The following afternoon, the weather was gloomy. The sea breeze carried a biting chill, and thick clouds obscured the sun, making it hard for the light to break through.
The waves grew more violent, heralding the approach of a storm.
After negotiating with Iceberg, the Going Merry passed through Water 7's main harbor into the backstreets, where the Water Gate Elevator carried it up to the upper shipbuilding island.
Then it was pulled along the main canal by the enormous facilities of Dock One and brought into the dock.
All work at Dock One had ceased for the day, and the area was fully open to the public. Large numbers of residents from the backstreets had gathered there to take shelter. It was clearly packed to capacity.
The person most revered by the common people of this island, the mayor and general manager of Galley-La, Iceberg, was standing on the Going Merry's deck with the Straw Hats.
"This is unbelievable."
Iceberg smoothed his carefully styled purple hair. "You sailed this battered old ship all the way here from the East Blue, crossing the Reverse Mountain. Your navigator must be very skilled."
"Hey, what are you saying, you jerk?!"
Usopp pointed at him, stepping forward. "How dare you call the Going Merry a battered old ship! You're a shipwright, aren't you? Have some respect for your profession!"
"Don't get so worked up, long-nose."
Iceberg waved dismissively. "I respect every ship that's been built. You can tell from all the little details that the person who designed this ship put a lot of care into it.
"But the objective truth is that both the materials and the craftsmanship are quite ordinary."
"So what?! Even if the Going Merry can't compare to the ships your shipyard builds, it's still our favorite ship!" Usopp