Unlike the panic that spreads on other islands at the sight of approaching pirates, Water 7 remains calm.
The citizens do not react with fear.
Even Iceburg, the mayor of Water 7, takes no special precautions—he is used to the presence of pirates.
This composed attitude is not limited to the townspeople. The entire island operates under an unspoken rule: Water 7 is a place for shipbuilding, not conflict. Most pirates who arrive do so to commission or repair their ships, not to cause trouble.
The city's proximity to Enies Lobby, one of the World Government's most heavily fortified locations, further discourages reckless behavior. Few would dare to provoke the government's wrath so close to its judicial island.
Moreover, pirates understand the importance of Water 7. If the city were destroyed, finding another place with such masterful shipbuilders would be nearly impossible. No pirate who dreams of commanding a powerful vessel would risk damaging the city that produces the best ships in the world.
This silent agreement ensures that Water 7 remains undisturbed, even when formidable pirate crews arrive.
However, on a nearby island filled with abandoned ships, a merman in his thirties or forties watches the arrival of the Caesar Pirates with curiosity and excitement.
[127] Tom the World's Greatest Shipwright
Upon reaching Water 7, Lily finally breathes a sigh of relief.
The journey has exhausted her completely.
Even though the material she carried was lighter than iron, its sheer size made it extremely heavy. The limited carrying capacity of the clouds and the energy required to sustain her Devil Fruit ability made the journey even more demanding. Throughout the voyage, she had to constantly support the massive branch, ensuring it did not fall.
For someone who had not possessed her Devil Fruit for long, it was an impressive feat. Her stamina, already a disadvantage due to her physique, was pushed to its limits. But through sheer willpower, she persevered.
This effort also brought clear benefits—her mastery over the Yunyun Fruit improved significantly. The range of her clouds expanded, and their control became more refined.
As they arrived at Water 7's port, the sight of such a massive branch descending under the guidance of a cloud stunned the shipwrights and fishermen.
Even in a city where Devil Fruits were not unheard of, this was something they had never seen before.
"My God! Who is that girl?!"
"Dragging a branch that massive using only clouds… unbelievable!"
"She looks so delicate, yet she has such an ability… Is this the Caesar Pirates? They're terrifying!"
Despite their shock, the locals were not afraid. Pirates rarely caused trouble in Water 7. Those who visited came for ship-related matters, not for conflict.
After docking, Caesar and his crew disembarked and headed into the city.
As for the massive branch of the legendary Treasure Tree Adam, Caesar had no concern about leaving it unattended.
The Caesar Pirates' reputation alone was enough to deter most people from making any reckless decisions.
And just like before, the crew naturally dispersed across the city.
By now, this had become an unspoken rule within their ranks—whenever they reached a new island, unless there was an urgent matter, they would first explore separately.
This time was no different.
Everyone moved freely, leaving only Hades behind to guard the ship.
After all, there were more than 4 billion Berries in the ship's treasury. It wasn't impossible that some foolhardy individual might try their luck.
Moreover, Hades had no particular fondness for humans outside of his crew. He had no interest in interacting with them and preferred to stay behind and watch over the ship.
Meanwhile, Caesar, accompanied by Eli, their shipwright, made his way toward Water 7's shipyards.
"Eli, you're the expert here. Find us the best shipwrights in the city and have them build the greatest pirate ship in the world," Caesar instructed.
Eli grinned confidently. "Leave it to me, Captain! I'll get it done!"
Water 7 housed numerous shipyards, each specializing in different types of vessels. As they walked, they passed countless docks and workshops where shipwrights toiled away, hammering, welding, and shaping wood into magnificent ships.
The rhythmic sounds of craftsmanship filled the air.
Eli, once a shipwright himself before joining the Caesar Pirates, found the sounds nostalgic. These had been the sounds of his daily life before he set sail. Now, after so long at sea, they felt like old friends welcoming him home.
While Caesar and Eli explored the city, Hades remained on the ship, training alone.
The recent battle against the Navy had exposed some of his weaknesses.
This realization weighed on him, fueling a newfound urgency to become stronger.
As he lifted a barbell weighing tens of tons, he suddenly sensed a presence approaching the ship.
Hades frowned and set the weight down.
"Who's there?"
If someone was foolish enough to try something, he would not hesitate to act.
He walked to the edge of the ship and looked in the direction of the approaching figure.
To his surprise, it was not a human.
"A… merman?"
The figure felt strangely familiar. Hades narrowed his eyes and took a closer look.
A moment later, his expression shifted to astonishment.
It was Tom.
The same Tom the Merman he had once heard stories about.
Hades' serious demeanor melted away, replaced by a look of genuine excitement.
"Mr. Tom!" he called out.
---
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Water 7…
Caesar and Eli continued their search for the best shipwright in the city.
After gathering information, they learned something unexpected:
A few years ago, a merman had arrived in Water 7 and founded Tom's Workers.
His shipbuilding skills were unparalleled, and within a short time, he had become the most sought-after shipwright in Water 7.
People lined up and paid fortunes just to have a ship built by him.
Upon hearing his name, Caesar was momentarily surprised.
He knew of Tom the Merman.
But he hadn't expected Tom to be here.
"In that case," Caesar said, "we'll have Tom build our ship."
If they wanted the best vessel, there was no question—Tom's expertise was unmatched.
Eli was equally excited. As a shipwright himself, he always admired legendary craftsmen, and Tom was one of the greatest.
Without hesitation, they set off toward Tom's Workers.
As they walked, Caesar pondered something else.
'Should I take this opportunity… to acquire the blueprints for Pluton?'
After a moment's thought, he dismissed the idea.
The time to challenge the World Government had not yet come.
Even with their growing strength, the Caesar Pirates were nowhere near ready to overthrow the world's rulers.
They lacked manpower.
And while they could hold their own in battle, they could not yet face the sheer overwhelming force of the World Government.
For now, drawing unnecessary attention would be reckless.
If the full might of the government came crashing down on them now, not even their newfound power would be enough to survive.
With that in mind, Caesar decided to leave the Pluton blueprints with Tom—for now.
The time for revolution was still far away.
And when that time came, he would be ready.
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