Chapter 61: Tom's Workshop
"Hahaha! I don't deserve the title of the world's number one shipwright, but I'll definitely build a ship that lives up to my client's expectations!" Tom, the horned fish-man, laughed heartily as he led Eric and Da Vinci back to Tom's Workshop.
"Is this okay? Won't we delay your progress on laying the sea train's tracks?" Eric asked, feeling a bit uneasy.
Tom replied, "Not at all. I used to build ships for clients when funds were tight. While we do still have materials to continue with track construction, we're a bit short on funding to complete it. Your arrival came just in time."
"You have to fund all the public infrastructure yourselves? That's ridiculous." Eric was dumbfounded by the world government and Water 7 officials. The sea train was meant to improve everyone's life and rescue this slowly dying island, yet all the manpower, effort, and money came from Tom and his team, while everyone else just reaped the benefits.
"A real man follows through on his promises, loud and proud."
Da Vinci said, "Our ship might be a little different from the others. Take a look." She unrolled a large stack of warship blueprints (with the weapon systems removed) for Tom to examine.
Tom's eyes widened as he carefully studied the designs. "This is...!"
"What is it? What is it?" The curious, future cyborg pervert Franky and the silent Iceburg leaned in.
"Wow!" Franky might not have fully understood the designs, but he knew this ship was incredible and couldn't help but exclaim in awe.
Even the calm and composed Iceburg spoke up, "Mr. Tom! This ship…"
"Yeah… this is a truly amazing, era-defining vessel. With it, you could cross countless seas with ease." Tom turned to ask, "Was this designed by this young lady here?"
Da Vinci showed her Mona LisFujitora . "My partner Chiron and I designed it together. Well? Feel free to bow down before our perfect creation!"
"I didn't expect a client to bring such flawless blueprints. At this rate, we shipwrights will be out of a job—ahaha!"
"We don't have enough people to do it ourselves, so we'll need help. Tom, your craftsmanship is unparalleled, and your two apprentices are trustworthy. That's why we're asking for your assistance."
Franky scratched his head shyly. "I guess we are kinda tight-lipped…"
Iceburg, still proper and diligent, said, "The ship's modular construction technique connects sections into a whole, replacing the traditional single-keel wooden ship. Normal wood wouldn't meet the strength requirements—you'd need Adam wood or specialized metals instead."
"As expected of a master shipwright—you spotted the main challenge instantly." Da Vinci acknowledged Iceburg's observation. "That's why we need my Devil Fruit to produce special alloys. Please take a look at these." She laid out several alloy samples made using her Swallow-Swallow Fruit.
Tom picked one up and tested it with strength that could toss a ship with one hand. "Very hard. Excellent flexibility. Seems corrosion-resistant, too. So you plan to use these metals as the core materials?"
"Exactly! That way, our unsinkable steel battleship will rule the seas!" Da Vinci announced proudly, thrilled that her perfect design had been praised.
But Tom interrupted her, "The design is excellent, and the propulsion method—'nuclear power'?—is certainly unique. But the quantity of metal required is far more than what we have on this island. Plus, with pirates rampant and trade routes unstable, there's no telling when construction could finish."
Tom's words hit Da Vinci like a bucket of cold water, dousing her excitement.
Perfect Da Vinci suddenly threw a childish tantrum. "Ugh, what the hell is wrong with this stupid world?!"
"Well, we'll take care of the materials. You just provide the manpower." Eric , who could purchase materials from the system store, didn't worry about logistics. His only concern was whether the system would overcharge him.
Not that he could explain that directly.
"I see," Tom said, sincerely happy for Eric . He grinned so widely his eyes disappeared. "Then you'll get to build the ship of your dreams. Congratulations, young man."
In anime, characters are always distinct, memorable not just for their appearance but for their words. The round, horned fish-man Tom made it clear—he wasn't some NPC, nor a moving picture, nor a string of code. He was a real, living person in this world.
Eric also wondered how the orphanage director was doing lately.
After finalizing labor costs—the total materials and wood for the ship—Eric and Da Vinci left Tom's Workshop.
On the way back, Da Vinci asked, "That fish-man seemed both amazed and oddly not that surprised by my blueprints. Why? Weren't my designs the most advanced he'd ever seen?"
"Well, he was definitely shocked by the sail-less battleship. But Water 7 once brought together many scientists to develop a super battleship—Pluton. It's said to have enough power to destroy an island in a single shot. And the blueprint for Pluton… is in Tom's hands."
"What?! Why didn't you say so earlier? I want to study that super battleship blueprint too!"
"Even if I told you, he wouldn't let you see it. He's risking his life to protect it. If we so much as mentioned it, he'd think we had ulterior motives. Besides, I believe in you, Da Vinci. Your warship may not rival Pluton's cannon fire, but in other ways, it'll be even better!"
Da Vinci pouted. "Are you planning to build the brilliance of the sun?" (a nuclear bomb)
Of course, Eric couldn't agree to that. Creating something so destructive would make him an instant target of the World Government. Worse yet, ambitious forces like Big Mom and Kaido in the New World would set their sights on him. That kind of weapon could only be considered once his power and influence were untouchable.
Eric began to think about his next step: 'Our manpower is still too small. Esdeath's Bond Level has reached the requirement—I can do another summon now. But I've been lacking a suitable summoning medium. The next target… will be the shame of the Shichibukai: Gecko Moria.'
(END CHAPTER)
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