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Chapter 22: Water 7
🕑 Added 2025-08-20 02:44:03 +0000 UTCAfter the "friendly" encounter with Garp ended, the Roger Pirates returned to their usual boisterous routine.
But as the crew continued to grow, a practical problem gradually surfaced and became increasingly serious.
"Hey! Nozdon! Move your foot—you're stepping on my navigation log!" Blumarine's voice came from a corner of the deck, full of resentment.
"Ah? Sorry!" The big guy with the pointed head scrambled to move his foot, only to bump his back into Millet, who was polishing his war hammer.
"Bastard! You're trying to die!" Millet's beard bristled as his massive hammer stretched across the deck, taking up nearly a third of the walkway.
"It's all Bankuro's fault! His junk is piled up everywhere!"
"What'd you say! This is my latest invention—the Portable Fully-Automatic Barbecue Machine Mark III!"
At the ship's rail, Kyle was sparring with Isaac Jr., their maneuvering space pitifully small. Kyle nearly tripped over hanging laundry several times.
He used "Shock Step: Flash" to create distance, looking at the chain reaction of chaos caused by insufficient space across the deck, and sighed helplessly.
This ship they'd "borrowed" from elsewhere was basically a sardine can for a dozen or so large pirates.
They had to take turns sleeping, queue up for meals, and couldn't even properly throw parties.
"Looks like it's time for a bigger ship," Rayleigh's voice came from beside Kyle. He'd stopped polishing his sword at some point, his gaze sweeping the crowded deck.
"Gu ha ha ha! I was thinking the same thing!" Roger emerged from the captain's quarters, planting one foot on the railing. "Boys! This ship's not worthy of us anymore! Let's go build the world's greatest ship!"
"Wooooo!" The complaints across the deck instantly turned to cheers.
"Build a ship? Where?" Gaban took a swig of liquor and asked.
"When it comes to shipbuilding, there's nowhere more famous on the Grand Line than Water 7," Spencer stroked his chin, offering timely professional advice.
Kyle's eyes immediately lit up.
Water 7... the birthplace of the future legendary pirate ship, the city with the world's greatest shipwright. A thunderous name immediately came to mind—Tom the fishman master.
"Perfect! It's decided then!" Roger swept his arm toward the distance. "Destination: Water 7! Set sail!"
...
Several days later, when a massive city built on water appeared on the horizon, amazed voices rang out across the Roger Pirates' deck.
A huge fountain shot skyward from the city center, countless canals spread like a spider web throughout the city, and creatures called "Yagara Bulls"—resembling seahorses—pulled boats through the waterways, creating a unique transportation landscape. The city itself was layered and tiered, its architecture both peculiar and magnificent, radiating vitality and creativity.
"Whoa—! Awesome! What a huge city!" Nozdon's jaw dropped.
"A city on water... truly ingenious craftsmanship." Even the well-traveled Spencer's eyes were full of admiration.
The ship slowly entered the harbor. Roger looked at his crew's curious faces and grinned: "Alright, boys! Dismissed! Until we find a shipwright, enjoy exploring this city's charms! Meet back at the harbor by evening!"
"Yeah!" The crew scattered—Millet charged toward a tavern, Colonel Mugren headed toward what looked like a weapons shop with his cigar, and others paired off in groups.
Soon, only four remained on deck: Roger, Rayleigh, Gaban, and Kyle.
"Well, we should handle the real business," Roger clapped his hands. "Let's find out who the best shipwright here is!"
"That might not be easy," Rayleigh analyzed. "Top shipwrights are usually eccentric and might not be willing to build ships for pirates."
"That is a problem..." Roger stroked his chin, lost in thought.
"I might... have heard a name," Kyle spoke up at just the right moment.
All three turned their attention to him.
"Oh? Let's hear it, little Kyle," Gaban leaned in with interest.
"Tom-san," Kyle put on an act of trying to remember. "I think that was the name. Supposedly a fishman, but his shipbuilding skills are world-class. Though... rumor has it he's got a big personality and an even bigger temper—only takes jobs that catch his eye."
"A fishman shipwright? World-class?" Roger's eyes instantly brightened. "Gu ha ha ha! Interesting! That's our man! Let's find this Tom fellow!"
With Kyle's "casual" guidance and some asking around, they quickly found Tom's shipyard—"Tom's Workers."
It was a massive dock located in the city's outskirts, the air filled with the fresh scent of wood shavings and the smell of machine oil. Even before approaching, they could hear the "clang clang" of hammering and hearty laughter from within.
The four entered the shipyard, immediately drawn to a bull-horned fishman wearing a blue shirt with an unusually round, burly build.
He was wielding a massive hammer, precisely fitting a heavy ship plank into the keel's groove. Each strike was accurate and powerful, as if performing some kind of artistic creation.
"Hey! Who are you people?" A young shipwright blocked their path.
"We're here to see Mr. Tom," Rayleigh said gently.
The bull-horned fishman stopped his work and turned around. His broad face bore a hearty smile, his voice booming like a bell: "I'm Tom! What do you want with me? DON!"
His speech carried a peculiar cadence at the end, full of power.
"We're pirates," Roger said straight to the point, making no attempt to hide their identity. "We want you to help us build the world's greatest ship!"
"Pirates?" Tom's smile faded somewhat as he looked the group up and down. "Just you few think you can get Tom to build you a ship?"
Other shipwrights in the yard showed wary expressions.
"We're not ordinary pirates!" Roger grinned, showing white teeth. "And we don't want an ordinary ship! We want one that can carry us around the world, one that can conquer these seas!"
Roger's voice wasn't loud, but the unquestionable dominance and dream-igniting passion in his words made the entire noisy shipyard fall silent.
The dismissiveness on Tom's face slowly disappeared, replaced by intense interest. His large eyes bore into Roger as if trying to see through the man's soul.
"Around the world?" Tom repeated, then burst into thunderous laughter. "Wa ha ha ha! What a big talker! DON!"
He walked up to Roger, his massive figure casting a heavy shadow and radiating overwhelming pressure.
"Want me to build a ship? Fine! But what makes you think you deserve a 'king's' ship?" Tom's gaze sharpened.
This was a test, Kyle realized. Tom wasn't looking at status or wealth, but whether this group had the "caliber" to handle a ship he'd personally craft.
Roger wasn't intimidated by Tom's presence—his smile only grew brighter: "Because I'm Gol D. Roger! The man who'll conquer these entire seas!"
Tom paused, then laughed even harder: "Wa ha ha ha ha! Interesting! Too interesting!"
He grabbed a bottle, took a huge swig, then tossed it to Roger: "Kid, I admire your spirit! But spirit alone isn't enough."
"How about this," he extended his massive palm, "let me see your current ship. A ship carries its owner's soul. Let me see what your 'soul' looks like!"
For the next hour, Tom and two shipwrights carefully examined the Roger Pirates' ship.
He knocked on planks, examined mast scars, his expression shifting from initial amusement to surprise, finally settling into indescribable respect.
"These scars... left by Marine cannonballs... this crack was from a large Sea King collision... and here, looks like it was split by some powerful slash attack, then patched with crude but effective methods..." Tom caressed the ship's accumulated wounds as if reading an epic saga.
"You crossed so many storms and battles in such a small ship?" Tom turned to Roger, no trace of dismissiveness left in his eyes.
"Gu ha ha ha! She's our reliable partner!" Roger proudly patted the hull.
Tom remained silent for a long while. Finally, he broke into the most hearty smile possible, complete with his signature ending.
"Alright! I'll take this job! DON!"
"Fantastic!" Roger pumped his fist excitedly.
"But..." Tom's tone shifted as his expression became unprecedentedly serious. "If you want a ship that can conquer the world, ordinary wood won't do."
He paused, speaking each word with reverence for something sacred.
"To build the world's greatest ship, you need the world's strongest wood—Treasure Tree Adam!"
