As evening fell, the sun had already sunk halfway beneath the distant horizon, its dying light setting the entire sky ablaze with red.
Birds wheeled low overhead, and the air began to grow cold. Compared to the fine weather during the day, the fiery clouds filling the sky now seemed to herald an approaching storm.
Aside from the enormous fountain at its highest point, Water 7 was divided into two layers where people lived and worked.
The inner area was the central district, home to the seven shipyards. It connected to the outer area below by way of the Water Gate Elevator.
The outer area was also known as the backstreets, and it sat far below the central district.
The Franky Family's base, the scrap yard, and the place where the Going Merry was moored were all in the outer area, which was also dotted with countless homes.
Even though sunset had arrived, the backstreets were bustling. Everyone, however, looked anxious.
"Honey! Are you sure you packed everything?"
"All packed. Make sure you nail the doors and windows shut."
"You can count on my handiwork." A blond, middle-aged man with round glasses thumped his chest.
He kept pounding away with a hammer, sealing the doors and windows tight as he muttered,
"They say this year's Water Gods are going to be fierce. It'll be a real problem if the house floods."
"Tell me about it."
Behind the man stood a woman with reddish-orange hair. His wife, she had a pile of belongings at her feet and a worried look on her face.
"Thank goodness the mayor opens the shipyards for residents to take shelter in whenever the Water Gods are coming. Otherwise, with so many people in the backstreets, I don't know what we'd do tomorrow."
The storm was coming,