Big operation."
"Good. Then we'll sail this pirate ship there, sell it off, and order a vessel built for us," Eli decided.
No one objected. The crew fell into their usual roles: Dote at the helm, Simon in the crow's nest, Felina giving orders, Big Pan clowning around, Fiona practicing her sword, and Eli lying lazily under the sun, letting his thoughts drift.
Half an hour later, they docked at Shuru Shipyards. The Black Bear's ship didn't attract attention this close to a Navy branch, pirates rarely dared approach.
Eli went straight to the shipyard's director, an elderly man with a goat's beard named Dick Aly.
"Selling this vessel," Eli explained.
The old man stroked his beard and inspected the ship. "Large triple-masted, about eighty percent new. Sixteen cannons. I'll give you thirty-six million berries."
Eli scowled. A new ship of this type cost at least eighty to a hundred million. "That's too low. The cannons alone are worth more than that."
Dick Aly shrugged. "Second-hand ships don't sell well. We'd have to refurbish it, resell it. Cannons cost in knowledge, not just metal. To us, they're scrap. But I've built my reputation on honesty you'll get a fair deal here."
Eli didn't have the expertise to argue. After a pause, he accepted.
"Now," the old man asked eagerly, "what kind of ship do you want?"
"A medium-sized triple-mast," Eli replied. "Built with the best materials. Comfortable, with ten private cabins, a kitchen, baths, training room, entertainment hall, and a spacious storage hold. I don't want a crowded barracks ship I want a home for my crew."
The old man's eyes gleamed. "I might already have what you seek. Follow me."
He led them to a magnificent vessel docked nearby.
"This was commissioned by a noble's son," Dick Aly explained. "But when the noble fell from grace, the ship was left behind. Sixty meters long, twenty-three wide large for its class. Solid oak throughout. Includes high-grade seawater purifiers, luxury fittings, even a giant cold-storage chamber. Built for pleasure and long voyages alike."
Eli and the crew explored the ship, their excitement mounting. It had everything they needed practically move-in ready.
"How much?" Eli asked cautiously.
"Eighty-six million berries," Dick Aly said, smiling like a cat with cream.
Eli nearly spat blood. "Eighty-six?! Why not just rob me outright?"
"Consider the materials, the purifiers, the finish. Worth every berry," the old man insisted.
"Sixty million," Eli countered firmly. "No more."
Dick Aly hesitated, then grinned. "Done. But you'll handle maintenance and armament yourselves. Shall we seal the deal?"
Eli signed at once. Selling the Black Bear ship earned them thirty-six million, so he still had to add twenty-four million of his own. A painful price, but this ship was worth it.
All that remained was naming her. Together, they chose a simple, fitting name.
The Travel Dawn.
From this day forward, it would be their home, their companion, and their vessel into the unknown seas.
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