But even with that thought in mind, Caesar was still curious—what made the legendary Treasure Tree Adam so special?
A material praised by shipwrights across the world couldn't be as simple as its reputation suggested. There had to be something unique about it. Otherwise, if everyone else used steel for shipbuilding, why would Adam wood be considered superior?
Eli, a shipwright himself, admired the Treasure Tree Adam deeply. He had spent years working with various materials and understood their properties well. His eyes shone with awe as he gazed at the massive tree in the distance, admiration written all over his face.
"Oi, what's so fascinating about a tree? It's just a tree," Hades muttered, unimpressed.
Without warning, he slapped Eli on the back, snapping him out of his daze.
Because he hadn't been back to the Blue Sea for a long time, Caesar addressed everyone:
"Let's split up and explore for a bit. Then, we'll have some free time."
"Alright! Shopping is my favorite!" Lily grinned.
"Perfect timing. I need to restock on supplies," Vera nodded.
"Let's see if they have any rare ingredients here," Yakexi added excitedly. "After all, a cook who can't experiment with new flavors isn't a real chef!"
With that, the crew dispersed into the bustling streets.
Caesar, however, walked toward the legendary Treasure Tree Adam. Even though it looked close, he found himself walking for a long time without reaching it. The sheer size of the tree finally made him understand the saying, "Seeing the mountain but never reaching it."
As he walked, taking in the surroundings, he finally arrived beneath the colossal tree. Raising his head, he realized he couldn't even see the top—it felt as if the sky itself was covered by the tree's vast canopy.
"Incredible…" he murmured. "It's hard to believe that something this enormous started from a tiny seed. The power of nature is truly astonishing."
As Caesar marveled at the sight, he noticed a group of workers struggling to lift a single branch onto a large cart. The branch was so massive that it dwarfed the truck carrying it, requiring seven or eight men to secure it with thick ropes. Yet, compared to the whole tree, it was merely a small branch.
Out of curiosity, Caesar walked up and tapped the branch with his knuckles.
Dong! Dong!
A deep, solid sound resonated—this was no ordinary wood.
Pressing his hand against it, Caesar felt its dense, unyielding structure. His eyes widened in amazement.
"This is incredible…" he whispered.
The wood of the Treasure Tree Adam was harder than iron! Not only that, but despite its extreme toughness, it was also surprisingly flexible. Caesar quickly realized what this meant.
Stronger than iron: A ship built from this wood would be far more resistant to damage than one made from steel.
Flexible structure: The ship's hull could absorb impacts better, reducing damage from cannon fire and rough waters.
Lighter weight: A ship of the same size built from Adam wood would be much lighter than a steel ship, significantly increasing its speed.
Now, everything made sense. This was why Adam wood was the most coveted material in the world for shipbuilding. It was not just superior—it was in a league of its own.
"I thought it was just wood—how could it be stronger than iron?" Caesar muttered to himself. "But now I get it… No wonder shipwrights value it more than any metal. I really underestimated them. There are true specialists in every field."
In that moment, Caesar made a firm decision—his next ship would be built entirely from Treasure Tree Adam!
"I've already acquired the blueprints for the Ark Maxim," he thought. "If I construct it using Adam wood, it'll be even stronger than I originally imagined!"
A smirk crossed his lips as he pictured the possibilities.
What if… next time we encounter the Navy… we go full speed ahead and smash right through their ships?
After all, the Ark Maxim was already powerful, running on Enel's lightning. If that energy were combined with the superior durability of Adam wood…
And with Arnold's Double-Speed Fruit accelerating the ship's movements, even Navy battleships wouldn't stand a chance.
"If I ram Sengoku's ship and send him flying into the sea… would he drown on the spot?"
Caesar chuckled at the thought.
For now, though, they still had time on this island. There was no rush to purchase the wood immediately.
Meanwhile…
As Caesar imagined the future of his ship, word of the Caesar Pirates' arrival spread across Treasure Tree Island.
In just a short time, the entire island was on high alert.
People walking the streets or drinking in taverns became noticeably more cautious. No one wanted to cross paths with the notorious crew and risk provoking a conflict.
After all, the Caesar Pirates had fought against a large Navy fleet and escaped unharmed. That alone was enough to make even the most arrogant thugs tread carefully.
Even the usual troublemakers on the island had toned down their behavior. They might have been bold, but they weren't stupid.
[126] Adding to the tension, news had just arrived—the bounties on the Caesar Pirates had been raised again.
That night, as the crew gathered for dinner, the topic naturally came up.
Caesar, at first unaware, listened with interest as his crew excitedly discussed the new bounties.
This increase wasn't just any ordinary adjustment.
It was issued after their battle against Sengoku himself!
That fight had forced the Navy to acknowledge their growing strength—and their increasing threat level.
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