I was doing this for our Polar Tang, and absolutely not just to satisfy my own curiosity.
After silently repeating that to himself twice, Gray raised his chin at Gilbert Galan, putting on the air of an arrogant scientific genius.
"Lead the way."
"I want to see what incredible technology the Marines have mastered."
Seeing Gray act this way, Gilbert Galan didn't get angry. If anything, he looked even happier.
That's exactly the attitude!
"Please, this way!"
He waved two Marine soldiers over to clear the way, then personally accompanied Gray toward the shore.
"Don't worry about them. Those pirates will be captured soon. If they're lucky, you might even see them again aboard the warship."
Noticing Gray looking toward the two ongoing fights, Gilbert Galan spoke up to reassure him.
The last thing he wanted was to scare off the scientist he'd finally managed to find.
"I know."
After glancing at Luo, who was fighting alongside Bepo, Gray turned his gaze toward Nia, who was a little closer.
"Do your best, purple-haired cutie!"
Gray suddenly shouted encouragement to the people fighting.
Gilbert Galan looked at Nia in the orange tracksuit, then at Neo, who looked eight-tenths like her but wore a dark suit, and shook his head slightly.
Just as expected of a scientist so absorbed in his research that he couldn't even tell people's genders.
Though Mr. Neo was indeed a little too handsome.
"Dr. Thomas, you've mistaken him! Although they look alike, Mr. Neo is a man."
"Ahaha, is that so? I didn't notice."
Gray laughed it off. When Nia's gaze turned toward him, he quickly winked.
She must have noticed me. I have to remember to save him later!
Gray frantically tried to get the message across.
"Are your eyes bothering you, Dr. Thomas?"
"Maybe the dust from their fight got in them. Let's hurry and get going."
Gilbert Galan thought nothing of it. He led Gray away from the battlefield and toward the North Blue shore, where the warship was anchored.
Was he captured?
After picking up on what Gray was trying to tell her, Nia wondered.
But he didn't look like a prisoner. If anything, he seemed to have been invited.
Looking at the formation around Gray—with someone clearing the way ahead, an escort at his side, and guards behind him—Nia sensed something strange.
Did the Marines get the wrong idea about something?
"Don't let yourself get distracted in the middle of a fight!"
Neo quickly closed in on Nia. He brought his hands together in a cupped shape in front of her, then coated them with Haki. His arms jolted, and a powerful impact burst out, sending Nia flying.
"Feel the power of Armament Haki with your own body!"
This brat wasn't cute at all anymore!
Looking at the younger brother who was both familiar and unfamiliar, Nia pressed her lips together, a strange feeling rising in her heart.
She felt a little proud, yet a little wistful.
But this wasn't the time to think about that!
Composing herself, Nia turned over in midair and landed lightly. Then she pushed off hard with her legs, shot forward, and swung her clenched fist at Neo.
She had gotten a fairly good handle on her Devil Fruit ability, and so far, she hadn't felt that bloodlust she used to.
Next, she needed to figure out how to make full use of her Devil Fruit powers and quickly master the combat techniques known as the Marine Six Powers.
"This is our warship! It brings together the Marines' most advanced technology and greatest firepower!"
Looking at the enormous vessel before him, Gray trembled slightly.
This was the kind of warship he wanted to build!
It was obviously different from the Marine warships he'd seen before. Its sheer size alone put them to shame.
And that was before you even considered the rows upon rows of cannons covering its hull. If this terrifying warship unleashed its full firepower, it could probably wipe an entire small island off the map.
Seeing Gray tremble with excitement, Gilbert Galan smiled faintly, feeling that everything was going according to plan.
"Allow me to show you around."
"Let's go!"
Gray nodded rapidly and eagerly followed him aboard.
Gilbert Galan diligently showed Gray around the warship, explaining its firepower with a mixture of exaggeration and pride.
"This is the warship's central power room. It's also what allows our warship to cross the Calm Belt!"
At last, he led Gray below deck and pointed at a door.
By then, Gray had been completely captivated by the warship's powerful firepower. Only now did he remember the secret he'd originally wanted to investigate.
"You can't just let anyone in here, Captain Gilbert Galan!"
A burly, middle-aged man in dark-blue work clothes sat by the door. Seeing the two of them approach, he spoke to Captain Gilbert Galan without the slightest courtesy.
"It's all right, Mr. Luca! Dr. Thomas is a scientist and has already decided to join us."
As Gilbert Galan spoke, he kept his eyes fixed on Gray. When Gray didn't contradict him but instead gave a slight nod, he was overjoyed.
Excellent. A promotion was within reach!
"A scientist?"
Luca looked at Gray dubiously.
Messy hair, careless clothes, deep dark circles under his eyes—he certainly looked like a scientist.
Still, he had to make sure the man was genuine.
Thinking this, Luca casually pulled two sheets of paper from the pile he was sitting on and handed them to Gray.
"Then tell me: what's drawn on these blueprints?"
"Hm?"
Gray took the blueprints Luca handed him and frowned slightly.
"Dr. Thomas, Mr. Luca isn't deliberately trying to make things difficult for you."
Seeing Gray's reaction, Gilbert Galan hurriedly tried to smooth things over, worried that he might take offense and ruin his chances at a promotion.
"Mr. Luca is the ship's mechanical maintenance expert. During voyages, he leads the repair team that maintains and inspects the warship. This is the central power room, a very important area, so Mr. Luca is just—"
Gray raised a hand, stopping Gilbert Galan's ceaseless explanation.
"Brilliant design. The turbocharger boosts the power output, producing more than three times the power with the same amount of fuel! That explains it. Traditional power systems alone couldn't possibly propel a warship this huge across the sea."
"You can understand this!?"
Luca's expression changed when Gray glanced over the plans and immediately explained how the power system worked. He hurriedly stood up and couldn't help speaking respectfully.
"Got any more?"
Ignoring the change in Luca's attitude, Gray casually held out his hand.
"They're all here!"
Luca brought over a chair for Gray, then placed all the related blueprints beside him. He was even more respectful than Gilbert Galan.
He was forty-two this year and had spent twenty years maintaining warships in the Marines.
But more than just working on repairs, he wanted to take part in research and design!
Gilbert Galan wasn't the only one who wanted to advance.
He, Luca, wanted to advance too!
Before you continue