Therefore, adding it can be regarded as a precautionary measure.
The large section of high-quality timber from the Treasure Tree Adam, brought by Caesar, was enough to manufacture the keel and structural components of the entire ship. This wood, known for its legendary durability, was also used in crafting the Oro Jackson, the ship of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.
Thus, it can be said that the strength of this ship is far superior to most vessels.
On paper, the performance of this ship is exceptional. Everyone is highly optimistic, eagerly anticipating its completion and eager to witness its launch.
However, despite their excitement, they all understood one thing:
Building a ship from scratch takes time.
Especially one as powerful and sophisticated as this.
Crafting it to perfection would require immense effort. After all, as the saying goes, "Slow work leads to fine craftsmanship."
Yet, none of them expected that a shipwright of Tom's caliber could build ships at an astonishing speed without compromising quality.
"Haha, once this new ship is built, I bet it'll be both powerful and magnificent!"
Eli's eyes shone as he gazed at the pile of blueprints scattered across the table. Although the design was still in its early stages, without precise graphical detailing, Eli could already visualize the finished ship in his mind.
"Maybe our warship will be the most formidable pirate ship in the world," Gnarly remarked with a chuckle.
"It's hard to say," Caesar nodded confidently. "Even if it's not the absolute strongest, it will undoubtedly rank among the most powerful."
After all, it incorporated elements from Enel's Ark Maxim, along with insights from Tom himself—who had once possessed the blueprints of the Pluton battleship.
Although Tom, much like Franky in the original story, might not directly integrate Pluton's designs into the Straw Hats' ship, his exposure to them ensured that his craftsmanship carried echoes of the legendary warship.
In addition, some of Caesar's warship concepts were ahead of their time, surpassing the conventional knowledge of the One Piece world.
With its entire framework constructed from Treasure Tree Adam, the resulting pirate ship would undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with.
Among all the pirate ships Caesar had heard of or encountered, none could rival the one now being built.
As everyone gathered to discuss the ship's finer details, they helped Tom refine the design further, ensuring every aspect was meticulously planned.
One by one, the details were finalized, and most of the ship's key elements were set in place.
Afterward, Caesar announced a brief respite, instructing Lily to distribute pocket money to everyone.
For the next few days, they would simply enjoy themselves in Water 7, awaiting the completion of their new vessel.
A carefree period like this was rare—how delightful it was.
However, Caesar had one more task in mind. He turned to Eli and said,
"Eli, earlier you got a glimpse of Tom's shipbuilding techniques. Though it was only surface-level, you saw firsthand how incredible his skills are.
"This is a golden opportunity. You should learn as much as you can from him. Once we set sail, if anything happens to the ship, it'll all depend on you."
"Opportunities like this don't come often. Make sure to absorb as much knowledge as possible," he added.
"This might not be the only ship we build. In the future, we may need another."
Hearing this, Eli nodded with determination.
"Don't worry, Captain! I'll study hard and make sure to squeeze every bit of knowledge out of him!"
Caesar chuckled at Eli's enthusiasm before turning to Tom.
"Mr. Tom, there's over four billion Berries available for this ship. Use whatever you need—money is no concern. Every component must be top-tier, and the ship must be built to perfection."
"Our pirate ship will be elite in every possible way!"
"It's not just a ship—it's a part of our crew, a member of our family."
Upon hearing this, Tom nodded solemnly.
"Rest assured, Captain Caesar! I'll build the most famous ship in the world!"
[129] The New Ship is Built!
At this time, Tom the Fish-Man was still in his prime, only in his thirties. Though his name was not yet known across the world, his shipbuilding abilities were already among the finest.
In the original story, after Gol D. Roger became the Pirate King, it was revealed that his ship, the Oro Jackson, was crafted by Tom. Only then was he recognized as the world's greatest shipwright—a title that had long been deserved.
Even now, some in Water 7 believed Tom's skills rivaled the best.
While the world had yet to acknowledge it, Caesar already knew the truth. That's why entrusting Tom with the construction of their ship was a decision he made with complete confidence.
Eli was also a ship repairman, but compared to Tom, the difference was vast. However, as an assistant, he was competent and eager to learn.
And so, in the days that followed, Tom took Eli under his wing, guiding him in shipbuilding while imparting valuable knowledge.
Just as Tom always said, he was a true man—a hero.
Recognizing this rare opportunity, Eli dedicated himself to his studies. His skills grew increasingly refined, and he mastered new techniques at an astonishing pace.
Despite possessing the Self-Healing Fruit, which granted him a powerful advantage in combat, Eli felt it wasn't enough. He wanted to contribute more to the Caesar Pirates and prove his worth—not as a burden, but as an indispensable crew member.
Thus, aside from honing his Devil Fruit abilities, he focused intensely on improving his ship-repair skills.
And so, under the hands of one of the world's finest shipwrights and a devoted apprentice, the new ship of the Caesar Pirates took shape.
The speed of construction was astounding, visibly progressing day by day.
Even Caesar was surprised.
He knew that shipbuilding involved countless meticulous steps. Yet, their progress was nearly three times faster than he had originally estimated!
This was even faster than Franky's construction of the Thousand Sunny, which took a mere week.
Considering their new ship was significantly larger than the Sunny, this was nothing short of remarkable.
Every day, Caesar and his crew returned to the shipyard to check on the progress, eagerly anticipating the completion of their new vessel.
At this moment, Caesar and Lily stood by the coast, listening to the rhythmic hammering in the distance as they gazed at the rapidly forming structure of their ship.
"The progress is incredible! It won't be long before we set sail. I can't wait!" Lily exclaimed, her excitement overshadowing any exhaustion from training.
Caesar grinned.
"Yeah, it's moving fast. Tom's skills are exceptional, and Eli is putting in a lot of effort. This is the fastest shipbuilding pace in Water 7."
"Even though it's already fast, I still want it to be even faster," he laughed. "I can't wait!"
Lily giggled.
As they continued to observe the shipyard, their minds drifted to thoughts of their finished ship—already envisioning the adventures that awaited them.
Yet, while the Caesar Pirates were immersed in their shipbuilding, elsewhere, another force was keeping a close watch.
On the day they arrived in Water 7, the Marine Headquarters had already received word of their presence.
Inside a dimly lit office, Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat with a stern expression, gripping a report tightly.
"Damn it… Caesar and his crew have appeared in Water 7. This is going to be a problem," he muttered.
He massaged his temples, clearly troubled.
"They actually went to Water 7… What a troublesome group of pirates," Vice Admiral Tsuru added, frowning.
After the events of that fateful battle, the Caesar Pirates had vanished for some time, only to resurface at Treasure Tree Island.
The Navy had considered pursuing them then, but circumstances forced them to hold back.
Now, however, things were different.
Their presence in Water 7 meant only one thing:
They were preparing for something big.
And the Marines couldn't afford to ignore it.
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