Wrecked Ship Island.
Tom, Iceburg, Franky, and a giant frog yokozuna, three people and one frog, stood in front of a steam locomotive.
This was the result of their three - day assembly effort.
Franky excitedly hugged the giant frog yokozuna. He shouted cheerfully:
"Mr. Tom!
Awesome! We've got the train head assembled!
Next, as long as we get it running on the sea track, we'll succeed!"
"Hahaha! It's too soon! Let's give it a test run first!"
Tom laughed heartily while using both hands to hug the train head.
To test whether the train could run on the sea, the three of them had already built a short - range track near the shore of Wrecked Ship Island.
Thanks to the terrifying superhuman strength of this bull - horned merman, the steam locomotive weighing over a hundred tons was easily lifted and placed at the starting point of the track.
Before Tom could give an order, Franky's eyes sparkled with golden light and he volunteered:
"Mr. Tom, let me drive this train!"
"Hahaha! It seems you can't wait. Then you start the train!"
Franky chuckled and ran into the locomotive's power room. He started adding coal and lighting a fire.
After a moment, billowing black smoke rose from the steam locomotive. Along with the rumbling sound of "Dong! Dong! Dong!", the train head slowly moved forward, and the speed of the metal wheels increased.
However...
The steam locomotive had only traveled less than twenty meters when the entire train head uncontrollably plunged into the sea. Franky was so scared that he quickly abandoned the train and jumped into the sea, barely avoiding being buried at the bottom of the ocean.
Seeing this, Tom immediately "Plop!" jumped into the sea, creating a huge splash.
He wasn't going to save Franky. He knew very well that as long as Franky wasn't thrown into a huge ocean current whirlpool, he could swim back alive and kicking.
What he wanted to save was the steam locomotive!
If one steam engine was scrapped every time they failed, his wallet couldn't stand such waste!
The Merfolk Race were the darlings of the sea. They could give full play to their racial talents in the sea rather than on land.
Soon, Tom climbed onto the shore from the seabed, carrying the steam locomotive on his shoulder.
Franky, who had just swum ashore from the sea, shook his wet blue hair. He said with a helpless look on his face:
"Mr. Tom, didn't you say the train head you built could sail on the sea?
Why did it plunge into the sea..."
Hearing this, Tom burst out laughing and scratched his head.
"Aahaha! There's nothing we can do about this...
This situation occurs because, apart from the insufficient buoyancy of the track and the train's suspension device, the speed of the sea train is not fast enough...
I'm really troubled!
If the efficiency of the steam engine could increase from eight percent to more than fifteen percent, it should reach a balanced state, right?
"
"What if we use another mechanical device to provide power, and the energy efficiency can reach over 25%, or even 40%?"
Hearing this somewhat familiar voice, Tom turned his head in surprise and looked at the silver - haired young man walking slowly towards him.
"If that's the case... it would be really something!
Maybe the Sea Train could even run directly on the sea. Hahaha!"
"Oh!? I bet you'll be really interested in this."
Sephiroth unfolded a design drawing in his hand in front of Tom.
"Can you tell me how it works?"
Looking at the mechanical schematic diagram and the general cross - section of the internal combustion engine in the young man's hand, the shipwright Tom fell into deep thought.
He was confident enough to boast in front of the judge. He said he could build a Sea Train connecting multiple islands within ten years.
That's because he was quite accomplished in mechanical engineering. He knew that as long as he overcame a few technical difficulties, he could turn the Sea Train into a reality.
Therefore, when the shipwright Tom saw the drawing of the internal combustion engine, he instantly understood a lot.
"This is a heat engine that uses diesel as fuel and can convert heat energy into power..."
Sephiroth tried his best to explain the knowledge of internal combustion engines he had learned in high school to the world's number one shipwright in the Pirate King world, hoping that the other party could quickly understand the existence of this machine.
Franky, who had crowded over, immediately showed an excited smile on his face after listening to the silver - haired young man's explanation:
"Mr. Tom, this thing is so interesting! I think we can give it a try!"
"Hahaha! It's absolutely amazing!
Young man, you're really a real man for sharing the principle of this machine with me!"
If Franky could understand it, then Tom, as his teacher, would surely have no problem understanding it.
"Young man, can you show me the drawings of the relevant part sizes?"
Hearing this, Sephiroth shook his head firmly and casually gave a perfunctory answer:
"I don't have any of that stuff. I just thought of it right then."
As a surgeon, if someone asked Sephiroth about medicine, he could have a detailed chat and explain things clearly.
But...
Mechanical engineering?
Different trades are like different worlds. It's really asking too much of him!
"Oh! Got it! You're still super impressive...
By the way, what's the name of this machine?" Tom said with a smile.
"Internal combustion engine."
...
After chatting with Tom about the internal combustion engine, Sephiroth took the swordfish and headed home.
Leave professional matters to professional people.
In the matter of the Sea Train project, this was all he could do.
Of course, he wasn't without any extra gains. At least he got in the good books of Tom, Franky, and Iceberg.
If he ever needed help from the three of them in the future, given their personalities, as long as it wasn't too troublesome, they should be willing to lend a hand...
When Sephiroth returned home, there was already a guest in his living room. The Boa sisters were sitting on the nearby sofa, waiting for his return with the guest.
This guest was Hughes Shirk, the president of Hughes Shipbuilding Company. He was a middle - aged, red - haired man in a sharp black suit, with a strong build and a rugged face.
"Sephiroth! It's really you! I'm so relieved you're okay!"
"I heard that your passenger ship was attacked by pirates..."
"By the way, where's your father, Parr?" Hughes Shirk said excitedly.
"He was killed by pirates while trying to protect me..."
As he spoke, the silver - haired young man let out a soft sigh, and his eyes looked a bit dim.
That man named Carl D. Parr was a great father, willing to sacrifice his life for his son.
Sephiroth's mother had passed away shortly after his birth, and it was his father alone who had raised him.
Therefore, in the original body's heart, his father was the most important person...
Hearing this, Hughes Shirk also let out a soft sigh. He looked at the silver - haired young man and said seriously:
"Alright! Sephiroth, how about coming to work at the shipbuilding company from now on?
Although the company is not doing well at the moment, you'll have a stable income if you work here..."
"No, thank you for your kindness, Uncle Shirk. To be honest, I'm going to join the Navy..."
Hearing this, the Boa sisters sitting beside them exclaimed in unison, their voices full of surprise:
"The Navy!!!" x3
"Sephiroth, why do you want to join the Navy?" Hancock frowned slightly, her voice full of confusion.
"Because...! I not only need power, but also a force that can rival the Beasts Pirates to take revenge...
Joining the Navy is my best choice at present."
The silver - haired young man lowered his eyelids. His face showed no sign of emotion, but his tone was very firm.
In the world of the Pirate King, the Navy is established by the World Government and serves the member countries of the World Government and the World Nobles.
The Navy has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and is not allowed to disobey the orders issued by the World Government. Their duty is to maintain the peace of the sea, fight against pirate forces, and do some dirty work for the World Government. Sometimes, when the Celestial Dragons kill someone, they even have to help cover up the evidence...
However, despite the various constraints and drawbacks of the Navy, it cannot be denied that the Navy has a fairly mature system for training talents.
Anyway, after this period of training, Sephiroth could see that although he did have the Conqueror's Haki and the Mythical Zoan - type Vampire Fruit, he didn't have a system to become stronger systematically, so he couldn't make the most of these abilities.
As a result, even if he spent ten hours a day training, he only felt a slight improvement in his physical fitness. In terms of combat experience, he was still almost like a blank sheet of paper...
In this world, there has never been a shortage of top-notch powerhouses who have grown up through continuous battles, such as Roger, Kaido, Charlotte Linlin, and Edward Newgate...
But...
Compared with those self-taught warriors, as Sephirah, who had received systematic education in his previous life, he still trusted the professional training system more, and the Navy was one of the more reliable options.
"So, both strength and influence are necessary..."
Boa Hancock mumbled softly, lost in thought.
Seeing this scene, Hughes Scherque stood up from the sofa, gently patted the silver-haired teenager on the shoulder, and sighed:
"Alas! Sephirah, since you've made your decision, I won't try to persuade you anymore.
If you need my help in the future, you can come to me..."